When considering a used plough, you need to put in as much care at ensuring it is of the right specification as you would a new one. The best buy is
always the most appropriate tool for the job.
buying a plough
The value of a used plough will relate as much to its
suitability for its intended role as its overall condition. New
or used, the wrong plough will remain the wrong plough, no
matter what it cost
I
t is all too easy to make a few general
assumptions when considering buying
a plough, be it new or used. One
stumbling block is to buy according to
current tractor capacity, only to find a
change a few seasons on sees the key
ploughing tractor’s basics, such as
horsepower, rear linkage lift capacity and
size of tyres change, only to find one or all
subsequently do not suit the plough.
Those ploughing a known area of
land will have the advantage of knowing
predominant soil types and the anticipated
area to be ploughed, but contractors may
also have to factor in a wider range of
soils. There may be the need to work with
a press, work at varied ploughing widths
to suit changing conditions. Most variable
width ploughs can have furrow widths
set from 30cm to 45cm, some offering
a stepless setting or fixed 5 cm (2")
manually adjusted steps.
Now consider the point to point and
under beam clearance. Used ploughs come
Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer June 2014
to market for a host of reasons, with poor
performance in trashy conditions rating
among a common reason for an upgrade.
You cannot wave a magic wand over any
plough to increase these clearances so
check you know exactly what you are
buying.
When it comes to plough bodies,
manufacturers will tend to have settled
upon a key set that suit UK conditions,
solid board mouldboards suitable for
working at 12.7 to 27.9cm depths at all
furrow widths proving a good generalpurpose body for most soils. Bodies that
will plough at depths of 17.8 to 35.6cm
remain the favoured choice for deeper
work prior to root crops and for use in
heavier soils.
Longer bodies designed to throw the
soil further from the landside for a wider
furrow bottom suit tractors on wide
tyres running in the furrow bottom. Now
increasingly common, these longer bodies
may increase draft by around 5%, a point
you may need to consider if the tractor
is at it limits power wise. Slatted / finger
bodies remain popular regionally and
should be regarded in the same way as a
solid body offering the same furrow width
and depth settings.
The final basic pointer is to consider
the ploughs duty strength. The headstock
and beam are built to suit a specific power
bracket. This is pretty obvious but it can
be tempting to snap up a used plough
that may be just on the wrong side of the
capacity you are after. Promising yourself
you will not overwork the plough soon
gets forgotten when the weather is closing
in and it is then that problems may arise.
The flip is that over specifying can see too
heavy a plough sitting behind a tractor that
struggles to cope during tricky headland
turns.
What to look for on a used buy
Job one is to mount the plough to allow
it to be raised, turned and various settings
checked. This will include electronic
controls that may be fitted such as front
furrow width adjustment. Rams that have
not moved in a while can also have issues
when first used again, particularly if the
chrome on the ram or a seal has suffered.
A plough that tends to ‘fall’ over
too quickly past the butterfly position
during reversal may not have been set
up correctly from new, so it helps if you
know what to look for. Worn turnover
Continued over the page
45
Buying a Plough
pivots are rare on a cared for plough, so
be wary if there is an issue on a plough
that is not that old.
With the plough raised or removed
from the tractor, look for backlash in the
turnover axle. On some ploughs, the ‘O’
ring seal can fail, allowing dirt in. This
does not wear the axle itself so much but
more the headstock tube ends. If this
is the case, shims can be fitted on some
models to cure the problem
The cross shaft should be central to the
headstock, a change to suit variable width
wheels at some stage possibly leading to
the shaft not being set correctly. If the
plough produces an uneven finish it may
not have been set evenly, leading to an
uneven front furrow width. This is a good
place to check.
A lot will depend upon plough make
and model too. Some have a shaft that
can locate in one of three holes, the
rear top standard position providing the
closest coupling and the best position
for most tractors. As some tractors have
a protruding valve block, the cross shaft
can be located to increase the clearance
as the plough is raised. A small detail but
one that may need checking on a used
purchase.
On some headstocks there will be a
choice of fixed of slotted top link holes,
the latter suiting the now pretty much
universal lower link sensing, but some
still plough as if the tractor has top link
sensing and use the fixed hole. This
can lead to possible wear and uneven
ploughing.
Front furrow widths are increasingly
adjusted hydraulically rather than by
winding out a turnbuckle. A frame
alignment ram may also be fitted, again
allowing the plough to be adjusted to suit
a specific tractor.
All bolts securing the headstock and
frame must be really tight. It can be worth
checking to see if any obviously new bolts
are of the same grade as obvious originals.
If not, ask a few questions.
Soil packers tend to drop in and out of
fashion but where fitted the packer arm
needs to be given the once over if it is to
be used.
Legs and frame
Body leg design tends to be pretty much
standard across models within a range of
ploughs, but the way they are mounted
does vary between manufacturers.
Ploughs with fixed legs and shear bolt
protection need a really good check,
elongated bolt holes often arising when
the shear bolt works loose. Shear bolts
should obviously all be checked to ensure
they are of the correct type, a high torque
10.9 grade having the number stamped
or cast into the bolt head. The key is to
have the correct ‘brittle’ strength to shear
cleanly. Too soft a bolt, and it will tend
to deform rather than shear. If the legs
are out of alignment, check for partially
sheared bolts.
Traction, as opposed to shear, bolts
are used on some ploughs. A key claimed
advantage of the traction bolt is that it
tends to be easier to remove if the leg trips
as the nut or nuts strip off. Traction bolts
can be tightened without compromising
their ability to trip
A visual check along the bodies
is typically enough to pick up any
discrepancies in body alignment, the same
view along the skimmers also helping to
show up any problems. Some bodies can
be adjusted and re-aligned but be wary if
the plough is clearly out of adjustment.
Also remember it is really difficult to
check a plough is ‘true’ when the key
landside and share reference points are
worn. A re-metalled plough is always
easier to check.
On frames with a drop off body
attached, check it is bolted on tightly and
that the alignment is correct. The joint has
to take a good deal of stress, particularly
in transport. Manufacturers may suggest
the bolts are tightened with a torque
wrench, typically to around 60 kg/m.
Depth wheel
Check the wheel locks and look for wear
and tear on the tyre. New rubber can be
costly. Bashed wheels can have distorted
rims, causing issues in transport to include
uneven tyre wear. Tubeless implement
tyres must have a good seal to the rim
to prevent pressure loss. Remember
implement tyres will have a transport
speed rating. Do not expect a low inflation
pressure tyre to be suitable for high
transport speeds. Specific plough transport
wheels are an option of some ploughs to
include those made by Kuhn.
Bodies and wearing parts
It is not unusual to see the front bodies
46
showing more wear than the rest, and this
can normally be traced back to the plough
having been set to produce a deep front
furrow to create enough soil to fill in the
‘hole’ left by wide tractor tyres. Although
it is acceptable to perhaps lean the plough
over slightly to create more soil, working
deeper is not the answer. The key is to
actually reduce the front furrow width;
dropping from 16" to 15" can do the trick.
It is perfectly acceptable to swap
more worn front bodies with ones from
the middle, to extend the life of the
mouldboards; light damage and fractures
need not necessarily mean these items are
scrap either. On a used plough, however,
cost in replacing everything as a complete
set. It is all too easy to under estimate how
much time and money it can take to remetal a worn plough and it can take a long
time to make sure everything is correctly
aligned.
Looking over the skimmers, check for
wear on the support saddle. These will
wear if the skimmers themselves have
been run worn. Sword share knives are
increasingly specified in place of a rear
disc, and for most users they make a sound
choice; a rear disc will produce a neater
furrow wall, but it will be obliterated by a
wide tractor tyre.
With regard to wearing parts, spurious
components may well have been fitted.
In terms of wear, the metal used in better
quality non-OEM parts has improved, but
the actual fit can be poor. Poor fitting can
increase draft and wear in the longer term,
OEM metal typically paying for itself. Do
not forget to match the fasteners to the
parts if they are not supplied. The wrong
type of bolt can cause expensive damage.
Summary
It is not difficult to assess the condition
of a used plough. The trick is to choose
the right specification and to know how
much it will cost to renew worn metal. As
a rough guide, assume you will need to
spend £200 per body in common wearing
parts and allow £30 per body to pay for
fitting them.
Also do your homework. Check the
price of the used plough against a new
one, and do not forget to factor in possible
deals and finance packages. Consider
the value of any plough you may be
trading in, this sometimes making it more
economical to buy a used plough through
a dealer than trying to source and sell a
plough privately. Avoid an impulse buy
and remember a bargain buy is only that if
it turns out to be a useful purchase. As we
said at the outset, the wrong plough will
always be the wrong plough, regardless of
what you paid for it.
With grateful thanks to Matt Grew and
the team at Kuhn UK.
Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer June 2014
Buying a Plough
In the following table, outline specs of
core Kuhn five-furrow ploughs are listed.
This helps to illustrate how much variation
there is between just one manufacturer, let
alone when comparing different makes
and models. The weights of the ploughs
are not listed as this will vary dependent
upon body type, auto-reset and other
options.
As a guide, however, the lightest Kuhn
five-furrow Multi-Master 113 plough will
weigh around 1,370kg, on land MultiMaster 183 units coming in at 2,273kg.
Kuhn Master reversible ploughs outline specifications, five furrow models
Model
Multi-Master 113
Vari-Master 113
Multi-Master 123
Vari-Master 123
Multi-Master 153
Vari-Master 153
Multi-Master 183
Vari-Master 183
Beam box dimensions (mm)
120x120
120x120
120x120 + triangle
120x120 + triangle
150x150 + triangle
150x150 + triangle
180x180 + triangle
180x180 + triangle
Max power
rating (kW/hp)
110/120
132/160
129/175
129/175
166/225
166/225
202/275
202/275
Variable width settings* Under beam/point to point
(in/cm)
clearance *(mm)
14,16,18/35,40,45
700/900 12 to 19/30-48
700/960
14,16,18/35,40,45
750/900
12 to 20/30 to 50
750/900
14,16,18/35,40,45
800/102
12 to 20/30 to 50
800/102
14,16,18,20/35,40,45,50
800/960
12 to 19/30-48
800/960
The specifications outlined above show the importance of knowing how different five-furrow reversible ploughs within the range
offered by a manufacturer differ in terms of power rating and clearances. When buying new or used, selecting the correct specification
is critical. This listed specifications are for guidance only and do not include all related Kuhn plough models.
*Dependent upon model and version, variable width options available to cover wider settings of up to 20 inches / 500mm. Under
beam and point to point clearances can also vary dependent upon specific model selected. ALWAYS CHECK ON A USED BUY!
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Varimaster 190x130Farm Contractor_Layout 1 10/06/2014 16:53 Page 1
VARI MASTER 123
Strength and
adaptability
Innovation in plough safety
NON-STOP HYDRAULIC (NSH)
• Plough leg safety system
with rapid release on
impact with obstacle and
quick return to work.
• Share-point release
pressure easily adjustable
from 600 – 1,300kg, and
can be increased (with
MAXIBAR) to 2,500kg and
adjusted on the move from
the cab (VARIBAR).
• Exceptional vertical (60cm) and lateral (20cm each side)
clearance.
• All moving parts integrated into the beam.
forage harvesting I livestock husbandry I arable I landscape maintenance
be strong, be KUHN
Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer June 2014
VARI-MASTER ploughs are renowned for their robust one-piece
headstock and large diameter turnover shaft and are adaptable
due to user-friendly offsetting and angling facilities.
The variable working width (30 – 45cm) is fully integrated into the
plough beam, and all pivot points are bushed, to ensure great
durability. Side-mounted triangular reinforcement adds further
strength to the main beam where most needed.
The VARI-MASTER 123 range includes models with 3 – 5 bodies,
with a choice of traction bolt protection or non-stop hydraulic
auto-reset protection.
www.kuhn.co.uk
47
Buying a Plough
Longer L body (left) is now the most popular Kuhn plough body type
and will allow in-furrow plough with tyres that exceed 650 width. Note
body extension in centre, this helping fold a difficult furrow. L slatted
body (right) increasingly common in Eastern counties, but retrofit
furrow widener on VP slatted body to its left can help and is an easy
retrofit.
Auto rest bodies now favoured by new buyers, despite adding to plough’s
overall weight. There are numerous designs on offer, the Kuhn system
pivoting up and having adjustable trip setting.
Plough duty strength increases in line with the maximum power listed
by the manufacturer. Kuhn triangulates the beam of its Multi-Master
123 and up, increasing the beam box section too. A plough should be
matched to the power of the tractor.
A wide range
of adjustment is
offered on the
bodies of Kuhn
ploughs to allow
for any slight
misalignment. When
looking over a
used plough it can
be difficult to spot
issues, the more so
if you are looking
over a plough with
worn wearing parts.
Hydraulic variable
width is increasingly
common on ‘larger’
ploughs, but now
the alignment that
was carried out
using a turn buckle
is increasingly
controlled
hydraulically too.
The aim is to make
it easier to make
adjustments on the
move.
Depth wheels can work hard and need to be properly inspected on a
used plough. If the wheels doubles up for transport duties consider the
tyre fitted and its suitability for high road speeds.
48
Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer June 2014
Buying a Plough
Headstock design has advanced in the past few years to offer not only
improved durability but also enable improved routing of pipework as
pictured. Auto-reset ploughs need looking over carefully, pressurising
the system sometimes enabling operators to ‘over work’ the system.
Trash burial is a key to good commercial ploughing, the setting and
design of skimmer having a big impact upon plough performance.
Standard ‘large’ ZXL skimmers are the most common type fitted to Kuhn
ploughs in the UK, the larger ZRL design suiting more challenging
conditions to include burying maize stalks.
Traction bolts, in this case fitted with two nuts, are an alternative to
shear bolts. When looking over a used plough try removing the shear
bolts and checking the holes have not elongated through wear.
Bolting to the rear of the plough, the Kuhn transport wheel has a degree
of suspension to help cushion the ride. The tyre is designed for road use,
and is not intended to be used as a plough depth wheel.
Small refinements to more recent ploughs go beyond electronic controls
for the front furrow width and alignment. Available as a retrofit, the
in-line filters Kuhn offers as an option for its turnover ram hoses are
designed to help reduce problems with contamination.
Most manual vari-width systems are left once set, but varying the width
to suit different soils and conditions can have a noticeable impact upon
both productivity and the quality of work. Width settings can also be
adjusted to suit different conditions. On a used plough, try adjusting the
plough.
Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer June 2014
49