Need help with set up 2pt fast hitch plow.

Having said all of this there is little we can do if Kelly is not going to come back and tell us the tractor wheel tread setting, and if indeed he is willing to narrow the tractor to the figures you quoted. I guess it looks as though we all wasted our time. It is truly hard to help some people.

Here you go Hugh.
400 with one cylinder. But I think the draft control is pinned. Also the float is pinned. The hitch can move side to side a bit though.

I will give you some examples I've used over the years. My 2x12 single point plow for 130, works well at 52" tread on tractor, 56" is so-so, 60" is impossible. 3x16 and 4x16 No. 60 trailer plows worked well on 300 and 560 respectively and both tractors set at 72" centers. 5x16 worked well at 84" wheel tread. The two factors you must consider here are size of the first furrow on right, and side draft on tractor which really only matters when tractor reaches its load capacity.

Secondly as near as I can see your tractor has the original 400 fast hitch and the lift cylinder must be in float positon. You can not plow using down pressure, at some point it will lift the rear wheels of tractor taking away traction. Just ahead of your right rear axle carrier on hitch is provission for second implement 8" stroke hydraulic cylinder. That cylinder is a must for plowing as it is your depth control. This in my opinion made the fast hitch on 100, 200, 300, 400 and 130 the Cadalac of plowing machines, being able to hydraulically change your depth setting, on the go while plowing. This was a great feature if you had various soil type or conditions within a field. When you came to that certain hard spot in field you could adjust depth accordingly.

You do not have draft control, that came later with the 230, 350 and 450. In my opinion you can count yourself lucky you don't have the newer hitch as the draft control never worked well on those tractors and you lost the ability to change depth on the go. IH really never had a great draft control until the 04 and 06 tractors and by then both 2 point and 3 point hitches.

This would be my advice. You are not going to change wheels on 300 or 400 every time you plow. I've been there and done that, people that loosen rear wheels regularly always have loose wheels and are always tightening wheels, and sheared of a few keys in cast hub of rear wheel. If I were you with spring auction season on I would look for a 3 bottom plow. 3x16 will work well with rear tractor tires on 72" centers. I judge your 400 to be on 72" centers with out side of wheels flush with ends of axle. If you go 3x14, 72" will be a shade wide. My guess is you can probably switch plows for close to nothing in actual cash outlay. Home gardening folks really like the 2 bottom plows and you can set a 300 Utility at 60" centers quite easily Now I supose you could buy a 300 Utility just for plowing. But then 300 Utility outlay could be saved for that 656 or 706.

I seriously would look at 3x16, either fast hitch mounted, semi-mounted or trailer and come into the newer plows with trip bottoms. They will save you a lot of grief plowing with that 400 or larger tractor.

I have both a three bottom and four bottom. If I lose traction I will use the front cylinder to get me going again. I do this because I learned to plow with a Cub and used the front "draft control" in a similar manner.

I bought several of the small cylinders from Berkshire Equipment. But I am sure that any old time dealer will probably have them as used.

It is interesting that your 400 has eight spoke wheels. Haven't seen that before. Must be a late 400.

I see your bottoms are painted with red paint! Have you taken the paint off the bottoms? Your will probably never get the bottoms to scour with all that paint on them. Get the bottoms as shinny as you can get them with sand paper and wire wheel on a drill etc. Then lift your colters up so they don't cut very deep, or take them off if don't have much trash, and drive fast to get a good "land polish". If you have some sandy soil, this will help you also. Once you get a good polish, and you are not using the plow, keep your plow bottoms painted with a special paint, see your local farm store, for keeping the moldboards from rusting. It looks like a thin black tar. I get mine in a gal. can at Farm & Fleet here in Illinois. Speed should not be a problem for you with that 400 and 2 bottom plow! Can't help you with adjustments for fast hitch plow. Good Luck!