Two bottom plow project

LetsRoll · Feb 5, 2006

My new two bottom plow (or I should say my old). I purchased it to plow up some rough land that needs allot of attention. Last summer since my area didn't get allot or enough rain. I had to feed the horses hay almost all of the summer months. Well, in the pictures some of the grass has came back. But I decided to rework it for several reasons. One, my land has been in a soil bank for about 15 years and I've owned for 5 years (20 years total). So, it hasn't had anything done to it. About three years ago, I had a house built on it and the water and electricial lines run straight through it. You can't see the two ditchs but their there. Plus the horses have roughed up this area as well pretty bad. Another reason is, the dirt has a layer that the water will not get through. So the grass can not establish a good root base. But the weeds do very well on this section of land that I own. So, I decided time has come to re-work this section up some. Its about 1.5 acres. I don't have all the pictures. But I plowed it up pretty good. I've actually plowed it twice. The second time around was a cake walk in the park. The first time plowing it, I had to drop down into low range, 2nd gear (putting the power to the ground) half of the time. The second pass, I was able to run in medium range, 2nd gear and sometimes 3rd gear. On the second pass, you could really smell the good clean dirt. The plow spent most of the time burried the second pass. About two or three inchs down, some of the dirt was just plain old black dirt. After breaking through this rotten dirt, the dirt just seemed to be a better grade of dirt. I've been told that was the reason why good grass wouldn't grow very well. I was told I needed to go deep to break up this table under the dirt. I've never heard this before but I decide to give it a try. After it warms up and the dirt dries up some. I'm going to run a ripper or a sub-soiler through it. After a few day of dry weather, I plan to disc it up. Then smooth it out with my rock rake. After that, the "NOT" so fun of de-rocking it will take place. Then sow some grass seed. OK, hopefully I can figure out how to do the for the pictures. Better yet for the dial up folks, I'll [img] one picture and give the link to the rest of them.

[url="http://photobucket.com/albums/f245/LetsRoll"][b]Plowing Pictures[/b][/url]

[img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f245/LetsRoll/plowV.jpg

Cliff_Johns · Feb 5, 2006

Thanks for posting the photos. I could look at plowing photos all day and not get bored.

How did you decide which direction to plow in and did you plow orthoginally the second time?

Cliff

LetsRoll · Feb 5, 2006

I plowed in the same dirction both times. The second time, it allowed me to burried the plow or go deeper so I could break through the table that wouldn't let water through. At the ends, I went both directions. The furrows are going from right to left on the posted picture in this thread. I didn't want the ditch right next to the fence line. I've already started taking up the fence and the fence post. I don't plan on putting any horses on this for a few years. I still have some fence post to take up, I'll try to take a few more pictures cause as of right now, I'm finished plowing. After the poles are all up, I'll have to wait for the dirt to dry out some. The last few days, all it been doing is raining. And know the dirt is frozen. The weather man is calling for freezing temps for the rest of this week. Which is good I guess. Freeze one day and thaw out the next. As for looking at plowing pictures. I feel the same. When I have to go to TCS in the next town. Wife ask me if were taking the interstate so we can get there faster. I say no, I want to drive the country roads so I can see what the local farmers are doing to there fields. All I get is the rolled eyes look from her. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif She just don't get it. She always says, it's a man thing. If she only knew how fun it is to operate a tractor. Hopefully she wont read or look at this thread. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Thanks, Cliff

Oleozz · Feb 5, 2006

Great pics, I can almost smell the dirt, there is nothing quite like the smell of fresh plowed ground. How many hp is your tractor that you are using with the 2 bottom plow?

RonR · Feb 5, 2006

Know what you mean about the smell of fresh worked dirt!

Wife thinks I'm nuts, but I LOVE to smell that, even if just driving by a worked field.

ron

deerhunterf350 · Feb 5, 2006

Hello LetsRoll,

I will be purchasing either a TC-55 or DX-55 4wd as soon as the weather co-operates , to allow me to get out on the weekends to shop and test drive , before making my final decision.

I will be plowing about 1.25 acres every spring and fall.

How did your TC-48 pull the 2 bottom plow?

Did you spin out and have power left, or was it a close match ( Traction / Power ) ?

Looks like your soil compostion is a RED CLAY , that is my Soil type in Southern MO.

I was wondering if a 2 or 3 bottom plow would be the best match to the 55 horse 4WD machines. My garden area has been plowed for 15 years using a Single bottom plow on a Ford 9N. So it is not a hard pack, and there has been Manure / Compost added over the years, so it is not 100% Red Clay.

LetsRoll · Feb 6, 2006

( Oleozz....How many hp is your tractor that you are using with the 2 bottom plow? )
My tractor (TC48DA) is 48 hp on the motor and 40 on the pto. Thanks for the comment.

Cliff

LetsRoll · Feb 6, 2006

( Hello LetsRoll,

I will be purchasing either a TC-55 or DX-55 4wd as soon as the weather co-operates , to allow me to get out on the weekends to shop and test drive , before making my final decision.

I will be plowing about 1.25 acres every spring and fall.

How did your TC-48 pull the 2 bottom plow?

Did you spin out and have power left, or was it a close match ( Traction / Power ) ?

Looks like your soil compostion is a RED CLAY , that is my Soil type in Southern MO.

I was wondering if a 2 or 3 bottom plow would be the best match to the 55 horse 4WD machines. My garden area has been plowed for 15 years using a Single bottom plow on a Ford 9N. So it is not a hard pack, and there has been Manure / Compost added over the years, so it is not 100% Red Clay. )

I did spin some. But that was cause of the conditions I was in (raining). I think you would be more productive with a two bottom plow. 55 hp could pull a three bottom plow, but the soil or dirt condition would be the determing factor. When you decide to buy a plow, make sure it is a high clearence. They are just a heavier built plow. I've attached a picture of my high clearence two bottom John Deere plow. Its rusty right now, but that will change here real some. I plan to clean it up and re-paint it real soon.

Soundguy · Feb 6, 2006

( I did spin some. But that was cause of the conditions I was in (raining). I think you would be more productive with a two bottom plow. 55 hp could pull a three bottom plow )

Well I hope so. Guys. remember.. the ford 9N built back in 1939 with 26 eng hp was designed to pull a 2 bottom plow.. 2-12 or 2-14.. or even a 1-16. That was with a 119ci 4 cyl flathead. The NAA in 1954 with a 134ci ohv was designed to pull 3 bottoms 12/14 in good soil.. and the later 144ci diesel and 172 ci gas/diesel pulled 3 bottom easilly. These tractors were in the 2500-3300# range.. 2wd...

I sincerely hope your modern 40-50 hp powerhouses can pull a 2 bottom plow... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Soundguy