marker points (creasers)

[westslope]

I've tried to mark a neighbor's field with a three bottom marker I borrowed from a farmer down the road. I think I got the the thing leveled out,side to side, so the points are all equa-distant when contacting the ground, and my sway blocks are tight. The marker is a heavy piece, a Deere from God knows how long ago. Problem is, it just does not want to dig in with all three points with consistency. It tends to skate along the surface with one of the points - and occasionally two - and gathers sod and debris without creating a good furrow. How sharp or pointed should the marker shoes be? The unit looks like it's been down the field a time or two and the ends of the points are kind of rounded, but I thought there would be enough weight back there that it would dig in anyhow. I've adjusted the 'angle of attack' with the top link, but that does not seem to make any difference. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[DeltaRed]

If you are talking of a 'Mormon creaser',they just do that. The furrows are not completely consistent,so some irregularitys exist.It cleans the mark where it is sodded'siltedin. If deep enough it glides along. Hard ground also contributes to penetration.worn rounded points(like sled runners) wont go in hard ground. I have a 5 row,mark 2-300 acres a year. I carry 800 pouds of wt on it too. the wt really makes things happen.If you want every inch of every mark cleaned,you need a spring shank marker. Then you pull up clods and rocks.I'm at Delta,Where are you?

 

[SVcummins]

We always moldboard plow or disc rip before marking so the marker can make nice deep rows

 

[Leroy]

Would somebody post a picture of what you are talking about. Me here in Ohio I have no idea what you are talking about or what it would be used for. The only marker I ever heard of was a sled to mark rows for corn when you were planting by hand before there were corn planters.

 

[DeltaRed]

I think he is talking of remarking an established hay field. We do that here every year.

 

[DeltaRed]

Leroy,a 'Mormon creaser' is a sledlike affair.Carried on a 3 point hitch. It has a 'boat' for each row/water'mark'.They are available as a 2;3;5;7;9 row machine. 3,5,or 7 row are more common. I have a 5 row. A special shovel/'knife' slices a nice little 4"wide by up to 4" deep furrow. they are nice because they don't pull up chunks of sod. they leave a nice smooth field.They are a tool you will only find in furrow irrigated country.

 

[DeltaRed]

westslope,post a pic or two of the points. I can better tell you what your problem is.Also,remove the sway blocks. the machine needs to sway a bit to follow the row.

 

[westslope]

Delta,
I'm down here outside of Montrose. So you add weight; this makes instinctive sense. Perhaps with extra weight and sharper points, I could get down in there. I was going through different stuff - some almost bare ground, some low sod, some places I would have tended to brush hog off beforehand had I owned the field myself. I now can appreciate going by fields and seeing dead straight, uniformly deep furrows laid down by someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for the input. I've farmed a bit in Pennsylvania, but this marking bit is new to me.

 

[westslope]

Delta,
Here's a picture of one of the markers. Should I be getting something out of this or is it too far gone? Thanks.

 

[craigco]

We call them corogaters where I'm at. It is amazing how hard It is to drive in a straight line. On existing fields that have had corogations I usually overlap when pulling the corogator then the overlap cuts it a little deeper then you just follow the corogations with your tire and keeps you fairly straight. It will cut down your productivity but it works.

 

[paul]

Thanks for the pic and info, that is a machine and an operation I?ve never heard of, or what it should accomplish.

Mom would use a hoe to mark out rows in the garden, left little trenches. She follows a twine on two sticks to get them straight.

Paul

 

[DeltaRed]

Yo have a 'shovel' marker.Not a Morman. those shovels are completely worn out. They are worn down to the shank behind,actually ,it is rideing on the shank. You need need new shovels.No 'ifs,ands,or buts'.the local JohnDeere (US Tractor) will have them (6 inch) $16.00 each. The other dealers will also have them too. I just bought 5 today,to put on my 5 row.

 

[DeltaRed]

With new shovels you wont need any wt. they will cut just fine. lot of guys mark clear down to china,pulling up clods and rocks. Don't need to go that deep. You are just cleaning,so some deeper,cleaner markswont get touched by the marker,while the row deside it does.Also,short runs don't need marks. Not every field needs remarked every year.Call if you want. Be glad to talk. eight 7four-3nine73.

 

[Leroy]

So it is for water then and not for planting?

 

[westslope]

Leroy,
Yes - for water so when the ditch or pipe opens up at the top of a field, the water can gradually follow these small furrows down through and distribute the water kind of evenly without swamping up. Believe me, I'm from the hills of Pennsylvania (40+ inches/yr where my place was) and I never saw this arrangement til I moved here. Seems to work, though.