In-Furrow Plowing and On-Land Plowing
On-land plowing is the preferred method and the only recommended method of plowing with this machine. On-land plowing does not require the belt to be physically located in the furrow. In contrast, in-furrow plowing requires the belt to be located directly in the furrow.
Advantages of On-Land Plowing
On-land plowing provides the following advantages over in-furrow plowing: machine that is level, improved traction, a reduction in the side loading of the belt, a reduction in debris in the belt and even wear of the grousers. The edges of the belt will tend to roll causing debris to become trapped inside the undercarriage if the machine is used for in-furrow plowing. This effect becomes more evident as the width of the belt increases. The edge of the belts that are overhung will tend to rollover to a greater extent. Rolling of the edges of the belts will cause uneven loading in the following items: belts, grousers, midwheels, idlers and drivers. In addition, the shape of the furrow will not facilitate an even distribution of the weight of the machine. As a result, the grousers may not evenly wear. Compaction of the soil may also be increased. Also, in-furrow plowing will increase the side loads on the guide blocks.
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Use of this machine with an in-furrow plow can result in damage to belts, midwheels, drive wheels, and idlers, and is not recommended. |
An on-land plow that has a toolbar with an adjustable angle will provide longer component life and superior performance. Also, an on-land plow that has a toolbar with a fixed angle will provide improved component life and superior performance if the rollover is executed slowly and the machine is not in motion.
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With any high drawbar or three-point hitch loading situation, reduced drivetrain life may be expected if the machine is operated frequently at a load which it is not capable of pulling at 7.3 km/h (4.5 mph) or faster. |
Rollover Plows
Rollover plows can improve efficiency by allowing a single furrow to be used during moldboard plowing. Substantial loading to the three-point hitch can occur as the plow is rolled. If the machine is in motion, the loading can be especially substantial when the rollover is performed.
There are several methods that can be used in order to mount plows. Semi-mounting with a rear gage wheel is the preferred method for mounting a plow to this machine. There are types of rollover plows that are available which allow the angle of the toolbar to be changed through the use of a hydraulic cylinder. When possible, the center of gravity should be pulled close to the rollover axis when the rollover is executed. When the center of gravity is close to the rollover axis, dynamic loads are substantially reduced and the rollover will be smoother. When plows are fully mounted to the three-point hitch, a reduction in the life of the components of the three-point hitch should be expected. If a plow with a toolbar that has a fixed angle is used instead of the preferred adjustable angle, the speed of the rollover should be reduced by adjusting the flow control. In addition, the machine should not be moving while the rollover is being executed.
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Use of plows which are fully mounted on the three-point hitch and/or do not have the retraction feature of the adjustable toolbar angle, especially if a rollover is executed while the machine is in motion, can cause severe dynamic loading and may shorten life of the three-point hitch components. |