Modified Plow Turns Sod Better

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #2, Page #27

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Floyd Sumy owns an Oliver 40 sulky, 12-in. bottom plow. When he needed a new plows hare, he cut down a 16-in. IH moldboard to fit. Sumy modified the share as well, with the rear end sliced at a 45° angle. He says it works better than the original and cost a lot less.
  "I like to keep my costs down and had pulled the sulky plow out of a fencerow," says Sumy. "I checked on a new cast iron plow share, and it was high priced. Just shipping alone came to $50."
  Instead Sumy found an old, used IH plow with a good 16-in. plow share and moldboard.
  "With most of the moldboard a full 16 in., but the plow share cutting only 12 in., I figured a slice of sod would lay over much more slowly," explains Sumy. "Cutting the angle on the rear of the plow share keeps the sod strip from being completely severed. The uncut corner hangs enough to ensure that the sod layer lays face down."
  To make the changes, Sumy set up the Oliver 40 with its furrow wheel, original plow share and landside flat on a concrete floor. He put the landside wheel up on a block to replicate the field situation.
  "The nice thing about the Oliver 40 sulky plow is it has lots of adjustment capability with its multiple control levers," says Sumy. "Getting everything in line was fairly easy."
  Using chalk, he marked around the cutting point of the plow share and alongside the landside. He then cut off the old plow bottom and slid the IH bottom into place. He lined up its point against the chalked point and the landside against the landside's chalked line. After welding the 16-in. plow share and moldboard in place, he marked back 12 in. from the point on the landside of the share.
  "I cut away the extra 4 in. on the plow share and the inside of the moldboard, leaving the remainder of the moldboard its full original length," explains Sumy. "Trimming the landside end of the plow share was more difficult, as it was trial and error. I knew it would work because I used to do it with tractor plows, too."
  Sumy says he made a dozen trips back and forth from the field to the shop as he readjusted the angle of the cut. He would trim off a small amount, try it and return to trim off a bit more until it lay the sod over just right.
  "I like to plow alfalfa under and plant corn into it as a way to reduce fertilizer needs," says Sumy. "Last year with the drought, it also made a big difference in conserving moisture."
  Sumy said the field he plowed gave his modified plow a good test. He estimates it had been at least 15 years since it had last been plowed.
  "It turned over nicer and pulled easier than the original Oliver 12-in., and the long moldboard gave the sod a long slow turn," says Sumy.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Spring River Machine, 3490 L.C. 2110, Stotts City, Mo. 65756 (ph 417 285-3164).

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Modified Plow Turns Sod Better TILLAGE EUIPMENT Miscellaneous Floyd Sumy owns an Oliver 40 sulky 12-in bottom plow When he needed a new plows hare he cut down a 16-in IH moldboard to fit Sumy modified the share as well with the rear end sliced at a 45° angle He says it works better than the original and cost a lot less I like to keep my costs down and had pulled the sulky plow out of a fencerow says Sumy I checked on a new cast iron plow share and it was high priced Just shipping alone came to $50 Instead Sumy found an old used IH plow with a good 16-in plow share and moldboard With most of the moldboard a full 16 in but the plow share cutting only 12 in I figured a slice of sod would lay over much more slowly explains Sumy Cutting the angle on the rear of the plow share keeps the sod strip from being completely severed The uncut corner hangs enough to ensure that the sod layer lays face down To make the changes Sumy set up the Oliver 40 with its furrow wheel original plow share and landside flat on a concrete floor He put the landside wheel up on a block to replicate the field situation The nice thing about the Oliver 40 sulky plow is it has lots of adjustment capability with its multiple control levers says Sumy Getting everything in line was fairly easy Using chalk he marked around the cutting point of the plow share and alongside the landside He then cut off the old plow bottom and slid the IH bottom into place He lined up its point against the chalked point and the landside against the landside s chalked line After welding the 16-in plow share and moldboard in place he marked back 12 in from the point on the landside of the share I cut away the extra 4 in on the plow share and the inside of the moldboard leaving the remainder of the moldboard its full original length explains Sumy Trimming the landside end of the plow share was more difficult as it was trial and error I knew it would work because I used to do it with tractor plows too Sumy says he made a dozen trips back and forth from the field to the shop as he readjusted the angle of the cut He would trim off a small amount try it and return to trim off a bit more until it lay the sod over just right I like to plow alfalfa under and plant corn into it as a way to reduce fertilizer needs says Sumy Last year with the drought it also made a big difference in conserving moisture Sumy said the field he plowed gave his modified plow a good test He estimates it had been at least 15 years since it had last been plowed It turned over nicer and pulled easier than the original Oliver 12-in and the long moldboard gave the sod a long slow turn says Sumy Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Spring River Machine 3490 L C 2110 Stotts City Mo 65756 ph 417 285-3164

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