[AT] Super Ms, Ralph Video. disc brakes etc.)

[Dean VP]

I have attended a few plow days with the local two cylinder club. The famers who have
allowed the club to use their field for the plow day usually do not allow the club back
the next year for their next plow day.   The first time I plowed with my 3 bottom mounted
plow on a three point hitch with load and depth control that I had installed on the
tractor, it took a while to get everything set right. Yes, I had plowed before but it had
been over 40 years since I had plowed last and then it had been with tag plows. And I had
never plowed with a three point mounted plow before ever. I had installed the three point
hitch on a tractor that had never had a three point hitch before including adding all the
hydraulic load and depth controls. Everything was starting from ground zero including me.
It took a couple rounds before I got things working the way they were supposed to work and
then a few more rounds to fine tune it to where I was getting that nice smooth and
properly level turned over ground.  I had a vague memory of what things were supposed to
look like but it took a while to figure out all the, new to me, plow and three point hitch
adjustments. So between the mess I was leaving in the field and some others who never got
there plow set properly, the field was something that was hard to look at. My Father would
have thrown me off the tractor and probably off the whole field if he has seen the first
couple of rounds. So it is completely understandable why the club was not invited back
again to the same location for plow day the next year.  I haven't been back to plow days
in recent years but I have noticed that the location is usually a new one each year.  

Setting up a tag plow is different and also similar but if the tractor drawbar and plow
hitch were not set up is right where differential braking is required or improper weights
aren't on the tractors land side wheel then it will be a very long day of plowing. As I
recall there usually was at least 150 more pounds on the land side tractor wheel on our
lighter tractors in the 40's and 50's era.  Even with the proper weights on the land side,
field trash could upset the traction balance quite easily especially on a tricycle front
end or single front wheel tractor. Especially tractors whose front ends were typically
light which two cylinder tractors were.  There were accessory hitch add-ons available for
tag plow, drawbar hitch setups that would allow changing the draft angle from the seat of
the tractor while moving. They facilitated moving the drawbar hitch point right or left of
nominal center.  These were popular in hilly plowing environments. 

All in all, even though I was partially party to messing up a farmer's field learning how
to plow again and learning how to set up a three point hitch with integral plow, It was a
very satisfying experience. First, it brought back all the good memories of being a farm
boy. And secondly, it had been quite a learning experience adding all the 3 point parts,
external as well as internal, to the tractor which had never had one before.  When it
started working properly and I could feel the plow suction adding additional traction to
the wheels  from the draft arms and top link adjusting on the fly, I then realized I had
successfully installed everything correctly inside the tractor hydraulics.  There was a
great sense of accomplishment that really felt good.  I was a farm boy again. My cap
didn't fit so good for a few minutes. Nothing like the smell of fresh turned over soil.   


Dean VP
Apache Junction, AZ 85120

Four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: 
Soap, Ballot, Jury and Ammo. 
Please use in that order.

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]
On Behalf Of Ron Cook
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 7:26 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Super Ms, Ralph Video. disc brakes etc.)

Charlie,
You absolutely hit the nail on the head with this posting.  I really would not want to
subject one of my fields to plow day plowing.  It just might take years to straighten
things out.

Of course, I don't have any fields.  But I do have 5 plows.:-)

Ron Cook
Salix, IA
On 12/31/2012 7:30 AM, charlie hill wrote:
> Gene,  my guess is that the guys at the plow days don't have their 
> tires loaded with water or fluid and probably don't have wheel weights.
> Not arguing your point at all but my experience with plow days is a 
> bunch of guys that would have been laughed at in the field in 1962.  
> Their plows are generally not set up correctly and the tractors can't get any traction.
> Even the ones that are properly ser up are running in a furrow cut by 
> a different plow that might not be properly set up.  If the furrow 
> isn't cut straight walled and deep enough the tractor won't track 
> right.
>
> Charlie
>

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