Section 7: Troubleshooting
MP10 & MP20 Moldboard Plows 307-244M
10/29/18
25
Furrow wall is ragged.
Rear coulter is not adjusted properly.
Adjust coulter farther to the left. If in loose
soil, set coulter to cut deeper.
Rear coulter does not swing freely.
Clean and adjust coulter stop.
Plow is not trailing straight.
See “Plow bottoms won’t scour” in this
chart.
Furrow wall is broken.
Coulter is set too close to the plow bottom. Adjust coulter away from the plow bottom.
Furrow wall has a step in it.
Coulter is set too far from the plow bottom. Adjust coulter toward the plow bottom.
Furrow slice is broken or
misplaced.
Plowing too fast.
Reduce tractor speed.
Front of tractor pulls to the right.
Tractor too light on the front.
Add front weights to the tractor.
Plow is not trailing straight.
Plow is running on its nose.
Lengthen tractor’s center 3-point link.
Right side of plow is set too deep causing
the plow to pull to the left.
Adjust tractor’s right lower 3-point arm up.
Right side of plow is set too shallow
causing the plow to pull to the right.
Adjust tractor’s right lower 3-point arm
down.
Plow is going into the ground too deep.
Lengthen tractor’s center 3-point link.
Plow will not stay in the ground.
Shorten tractor’s center 3-point link.
The front bottom is making too wide of a
cut or too narrow of a cut.
Adjust lower hitch frame horizontally. If
hitch frame does not have enough
adjustment, adjust tractor wheel width.
Lower 3-point arms are not properly
stabilized to hold the plow straight.
1. Stabilize lower 3-point arms.
2. Adjust stabilization to hold lower 3-point
arms straight.
3. Adjust hitch pin on the right-hand side of
the plow to align plow straight.
Plow share(s) are worn.
Replace plow share(s).
Plow bottoms are plugging with
trash and dirt.
The field is too heavy with trash for the
plow to operate without optional coulters.
Add optional coulters to your plow.
Coulters are set too deep. Trash goes over
the top of the coulter.
Raise coulters enough to allow trash to be
cut as it goes under the coulters.
Coulters are set too shallow. Not enough
earth friction on the coulters to cause them
to turn as they cut through the trash.
Lower coulters enough to cause the
coulters to turn and cut through the trash.
Trash is wet with moisture making the trash
tough for the coulters to cut through.
Allow trash time to dry before plowing.
Poor trash coverage.
Plow bottoms are not scouting.
See Plow bottoms won’t scour.
Coulters are not adjusted properly.
Adjust coulters deep enough to cut through
surface trash but not so deep that they
push trash.
Coulter blades are dull.
Sharpen or replace coulter blades.
Coulter bearings are not rotating.
Replace coulter bearings.
Shear bolt shears easily.
Ground is too hard or frozen.
Wait for the soil to have some moisture or
for the ground to thaw.
Plowing speed is too fast.
Plow at a slower speed.
Plowing too deep.
Plow at a shallower depth.
Tractor horsepower is too high or using
4WD to pull the plow.
Use a smaller tractor.
If using 4WD, switch to 2WD.
Troubleshooting Chart
Problem
Cause
Solution
