Creeper

ssechrist · #1 06-18-2013, 10:39 PM

I got the 122 out to try to do some plowing the other day, mainly trying to get the plow adjusted. I couldn't seem to get the right gear to get the speed where it needed to be. The 122 has a creeper in it & I tried several different gear selections but it seemed they were too slow or too fast. The book said to plow in 3rd gear (non creeper) but that'd seem like it would be too fast. It was doing a fair job in 2nd with the creeper in high but the ground speed seemed too fast. I'd appreciate any suggestions you guys could throw at me..

J-Mech · #2 06-18-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssechrist

I got the 122 out to try to do some plowing the other day, mainly trying to get the plow adjusted. I couldn't seem to get the right gear to get the speed where it needed to be. The 122 has a creeper in it & I tried several different gear selections but it seemed they were too slow or too fast. The book said to plow in 3rd gear (non creeper) but that'd seem like it would be too fast. It was doing a fair job in 2nd with the creeper in high but the ground speed seemed too fast. I'd appreciate any suggestions you guys could throw at me..

I will very first off admit that I have never plowed with a cub..... Yet. Or, at least with a moldboard. I have ran cultivators with them. (I bought a plow recently but haven't got to try it out.) But, I have plowed with big tractors and big plows. I would agree that 3rd would be too fast. And off the top of my head I do not know the ration of the creeper. I would think second would be fine. A plow is not something that you want to run slow. You have to be moving a decent speed to "roll" the dirt over. I'm no sure what you are basing your speed off of, but when plowing with a big tractor and plow we usually ran at about 6 MPH. And we plowed at least 8" deep.

ssechrist · #3 06-18-2013, 11:50 PM

J-Mech, you are right with the big tractors, that's what I'm basing my theory on. I spent my childhood & a good portion of my early adulthood rolling dirt over. To the best memories I can recall on the tractors I ran the ground speed would vary from just under 5 mph to a little over 6 mph at about 8 inches deep. With the cub I was shooting for about 5 to 6 inches deep but it seemed the ground speed was so fast I had trouble holding it in the furrow.
I agree with you about the dirt turning over, once you get the depth set then you have adjust the ground speed to turn the furrows to match. Not unlike you, I've never plowed with single bottom plows, I started on a 4 bottom & moved to 6 bottom on land. Just a little frustrating to have plowed thousands of acres & having so much trouble with one little plow....

J-Mech · #4 06-19-2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssechrist

J-Mech, you are right with the big tractors, that's what I'm basing my theory on. I spent my childhood & a good portion of my early adulthood rolling dirt over. To the best memories I can recall on the tractors I ran the ground speed would vary from just under 5 mph to a little over 6 mph at about 8 inches deep. With the cub I was shooting for about 5 to 6 inches deep but it seemed the ground speed was so fast I had trouble holding it in the furrow.
I agree with you about the dirt turning over, once you get the depth set then you have adjust the ground speed to turn the furrows to match. Not unlike you, I've never plowed with single bottom plows, I started on a 4 bottom & moved to 6 bottom on land. Just a little frustrating to have plowed thousands of acres & having so much trouble with one little plow....

Well, it sounds like we come from the same background with similar experience! Did you try running in 3rd with the creeper engaged? Another thing that I noticed when I got my plow for the cadet..... Upon initial setting the plow behind the tractor, I noticed that it was going to be a little too far from the dead furrow if the plow was in the center of the tractor. Thus, yet another reason I haven't ran it yet, I was trying to decide how to move it over a little. My plow is an 8" moldboard. What size is yours? Maybe check to see if it is "biting off more than it can chew" .... Perhaps that's why your having trouble holding it in the furrow....

ssechrist · #5 06-19-2013, 07:24 AM

J-Mech, you have a good idea that I didn't think of, the yoke on the plow has 3 holes in it & I was running it in the center but I can move it to right & take a little less of a bite. I was trying to get it to track straight & didn't pay attention to the bite. You might have solved my problem....good thinking!!!

J-Mech · #6 06-19-2013, 11:40 AM

Let me know how it goes!

Humphrey · #7 06-20-2013, 12:13 PM

Has the ground been broken there before? If not it will be in second gear. If it has been broken before I usually start in third gear at 1/4 throttle and adjust speed up from there.

Also is the plow adjusted up right? I typically set up the initial plow setting by driving the garden tractor up onto a pallet and letting the plow sit on the ground. I adjust for 1/8" of clearance on the landslide's rear edge. Also I make sure the trailing edge of the moldboard is just barely overlapping the inside edge of the rear tire.

I'll run slow on the first pass so as not to pull the plow up instead of adjusting for a first cut. After the first cut Ill drop the plow just as soon as the rear wheel is in the furrow.

drglinski · #8 06-21-2013, 09:11 AM

Use a hydro! Infinite ground speed!

Just kidding around- not trying to start a hydro/gear war. I'd try going slower in 2nd gear and see if that helps.

PaulS · #9 06-23-2013, 12:54 PM

Having a little experience with creepers by having one since the mid 70s. The creeper works like this With the creeper in low you have a very low ground speed. Even with the tranny in 3rd gear and low creeper your ground speed will be slightly less than 1st gear high range. I have a chart somewhere that tells the mph in each gear. I sincerely doubt that the creeper in low range will help you plowing as the ground speed will be just too slow especially if you need 4 to 6 mph forward speed to turn the furrow. I have found that the creeper is best used with a snow thrower where a really slow ground speed is needed.

Shaner · #10 06-23-2013, 01:37 PM

most people recommend NEVER putting a load on the tractor when the creeper is in LOW range. the creeper was only meant to slow ground speed to run a rototiller or a snow thrower. NOT meant to be plowed with. second gear High range is a good plowing speed at about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. if you plow with the creeper you run the risk of damaging it. ask me how i know.....