Tiny-t needs a plow, how much can an 8n pull?

[Tiny-t]

Preparing for the spring. I'm starting to locate a few 2 bottom plows, but what is too much? I've looked at 12's and 14's, some seem nice construction and others are like tank armor, a JD 2-14 is very nice and resonable priced, but it just looks soo heavy compared to the ford and off brand...whats good and comfortable for an 8-n? I'd hate to buy it and find out "its too much plow"

 

[JimSC]

2-14's should not be a problem for N's, unless you have hard clay soils. I remember pulling a pull type 2-16's JD plow on the farm in Nebraska with Dad's 8N but it was soft loam and worked fine in second gear. 3-point hitch, 2-14's, should work swell in most conditions.

 

[BryanID]

Thanks for posting this Tiny-t. I had the same questions. Nice loam soil here in Teton valley Idaho, problem is short growing season...they tell me I can't start my garden until July! Now the question is what to grow in 60 days?

 

[Tiny-t]

We have some clay, but not too bad, unless ya go more than 14-16 inches. Soooo, they will pull the heavier built 2 bottoms then?

 

[Tiny-t]

Potatoes? How much land ya working? I just do 3-4 acres, mostly vine crops, but am adding an acre of strawberries. We sell alot of Tomatoes and peppers at the roadside stand, then gourds and Pumpkins, cukes and melons too.

 

[Colin King]

Tiny-t, Where are you farming? My family also does 3 or so acres of vegetables and couple of acres of fruit trees in West Central Minnesota. When I was a kid, we had a couple of acres of u-pick strawberries and raspberries as well, though that's been scaled down significantly.

Colin

 

[8N'r--WI]

Tiny---I agree with Jim---with your tractor is in decent shape, it will pull a 2-14 with little problem--

--I don"t know about going down 14-16" deep, but the 2-14 plow was built for the N tractor.

Tim

 

[Tiny-t]

Northern Ohio, about 8 miles south of lake ERIE.Between Cleveland and Sandusky-Toledo. We have a busy road where people get off an Interstate to cut across to another, seems older people gave up on their stands do to age, and their kids didn't want to "get dirty" so, its good xtra cash.

 

[Tiny-t]

No, don't want to go that deep, just saying the heavier clay is down there, we have good topsoil the first 12 or so though.

 

[BillM (OH)]

I have a 2X14 that I use down here in Marietta, but soil is 100% hard clay and it's more than all the 8's want to pull - it works, but it's a chore for them. I'd be happier with a 2X12, but the 2X14 was free, so..... If your soil is good loam, a 2X14 will be OK.

 

[Tiny-t]

Thanks Bill. Definately don't want to go too big. I may just have a local come in for the one field, since its been sod for 7 years. I think after its been turned over the first time, it shouldn't be as bad in the coming years.

 

[BryanID]

No potatos. There are enough of those around here, plus I live in a seed crop area and I'd hate to be responsible for some disease that wipes out half the state's seed crop for next year. I don't have irrigation either.
I don't know how much I'll plant. Depends on how much I don't fence in for pasture and how much time I have. Given that my tractor won't start and I need to rebuild the hydraulics first, it might be next year before I can get my garden started. I might do some small experiments to see what works well for this year. Stawberries sound fun.
Bry

 

[Colin King]

Some how getting dirty became a dirty word instead of a signifier of hard (and often satisfying) work.

Spring is getting close. Hmm current temp here is 1 below ;-)

Colin

 

[Den N Ms]

Tiny-t If its been in sod for seven years. I would disk it at least twice,Maybe even one time cross ways or a 45% angle to cut the sod roots and let it dry out some before plowing.Then the sod will plow easy and it will cover up much better.It will also not have big hard clods that way and will take less to work it into a good seed bed.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'd opt for a set of Ford, Ferguson or Dearborne 2x12". Your tractor should handle these fine in harder soil and play with them in easier soil. I've pulled Ford heavier duty 2x14" with my 2N in harder ground and it worked the tractor harder than I would have liked. Pull 2x12's, give the tractor a "break".
Mr. Bob

 

[Tiny-t]

Thanks, I take in all advice!!

 

[Ultradog MN]

I've pulled 3 different plows behind an N.
First was a 2-14. Poor N wouldn't pull it through our stoney, claey-loam soil without wheel weights. It would pull it with added weights but made the tractor grunt so that I felt sorry for it.
Then I hooked up a Disc plow and the tractor pulled it just fine and it was good with the stones but it didn't plow as deep as I wanted.
The plow I found next and still like the best is a 1-16. Tractor pulls it good - not struggling all the way. Plows deep and nicely rolls the furrows even without weights.
For me, plowing is a thing to be enjoyed, even savored. So a little extra seat time with a one bottom is ok.
All of my plows were 3 point.
Never pulled a trailer plow off the drawbar.
I've read that JD and Oliver made the best of the trailer plows.
You do know that your N was made to pull more plow on the 3 point than it would off the drawbar.
Have fun.

 

[Dunk]

I have never seen a set of 3 point harrows that did much of anything, I nearly gave the ones that I bought away.

I will say that there is OLD 1 point hitch harrows that I have seen that really did a GREAT job.

All of that said, here is all I plow with.

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[Tiny-t]

Thats pretty cool!! Did you build it or its actually a manufactured plow? Never saw one around here.

 

[Tiny-t]

Yeah, I know what ya mean about enjoying it. Don't make it a job, make it enjoyable!

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 09:59:45 02/12/08) Thats pretty cool!! Did you build it or its actually a manufactured plow? Never saw one around here.

It is a manufactured plow, that has quite a few different names it seems.

I call it an All Purpose plow, others call it (I believe) a shank plow, a chisel plow, (maybe more names)...

Scroll down the page here, and you will see them listed.

http://www.lowerymanufacturing.com/Plows Allpurpose.htm

 

[Dunk]

Here is another topic on here..

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=nboard&amp;th=596537

 

[Tiny-t]

Thanks, those are awesome! May have to look into one of those for sure. Like the pictures in that older post, those things can tear some ground up!