SETTING OF LEVER PLOUGHS

Shannon News, 11 January 1927, Page 1

SETTING OF LEVER PLOUGHS

ADVICE BY A PRACTICAL EXPEIRT. In reply to a number of correspondents the ‘‘N.Z. Journal of Agriculture” gives the following • useful notes on how to set and adjust lever ploughs as furnished by a practical expert in farm implements:— First fit on the shares. . Then measure from bottom of poiiir of'shares to top of beam, next from bottom of wheel to top of' beam,—then from bottom of front 'whfeel 'to top of beam.; These measurements should all be 1 the same,, so .that‘the ’ plough is worked with both front and back wheels ,or either .of ' them,' Sin. or fin. higher than the* sha&e' level, the draught is increased enormously! Therefore it is imperative to keep the plough at the levels mentioned. In soft ground the wheels may be set a , little lower than* the point' of the shares, but never, higher, unless in striking out or t in finishing;‘ when the front wheel may he altWfed to suit. The back wheel must always be kept at its ’ proper level. The depth' of furrow is got by adjusting the land wheel alone. Whbn ploughing on >v hillside the skeiths should be set off and well back over the shares. X straight-edge placed along the bottom side of back wheel should run towards the land about 2Jin. to 3in. at the point of share.' Then as the plough slips downhill the back wheel works up and regain the lost ground. In hillside work it is also advisable to use 1 narrow shares and turn the widest furrow possible, according to the class of land being ploughed. In ordinary ploughing never cut the furrow right through, as this is inclined to stand the furrow on e£ge; about llin. to 2in .break is required. Tliis means that if shares 9in. wide are being used the plough should be opened out at the front wheel croschend to between lOJin. and lltn., and. the break is the difference between the width of the share and the actual furrow ploughed. The skeiths should be set about liii. (o the land side of the share, and about tin. (more or less) above it. according to the class -of ground being ploughed. In hard or stony round the skeiths should be lifted up off the shares and well back over them, In soft ground this should bo r<•versed—skeiths well forward and well down. If will be noticed that when the back wheel wears the front furrow gets larger. To remedy this tie top of back wheel to beam of plough, then -piece, straight-edge from land point of share parallel with the beam io the hack wheel: next fit in packing to adjust the back wheel until it goes over against the straight-edge. This is called the “line of draught,” and is vital to the good working of the plough. When the back wheel gets worn, or the back-wheel stalk gels bent, the plough swings round towards the furrow and T ill not hold the land. Next adjust the frontwheel crosshead stalk until both furrows are the same width.Before starting work it should be seen that all wearing parts of the plough, such as skeiths and wheels, are properly oiled or greased.