2 bottom moldboard plow

[Dr.Corn]

about a year ago i got a 2 bottom moldboard plow. i was going to plow up a little corn field but I couldn't get the right depth. I tried to plow up a couple strips but it kept stalling out the tractor. i was either to deep or not deep enough.

so i just need some help on how to get the right depth on the plow and what gear to put the tractor in.
 

[John Deere D]

Make Model of Tractor please...........
 

[paul]

What size tractor do you have?

Is it a 3pt plow or a trailer plow (on wheels)?

Does it have levers to adjust, or a lever and a crank, or?

A plow that hasn't been used in a while can be quite rusty, and difficult to start with, until the bottoms shine up.

There are all three axis to adjust on a plow really, left to right so it pulls straight, side to side so it lines up behind the tractor, up and down so it
pills into the ground and stay level, adjusting one affects the others usually.

Then, the first round the tractor sits Level, you have to adjust the plow different for that first round, then when the tractor wheel is in the furrow
you set the plow different.

If the plow shares are worn down, then it won't like going into the dirt, it will want to skip over the top. If the ground is very dry clay it won't want
to penetrate; if soft muck or peat then it will want to go to China.

So, there is a lot of art along with the science of setting up a plow. Once you get it right for a tractor, not so much to deal with any more.

I guess I'm not much help, but there is a lot to consider. It is easier to 'do' than to 'explain' in text.

You can't go too slow, at least to figure it out, starting in 1st gear and work up. It's actually nice to be in a middle gear and the dirt flows nicely....
but if you are killing the tractor, pick a slower gear and work it out.

Paul
 

[old]

Lack of info makes it hard for us to help you help your self.

What tractor?? 3 point of pull type plow?? What brand of plow since they are not all set the same way??????????
 

[Dr.Corn]

my tractor is a Ford 8N 1952. the plow is a Ferguson 2 bottom plow (originally made for the 8N)

and the plow is a 3 point hitch type plow. sorry for the lack of info
 

[paul]

I would never go through the rigamarole this guy does, (don't even argue exactly on everything) but you might get a good visual of what you
need to adjust and account for from this video, or better understand what is going wrong for you?

I wonder if you are getting the side to side level (or 6 inches off level to be exact....) and or the front to back level set up right? Either would
make keeping the plow depth correct very difficult.

And again, a problem is the first round when the tractor is level, is always difficult to set right; and then need a different setting for the remaining
normal rounds.....

Then, if you were having trouble keeping a smooth depth the first time, following it the second time your tractor will go up and down, making the
plow again be all out of kilter..... once it's right, then everything smooths out and works great, but you have to get it right once to get a smooth
furrow.....

Paul
8 minutes of plow setting

 

[Leroy]

First off I am guessing that your shares are either needing sharpened or wore out and they will do that. And that plow should have the blacksmith sharpen type of share and nuw are over a Hundred dollars each. As for gear it should be second gear. 2/3 to 3/4 throttle. Real tough going might need first.
 

[Dr.Corn]

I just watched the video. and thank you for finding it! with me being a newbie to the plowing and farming world, I was a little confused on the draft control mechanism.

It probably isn't the easiest to explain over text but maybe someone could try to simplify it a little for me?

I would really appreciate it!!
 

[hd6gtom]

Did you buy a plow with 12" bottoms on it. If they are bigger than that you need to remove the rear bottom
and try it with 1 bottom. What are you trying to plow. If it is alalafa sod you might as well hire someone
else to plow it.
 

[Leroy]

That will NEVER WORK as just removing the bottom will leave the beam digging in the ground as that is a one piece curved beam. Now others that are made different with a removeable shank that holds the bottom and that it can be taken off with the bottom could work. You are just confusing him more with a statement like that as you evidently did not know how his plow is made.
 

[WGM]

Only been farming for 50 years but have never heard of sharpening plow shares. If they are worn out replace them.