[Baystatetom]

Tim thanks for the great info. I am a Consulting Forester, if you ever have tree or logging questions I am your guy:)
My first time plowing with my 12″ walking plow went about like I had expected. My 14 month old Holstein/shorthorns worked hard pulling the plow. My off steer pulls a lot harder then the near steer so it was difficult to keep them straight. I had a few crooked rows and several feet between a few, and even a couple that snaked back and forth across others. All in all it took about 2 hours to plow a swath I could have done with the tractor in 20 minutes but speed wasn’t point.
I worked my team on a real job not just pulling a stoneboat for exercise, the team and I both gained experience, and most importantly I had fun.
Of course it is going to take awhile with the harrows to straighten out the mess I made.

[Baystatetom]

I thought that the line of draft was probably the answer to my question. I think the line of draft is different in the two plows because the distance and angle is different from the point of the plow through the hitch point.
I have been working in the woods with them all winter and gathering sap, making them pull 120 gallons on a soft bare ground with a small sled. I think they will be able to handle the plow for a couple of hours a weekend. Its just a hobby anyway and I won’t get upset if I have to finish with the tractor.
Thanks for your opinion. How do I measure to see if it is 16″ or 14″?
Tom

[Baystatetom]

I have had 6 six teams of oxen and really do think they like to work. They do like repetition but that doesn’t mean they are not willing when I ask them for something new. Just the other day I went to gather sap when I noticed I left the chain in my truck. I told the steers to whoa and left them alone for a minute to get the chain, when I returned they had walked over to and backed up to the sled and were waiting for me, ready to be hooked up. You can’t tell me they don’t like to work.
~Tom

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