Cultivator question

[lakehouse_dreaming]

This is my grandads old cultivator that I have, however everything I can find now has springs on it like a spring tooth plow. Is this one just missing the springs or did they used to make them as a rigid plow?

 

[bird dogger]

No parts missing there. Pretty unique. I like how you can set the tooth angle. If memory serves correctly that would more likely be called a chisel plow........maybe?

Edit: chisel plow...... a soil tillage device pulled by a tractor or animal, used to break up and stir soil a foot or more beneath the surface without turning it.

I see some old IH chisel plows that look very similar. Yours could be a real early version IH unit.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

as BD says ... 'NICE' !!!!
You should set it on 3or 4 high concrete blocks( enough to keep 'points' out of the ground ).
That way YOUR grankids can still be using it !
I'd also remove the chain and try to prop on an angle so water won't sit on he angl iron frame pieces.
I used a similar one 20+ years ago, to turn 1/2 ac of grass(sod) into a veggie garden. Took a zillion passes but it's all I had back then.

 

[BAP]

Is there any markings on it to identify the brand? A lot of times on older equipment the cast their insignia or logo into some of the parts. Neat looking piece.

 

[Captain13]

They used to make them as a rigid plow. The springs came along to lessen the chance of snagging a big rock or root and bending the frame. I have an old Massey cultivator and it had rigid mounted points. The rear frame mounting rail was curved up due to catching hard stuff in the ground. I disassembled the thing, used a press to straighten it and have been using it for over 20 years now. I got it for free when it didn’t sell at an estate sale. I switched some of the chisel points to sweeps for maintaining my big garden. keeps the row centers clean and pulls dirt up to the plants.

 

[Tx Jim]

Rowcrop cultivators such as shown in photo were designed to move relating loose soil in order to control weeds in planted crops. Therefore as Captain13 previously stated some older rowcrop cultivators had no springs

 

[lakehouse_dreaming]

Is there any markings on it to identify the brand? A lot of times on older equipment the cast their insignia or logo into some of the parts. Neat looking piece.

Not that I could see. I will have a closer look in the daylight and see.

 

[bird dogger]

That center knife assembly is interesting. Some sort of depth control device, maybe? I'd clean that bad boy up and put it to use again!! You'll most likely find some part numbers cast into the curved chisel holders that can help lead to identification. Which could then lead to an owner's/operating manual. That would be neat to have!!

 

[mcfarmall]

That center knife assembly is interesting. Some sort of depth control device, maybe? I'd clean that bad boy up and put it to use again!! You'll most likely find some part numbers cast into the curved chisel holders that can help lead to identification. Which could then lead to an owner's/operating manual. That would be neat to have!!

I watched an old Ferguson video from the 50's and they used a cultivator like that. They said the knife acts like a rudder to keep the unit from moving side to side.

 

[lakehouse_dreaming]

Not that I could see. I will have a closer look in the daylight and see.

Is there any markings on it to identify the brand? A lot of times on older equipment the cast their insignia or logo into some of the parts. Neat looking piece.

These are the markings I could find.

 

[bird dogger]

Here ya go: Ferguson Nko-21 Rigid Tine Cultivator
Ferguson Nko-21 Rigid Tine Cultivator - TractorShed.com

It looks really close. This one has some shields on it set up for protecting the row crop
David.

Edit: Here's another link to one Ferguson Implements - Yesterday's Tractors (yesterdaystractors.com)
Possibly even a copy of a manual??

Here's a free manual in PDF format for you: Ferguson N-KO-21 Assembly and Operating Instructions (ntractorclub.com)

Mystery solved!

 

[BAP]

Here ya go: Ferguson Nko-21 Rigid Tine Cultivator
Ferguson Nko-21 Rigid Tine Cultivator - TractorShed.com

It looks really close. This one has some shields on it set up for protecting the row crop
David.

Edit: Here's another link to one Ferguson Implements - Yesterday's Tractors (yesterdaystractors.com)
Possibly even a copy of a manual??

Here's a free manual in PDF format for you: Ferguson N-KO-21 Assembly and Operating Instructions (ntractorclub.com)

Mystery solved!

Nice research.

 

[lakehouse_dreaming]

as BD says ... 'NICE' !!!!
You should set it on 3or 4 high concrete blocks( enough to keep 'points' out of the ground ).
That way YOUR grankids can still be using it !
I'd also remove the chain and try to prop on an angle so water won't sit on he angl iron frame pieces.
I used a similar one 20+ years ago, to turn 1/2 ac of grass(sod) into a veggie garden. Took a zillion passes but it's all I had back then.

Got it up on blocks now.

 

[Captain13]

instead off that center knife, mine has a 12 inch flat disk that acts like a rudder to keep it straight. Make sure you never make a turn (other that slight steering adjustments) with the points in the ground, or you might bend the frame.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Thank you for putting her on blocks ! She'll last 2-3 more generations now !!

 

[bird dogger]

Easy to see it was set up for cultivating two rows of a row crop. Betting you'd find the distance between the two rows (gaps in the cultivator shovels) is about 36" on center and it was set up to cultivate your grandad's corn crop......or tobacco maybe?

A little sandblasting and a fresh coat of Ferguson gray paint would have that looking pretty spiffy again!
From the manual, it looks like there's an infinite number of row spacings you could set that up for. Perfect for your garden use!!