First timer looking for some advice!

[wilt434]

So I bought an international 374 a few months back and it has a cab and is v reg. Even though it is exactly the same as the 444 which was in production and is eligible for classic class and I think that the 374 was available before 1976 aswell am I allowed to use it? How's the next installment coming along for the plough settings on your page Roy?

 

[Tonym]

The rule book also says, "A list of eligible tractors is available from the Society of Ploughmen on request"

May be someone could ask the question and post the list up on this forum

 

[Roy Stokes]

So I bought an international 374 a few months back and it has a cab and is v reg. Even though it is exactly the same as the 444 which was in production and is eligible for classic class and I think that the 374 was available before 1976 aswell am I allowed to use it? How's the next installment coming along for the plough settings on your page Roy?

Coming soon, time is of the essence!

 

[Roy Stokes]

Coming soon, time is of the essence!

Website updated now to include ploughing the start, go to www.stokesoftongnorton.weebly.com
and click on the "plough settings" page

 

[mike.l]

Andy, I cannot see why you cannot compete at local level with that tractor, as posted above you would have no advantage to other competitors just for having a Q cab, however, on the day you win a major match/title you will be scrutinised by some other competitors who can be envious of your win and they will want the rule book thrown at you.

If you would like more hints and tips on classic conventional ploughing take a look at www.stokesoftongnorton.weebly.com
just click on the link

 

[mike.l]

HI Mr stokes i think you should stop plowing and write a book If . the info in the first part is anything to go by think the book would out sell brian bells book very quickly waiting patiently for the next part
wont be much good to me at this time grounds very hard guess i could plow the snow we got lots today mike

 

[Roy Stokes]

Thanks for the comments Mike, problem with the book is my knowledge is now spread over the net so no one need pay for a book , but hey, if it helps ploughmen along then the effort is worth the time

 

[Roy Stokes]

Maybe a DVD is in order and the way forward, some of my pupils have mentioned making one

 

[Ley253]

Certainly would Roy. Something along the lines of David Bonnings High Cut one would be tops.

 

[mike.l]

HI as long as it would have some still photos that explain the correct and incorrect ways of things just like your opening split i would be glad to pay for it mike

 

[Roy Stokes]

HI as long as it would have some still photos that explain the correct and incorrect ways of things just like your opening split i would be glad to pay for it mike

Mike, you plough vintage in Canada, I am intrigued by what type of equipment you would use, are they similar to our vintage classes/rules, is the equipment pararie type machinery or small tractors/ploughs like we use?

 

[mike.l]

Hi plowing rues are very similar to those in england. open split with a time limit judged then crown and work to high number crown finish to your opening one wheel mark all same stuff.We plow what we call antique either trail or mounted not in one class . tractor must be built before 1957 -58 little gray area there (when the model was first made seems to rule) plow must be of same vintage as tractor but does not have to be same make. Most plow with 2 furrow less than 12". myself i plow with a nuffield gas tractor 1955 and a david brown BE plow 1957 -58 vintage . next year plowing with a john deere 420 2 cylinder aprox 25 hp. the plow of preferance is international with ace bottoms.. We have a zero tolerance on gardening never knew about that was untill i joined this forum. but we all watch the utube videos of plowing matches in england . as to be expected most youngsters start to plow with dad and grandad so run vintage for a couple of years then move into the more modern classes when dad will buy a plow. All together we plow same as you guys we dont go to win but be with a great bunch of guys for a day out. We pay to enter the match aprox $10 get a free supper and place money . more often than not we have 10-15 people in every class and get a turnout of 4-5 horse teams most matches . all our matches are august sept oct after crops are off before winter freeze . nothing in the spring as no time we get a short window to plant crops . i think i have given you a small look into ontario plowing . every county has a plow day so we can take in one or two matches every week in our own travel area within 2 hours from home

 

[snowhite]

Be fine with 2 furrow but personally I would go non reversible, I have a feeling reversible isn't vintage eligable but may be wrong, make sure it's on gentle boards not some deep diggers, judges like openings not trenches!

we have a reversible horse plough mame by the people that now owned by kuhn

 

[Roy Stokes]

Hi plowing rues are very similar to those in england. open split with a time limit judged then crown and work to high number crown finish to your opening one wheel mark all same stuff.We plow what we call antique either trail or mounted not in one class . tractor must be built before 1957 -58 little gray area there (when the model was first made seems to rule) plow must be of same vintage as tractor but does not have to be same make. Most plow with 2 furrow less than 12". myself i plow with a nuffield gas tractor 1955 and a david brown BE plow 1957 -58 vintage . next year plowing with a john deere 420 2 cylinder aprox 25 hp. the plow of preferance is international with ace bottoms.. We have a zero tolerance on gardening never knew about that was untill i joined this forum. but we all watch the utube videos of plowing matches in england . as to be expected most youngsters start to plow with dad and grandad so run vintage for a couple of years then move into the more modern classes when dad will buy a plow. All together we plow same as you guys we dont go to win but be with a great bunch of guys for a day out. We pay to enter the match aprox $10 get a free supper and place money . more often than not we have 10-15 people in every class and get a turnout of 4-5 horse teams most matches . all our matches are august sept oct after crops are off before winter freeze . nothing in the spring as no time we get a short window to plant crops . i think i have given you a small look into ontario plowing . every county has a plow day so we can take in one or two matches every week in our own travel area within 2 hours from home

Thanks for the reply Mike, I think the Ace body is underrated over here, I like the type of work it leaves more than the body of choice for vintage over here, however I like ploughing semi-digger, most vintage ploughmen use Ransomes YL bodies either on a trailed or mounted plough, the tractor for vintage classes has to have been in production before 31st December 1959, it matters not if the actual tractor is built after that date so long as it's model was in production before, there are usually novice and open classes in mounted and trailed and some large matches have a beginners class as well.

The Classic class consists of tractors from 1st January 1960 up until the introduction of the " Q " cabbed tractors Q stood for quiet cab and was introduced by legislation in 1976, the choice of plough body for this class could encompass some of the best match plough breasts ever made but for what ever reason our society disallows many of the breasts in production during the 1960-1976 dates and the best choice is either TCN or RWM ( Ransomes world match) from Ransomes, both are superb bodies but it would be nice if all bodies from that era were allowed, the International ace body with the shin up the front may well compete well in the Classic class.

Our World style class seems to be exactly the same as yours.

 

[mike.l]

classic was something i didnt touch on as not totally sure of where that stops and world style with total hyd control starts but it is a class here. we have no Qcab or safety frames to worry about most tractors are open station even some of the newer john deeres. The farmers do have cabs with a/c and gps but most of those tractors run a 24hr day 7 days a week during planting season and harvest and are of mega horsepower . Today i have been working on the antique john deere for plowing next year lots of snow so warm shop to play in i have built spacers for the rear wheels to get them into 40 " between tires and have pushed the front wheels in as far as the axles were designed to go but looks like the fronts will be 42 1/2 between wheels with very little hope of getting more will the 1 1/4 inch difference cause me a problem or should i move the rear out a little to have them in line on the inside mike

 

[Roy Stokes]

Mike,
In an ideal scenario the inner measurement for both axles would be the same. however, the measurements you will end up with will probably be fine in practice, I have had a gentleman here at ploughing school where his fronts were 44 inhces and rear at 40, I thought it wasn't going to run well at all, however we tried it in the field 1st and it was fine, he told me it would be and also told me he had tried pushing the front axle in but then the rear tyre ran away from the furrow wall slightly which on sloping ground had the tendency to alter the furrow width, as the ground got steeper the wheel moved toward the furrow wall and widened out the front furrow more than it normally would have,
If I were you I would try it out and if it doesn't work then consider your options

 

[Ashandiamo]

Just an update and a little more advice if possible please.
At the moment I've got the chance of two ploughs to use behind my MF135 although maybe neither is right and I'm better waiting.
The first I mentioned in a previous post is the 2 furrow Ransomes reversible p, it's a TS81 but I can't make out what the boards are although I see they are stamped as genuine Ransomes boards. It has a very small steel land wheel.
The other plough is an International B12 which has a land wheel and adjustable crosshaft, would this plough qualify for the classic class?
The metal on both ploughs looks to be very good.
Any advice welcome once again.
Thanks

 

[arcobob]

If you want to get into serious ploughing don`t buy either. Aim for a TS59 with TCN boards (Genuine) and plough classic

 

[Petetheploughman]

I agree with Bob stick to a Ransomes TS59 with TCN's. But the International B12 might be alright if it has these type of skimmers and good genuine ACE mouldboards it would be worth a go. These skimmers that go around the front of the disc are quite hard to get hold of but they are the best! If they are the plain type that go around the back of the disc I would stay away.
Have you got any pictures of the ploughs?

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

....or a nice Ransomes TS86 (if you have plenty of wedge to spend)