Plowing new ground.

[Farmwithjunk]

Another day.... and another chance for someone to screw up. I ordered the landslides a day before the shares. Shares show up today. I call (generic mail order house) for a tracking #. (I had them check stock on Jan 2nd when I ordered. They had several. I ordered 2) No tracking #. No shipment. No parts in inventory. Back ordered until Feb 24th. I'm not happy. We'll get back to this later.

Called Massey dealer with part #. He'll have 'em in hand thursday afternoon. With shipping, oem parts were $14 more than "generic" aftermarket. And that aftermarket part still needs some work (with a die grinder) to allow the tail wheel to bolt up correctly.

Call (Generic mail order house) and cancel previous order.

See how much trouble overhauling a simple plow can be?

But we did bolt on a few parts. And now the plow is hooked to a tractor.


Pic #1. Looking back from operators seat.

Pic #2. is the bottom without a share.

Pic #3. same bottom WITH a share.

Pic #4. head on look at rear bottom.

Pic #5. Hitched to the 150.

Bolt enough plow parts to anything and soon enough, it starts to look like a plow.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Dear diary.....

You ever have "one of those days"? This was the 3rd one so far this week. And it ain't over yet!

My "generic mail order house" (I'm not mentioning their names while I'm mad) told me yesterday that they put my parts on back order until late Feb. I ordered oem from AGCO. When I get home TODAY, UPS had left 2 landslides FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME YESTERDAY THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE. The AGCO order was UPS red and can't be cancelled. Oh well, spare parts.

So, off to the shop. I unpackage the landslides, and something IMMEDIATELY stuck out as odd. EVerything was completely BACKWARDS. Now leave it to luck that I just recieved something today that I bought on ebay. A 1972 Massey FErguson dealers "parts interchange" catalog for all their plows from 1957 to 1972. The part # on the landslides I recieved today, in addition to NOT being the part #'s I ordered, are for a LEFT HAND plow. (Maybe left hand portion of a 2-way plow)

I ORDER a certain part. They repeat the correct part #. They BILL me for the correct part #. They SEND me whatever. Here is what I've been sent so far. (Pic#1) The primer brown one at the bottom is a worn landslide like I need. The rest of these things don't even closely resemble "correct". The boys in Iowa have to pay return shipping and a full refund. They don't seem to mind a bit. Maybe that's why plow parts are so expensive these days.

Oh well, shop's cold. The Mrs. wants to go out to eat. No progress today.

ps. the final decal arrived via USPS today!

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Bill,
That is really amazing ! Its almost like send him something while we have him on the phone, if its correct great, if its not we wont hear from him until he realizes he has the wrong parts In the mean time he is off our back

Keep the faith

 

[RobS]

Now I know why I don't get into restorations! Just kidding, your progress is fantastic even with the part snafus.

Historical note: About a mile from where I currently sit is the site of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works where the first successful moldboard plows originated. Mr. Oliver discovered the right metallurgy to make the plow work. There are some MUCH older plows than yours in our local historical museum. Cool stuff!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Pic#1. This is a coulter,
Pic#2. This is a tailwheel
Pic#3. This is the illusive LANDSLIDE!

The plow is completely assembled. I was beginning to doubt that was going to happen. I managed to pull the tractor outside long enough to take the leaf blower to the shop. Then it started raining. Back inside for now. (We're predicted to be getting 2-1/2 to 3-1/2" of rain between now and Sunday morning. Then it turns cold)

I'll start taking the necessary pictures to support instructions on basic set-up over the weekend. Doubtful we'll be turning sod any time soon.

(Rain threw me for a loop. I didn't get a picture of the complete finished plow. It looks good! I'm pleased.)

 

[Gizmo36]

That is a nice plow,I like old turn plows an old disk tillers It just take more hp to pull the tillers.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

The rain stopped for a while. (It's already started again) I managed to get a few outside pictures of the assembled plow. I sure didn't go to get all the shine on the moldboards intentionally. I used hardener because of poor drying conditions. (cold and damp) Oh well.....

Here's 3 pictures.

Next we do a basic set-up.

 

[RobS]

Look like brochure pictures! Great job, can't wait to see it in action.

 

[Glowplug]

Farmwithjunk--I don't mean to divert off topic. But have you ever heard of "Plow Chief" plows? I'm wondering if they're worth anything. Do you think this one looks like it's in decent shape? You can send me a PM if you'd rather. Thanks.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Farmwithjunk--I don't mean to divert off topic. But have you ever heard of "Plow Chief" plows? I'm wondering if they're worth anything. Do you think this one looks like it's in decent shape? You can send me a PM if you'd rather. Thanks.

I sent you a PM, but for the rest of those interested, "Plow Chief" and "Super Chief" were International Harvester plows. Good, heavy duty equipment, but SOME parts are getting downright impossible to find.

Also, for those interested, I'm still working on my plow tutorial. I've been a little under the weather for the last few days and haven't been anywhere near the shop. Stay tuned!

 

[N80]

Great post. A couple of questions: 1) Are the lower arm pins at different heights or is that an illusion...or does that just make it so the plow is held at an angle? In one picture it looks like one bends up and the other down. 2) What is the crank for?

Now that you have it all together you know what would be great for us folks who don't know a plow from Shinola? Labels. How good are you with Photoshop? It would be som nice to have several of your great pictures with labels and arrows with all the proper names for all the parts and a description of what each one does.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Great post. A couple of questions: 1) Are the lower arm pins at different heights or is that an illusion...or does that just make it so the plow is held at an angle? In one picture it looks like one bends up and the other down. 2) What is the crank for?

Now that you have it all together you know what would be great for us folks who don't know a plow from Shinola? Labels. How good are you with Photoshop? It would be som nice to have several of your great pictures with labels and arrows with all the proper names for all the parts and a description of what each one does.

The offset drawbar is to keep the plow level with the right side wheels down in the plowed furrow.

The crank is to "land" the plow. That translates as making it trail the tractor correctly, moving it right or left as needed. I'll go into that soon in a later post. I've been down with the flu for a few days and haven't been anywhere near my shop. As soon as I'm back up to speed, I'll finish up what I've started. Sorry for the delay.

 

[3RRL]

Hey Farm,
What a great job you did in documenting and narrating this whole project. I am totally impressed! That plow is a thing of beauty. You've got to think about getting it dirty though. I can't wait to get the plowing instructions from you. Does it look like you'll be able to start pretty soon?
Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[firemanpat2910]

Hope you get to feeling better soon, thanks for educating us. I wish I would have asked more questions of the old timers around here before they passed.

 

[schmism]

Hope you get to feeling better soon, thanks for educating us. I wish I would have asked more questions of the old timers around here before they passed.

h3ll ya I second that

the more i learn about this kind of stuff the more i relize i dont know chit about it..... so ya bring on the edumiacation...

 

[GreenMtns]

Great thread Farm
I hope you feel better soon. Winter has settled in up here so we can only live this one though your posts for a while. Can't do much in an unheated barn when it's -5 outside and in.
The crossbar on my Ferguson 14A looks a lot like yours but without the convenience of the landing lever. It looks like I will have to loosen the U bolts on each side and rotate the bar to move it left or right. But once it's done it's done.
I am looking forward to the setup posts and photo's when you are feeling better.

Al

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Great thread Farm
I hope you feel better soon. Winter has settled in up here so we can only live this one though your posts for a while. Can't do much in an unheated barn when it's -5 outside and in.
The crossbar on my Ferguson 14A looks a lot like yours but without the convenience of the landing lever. It looks like I will have to loosen the U bolts on each side and rotate the bar to move it left or right. But once it's done it's done.
I am looking forward to the setup posts and photo's when you are feeling better.

Al

Thanks to all. I'm feeling better, just not bouncing back like a teenager
anymore. By the time I get home from work the last few days, all I do is build a fire in the fireplace and go to sleep.


About those landing levers and cranks..... They come in handy on hilly ground. If you're plowing across the face of a hillside, the plow will want to follow the tractor a little differently as you go east-west then switch to west-east. That may make it throw the dirt a little different, or it may just make the lead bottom plow a wider (or narrower) slice than the rear bottom. A quick adjustment of the landing lever will keep things consistant.

While out of the game the past week, I've been doing some reading. I picked up a book on British and world Match plowing. Some of the plows they use employ hydraulics or hand cranks to adjust every concievable adjustment on a plow. The tractors also use what we call "Top and Tilt". They've been using it for years. They even hang suitcase weights all over the plow to balance it and make it dig in through tough soil. The part I found most interesting is, they suggest stopping before looking back or while making changes. The reason was, anything but looking straight ahead while moving will result in a less than perfect furrow. (They judge on, among other things, everything has to be perfectly straight) Plowing and planting both need the same technique to do nice looking work. You pick out a "target" at the far end of the field and go straight to that. Look back, or down at the front wheels and you start making curves in the road.

 

[firemanpat2910]

Boy am I glad the deer at the hunting camp dont judge us on straightness of rows every time I open a fresh can of beer the rows get a little more wobbly. I have never used a true plow, just disc it then use the 2 row planter.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Back again! I'm still battling the flu and its effects, but bordem has set in. I've got a few pictures that'll cover some new ground or clear up a few things on old news. Here we go.

pic #1 is a SHIN
pic #2 is the location of the shin

It's the leading vertical cutting edge.

pic #3 is the share
pic#4 is location of share.

I've heard it called point, shear, share, ect. Parts manual and Bible say share. I'm going with that. It cuts the smooth flat bottom of the furrow.

pic #5 is the moldboard.

Most noticable part of the plow, hence the name. It flips dirt.

pic #6 is a coverboard

also called trash board. It sends surface crop residue towards the bottom of the plow furrow before the moldboard covers it with dirt. Not on all plows.

More to follow in a bit.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

More,

pic #7 coulter

They come in plain, notched, and fluted. They cut surface trash to allow a clean path for the shin to cut the furrow wall. If soil conditions allow, the coulter can be set deep enough to pre-cut the entire depth of the furrow wall. That can make a plow ride up out of the ground in hard soil though.

pic#8 (rear) landslide
The landslide absorbs and redirects the thrust of the moldboard pushing against the turning soil. It serves as a rudder of sorts to keep the plow in a straight line.

pic #9 offset drawbar
In order for the plow to be level when the right side wheels of the tractor are in an 8" deep plow furrow, the hitch needs some offset. By rotating this offset on its axis, you also move the tail end of the plow left or right, know as LANDING the plow.

pic # 10 tailwheel
It goes right where the name indicates. It is a rolling assist to the rear landslide. ("proper name" is ROLLING LANDSLIDE) Adds a roller bearing to the load carried by the landslides.