How much chisel plow will a 4440 handle?

[Mike Shuler]

For you folks that have plowed with one, will a 4440 hadle a 9 shank chisel plow? I have heard rule of thumb is 15 horsepower per shank is needed.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Mike, Mike; Are you running duals, weights(tire fluid or cast)? Has the tractor HP been turned up? Tractor in good shape or tired? 2WD or 4WD? What tranny? Hilly ground, clay? Straight chisel or coulters or finish harrow? How deep and how fast? My best guess is that might be not quite enough ponies for 9 shanks.

 

[Tx Jim]

There's a lot of variables involed. Type of soil,penetration depth and speed of travel are 3 to add to what gtski stated.

 

[ISU JD]

Dad had one that we pulled a 9 shank Glenco Soil Saver with. 7 chisel points and 3 deep till no harrow had to take one deep till off and 2 chisel points to pull it. Clay loam soil in good condition not wet, fluid, good duals, quad range B1 or B2, diff locked, had 5000 hrs on it in the 90's turned up 10% and worked the guts out of it. Took ALL day to get 40 acres done. If you found a hard spot it would stop the tactor dead in its tracks

 

[larryanderson]

In non MFD traction is a limiting factor.They use to call a IH 65H.P. 560 a five bottom tractor when a 4440 is still a 5 bottom tractor.Depth also makes a world of difference and conditions vary.I would say a good 4440 with duals would handle a 10/12 ft chisel at 8/10 in depth.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Your 15hp a leg is probably a little light. Where I from we use the rule of thumb of 20hp per leg. Clay or clay loam soil.

 

[Mike Aylward]

Mike, I have a 4440 that runs right at 180 h.p. I also have both a 10' and a 12' John Deere chisel plow. I have run both chisels on this tractor and in the right conditions can stick the tractor and kill it with either one. I now run the 12' at about 6-7" of depth. If I have to run deeper than that I hook up the v-ripper. Chisel plows were not originally designed to run tremendously deep. In most conditions your tractor, assuming normal horsepower, could handle either size. In conditions where you will chisel you will encounter such varying conditions that it's hard to make a blanket recommendation. Some days you will think you need a 16' and other days you wonder if you can handle 10'. This may be in the same field. Mike

 

[Mike Shuler]

Powershift, 2WD, 20.8 by 38 new tires without duals and no fluid. I am looking for a set of duals for it. Cast centers as it is a late model tractor. Soil is mostly loamy with some clay. Topsoil runs about 8 inches deep on average, a little deeper in other places. Alot of places have a base of clay under the topsoil. Terrain is mostly flat to some rolling hills. Strong engine, 135 hp only 4,000 hrs on the tractor.
I have plowed with a 4640, but never the 4440, and don't want to waste money on a plow that kills it.

 

[4320Scott]

We pulled a Glencoe soil saver 9 shanks behind a 4450MFWD and that would make the tractor really work. I now pull the soil saver with an 8200 which works out so much better. Sounds like my soils are similar to yours. My opinion is that a 4440 would be a little small to pull a 9 shank chisel plow.

 

[MFPoor]

Got a 1981 4440 PS, duals, no fluid, radials, 3 rear weights per side, and it dynos 155hp. It'll handle a 12' DMI chisel @ 10"/5mph in our clay ground without too much trouble. I've got straight points on the chisel plow now. With twisted, it worked the snot outta same tractor.