Getting The Planter Ready

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

The planter is is pieces on the apron outside my shop.  

Last year, I didn't get it ready as well as I should have, and ended up making repairs in a haphazard way.  One of my corn fields reflects thisl  😞

I sowre that this year I'd be ready, so I have the row units pretty much in pieces on the concrete.  It will take new seed tube guards, a few new seed tubes, a couple of new disk openers, a couple of gauge wheels.  I hope that's it's.  The blower motor is working.  A couple of cylinders could have the seals looked at, but they'll work if I dont' get at them.

I know, I should have done this earlier, but at least it's not next April in the field.  🙂

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Got it done. About 16 hours of work and $1000.  I put in new brushes, some new disk openers, some new seed tubes, some new seed tube guards, rebuilt some gauge wheels.  It's the last overhaul.  I'm getting old enough that when this planter goes I'll hire it done.

It feels good to have the planter ready and sitting in a dry shed.  See you in the spring.  🙂

[buckfarmer]

Blower motor and brushes? What planter do you have?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

It's the brushed in the row unit.  White 6100

[buckfarmer]

I have a 5100. How do you know when the brushes need replaced.

[Blacksandfarmer]

Jim, planter work is all something most of us put off until its spring, but you are doing it right and getting it done now. Seed tube guards are some of the toughest parts on a planter to mess with. I put all new seed tubes and guards on my JD 7200 back in 2012 and hope they last me until I can upgrade LOL! What a pain!

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

When I bought this planter and went through it for no-till years ago, I had a good planter mechanic come and go through a couple of row units with me.  I used his advice on judging some of the wear decisions.  Also, I look at the planter book and try to make sense of and follow their instructions.

In truth, the main brushes were not all that bad, but I had earlier decided this was the last time I'd go through the planter.  The tickler brushes were getting somewhat worn and I figured new ones would help the plates do their job of getting the right amount of seed ot the seed tube.

[buckfarmer]

This was the first time I've had any doubles. I wander if I need to look at the brushes.

[Blacksandfarmer]

Buck, if you have a vac planter, seed size and vac pressure are a big deal. Ive found I usually have more doubles with small, light weight kernels. Medium to large rounds seem to work best for me. I ordered medium round seed last fall and ended up getting small flats instead. I turned the vac pressure down to what is normal for soybeans and had pretty good luck.