Using old farm equipment to work garden
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=170928
Printed Date: 20 Aug 2025 at 10:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Using old farm equipment to work garden
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Subject: Using old farm equipment to work garden
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 12:56pm
|
Folks, Not farming any more. Just using these old toys to play in the big sand box. These three bottom 14 inch plows are pretty worn. I built them from two sets of plows a few years ago. I got them from my uncles farm when we cleaned out. A well worn set of matching two bottoms came with the package. He had bought these three bottoms from my Dad. I plowed with them 60 plus years ago with a WD45. Did a refurb, clean and paint a couple years back.   The Allis snap coupler hitch is actually way easier to use than the "Ford" version.  Probably took all of a minute, I did have to adjust the main beam down to allow the bell to gather the hitch.  Tractor of choice was the WD45   The goal was to plow the garden. It started to snow when I headed to the garden plot. Perfect!     Need to get them greased up and put away. They did shine up with just one pass. Regards. Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Replies:
Posted By: ac45dave
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 1:20pm
Chris, awesome pics.Don would be proud to see the old girl out there earning her keep working the garden.Dad always plowed the garden in the spring at grandpas with the wd45 I grew up on when I was a kid.I can still hear that ole tractor barking today.Brings back fond memories. ------------- 54 wd-45gas ; 56 wd-45d N/F w/fact p/s ; 63 d-17 sIII N/F gas ; 60 D14 N/F ; 67 d-17 sIV N/F gas ; 63D15 sII W/F; 39rc#667 ; 2021 massey 4710 fwa ; gravely 2 wheel tractors |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 1:22pm
|
You know, when I sold them I cannot remember them looking this good. Beautiful equipment. Thanks for bringing it back and bringing back some outstanding memories. Hey, how come you have such rich black earth. Must have missed my area - red clay rock here. Good Luck! Bill Long
|
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 1:41pm
|
Dave, Bill, Folks, I may not have had the main beam set right it seem to want to plow deeper than I really wanted it to. I had to bring the plows up a bit to add some needed down pressure to keep moving. Only plowed this garden in low gear. And she was snorting pretty good!. Bill, I have paint in places where they never had it from the factory! The reworked shift tower worked flawlessly too. That really needed attention! I Should order the $100 traction booster gauge for it. Glad you enjoyed the pictures. I still get a kick out of posting things that hopefully will help someone or spur them on with their orange project. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 2:24pm
| Very nice pictures Chris! A 3 bottom and 45 go together so nicely. |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 2:33pm
| Sugarmaker, you have a great looking AC combo that’s still at work. Thanks for sharing. Jogging your memory some 50-60 years ago, how many acres could you plow a day with it? |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 3:42pm
|
Thanks guys! I don't remember how many acres per day we could plow. I think my Dad told of my brother plowing something like 20 acres in a full day. Does that sound right? But I do remember under the right conditions you could get the WD45's into third gear for a while with the three bottoms about 8 inches deep. A friend was on the WD with a two bottom trail plow. We thought we were doing a great job turning over 5 furrows each round! Most of our soil in the area is of the Sheffield type. which is a kind way of saying clay and wet. This garden area was moved to the highest spot in our lawn. We used to have it in the swamp :) and its was flooded often. The only saving thing about this soil is that in real dry years some things will still grow. Around our area are pockets of gravel ground, but we never had that luxury. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 4:39pm
| 20 acres a day, I’d think that’s incredibly good! About 30 minutes after I relpied, I did some math & came up with approximately 15 acres in 10hrs?? My math for 3-14”(3.5’) per pass times 4mph(21,120’) per hr equals 1.7 acres/hr. A 10hr day x 1.7a/hr = 17 acres (furrow time). If allowing extra time for turns on headlands & thought 15a/day might catch it. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 5:12pm
|
AC, I think that sounds right, I would have never worked the math!:) Maybe it was 15 that Big Brother Ernie plowed that day. It was always a good story! Dad said he went out early, Dad may have checked on him at lunch and gas up, and it was dark when he pulled back in the yard. I will have to ask him. Must have too much time on my hands lately!:) Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: Driverdan
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 5:14pm
| Those pictures sure bring back memories !! Did my part plowing for dad in the 50's and 60'd with his WD45 and 3 14's with snap couplers.. I might have to hook them up again (still use the WD45 and the plow is tucked away in the barn). Sweet looking setup you got, wish mine looked half as good !!..Dan |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 5:21pm
|
Dan, Thanks for the kind words, Keep in mind both these items were pretty well trashed a couple years ago. Amazing how that old paint buffs out!:) Looking forward to seeing and reading about your WD45 and the three bottoms! I was at local tractor show last year with this outfit. I had the announcer tell the folks I was going to do a plowing demo. I had several folks come over and thought I was just going to talk about the little Allis and the 3 bottoms! They could not believe it was actually going to turn over dirt! We showed um! A shot from the break in demo for the WD45 last summer:  Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 5:55pm
|
I would love to plow the garden for my folks but I am afraid a 3 bottom plow would tear up their garden plot. Wish they had a 1 bottom for garden work for a WD! |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 6:21pm
|
GG, The real Garden Guy! Hey maybe find a old plow and modify it to a one bottom? These are a little over kill for my little garden too. But it doiesnt take long to root it up!:) Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 6:54pm
|
Hmmm.... I wonder if anyone has ever modified a 52 or 53 pick-up plow to be one bottom. That would be perfect. I could sneeze and plow up half my folks back yard by accident with a three bottom, haha! |
Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 8:15pm
|
Thank You! ------------- D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446 |
Posted By: Leadoff
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 8:33pm
|
Sugarmaker, Great pics. Thanks for posting ------------- 1963 D17D Series III. 1965 D15 Series II. 1965 D17 Series IV. 1975 185. 1978 716H. 1979 716H. 1965 780 Harvester/1R&DC. 1957 Model 73 SC 4 Furrow Plow |
Posted By: Dave(inMA)
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 8:56pm
Looking really good, Chris. Close my eyes and I can hear that '45 barking and snorting!! Dave ------------- WC, CA, D14, WD45 |
Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 10:26pm
|
gg.. ya need to get a bigger garden... I used the 7060 and 15' disc on ours,,,oh yea,,jus took about 2 minutes...and that was doing it two times.... but the veggies will be good later this summer...I like fresh garden stuff love the pictures Chris
|
Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 08 May 2020 at 10:55pm
|
Looks good! I hated the clay I had back in IL but out here in KS where it is generally drier, I see now that there are definitely benefits to the moisture retention. ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 7:34am
|
Folks, The garden plot thickens! (pun intended)        The WD enjoyed helping out as much as Wife and GG boys! We got all the seeds in the ground and have some plants to put in plus cucumbers to go in June 21st. We harvested another bucket of rocks and shards of glass and pottery. This was the location of the original house on this property. Had a big barn that set behind it too. Regards, Chris
------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 8:10am
| WD45 w/4-16 2nd gear....6.3A took 4.5hrs and took a little more that a tank of gas |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 9:05am
|
What really works nice for plowing gardens is the 1-12" on the G. I love plowing with my G. Dusty ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 9:20am
|
That's a great looking rig there. That plow has way better shears than my old 53 had. I've been using the 3 point 2-14 that my great Uncle had for my garden . When I was a kid, everybody did their plowing in the spring. I guess by the time you got the corn picked off and in the crib, it was often too late to work the ground because it was frozen. One brother and I have been using Dad's old garden the last few years and it never dries out early enough to plow in the spring it seems. Specially if you want taters in by Good Friday, so I've been fall plowing when I can. I had to skip plowing last year because of the wet ground, but brother ran his Troy built thru it a couple times and we got by. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Play Farmer
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 4:12pm
| Thats pretty SWEET! |
Posted By: Dan Hauter
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 4:22pm
| I love your pictures and how Mrs. Sugarmaker is working with the boys in the garden. Nice looking tractors and plows. Thanks for sharing. Dan. |
Posted By: Rick of HopeIN
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 7:53pm
|
Dad picked up a plow like that for the D14 to do his sugar corn patch many years ago. He tried dropping off one bottom but ended up putting it back on since it actually ran better that way. I am sure it was well worn. ------------- 1951 B, 1937 WC, 1957 D14, -- Thanks and God Bless |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 29 May 2020 at 8:39pm
| Guys I have plowed a lot of acres with a 3x16 behind dad's 45. Please tell us that you all have replaced the double C spring in the snap coupler bell. My plow came unhooked under the tractor, the snout dug into the ground and the plow landed on top of me. I still have the scar and still have intense pain from the incident. I thought I had been shot again. That was over 40 years ago. I never knew there was a spring in there untill I spoke to the guys at R&R equipment. They get weak and will let the plow come loose. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 30 May 2020 at 6:45am
|
Tom, I have checked the springs but not got a new one. Yes a WD type tractor does put you too close to the equipment at times. I like to plow with the D17. A little more steel between you and the plow! My uncle had similar plow disconnect issue. Could have been the spring? I was too young to remember. Folks Thanks for all the comments! We are now in the rinse cycle. Things are way to wet to even step into the garden after tilling it. A soupy mess! Time will tell on the garden. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: MDWilliams338
Date Posted: 30 May 2020 at 10:21am
|
Those are some great photos Chris and you got the boys out there too!!! You should take a couple of these and put them in black and white,print and frame them. ------------- ‘42B,’45B,’48C,’51CA,’52CA,’69170,1935WC,1936WC,WD,WD Highcrop,WD45,WF,D10/14/15/17/19 It isn’t how you die.It’s what you live for.-Daniel Boone |