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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Tillers for Ford tractor?

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  • From: Vern and Amy <vaspencer AT sisna.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tillers for Ford tractor?
  • Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:44:08 -0800

I use my dad's Ford 4000 (3 cyl. about 35 horse) maybe '69 vintage with a Howard Rotavator 50". Not like most pieces of tin I see everywhere. Specs say 1000 lb--lost of cast iron. Dad or Grandma broke the 60" model on an underground root about 20-30 years ago. Cast iron can hardly be welded and it was the middle of the three point hitch which is part of the gear box cover. They found an almost new one (the 50") shortly after for only about $2500! It sat under the tree until I started truck farming 5 years ago. It does have adjustable gear ratios, but I just leave it where I found it and adjust the tractor speed depending on depth and purpose.
My "ancestors" bought the rotovator to break up the old sod when they found plowing with the moldboard was ineffective. The sod was so matted that when the plow turned it over, some of it would just flip back where it had been before the plow came through. Dad said it was a mess. If you then tried to rotavate, you would get a bigger mess, so they would rotovate lightly before plowing deeply.
Some of you are probably laughing or shaking your heads, but any suggestions are welcome!

Vern




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