How many plows?

[frankKy]

Does anyone know how many plows a Ford 3000 diesel can handle in moderate density soil?

 

[farmerdon]

3 12" bottoms was the common configuration here for that size of tractor although later on some did use 2 16" to be able to plow corn stalks

 

[crazylocha]

And on that same vein, how many and what size discs do you suggest FDon, similar soil?

 

[Ultradog MN]

Several factors besides soil. How much ballast are you running? Are you turning tough new ground or ground that's been tilled for years?
Sharp new shares or dull? Nice shiney moldboards or rusty old plow? How good are you at adjusting the plow?
My 3000 would not pull 3-16" in our clayey, stoney, loam soil. Good experienced plowman might have got every thing right but I couldn't. I dropped one bottom and it pulls 2-16" handily. Probably would pull 3-12" but that's not a common size.
As for the disc, I think it's more about the number of discs than width. I bought a 10' 3 point disc = 32 wheels - and the tail wagged the dog. I cut it down to 8' = 24 wheels and think it's just about right. I just do a few gardens each year for my relatives plus keep up a couple acres of food plots. It's not a real heavy disc.

 

[JDemaris]

It will pull two 16"s in my hard, rocky, mucky soil. Fast enough to roll over sod. So, it has to do much better in better soil.

 

[crazylocha]

I appreciate the input gentlemen.

Am about to get my first corn planting underway. So "experienced plowman" isn't even close to a term I would use. It's only a 3 acre farm and this first year will probably get half of that usable. Giant landfill with an assortment of old car parts and etc has to get dug up before other half can get used.

Am looking at a single acre rectangle to begin with and a half acre on other side of field for secondary. Am looking into a Silver Queen planting soon as viable and wanted to look at auction next week for plow and disc prices. The above information is invaluable for me.

Going to have to turn the sod into the medium heavy clay soil under with it. Waiting on soil analysis to come back from UF to be able to say more.

The other concern I have is my clutch is at its top adjustment. Sometime over spring or summer is going to be a split/clutch job. Would be nice to have some corn money to help finance it, lol.

Lots of reading and advice asking over the next few cold fronts to have to do. Am ever so grateful for the sharing of experienced wisdom so many here do.

THANK YOU.

Mikey

 

[Fordfarmer]

Good info in the other posts. On our soil, I'd think it could handle up to 3-14's, but only if properly ballasted. 2-16's would probably be a better match, IF you could find one. 12's and 16's are pretty rare around here; 14's are by far the most common. If a 3 or 4 bottom came up for sale and the price was right, I'd buy it. 3 and 4 bottom plows are often cheaper than 2 bottoms, even though all you have to do is unbolt the bottom(s) you don't need. (note: most, but not all, 3 and 4 bottom plows can be reduced to 2 bottoms.)

 

[karl f]

ditto on the several factors.
We've been able to stop a 120 hp tractor in its tracks with a 3 or 4 bottom in sod. boderline dangerous with that much power, sometimes it would do a wild wheelie.

I think there were some major adjustment issues at the time as well as compacted soil, but it took place before I was old enough to be consulted in such things. As to the tractor, it was the only one running at the time.


karl f

 

[crazylocha]

No wild wheelie's, got it!

Thx Karl and FF.

 

[Anonymous-0]

What has anyone been using on a 4000? I've been looking for a 3-16 for the 3cyl 4000D that we just got, but this is making me think twice about that. It's loaded pretty heavy on the rear and our soil is pretty sandy.

 

[Fordfarmer]

I'd think it could handle it. I used to have a 3-14's that I pulled behind my 4600. Went in 5th, and we have pretty heavy clay/loam ground here. Fluid-filled 16.9x30's and front suitcase weights.