Trying to trench with middle buster in clay

[JCS_in_KY]

I tried digging a ditch with a middle buster today. My soil has lots of clay in it. On the first pass the middle buster cut down about 3 1/2", the next pass I only got about 1/2" inch. After that I'd just shave a very small amount off and then the clay started getting that smooth polished look and I wasn't making any progess at all. I'm thinking maybe I should get a sub soiler and try breaking up the soil with it before using the middle buster. Do you think the sub soiler would help or is there something better to try? John

 

[GaryM]

I was using a King Kutter Middle Buster over the weekend to trench for drain tile. I have to make three passes in clay soil (small tractor) but didn't have any problems geting to full depth. I have my top link adjusted so the sweep really wants to get into the ground. Maybe your top link needs to be adjusted to get a more agressive angle on the sweep?

 

[Farwell]

I used my sub soiler last week and I was not able to get much depth with it. I tried several different top link adjustments and still did not get the depth I thought I should get. I have not tried it yet, but I think my next effort will be to add weight because I noticed that my 3ph had at least another eight inches that it could lower. My soil is 12 inches of top soil over sand so the soil hardness is not my problem. I have used my middle buster several times and it will cut me a trench about 10 inches deep after three passes but I have not tried adjusting the top link to gain more depth.
I am going to weld a rod or pipe to the frame so I can add weight lifting steel.
Farwell

 

[flusher]

Unless you're in a drought and your soil has turned to brick, you should be having no problem burying a middle buster with 33 hp.

I have a 21 hp B7510HST and a KK middle buster. I shorten the top link so the top of the plow points forward and run the 3pt hitch full down in the float position. This gets the plow at least 9 inches into the ground to the point that the engine lugs. Then I use the quarter-inching control on the 3pt to raise the plow until the tractor moves without lugging. No problem digging 6" deep trenches for landscape drain pipe, etc. I use multiple passes to dig deeper.

Of course, it helps that the soil is soft from all the rain we've had the last 3 months here in the North Valley. By July the soil will be hard as rock. Can't even get a PHD to work then.

 

[johnk]

I was successful in my clay soil . Two passes got it deep enough to bury 4" corragated...

 

[johnk]

Another

 

[johnk]

Last one

 

[Highbeam]

These middle busters are great. Is it true that all you need to do to make a subsoiler out of the MB is to tremove the shovel?

 

[kossetx]

I took my MB plow off and added a 1/2"X2"X8" piece of steel, cut at an angle and 2 holes drilled in it for bolts, to make it a SS. It will loosen the clay for you, then redig with the MB.

I have also added a 1/2X6X8" plate in clace of the MB blade that I use to tear out small stumps.

 

[JCS_in_KY]

I tried shortning up my top link as much as possible. This let the tip of the sweep point down when the middle buster was lowered. I've never used a middle buster but I was assuming that was how it should be used. I'll try more with it today and if it doesn't work I guess I'll try removing the middle buster and putting a flat piece of steel on it to make it work as a subsoiler. Hopefully if I do make the subsoiler piece that will rip the ground up to where the middle buster can do it's job. John