Subsoiler questions

[BullDAWG]

I've seen subsoilers that either are mounted to tractor or are on toolbar in rear. I want to make the toolbar type.

My questions are if anyone has made one if they could post pictures or diagrams of it as my reference is the stock IH type and would like to see other ways if possible. My next question is max number of rippers. My thinking is if a cub can do one then a Super A should be able to do 2-3 but wanted to hear if others have tried and failed or did it work?

Thanks Chris

[outdoors4evr]

Probably depends more on the depth and soil that you are moving than anything. Heavy clay, roots, or rocky soil will probably limit you to one when digging deep. Sandy loam and shallow digging may allow for more points.

[BullDAWG]

My land is mostly loam to Sandy loam for 18" before it's hardpan red clay but some places it's 11" and I wanted to go over 12" to 18" deep with the rippers. So in some places I might need to go to 1 or 2 at max while mostly be able to do 3-5 in the better places.

I still would like to see pics of anyone having them on if possible

[Super A]

My land is mostly loam to Sandy loam for 18" before it's hardpan red clay but some places it's 11" and I wanted to go over 12" to 18" deep with the rippers. So in some places I might need to go to 1 or 2 at max while mostly be able to do 3-5 in the better places.

I still would like to see pics of anyone having them on if possible

I would want one shank. And a bigger tractor. I expect going 18" deep will bring a Super A to a dead stop.

Al

[Rick Spivey]

No pictures, but I have one with a fast hitch mount, 1 point. I suspect it was for a 140, but I put it on a cub. I probably got 8-9 inches deep in fairly loose soil, no way would it pull 18" deep in anything of substance.

[Gary Dotson]

I was at a plow event a couple years ago, a fellow there was pulling a single ripper with a Farmall M. His front wheels were in the air more than they were on the ground. I have no experience with a subsoiler and was amazed how hard it pulled. Don't make your goals too lofty!

[BullDAWG]

I'm probably NOT explaining what I want or how I plan on getting there well. I want to ONE DAY have 24" deep loose loam topsoil. I don't expect to be able to go that deep at first but I've seen even s-tine go over 18" deep once soil has been broken up previously. I'll start at just a little deeper than what my moldboard plow depth was to break up that soil, then each time go a little deeper till I either can't pull it or till subsoiler is at max depth. but if a spring tooth harrow with 6" sweeps can go to over 18" deep and cover a 4-5 foot width with over 16 tines/sweeps pulled with compact tractors that have about same HP as an SA but weigh a ton less pull it BUT ya'll say my SA with tires filled, front and rear weights and ya'll think that 1 subsoiler will be too much. At least in my head those spring tines are wider and will put more drag along with the 6" sweeps compared to a subsoiler with a 1/2-3/4 thick beam and a 2-3" wide point. Is my reasoning wrong or was it just ya'll thought I meant go 24" deep on first pass and only 1 pass to do this work....

[Super A]

I'm probably NOT explaining what I want or how I plan on getting there well. I want to ONE DAY have 24" deep loose loam topsoil. I don't expect to be able to go that deep at first but I've seen even s-tine go over 18" deep once soil has been broken up previously. I'll start at just a little deeper than what my moldboard plow depth was to break up that soil, then each time go a little deeper till I either can't pull it or till subsoiler is at max depth. but if a spring tooth harrow with 6" sweeps can go to over 18" deep and cover a 4-5 foot width with over 16 tines/sweeps pulled with compact tractors that have about same HP as an SA but weigh a ton less pull it BUT ya'll say my SA with tires filled, front and rear weights and ya'll think that 1 subsoiler will be too much. At least in my head those spring tines are wider and will put more drag along with the 6" sweeps compared to a subsoiler with a 1/2-3/4 thick beam and a 2-3" wide point. Is my reasoning wrong or was it just ya'll thought I meant go 24" deep on first pass and only 1 pass to do this work....

I am not sure what you’re talking about can be done but I don’t know your soil type. If it can be I’m not sure how practical it would be. We have mostly sandy soils and I’ve never seen a chisel plow go much over 10, maybe 12” deep. On that implement we use spike points and figure minimum 10 hp per shank. Even then if I drop it as deep as it’ll go I can stop the tractor. I’ve never known of anything with sweeps workingvthst deep.

Al

[BullDAWG]

I was talking about what IH calls a field cultivator. Has s tines with 4-6" sweeps. Seen them burried to the frame with is over 12" deep

[SONNY]

I use a 1 shank JD pull type sub-soiler and at 36" deep it will stop a IH 806 dead!!---Also had the allis 190xtd on it and was a lot better but did a lot of slipping too.
There is NO way you will go over a foot with a SA.--- I made one for the cubs 3-pt. and can only go about a foot by making 2 passes.--I had this one on the 404 and could get about 20 or so inches but pulled super hard.
I can post pix. of mine but be warned that you need to do some serious cutting and welding along with a LOT of bracing or it will break apart.--Took me 2 tries to get mine solid enough to hold back anything I pull it with. thanks; sonny

[BullDAWG]

Thanks Sonny. And I too don't expect to go over a foot in one pass. I want to slowly keep going over the rows and eventually get to over a foot and hope to eventually get to 24". Adding organic matter should also make it easier and basically a raised bed, just without a wooden boarder. The grass/ clover rows will have more white clover that doesn't get as tall as red or arrow leaf clover. If the grass keeps getting into the intensively planted crop rows I'll just plant clover and try keeping all the grass out. The native grass here is Bahia grass. If y'all think it best I could turn the whole field and just make the strips I drive on only clover to help with nitrogen.

[Eugene]

Research forage radish. They drill holes in soil, provide green manure as well as a winter cover crop.

[BullDAWG]

Thanks Eugene I surely will

[SONNY]

Above is the one that I made many years ago.

above is my JD pull type unit and below is the job it does a 3 feet deep. that's how deep I go here in hard black dirt.

Thanks; sonny