what am i doing wrong with my two bottom plow?

[hollistercody]

I recently bought a new massey 1540, and have an old ford 2 bottom plow that's probably from the '70s. I can't get the plow to cut into the ground. Iv'e tried adjusting everything I can, but it seems like the three-point just won't push the plow in like it should. What am I doing wrong?

 

[ToadHill]

I have an old 1 bottom and the tip is a bit worn. I get mine to work by attaching it to the hitch arms and setting it down so the bottom of the plow is level with the ground. At that point the very tip is not touching because of the wear. I then adjust the toplink so the back of the plow is about 1" off the ground.

It works well for me this way.

 

[KennyV]

When set up correctly the 3point will not push the plow into the ground. It prevents the plow from continuing deeper into the ground...
Do as toadhill suggests.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I recently bought a new massey 1540, and have an old ford 2 bottom plow that's probably from the '70s. I can't get the plow to cut into the ground. Iv'e tried adjusting everything I can, but it seems like the three-point just won't push the plow in like it should. What am I doing wrong?

Odds are, if a plow doesn't want to dig in, you've probably got shares that are worn beyond service limits. As mentioned, the 3-point does NOT push the plow in the ground. The plow will (should) pull itself down (Known as "suck" in plow terminology)

Set the land side of the tractor on blocks roughly equivilent to the depth you wish to plow. THEN adjust the plow to where it's level front to rear, side to side. If it won't "suck" down then, you have EITHER worn shares OR the ground may be too dry/too hard.

 

[greenmule]

Use your top link to angle your plow tip more down,what would that be,tighten it I think.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Plows are intended to run LEVEL. Setting them with much at all of a nose down attitude is absolutely the WRONG thing to do. That puts the rear bottom higher, moving less dirt, causing what is known as RIDGING. That's where you get different height's of turned furrows. Also, that'll tend to cause the plow to hunt for even greater depths, making it nearly impossible to regulate an even draft. Pointing them nose down will overcome worn shares, but at the expense of a poor looking finished plowing job.

Replace shares........

 

[Foton404]

Yeah' I bet it is adjustment. Does the plow skip along the ground? If so, is it level when it does so? The first plow share should be lower than the back share..so it will obviously pierce the ground first. The 3 point top link is the primary control to do it. If not, the "sucking" action will not happen. When you get the plow in the ground, each bottom must create equal "slabs", or lay over equal amounts of dirt. Since you are new to the game, there is an absolute must: For a plow to function properly is must scour, or shine to the extend that nothing sticks to the plow share. This will be apparent when you lift the plow. Unless you are plowing wet soil, the plow will be shiny at the end of your land. Plowing gardens may not be so crucial, but if plowing sizeable areas, scouring is important. In fact, it cannot be over stated. If you need information on this, just answer this reply.

 

[BWBrown]

I learned to plow with a single share behind a team of horses.
The basic principle - you don't PUSH or force the plow into the soil. Simplistically stated, it "flies" through the soil much like an airplane wing flies through the air. A lot depends on angle of attack.

So...
Tilt the share(s) down to head them down in, tilt them up to rise up in the soil.
Using a hand plow, you lift the handles to go deeper, push down on the handles to come up shallow.
Using a three point hitch, you change your angle of attack with the top link as stated above. Some plows allow adjustment of hitch height (critical when plowing by hand with a team) relative to the point of the share.

If your shares are sharp, everything else is a combination of soil conditions, proper hitch height, ground speed, scouring, and practice and experience.
Every post above is a piece of the answer to your question.
Keep trying - it will happen.

 

[alltoys]

Here are some more questions about the 2 bottom plow.

If you can't move the plow over anymore to the left so that both will lift the same amount of earth what can be done? If I could ride the level part of the ground it would be perfect but the right side of the tractor wheels fall into the groove left by the plow. I know this is supposed to happen but the nearest plow to the already cut side will only cut about 6 in. where as the other is a full 12 in. cut.

How can a person stop the sod from balling up in the plow?

 

[Reg]

Here are some more questions about the 2 bottom plow.

If you can't move the plow over anymore to the left so that both will lift the same amount of earth what can be done? If I could ride the level part of the ground it would be perfect but the right side of the tractor wheels fall into the groove left by the plow. I know this is supposed to happen but the nearest plow to the already cut side will only cut about 6 in. where as the other is a full 12 in. cut.

How can a person stop the sod from balling up in the plow?

I think I didn't understand the first question.
I think the answer to the second one is SPEED !
You have to move it fast enough to LEAVE the plow and roll over completely.