Got ground ripped (pics)

[FordTractorMan]

Finally dried up enough this week to get in the field. I was able to subsoil what I wanted to and the 8700 did real well. Glad I put in the radio first though.

 

[Bern]

You should put a turbo on that thing to burn some of the black smoke you got coming out there.

I always thought the 87-9700 series was one of the best looking tractors Ford ever made.

 

[oldironman]

What's the object of sub soiling?

 

[AbvAvgJoe]

The point to subsoiling is pretty simple. If you been plowing say to a depth of twelve inches in the same spot for years, then all the fine silt and sediments tend to make a layer of hard pan at that depth. When you subsoil the ground it breaks up the hardpan and allows for better drainage and better soil conditioning.

 

[FordTractorMan]

That's a good idea. I've thought about that. The key to doing that & not taking the rearend out is not to pull wider implements with the extra power, but instead to pull what you have faster, right? I think they're one of Ford's sharpest looking tractors, too. By the way, you asked which plug I pulled & found the shrapnel - it was the transmission plug.

 

[Ultradog MN]

So after subsoiling you would then turn it over with a moldboard plow? Just wondering.

 

[Fordfarmer]

Yes, or whatever you would normally do for tillage. (chisel plow, no-till planter, etc.)

 

[FordTractorMan]

No need. You've already done your deep tillage. I'll come back in a few weeks & disk this field & get it ready for corn.

 

[Fordfarmer]

Yeah, I guess there isn't enough sod there to justify plowing.

 

[Jimmyjack]

It will be at least two weeks before I even see the ground and then another two weeks before the frost is out. Quit adjitating.

 

[Bern]

I would not be running that thing if I were you until the source of that metal is found. You could turn a minor repair ($$ wise) into a major repair if you keep running it.

 

[showcrop]

You can really get a pretty good look into the trans. through the side cover. I had the top off mine when I had the side cover off. I thought that it was going to be tough to get the cover lined up to get it back on but it wasn't.

 

[FordTractorMan]

It'll be on light duty until after wheat, when I plan to split it and fix it. I'll bring the 8000 out of retirement until then. For what it's worth, it runs like a top in every other gear but 2nd & 6th, if that means anything.

 

[JAC FARMING]

the only thing that matters is that you are using the write tractors.

 

[FordTractorMan]

Right on.

 

[Brian Allen]

FordTractorMan
That looks like it would work to take out the Hawthorne roots from the 10-12 acre field I am clearing.
How much power does it take to run one?
Brian

 

[FordTractorMan]

Unverferth recommends 30-50 hp. per shank at 20" depth. I ran at 15" depth because that was as deep as I needed to go to get under the hardpan in my soil. The 8700 dynoed at its rated hp (110) before I had the pump rebuilt, so I don't know how much it's putting out now. The subsoiler I used also comes in a 2 & 3 shank model. I found that hp wasn't as much an issue as was working weight. I had 105 gal. fluid in each of my inner wheels and went back to the house & ran 70 gal. water in each dual. Even then it would spin when I hit an especially hard spot. Overall, it did great though.

 

[mikeintn]

I find this interesting, I just do a small hobby garden, would it be a good idea to do the subsoiling, if so how deep, right now I just turn it over in the fall and then use a tiller on it in spring, and is it best to subsoil in the spring, just trying to learn something about planting, thats a good looking Ford. Thanks

 

[FordTractorMan]

Thanks for the compliment on the tractor. Actually, subsoiling is ideally done in late summer or fall, I just happened to catch a pretty dry window here where the ground dried out enough. You're probably o.k. for hobby gardening w/o, but if you want to give it a shot, you can find some inexpensive 1 or 2 shank subsoilers for smaller tractors that would be fine for a garden. Anytime you have a hardpan and you shatter it, you do your plants a favor. Roots can go much deeper in looser soil in pursuit of water. Check this link for one: http://cgi.ebay.com/King-Kutter-Sub-Soiler-Model-SUB-NEW-/330544554036?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf5fda034 Hope this helps.