SUBSOILER VS ROCKS

[flINTLOCK]

I am preparing food plots as previous posts mention. The ground has not been worked for 50 years or more. We've cut brush, cleared debris and limed in preparation for spring planting. Since the ground is compacted, I thought it best to use subsoiler or chisel plow initially to loosen it prior to discing. Too many rocks for traditional mouldboard plow, I think. Question is since 3-pt does not produce down force on the implement, will a SS or CP tend to ride up and over top surface of buried large boulder, or will implement damage likely occur?

 

[RonR]

Well, classic answer is: It depends.

If the implement point hooks UNDER the rock, the rock will either come up, the tractor will spin the tires, the tractor will stall, or the implement will break. (Think I covered all options)

If I were doing it, I think I'd go no more than 1/2 throttle and in a low gear (or slow with hydro), so I might have some reaction time if/when I hit an immovable object.

Best outcome is the rock moves or the tires spin. I'm not sure that having slow RPM so the tractor dies is a bad option either. I've stalled mine several times (PHD at idle, rippers at slow RPM, etc).

Let us know how it works out.

ron

 

[flINTLOCK]

Should 30 HP tractor 4WD with good tires have enough guts to work subsoiler or say, 3 shank chisel plow?

 

[EdKing]

You shouldn't have trouble with the subsoiler. I use one with my 36hp 4wd tractor without trouble. If you keep your speed low, you should definitely lose traction before you break anything.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Will the subsoiler pull itself all the way down as you move forward or can you readily control depth by 3 pt. if you don't want to go full depth.

 

[beenthere]

All depends on the shape of the tooth and how the angle changes as the depth increases. It may have the correct angle to start into the ground, but as the 3pt lowers, that angle changes and will at some point not pull into the ground. Either draw some pics for your endeavor or see what top link change you will need to make to get the depth (?) you want. I expect if more than 6", you will not pull more than one tooth.

I use a tooth to pull out rocks. Catch them just right, and they roll right out. Too big and the tooth either scrapes around or over or gets hung up.

You may, or may not have good luck using a subsoiler. Wish you luck, however.

 

[andrewj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Should 30 HP tractor 4WD with good tires have enough guts to work subsoiler or say, 3 shank chisel plow? )</font>

yes if it has ag tires and weighs over 3000 pounds.

 

[EdKing]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Will the subsoiler pull itself all the way down as you move forward or can you readily control depth by 3 pt. if you don't want to go full depth. )</font>

My subsoiler will pull it self down, and I control the depth with the posistion control of the 3ph.

 

[Swanee]

I too, have lots of rocks to deal with and used an implement called a "field cultivator" by some or a "spring tooth ripper" by others. Search a thread titled "7 footed spring tooth ripper" and you'll find a picture of one that Ken Sweet of Sweettractors has posted. It's a 3pt and the tines are spring loaded so big rocks just pull the tine back and it resets itself.
I borrowed one from a friend and had no problem pulling basketball sized rocks to the surface with my 36hp (PTO) tractor. The bigger ones got the fork lift attachment treatment later.

 

[63DH8]

You'd be surprised what you can do with a subsoiler! I pulled up my telephone cable with mine. That was the most peaceful two weeks I've had in a LONG time! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif