2 bottom plow setup?

[Meat man]

It's tough to admit I don't know something, but I have never plowed an inch in my life. I've done a lot of field work, but we never plowed anything when I was growing up.

I inherited a Ford 640 from my Grandpa. This plow came with it. I can't say for sure that it was ever used together, but I'm going to give it a go. I don't plan on field plowing, mainly just gardens and wildlife food plots.

My Dad showed me that this was not originally a 2 bottom plow, it was modifed. I don't know where to start with setting it up. I've read several posts but I don't know how to apply the recommendations to this plow. Mainly I don't know if I should modify the plow in some way or change the setup of the tractor. I don't know how it's going to work because I won't be driving in the furrow. I'll have one tire on flat ground and another on the plowed area.

The Constant Draft on the 3-point is not working, I'll just have to tough it out. Should I use the stabilizer bar?

For garden plowing, do I just run it as is? If I
wanted to make it "right", what should I change?

Thanks for helping out this "young buck".

 

[Rog I]

can you loosen the bar that the tractor hooks to and slide the plow frame to the right... seems like my ford plows have this adjustment. Looks like you would have fits no being able to run in the furrow. Good looking plow... good luck

 

[Meat man]

Yes, I can move the plow several inches either way. I'm not opposed to remaking the whole mount if necessary. It leaves a little to be desired.

I'm questioning if this plow can even be used like I think it can. Will I ever be able to drive in the furrow? Will I have to do some of the fancy wheel/front axle adjustments as shown in the Owners Manual?

 

[hurleyjd]

You will need the stablizer bars on it. Put a block under the right rear wheel now with the leveling box on the right lift arm level the plow until both plows set on the ground. Now adjust the points down by tightening the top link. This should set it where it will plow.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 15:05:40 03/14/09) It's tough to admit I don't know something, but I have never plowed an inch in my life. I've done a lot of field work, but we never plowed anything when I was growing up.

I inherited a Ford 640 from my Grandpa. This plow came with it. I can't say for sure that it was ever used together, but I'm going to give it a go. I don't plan on field plowing, mainly just gardens and wildlife food plots.

My Dad showed me that this was not originally a 2 bottom plow, it was modifed. I don't know where to start with setting it up. I've read several posts but I don't know how to apply the recommendations to this plow. Mainly I don't know if I should modify the plow in some way or change the setup of the tractor. I don't know how it's going to work because I won't be driving in the furrow. I'll have one tire on flat ground and another on the plowed area.

The Constant Draft on the 3-point is not working, I'll just have to tough it out. Should I use the stabilizer bar?

For garden plowing, do I just run it as is? If I
wanted to make it "right", what should I change?

Thanks for helping out this "young buck".

I believe that the plow is the one implement with which you doNOT use the stabilizer bars.
http://theviperr.com/hobo_dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=79

 

[karl f]

your picture may be deceiving, but measure the witdth of your crossbar, make sure it's closer to 26 inches between lift arms than it is to 32 inches. the right geometry for cat 1 will help.

being this is a modifed plow, you will have to do a lot of test runs and adjusting to get it set up correctly, or make sure that it is.
The tractor and plow are set up together as a team. once the plow is set to plow straight, you gotta adjust the wheels of the tractor. Many fulltime farmers incorrectly have set the plow to match the tractor's wheel widths or just hooked to a plow with a tractor set for cultivating and then wonder why they have so many issues.

the link given to you is pretty useful, i would follow that advice. for more information, any 2 bottom mounted plow operators manual should give you most of the info you will need.


also it has been said on yt that the first round you make before your wheels are in a furrow will be the worst.

good luck
karl f

 

[Meat man]

Thanks to everyone that replied. The link was great. I had read part of that text eariler, but it made much more sense this go round.

Reading the part about the 14" from the point to the inside of the tire is what jarred my brain loose. I was misunderstandig the whole time. After I went and looked again, this plow is going to work great without adjusting the tires. I was not looking at it from the right way to begin with. It's going to drive in the furrow correctly.

I'm waiting on my new leveling arm to come in and I'm going to give it a go. I may have to make a few fine adjustments, but I think it is going to work out fine.

Thanks for your help and patience. I guess that's just what it takes to learn this new "old tech" methods.

 

[Meat man]

IT WORKS, IT WORKS!!

I plowed three passes on my friend's garden tonight. Going to finish the rest tomorrow. I had it in first gear because the garden is small, I didn't even have it at half throttle. That little tractor just chugged right along no problem!

Well except for the gas tank leak I discovered on the drive over. Time to add that to the list, I guess it should go at the top.