Tillage Question

Not color specific.

What tool have you guys had luck with for tall and or thick sod?

My big moldboard plow does ok, but there are fields where it’s not too handy. And honestly…..it could be better.

Glencoe soil saver is a no-go, it’s plugging.

My most recent small plow is an IH 400. That plow does a wonderful job and pulls easily…right up until it doesn’t, then it’s miserable. In heavy sod, it rides up and gets caught on the shank and from there is all downhill. It seems to me the colters are too big and too close to the moldboard, and also not much clearance under the frame. You get to a point where you’re only 3 inches deep, then to a point where it still scoops up grass and it’s all plugged up.

Just curious if anyone has good luck in such a case.

I've never done this, or for that matter even seen it done, but in the old days, they would tie a length of #9 wire on a coulter or somewhere on the frame, and that dragging wire would fold over the tall brush so it didn't plug.

My friend used to have a pair of IH #720 plows; 5-16' & 6-16".  They would only plug in very heavy (and/or damp) cornstalks.  Sod plowing was a breeze.  FWIW.

Brian F(IL) wrote: My friend used to have a pair of IH #720 plows; 5-16' & 6-16".  They would only plug in very heavy (and/or damp) cornstalks.  Sod plowing was a breeze.  FWIW.

I am so glad you made this comment! That is very specifically one of the things I wondered. Thanks!

I've seen a properly set plow go through weeds taller than the top of a tractors muffler without plugging. Coulters + jointers and weed hooks

How/ where is this wire tied?

I think it gets tied to the rolling coulter shank and is routed to the inside of the coulter blade so it gets drug towards the moldboard. It folds over the brush pretty flat so it doesn't plug the throat between the bottoms. It would extend at least as long as the moldboard and maybe a little beyond. Say what you want, but I'm sure this was a well-known trick 60 and 70 years ago with 12 and 14 inch plow bottoms and not much throat opening on ANY plow of that day.

Interesting. Still not sure I’m visualizing correctly. A loop, or just a straight wire dragging? Only tied on one end? If I get a chance in the next couple days I’ll put one on and take a picture and see if I’m on the right track. Thanks for the discussion guys.

steve(ill) wrote: yes, i would like to see a picture or a drawing of that... I dont understand what dragging a wire does ???

I’ve been thinking heavily, smoke starting to roll out of my ears.

The visual I’m getting is if you picture direction of travel, tie the wire to the colter shank and rout it to the left of the colter. Then bend it about 90 degrees or maybe a little less and route in front of the moldboard, the whole width of the moldboard. That way you would be folding over the grass in front of the moldboard as you travel. I think. Hard to imagine it’s stiff enough but must work since several have mentioned it.

Edited by Tbone95 - 2 hours 10 minutes ago at 9:51am

Secured at the coulter shank end, yes. But make sure you get it wrapped so it doesn't pull apart as there will be a pretty good tug on that wire tucking and bending over the tall stuff.