1920 Allis Chalmers 6-12

Yeah Pat, I've said since day one that I planned on working my machines if given the opportunity.  We're now getting to the point where I can make good on that promise.  Fun times indeed!

Bob, setting up the plow really wasn't too bad, there is not much to the old horse drawn walking plows.  Now remember none of us knew what we were doing, but we kept playing with it until it was working well.  Ended up shortening the chain to have less sway, adjusting the wheel in the front which sets the plow depth, and set the hitch hole in the front to where it wanted to draft behind the tractor kinda naturally.  If any of that makes sense?  Then the plow man just has to steer by leaning slightly from side to side to get the plow to go either left of right, and tip it on it's side at the end of the field to get it out, then tip it back up when you are ready to start again.  All very elementary, and much easier than I was expecting!  Except for the rocks, watch out for the rocks!!  They don't move, the plow does and bumps you with it! 

Dave, it was a day of firsts for sure, lots of fun!  I wouldn't want to plow a whole quarter this way, but I honestly wouldn't mind walking behind this plow for a good part of the day.  It is a lot easier than I was expecting, and easier than it looks.  I'd do it again, and hope I can next year.

John, absolutely there is a proper plow for the tractor. This set up was just for fun, and is not factory by any means.  We were just trying it out to put a load on the tractor and experiment with actually using a walking plow. I had honestly never seen one actually used.  Have any of you?

Allis did not have their own plows at the time of the 6-12, so they had some type of agreement with Oliver at the time.  If a 6-12 was set up new with a plow, it would have had an Oliver sulky type plow.  Norm Meinert has one for his Ag 6-12, he had it on his tractor at Hutch last summer.  Pfouts family also have one on their 6-12.  I would like to find the correct plow to put on my 6-12, so if anyone finds one, let me know please. 

Back in the day though, a farmer could have easily put any plow he had on the 6-12.  That was the selling tactic, the farmer could use any existing horse drawn implement on the tractor that he already had. 

I will say though, this walking plow we used is a 14".  And at the depth we were plowing, and in this fairly sandy soil, it was all my 6-12 had to pull it.  Especially up the hill.  I was running full throttle (at least how I have the governor set currently).  I honestly think a 12" would be a better fit.  Unless a proper mounted plow works better or something.