[SEL] Nice Wheels/ cable plowing

[Frank DeWitt]

 > Something I'm curious about is all of the pictures that I've seen
 > with the traction engine directly hooked to the plow, it's usually an
 > 18 or 20 bottom plow.  But in the pictures that I've seen with the
 > cable system the plow is a 5 or 6 bottom plow.  Is the cable system
 > moving three or four times faster than the steamer could move or is
 > the cable system just slower on a per acre basis?  I wonder what the
 > difference in time would be for the 2 methods for getting to the next
 > plow swath?
 >
 > Mike

Hi Mike,


Part of the answer may be here (From 
http://www.steamploughclub.org.uk/operating_instructions.htm


The plow had to do some fancy work at the end of the run to get in 
position for the next run, tip for reverse direction, and get dug in. 
18 to 20 bottoms times 2 (for each direction) would have been a real 
thrill to move over, tip, and get dug in.  It would have been a 
frightening display at best.

Frank


Working the plough
34. The usual method of working with a balance type plough is to 
steer the plough out of the furrow at the end of a pull about 8 yards 
or so from the pulling engine, turning the steering onto full lock 
and steering the plough out of the furrow onto the unploughed land 
and towards the front of the engine by an amount equal to about two 
thirds the working width of the plough and just before the plough 
stops turn the steering onto full opposite lock.
35. When the driver has released his ploughing clutch remove the tail 
rope from the slack rope hook on the end of the plough frame 
otherwise it will be impossible to tip the plough down. This is the 
assistants job.
36. When the engine next to the plough has moved along the headland 
moving its rope out of the way of the plough shares the other engine 
can start to pull. If the plough is of the anti balance type watch 
the anti balance rollers in the plough centre and as soon as these 
move to the centre balance position the plough can be pulled down and 
should now be held in balance with the end of the frame about waist 
high and swung round towards the unploughed land with the furrow 
wheel running towards the last open furrow. As soon as the furrow 
wheel is in line to enter the open furrow the plough frame is swung 
back into line with the direction of the work before lowering it onto 
the ground.
37. The slack rope can now be placed on the slack rope hook by the 
assistant. It will be appreciated that except for the smallest of 
ploughs at least two people are required for this manoeuvring and the 
foregoing operation requires steady pulling by the opposite engine 
until the plough is lowered into its working position with the shares 
starting to dig into the ground before the speed is increased.
38. When putting the slack rope onto the slack rope hook on the end 
of the plough frame grasp the rope at least 18 inches away from the 
hook to avoid pinched fingers when the plough middle slides into 
anti-balance, as the rope slides with it through the hook.
39. When steering the plough with the right hand furrows working the 
steering is the opposite way round to normal. This takes some getting 
used to and if the furrow wheel is inadvertently steered out of the 
furrow the plough must be stopped and pulled back by the other 
engine. It cannot be steered back into the furrow without missing 
several yards of ground and if done it will spoil the work and leave 
a crooked furrow.

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    Frank DeWitt              |  mailto:frank at lbpinc.com
    Mechanical Design      |  Phone:  585 624 3052
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