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Spring plowing

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Allenpatterson

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2021
Messages
152
Location
Michigan
displayname
Allen Patterson
Got to try out the brinly plow this past weekend hooked to my older brothers 1974' 149 for the first time. It did pretty well but probably could use some more weight yet to help while trying to plow up hill. I'm still thinking about adding the rear lift to my 129 next and put the ag tires on to get that set up as a plow tractor also. Do you guys think I will be disappointed with the 2 less horsepower of my K301 after using the plow on the 149? I know weight and traction plays a huge part in it all but was wondering if you guys think the plow behind the 129 will want to bog the engine down a lot more especially when having to go up a small incline as compared to the 14 horsepower K321? Any comments appreciated and opinions on if that extra couple horsepower makes a huge difference when it comes to plowing or even mowing and snow blowing.
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Plowing with my 2 year old son, we both had a blast. Also the serial number on that replacement engine in the 149 dates it as a 1995 which I believe was the last year for the K series engine.
 
Here's my plow setup, a 7hp Original, it has no trouble plowing the sandy clay loam in my area. Now if I was to use it in that sticky black Illinois soil like at the Blunier farm it might be a different story. I don't think your 129 would have any problems plowing.

K4K_Plow_01.jpg


K4K_Plow_02.jpg
 
Here's my plow setup, a 7hp Original, it has no trouble plowing the sandy clay loam in my area. Now if I was to use it in that sticky black Illinois soil like at the Blunier farm it might be a different story. I don't think your 129 would have any problems plowing.

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Thank you for the comment and sharing the pictures! I don't know why I always seem to think my K301 is inadequate and that I need to sneak that 321 out of my brothers tractor? The 301 is no David Kirk built "killer kohler" but should be just fine for most things I need it to do. It's probably because I always the biggest and most powerful toy tractors as a kid 😂 plus I wanted hydraulic lift on a cub so I always wanted a 149 but now since I've added the hydraulic lift off a 1450 to the 129 I can stop dreaming so much about it lol.
We have such a variety in soil around here. My dad's area about an hour south east of here is a lighter ground with large vanes of muck/peat bog ground that vegetables are grown on. Then where my house is at is a sandy/gravel dirt but then a few miles west is heavy clay and sugar beet ground.
 
My #72 still had the replacement K181 (8 hp) in it when I first started plowing gardens with it, My Dad's and my Sister-in-law's 2 BIG gardens. I hadn't plowed for several years when PD#1 was announced. I'd rebuilt a K-241 and installed it in the #72, I bought wider wheels and a pair of 23-8.50x12 FIRESTONE 23 degree tires. Plow Day was the first time I actually pulled a load with them. With the 10 hp engine I had my choice of using 1st or 2nd gear, and my #72 has the fast 19T 2nd. It actually turns out to be a good plowing gear. Anybody that was at PD#2 remembers how hard the ground plowed, it turned over in huge slabs, I plowed in 1st gear all day. Buy there were a couple 7 hp Cubbies that also did a lot of plowing that day. There were several hydro tractors that the Hy-Tran over-heated and foamed up and over-flowed the rearend housings. Yes, there REALLY is a limit to what a Hydro CC can do, but it's CRAZY high.
I've got a Killer Kohler K321 14 hp in the #72 now, no problem plowing anywhere in 2nd gear. I typically plow 5-6" deep, much deeper and you hang up on the rearend housing, you push up a pile of trash till one rear wheel comes off the ground.
I broke my sleeve hitch for my #72, metal fatigue, pulled one side right in two pulling my lawn aerator. I think I'll build a whole new one, I got a big chunk of 1/4 plate that should work.
 
My #72 still had the replacement K181 (8 hp) in it when I first started plowing gardens with it, My Dad's and my Sister-in-law's 2 BIG gardens. I hadn't plowed for several years when PD#1 was announced. I'd rebuilt a K-241 and installed it in the #72, I bought wider wheels and a pair of 23-8.50x12 FIRESTONE 23 degree tires. Plow Day was the first time I actually pulled a load with them. With the 10 hp engine I had my choice of using 1st or 2nd gear, and my #72 has the fast 19T 2nd. It actually turns out to be a good plowing gear. Anybody that was at PD#2 remembers how hard the ground plowed, it turned over in huge slabs, I plowed in 1st gear all day. Buy there were a couple 7 hp Cubbies that also did a lot of plowing that day. There were several hydro tractors that the Hy-Tran over-heated and foamed up and over-flowed the rearend housings. Yes, there REALLY is a limit to what a Hydro CC can do, but it's CRAZY high.
I've got a Killer Kohler K321 14 hp in the #72 now, no problem plowing anywhere in 2nd gear. I typically plow 5-6" deep, much deeper and you hang up on the rearend housing, you push up a pile of trash till one rear wheel comes off the ground.
I broke my sleeve hitch for my #72, metal fatigue, pulled one side right in two pulling my lawn aerator. I think I'll build a whole new one, I got a big chunk of 1/4 plate that should work.
I've always thought that it would be nice to have a gear drive cub for using with ground engaging implements. Plus with the gear drive you shouldn't be losing as much horsepower to the rear wheels as with the hydros I would imagine. I'm sure in most cases my 12 horse engine in the 129 will handle the plow adequately but I always like the idea of a little extra power and not have to work a machine quite as hard.
 
I've got my 1050 set up with 8.50 ags and a sleeve hitch & spring assist for plowing. It does an excellent job. Horsepower has never been an issue.
 
Yes, the rain cap is even with the top of my head, even though it looks taller. 8.5" Carlisle Tru Powers, and the lift is all the way up. Surprising how close it gets to the ground when going through a dip though! The angle of the pic makes it look much higher.
 
Your 128 looks like a very nice looking tractor and nice setup for plowing. I think I have decided on going with the carlisle tru powers tires also for my ag tires. My brothers 149 has the 10.5 inch wide tru powers on it which is probably bit wide for down in the furrow while plowing.
 
The 26x12-12's would be too big for my preference. They are too close to the fenders, as I have a habit of placing my hand down there while plowing. :errrr:
 
My property line is just past where I plowed. Beyond that has since been logged out. Not many deer around. A lot has been logged, and houses are going up everywhere.
 
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