Plowing new ground.

[Farmwithjunk]

This looks like it's going to be a fun project for us "spectators". Thanks for taking the time Farm!

Hey, when you're done with this you're going to have to change your screenname! Farmwithproperlyrestoredvintageequipment?

Was sort of considering Nowretiredwithbetterstuff.

 

[firemanpat2910]

glad to hear you got the eye taken care of. Its amazing how much stuff gets past the saftey glasses that I always have on the top of my head, or on the dash of the truck I actualy do try and remember to wear them but they always seem to be pushed up to the top of my head.

 

[Gizmo36]

[QUOTE="set-up" and final adjustments. If we get weather like last year, the new plow might even see some dirt in mid Feb.
[/QUOTE]


AS wet as it is ,I may not be able to plow before April . I try to get it all done so it could rain on it all winter .But did not get half of it done .I did get 10a of wheat in the ground.

 

[JerryG]

To bad you didn't get as good of a deal as I did. A couple of years ago, I bought at auction a MF66 3-14 for $135. It didn't look like the plow had ever seen dirt. It looked brand new except the paint was weathered.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

To bad you didn't get as good of a deal as I did. A couple of years ago, I bought at auction a MF66 3-14 for $135. It didn't look like the plow had ever seen dirt. It looked brand new except the paint was weathered.

I spent more than $135 on fuel in the pick-em-up when I went after mine. This one would make you tend to believe in "ashes to ashes". Parts were slowly returning to iron ore. I'm on target for $900 invested in a $500 plow. Once again, I'm thinking I should be in Washington DC with economic skills like that.

At least everything will be new when I'm done.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Bill,
As all the other posters Im also looking foward to this thread ! All us wanna be farmers could stand to learn a thing or two

Keep those pics commin buddy!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Afternoon Bill,
As all the other posters Im also looking foward to this thread ! All us wanna be farmers could stand to learn a thing or two

Keep those pics commin buddy!

It's going to be in bits and pieces. My wife has just finished up 6 months of second shift and school during the daytime. We didn't get to see as much of each other as we'd both like for a time. Now that things are back to abnormal, my evening shop time will be somewhat limited (by choice).

There's still about 3 or 4 hours of cleaning/sanding/sandblasting/chasing threads before priming and painting. Only then can I start putting things back together.

And let's not forget about the fact that UPS STILL has a few parts. That could slow things down a bit too.

It's pouring rain here as we speak. No plowing any time soon. so no rush.

(It's 56 degrees warm too..... IN MID-JAN.)

 

[Sully2]

This looks like it's going to be a fun project for us "spectators". Thanks for taking the time Farm!

You're right there for sure!!!....

 

[Sully2]

It's pouring rain here as we speak. No plowing any time soon. so no rush.

(It's 56 degrees warm too..... IN MID-JAN.)

Off and on rain fo the next 2 days here...suppose to get to 60 degrees! Gonna be mid 40's during the day for the next week

 

[flusher]

Here we go! Today is the first day of my plow rebuild. It's a worn down and worn out Massey Ferguson model #66, 2X14", saftey trip beam plow. They were built starting in the mid 1950's, and continued in production until the early 70's. Tons of them sold with 35's and 135's.

I'm going to update the thread every few days. I've stripped the plow down to an almost bare frame. Tomorrow a few more parts come off. Then the sandblaster. Primer and one good coat of red paint later, we'll put 'er back together, using all new wear parts. As I install each, I'll identify each part by name. After the plow is back together, one last shot of red paint, then new decals. Then the REAL fun starts. We'll go through the process of "set-up" and final adjustments. If we get weather like last year, the new plow might even see some dirt in mid Feb.

OK, Pic #1 is the plow as I bought it. Don't let the paint fool you. This thing is slap WORN OUT. Landslides have holes all the way through. Shins are worn so bad there's some wear on the frog. Moldboards are worn to razor edges in a couple places. I'd guess it plowed 75 or 100 acres AFTER it was worn out.

Pic #2 is the semi-stripped frame. I'm pulling the frogs tomorrow before sandblasting. (Frog is the rusty part at the end of the trip shanks. Frogs hold everything together. They're the backbone of a plow bottom.

pic # 3 and #4 are all the small parts that need hours of cleaning, painting, assembley, and adjustment.

Nice plow. I'll be watching this thread with interest.

Reminds me of when I was a kid in the late 40s. Would watch my grandfather, a blacksmith in Auburndale, a small town in central Wisconsin, repoint wornout plows. He sometimes used worn out rasps that he would forge-weld to the plow. Lotsa hammering and grinding to get the point shaped right.

He always had dozens of these plows around his shop waiting to be picked up. Problem was the farmers often didn't have the cash to get their plows out of hock. Grandpa accepted bushels of apples, corn, etc. in payment, although he preferred cash. Still made enough to raise 12 kids, including my mom.