Strengthened Part Solutions for Reversible Ploughs in Stony Fields

Ploughing a stony field is a different job from working clean loam. Every furrow brings the risk of a meeting with a buried rock, and the plough that survives longest is the one built for impacts. Standard parts will work, but they wear and break faster in stone. A few strengthened choices make stony-ground ploughing far less punishing and keep the machine working through the season.

Harder, tougher shares

Shares are the first part to meet a stone. In stony fields, choose shares with a treated edge that resists chipping rather than the hardest possible tip, because a very hard edge shatters on impact. A slightly tougher share wears a little faster but survives rocks without breaking. Replace chipped shares early, since a damaged edge tears the furrow and loads the body beside it.

Shear and breakaway protection

Many plough designs offer shear pins or breakaway bolts at the body bracket, so that a large rock shears the bolt instead of cracking the beam. Fit these protective devices to specification and keep spare shear bolts on board. They are cheap parts that absorb expensive shocks. Check the shear bolt after every hard impact, even if the plough kept working.

Stronger pins and linkage components

Link pins take the sideways shock of an impact. In stony country, use pins of the correct grade, and inspect them for bending or wear at the end of each day. Worn pins add play that amplifies the next impact. Keep a small stock of pins and bushes on the shelf, since these are the fast-moving wear parts in rocky ground.

Guard the coulters and depth wheel

Coulter discs and depth wheels meet stones first. Discs in stony ground wear grooves on their edge and bend their arms; check both after rough runs. Fit stronger coulter arms where the option exists, and replace discs that are grooved or cracked. A damaged coulter cuts the wrong line and leaves the furrow edge ragged.

Work the field the right way

Even strengthened parts last longer with sensible operation. Skim the field to surface stones before deep ploughing, work at a controlled speed, and avoid forcing the plough through ground where rocks are known to sit. Inspect the frame welds at the end of each week in stony work, because cracks from shock start small. With the right parts and careful operation, the plough handles rocks without constant repairs.

References

BROWN R T, DAVIES M K. Reversible plough part wear in stony soils[J]. Biosystems Engineering, 2020, 198: 170-179.

Brown, R. T., and M. K. Davies. "Reversible Plough Part Wear in Stony Soils." Biosystems Engineering, vol. 198, 2020, pp. 170-179.

Brown, R. T., & Davies, M. K. (2020). Reversible plough part wear in stony soils. Biosystems Engineering, 198, 170-179.