Hydro or Gear drive for Plowing

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by danfeste

In order to get the hydraulic lift dropped down to the exact same spot everytime it needs to be all the way down, and then the plowing depth is adjusted by moving the lift straps up or down, and the position of the adapter in the lower sleeve hitch u bracket. The plow can then float up if it hits something. It can't go any deeper by itself because its already all the way down.

I'm sorry but that is not true. With either, the running depth should be in the center of the float on the lift straps. The plow should not be pulling down on the straps. The only load that should be on the adapter is pulling it through the ground in the direction you are driving.

In the vids, both lifts are dropped all the way down.

[danfeste]

So your saying the lift straps have nothing to do with how deep the plow will run?

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by danfeste

So your saying the lift straps have nothing to do with how deep the plow will run?

No, I'm saying that they do not control depth. If you have them set too high, they will keep if from going in to the depth the plow is set to go, thus the plow will "pull down" on the straps, and it shouldn't.

If the plow is set correctly, you should be able to take the straps off and plow an even depth. At least as long as soil conditions don't change too drastically.

[finsruskw]

Just plowed my garden the other day w/the 1200.
At the end pf each furrow, I back up just a hair to disengage the plow from the soil. That, together with cranking a few extra turns on the spring assist, makes lifting the plow a lot easier.

If your garden drops off some at the end of the plowed area, it will kind of "automatically disengage" itself when the front end of the Cub drops off the edge.

[Merk]

Originally Posted by DeltaCub

I recently attended my first plow day in western Ohio. I met with Merk and others and had a great deal of fun. Merk was kind enough to show and allow me to plow with his "stock" 149. Starting next spring I want to attend some plow day events. As many of you know, I have a Cub House full of Quietlines and a few Wide frames. My question is what transmission pulls better...gear or hydro? If I use one of my hydros...I will update the dump valves, trunions/linkage and replace the pressure relief spring. Don't worry I will not shim it to increase the the pressure. I have all the necessary hitches, ag tires and weights. If I use a gear drive unit....it will probably be an old 128 that will have an updated clutch and drive line.

I enjoyed meeting you.

I'm glad you had fun running my 149.
You should have done a few rounds on my 100.

Which is better to plow with??????
It depends on the driver in my book. 149 and 100 both have hydraulic lift. Both of my tractors have the same brand tires that are filled with beet juice. I like running my 149 when plowing small gardens and my 100 at plow days. Both tractors have a have their own plow. 149 has a Brinly and the 100 has a Simplicity-Brinly-Merk design plow. My 149 has never pulled the plow from my 100 and the 100 has never pulled the plow from the 149.

My 149 is the one I use when someone new wants to plow that never has plowed before. It is easier for me to stop the tractor if I have to.


Both transmissions have there good and bad points. It goes back to what the driver likes.

I've been pushing clutch pedal for 53 years. Good habits are hard to break.