Reduce 60L plow to 2-bottom?

I've got an IH #60L 3-bottom plow.

Just for reference here, the L means that the plow is not designed to be reduced to 2-bottom.

I wonder, even though it's not designed to be reduced to 2-bottom, do you think it would still work if I pulled off the rear bottom and moved the tail wheel up?

MKirsch: I have a manual for No. 60 plows, listed are the following; 60 Two Furrow plow, 60 Three Furrow plow reducable to to furrow, 60-L Three Furrow Plow and 60 Four Furrow plow reducable to three furrow plow.

Couldn't find any written description on differences between 60 3 bottom and 60-L 3 bottom. I do see differences in photos of the two. 60-L has a full 3 bottom width frame all the way to front. Left front wheel rockshaft crosses all 3 beams. It has a full bottom width wider wheel tread than the 60. Right wheel rockshaft on 60-L is probably 1' closer to rear than on 60, and only extends across two right beams. The hydraulic lift is different on the two plows.

The No. 60 right beam from rear bottom does not go to front of plow, but rather diagnol to center beam at right wheel rockshaft. This configuration places the right wheel directly ahead of right coulter, and only about 4" to right of rear furrow edge.

I think the placement of that right wheel on the 60-L is back far enough, that if you removed the rear bottom plow would tip forward when in raised position. Also the lift linkage rod to rear wheel would be such a sharp angle, due to right wheel back so far. Looking at this a second time left front wheel rockshaft attach to frame back 6" compared to the 60, thus right wheel rockshaft is back even further than I suggested.

As I see it you could change it, but it's not as simple as removing rear bottom and changing tail wheel. You'll need to move those front wheels forward and change the hydraulic lift, which is quite different.

Hugh, I think you might be right.

However, I found another 60L for sale locally, in better shape than mine was, with coulters, and for half the price, and I'm gonna snatch it up anyway.

Won't be but a couple of hours with the burp gun to find out if the plow will remain upright with the back bottom missing. I can weld a new lever arm to work the tailwheel on to the left rockshaft if it doesn't tip over.

If it does tip over, I just have to put the third bottom back on and go buy a bigger tractor to pull it with

MKirsch: Did you check to see if those front wheels can be moved forward. I'd be surprised if those beams aren't drilled for mounting the wheel rockshafts in the forward position. If you had a manual to go by the hydraulic lift would only require minamum fabrication for change.