IH #8 Plow Shares

My best advice would be get out and make that little drive to a plow day. Even living here in SW Ontario, I happen to know Nebraska Cowman hosts a plow day every spring. David Hodson in IN is having a plow day on March 18, 2006. I know they have one every summer in Upstate NY, and I know Bob M is quite involved in that one. I'm sure, I'm only scratching the surface, these plowing days are becoming very popular. Take a look at Bill's post about Cresent Forge. There are just too many of these old plows, all makes making the circut for manufacturers of wear parts to ignor them.

Here in Ontario match plowing competitions are big, and one of the most popular classes is the antique class. Each county has their own competition, then the best meet in the International Plowing Match, hosted by a different county each year. This is a 4 day event that usually attracts over 100,000 spectators. Most every Sat as soon as wheat is off, these guys are plowing somewhere honing their skills for the competitions. Right here in town there is a coffee shop common parking lot with TSC store. By 8am every Sat morning that parking lot will be full of pickups with trailers and tractor-plow on board, congregating before heading out to their days plowing.

These plow days are maybe not quite as big as tractor pulling, but they are fast catching up. I may be a bit prejudice, but I'm willing to bet if you come to my house on a Sat morning after wheat is off, I will find you a group of guys plowing before we run across a tractor pull.

On farm stores, most good ones have and older guy left that understands plows and plowing. Plowdays will be your best way to find out who these guys in your area are. That is how I found the guy I deal with, I'm hoping he is younger and more healty than I, then I won't need to search out another guy.

Perhaps at this point we should start a thread for anouncing plow days. The more of us that become involved, the better plow part supplies will be. Guys like Cresent Forge need volume to make these ventures viable. I can tell you I am going to David Hodson's plow day on March 18. You guys are all closer than I, thus I expect to see you all there. I hope David doesn't shoot me for inviting everyone.

I'll tell you something about this old iron game, most folks will tell you it is a labour of love. I dare say I've spent more money driving than on my free labour. Find out where, and get out to your nearest plow day.

Also when Iowa was mentioned, I was more wanting future parts vendors so when that big (someday when I get alittle time) projects get underway, I can then start looking for the little notes with the vendors that I have misplaced.

I do have what we call a Servis Whirl Wind Plow (no 8 IH with a Servis package). I restored it shade tree style a number of years ago, but may need a few parts to make it perfect. Yet some how I have lost my full speed ahead attitude, and may just call it good enough. Again thank you all for your kindness. Dave NE IA

To satisfy myself I bid on some plow parts books out of NE. When they arrived I started comparing the No.8 Little Genius US version with the Canadian version. The first thing I noticed in the parts books, was the US plow was called a No.8 Little Genius while the Canadian plow was called simply No.8 Tractor Plow. Secondly the plow frames were different, the plow levers were different.

If you wish to send me an e mail, I can send photos on Canadian plow parts book pages that will let you compare the differences between US and Canadian plows. Back in the early 1950s I guess IH never counted on us having computers, thus never figured we would have any problems with two different plows having the same model number.

Back on the plow parts you need, try asking Rusty Farmall. I've forgotten the exact exchange, I had with him about 18 months ago. I know he was looking for No.8 parts. I remember sending him pages from the Canadian book. I know he now has his No. 8 Little Genius fully restored or at least a functional plow. I have a fear that cross border shopping for IH plow parts could cause one some grief.

Now I should qualify what I said about TSC Stores being the best source of wear parts for older plows here in SW ON. I think the "best source" part of it should go to an individual that works there rather than the store chain TSC. Most of their staff look at you as though you had two heads when you ask for parts for a No. 8 plow.

Joe is an ex IH partsman, he is also quite keen on old plow days as well as match competition plowing. He may well give me the address of that source in Iowa. I don't think it will do you much good contacting anyone here in Canada. The Canadian built IH plows were built at Hamilton Ontario were different from US built plows having the same model number. Just to give you an example, you folks call the No. 8 plow a No.8 Little Genius, here in Canada it was called a No.8 Tractor plow, no mention of the words Little Genius. The plow frames were different. I suspect the bottoms were the same. However I've never been able to confirm that.

All US built IH plows prior to 1958 had diagnol cross members, right? All Canadian built IH plows used pertendicular cross members. The Canadian plows also used ACE bottoms quite often, but also used a general purpose bottom very similar to yours, but as I said I'm not certain they were the same part number.

For that reason I suspect the Iowa source of parts would best serve your needs. I may take me a few days to find the address. I will send you an e mail.