Plowing with Fasthitch

My suggestion is go to the proper operators manual for the tractor you are using. That in conjunction with plow manual should tell you how it's done. What Pete told by saying "float" is correct, however there will be a bit more to it than just "float". Semi-mounts are a bit unique.

The point I'm trying to make is with 300 and 400 you could manually adjust draft or depth, and they were a decent hitch. You could not call the 350, 450, 460 or 560 draft control anything near decent. When IH came with the 06 and 56 series tractors they more than made up for lost time.

I always have maintained fast hitch did one thing, that was the evolution of lower link sencing. All companies in the 1950s were struggling to come up with the perfect system. IH finally did it and they did it using their lower link sencing technology and applying it to Ferguson's 3 point hitch. Indeed it came with 04-06 tractors in 1963. At that point IH were light years ahead of the competition on hydraulic systems. They also had perfected IPTO and much improved TA by getting rid of free wheeling on low side. I farmed with two of these tractors namely the 656 and 1066. I've operated many other tractors since up to and including 2006 models. In my opinion, no company has surpassed IH on that 3 point or fast hitch, used on 06, 26, 56, 66 or 86 series tractors.

Make three or four huge 60 acre circles? :>)

Allan

But, what do you do about the turn rows?

You know, the ends of the field where ya have to clean it up against the fence/road/outer edge of the field?

Allan

Having said this, I can see where your coming from with the roll over or spinner plow as you call. I had a neighbor much like you plowed for years with his 3x16 roll over John Deere, and like you he thought the rest of us were nuts. Maybe he was right, and maybe your right. I do expect with most of us nuts guys, it was a plain case of dollars invested when we bought the plow.

Just came back from town, about 2 miles from me at the end of our side road, one of my neighbors plowing with a new 200hp + New Holland conventional 4x4 and a 3 year old 8 bottom semi-mount roll over plow. What do you suppose that plow cost? I'm thinking it put one hell of a dent in $50,000. I remember when I bought my IH 5x16 semi-mount new in 1975 for $2,000., a new 4 bottom roll over was over $5,000.

I don't think you are "nuts" at all.

Different people do it in different ways and I just didn't understand how you guys covered all the bases is all.

Allan

There ya go! Thanks Bob,

Allan