I finally got a moldboard plow for my tractor

[bontai Joe]

I bought it from a fella I met in another forum. Went 70 miles out of my way last night to pick it up. Nice guy and it was a pleasure to do business with him. And like most tractor people, he has a dozen projects he is working on. Apparently he bought the moldboard plow and other cultivator tools back when he first moved in and had some semi-serious landscaping to do. Now that it is all established, he is selling off the tools to be able to buy stuff for his 1930's vintage Ford 4 door sedan. I got the plow only, as I could not afford the disc (don't really need it anyway) and other tools he had. My wife squawked pretty loud, until I explained that it could be my birthday present (I'll be 49 next week). Anyhow here is a pic:

[Ingersoll444]

COOL!!!! I have been wanting one, but waiting to fall into one

[farmallmaniac]

Is that for you garden tractor? Would a White LGT-165 have enough power for a small plow?

[bontai Joe]

I was looking for around a year for a decent one. They sell for too much on ebay. And I was bidding on a pretty beat up one in a local auction, and went for mre than I wanted to pay. This one has some surface rust on it, but it is complete, and straight, with no extra stuff welded on, and the price was right. I also avoided shipping on a 70 pound item by driving down there after work. $10 in gas is all it cost me to fetch it, and a couple of hours of my time, which I spent enjoying the scenery of southern PA.

[bontai Joe]

If your tractor was offered with a sleeve hitch, then it will pull a plow. I've seen lots of 8 and 10 HP Tecumseh powered Deere 110's pull a plow and even a 6 HP Wheelhorse. My next thing to get is some agressive ag tires to mount on my extra wheels.

[farmallmaniac]

So you can't get a plow that uses just a hitch and not a sleeve hitch?

[jodyand]

Looks like a nice find Joe :fing32: Now you will have to take some picture when yo use it.

[Argee]

Nice find Joe...I have an operating manual for it...if you need, I can copy for you.

[bontai Joe]

So you can't get a plow that uses just a hitch and not a sleeve hitch?

If you look closely at the picture, you will see the "[" shaped part of the hitch? That part locks into the sleeve hitch of the tractor, preventing the plow from swinging from side to side. Old Wheelhorses had a small rectangular steel tube that was part of the tractor hitch that their implements slid into and then were held captive by a pin to do the same thing. What you want is a hitch that allows up and down, but no side motion. I'd bet after looking at the rear of your tractor, you might be able to invent something that works, if you can't get a hitch from your White dealer. I'm not familiar with your model tractor, so I don't know if the tranny is up to pulling a plow, but the definition of a garden tractor is to be able to do it.

[USN_ED]

Joe -

Nice plow. Brinly made/makes some very good implements. They combined with another company a few year ago and now go by "Brinly-Hardy". Should you ever need parts for your plow, you can order from them.

ED

[USN_ED]

Joe -

I forgot to say that I think you want some side-to-side play in the plow. The reason is that should you snag something with the plow, it will be able to move a bit and free itself without bringing you to an instant stop and perhaps tweaking your sleeve-hitch. I think it would be a good idea if you took "Argee" up on his offer to make a copy of the "Operator's Manual" for you.

A guy that lives down the road for me backs the two adjustment bolts back a 1/2" after he squares the plow upon initial mounting. Anyway, just my nickle.

Take care,
ED

[bontai Joe]

You are right Ed in that there is a little movement, but not free swinging like a wagon tongue. I know at www.weekendfreedommachines.org and www.ihcubcadet.com there are lots of guys that get together a couple times a year just to plow up a field with a whole flock of garden tractors on a "Plowday" event. I've attached some pics borrowed from WFM of a past "Plowday".

[Carl]

Lookin good! Were you in that great plow out?

[USN_ED]

Great pictures Joe. Thanks for posting them.

[Willie Nunez]

bontai Joe,
Congratulations, I know how you feel. I too found my Brinly plow used, for $75. This is an old photo. I had the tractor up on the trailer, with the plow in the air so I could adjust the depth limit. This setup was perfect for determining which adjustment hole gave me what depth(at full extension of the actuator). This is the reason the coulter wheel is off, in this photo.
Oh yeah, engaging the ground with this plow makes you wish you had differential lock. I hope your tractor has one. Chains on the tires and more ballast helps, but I still want differential lock.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/WillieNunez/Electric_Actuator_Test_007.jpg

[Ingersoll444]

All this talk about plows, makes me remember I have an old DB plow, that my stepfather had adapted to work on a homemade liftable hitch. I am thinking of adding a sleave hitch hookup to it, like I did my rake. Can one of you guys chech to see what angle the hitch plate is at relitive to the plow sitting on the floor. In Joes first picture it looks almost 90deg. Is that the case?Thanks!!

[bontai Joe]

The std. sleeve hitch is square (90 degrees) with the centerline of the tractor. The plow frame and it's mount are also square. There are some adjustments possible for up and down and to rotate the plow blade itself to allow the leading point to pivot up and down in relation to the rest of the plow. There are also weight requirements, that will improve the tractor's ability to pull. I found a decent set up description at this link:
http://www.ihcubcadet.com/IHCCFAQ/PlowSetup.htm

[Carl]

The manual that came with my plow said to adjust it by blocking up the non furrow wheel. Then adjust the pitch of the plow so that the land (bottom of plow) is flat with the ground.

Of course if you already have the trailer :)

[JDFANATIC]

bontai Joe,
Congratulations, I know how you feel. I too found my Brinly plow used, for $75. This is an old photo. I had the tractor up on the trailer, with the plow in the air so I could adjust the depth limit. This setup was perfect for determining which adjustment hole gave me what depth(at full extension of the actuator). This is the reason the coulter wheel is off, in this photo.
Oh yeah, engaging the ground with this plow makes you wish you had differential lock. I hope your tractor has one. Chains on the tires and more ballast helps, but I still want differential lock.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/WillieNunez/Electric_Actuator_Test_007.jpg
Willie,

You and I have exchanged posts and emails on locking differentials in the past, and though we haven't always agreed, this is exactly one of those situations where I completely agree it will help, if not be necessary, and second to only 4WD.

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[bontai Joe]

My plan for traction is to get bar tires with taller "bars" and a narrower width than what Willie has on his tractor by using the narrow rims from an old Deere 110. My thinking is the narrower tire will put more downward pressure on each sq. in of tire contact area and the taller bars will provide more bite, but I certainly agree that a locking rear differential sure would be nice, just not an option for me right now. I've got 300 pounds of wheel weights available to me, PLUS the 300 I provide in the seat(easy installation ROF ), on a Deere 316 that weighs approx 750 with out any attachments. I might have everything I need by next year. Just got hit with a couple of unexpected bills, which will postpone the tires for 6 months or more. :banghead3 :banghead3 :banghead3

[Carl]

Another advantage to narrower tires.

I have a 12" Brinley plow that I bought for the old MTD. Now using it on the TZ24DA. Works ok, but the 13.2" terf tires are a bit wide for the furrow. Which means that the plow adjustment that I gave above doesn't work for me. :omg:

[bontai Joe]

The tires I have in mind look like these Firestones:

[bontai Joe]

Well it looks like my tires may have to wait until next year. I got a set of narrower than usual rims last year only because they were so cheap, I couldn't pass them up. But with it costing me $30 plus every 3 days to fill the gas tank up an the car, ain't no "toy" money left. :banghead3 :00000060: :banghead3 :00000060:

[Mickey]

Joe, what you mounting this plow on?

Have a similar plow I use on the old Bolens. Made the mount myself many a yr ago. Mount is angled so plow is straight when wheel is down in the furrow. Have Ag tires on the Bolens. The mount hooks up just like any of the rear mount attchments and is lifted with same Hyd control as other attachments.

Does a pretty good job without weights but I do tighten down on the diff lock. This Bolens has HST which works, but not as good as I think it would with a manual trans.

If I get a tiller for the Yanmar, the Bolens I've had since 1971 is finally going to find a new home. tractor, tiller, plow & mount. Still have the original mower deck but it is in pretty poor condition.

[bontai Joe]

I'll be mounting this on a 1978 Deere 316 hydro that I bought new in 1979. I've got 200 pounds of wheel weights available (plus my 300 in the seat). The hydros in these machines are a lot more substantial than what is put in a lot of today's machines.

[Wild Bill 83]

Joe,

Here is a pic of my 1978 Cub Cadet 1450, and the 12" Brinly plow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/1450withplow.jpg

The tractor is a 14hp Kohler, with a Sunstrand hydro unit..(the same hydro unit used by JD)

It has 10.5" Carlisle AGs on it, and anywhere from 104 to 156 pounds of wheel weights...depending on soil moisture, and how hard the ground is....lol It doesn't matter if my son (70lbs) or I (245lb) am in the seat, the CC doesn't complain too much....she just keeps a pullin' :fing32:

BTW, no differential lock, and none needed as far as I can tell.

If anyone is interested, I can dig up some 'action' shots of the 1450 and the Brinly doing their thing. :trink40:

[bontai Joe]

The Cub 1250, 1450, and 1650 are awesome tractors. And I'm still kicking myself for passing up on a 1450 I saw 2 years ago for $700 with the 48" (50"?) mower that was in VERY good condition. I for one, would really like to see some action photos of yours.

[Argee]

If anyone is interested, I can dig up some 'action' shots of the 1450 and the Brinly doing their thing.
By all means...please do!!

[MaineDad]

bontai Joe,

Nice plow! I was fortunate enough to have a neighbor who had an old Brinly Cultivator and furrow plow that he did want anymore and just gave them to me! These are heavy-duty real steel implements. They both fit on my sleeve hitch on my GT500. He also had an extra "[" hitch that I cut the back part off, turned it around and now it fits in the "Slot-Hitch" on my 1963 Wheel Horse 753. It was like a GT Christmas for me :)

Send pics in use when you can and Happy B-Day in advance...

MaineDad

[YaleVaHere]

bontai Joe,

Looks like you did good Joe. :congrats: I found me an old Craftsman plow in the trading post here in Virginia and went and got it today. Seemed to be in pretty decent shape. Wound up getting a old cultivator and disc while I was there. Bought It from a nice older Gentleman. He Gave me the grand tour of his place. Nice old John Deere GT, I think it was a 323 (he said he'd had it since the early 80's) and his big JD He'd had since 75 looked to be in excellent shape. Took me a while to leave, He was ready to do some talking. I got all 3 pieces for $150. A whole lot less than they would have cost new.

[Wild Bill 83]

Well....with my computer doing a :eck16: routine, I am having a tough time finding the action pictures... My wife says she put all my pics on a CD just before the meltdown, but we still haven't found the 'right' CD yet. When I do I'll post them, or maybe some new ones from this year (soon) :fing32:

[Wild Bill 83]

Hey...We found the pics :bannana:

I opened up the garden (I didn't want the B-man tearing up the strawberries....the 'boss' would not have been impressed ROF )

Then I put my boy on the tractor to have some fun.

Here is my son, doing his first plowing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/Brandontakesaturnplowing.jpg

Pouring the coal to her!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/Brandonhavingfun.jpg


The 12" Brinly is buried!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/plowingdeep.jpg


Almost done.........I was impressed, he kept the furrows pretty straight!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/nicefurrow.jpg

There is 104lb of wheel weights, and 70lb of 13 year old in the seat...14hp Kohler, hydrostatic drive, 10.5" Carlisle AGs, open differential, pulling a 12" plow at 5"-6" deep :trink40:

[bontai Joe]

Sweet pictures! The little fella looks like he had a barrel of fun, and the tractor probably enjoyed flexing it's muscles doing something besides just cutting grass. :fing32: :fing32:

[DeereMan]

Just a tip on maintenance of any ground engaging attachments. Notice that they scour up to a really nice polish on the steel mold board. To avoid rust and still allow the plow to work the next time you need it, buy some John Deere Soft Black paint. The Soft Black is designed specifically for painting moldboards, colters, etc. It goes on like spray paint and protects the steel but it is soft so it scours off quickly when the plow is first used after storage.

[bontai Joe]

Glad to see this thread pop up again. I'm still postponing the tires I had planned. Had some serious financial setbacks the last few months. So unless it can be eaten or help me make more money than it cost, I'm not buying it for now. And for you guys that are looking for these kinds of attachments, DeereMan is 100% right in painting to preserve the steel blade. Same goes for disc harrows. And if at all possible, store them inside instead of letting them rust outdoors. It's sad to see good tools ruined by sitting outdoors a couple of years and letting the part that touches the soil rot away. It happens quicker than you think.