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February 16, 2001

Take these steps for
better planter performance

Proper planting equipment maintenance is critical to ensure performance in the field. Bill Barr, senior sales and service representative for row crop planters, John Deere Seeding Group, urges growers to review their service manuals, consult with their local dealer, and inspect their planter from the ground up working through these 10 simple steps:

1. Opener blades. Look for excessive wear. The openers should form a clear V-shape. Excessive wear will alter the opener spacing and change the shape and depth of the seed furrow. Adjust for wear by adding or removing shims as necessary.

2. Closing systems. Make sure the closing wheels are applying correct down-force. Check the wheel bearings for excessive wear and replace if necessary.

3. Seed tubes. Inspect the seed tube guards and guides, checking for proper alignment and excessive wear. Replace worn parts. Make sure the sensor is clear and the sensor wiring is intact. Use the brush provided by the manufacturer to clear seed tubes of debris.

4. Seed meters. Finger pick-ups include several moving parts, such as fingers, springs, backing plates and brushes. Inspect and replace any worn or damaged parts.Vacuum seed meters generally require less maintenance than finger pick-ups, but you still need to inspect the seals and seed disk (and install the seed disk for your first crop). Check the flipper that engages the drive (on the back side of the meter) and re-pack with grease if necessary.

5. Planter drive systems. The planter utilizes several drive systems, including (1) the ground drive, (2) the seed meter drive, (3) seed transmission drive and (4) chemical and fertilizer drive. Check all chains for wear, and proper lubrication and tension-chains should be free and loose. Check sprockets and idler assemblies for excessive wear and proper alignment.

Proper drive function is critical to maintaining proper seed spacing and population.

6. Hydraulics. Check for leaks in the hydraulic system by attaching the planter to your tractor and cycling the various hydraulic components, checking for proper movement and response time. If a leak is suspected, power down the system and release hydraulic pressure. Avoid contact with hoses—high-pressure oil injection can cause serious injury. Consult your dealer or service manual.

7. Tires. Proper drive performance requires a specific tire circumference. Low tire pressure can alter drive speed and seeding rates. Check tire pressure and inflate to the level specified in your service manual.

8. Attachments. Inspect attachments such as fertilizer and row cleaners for excessive wear and check for proper lubrication. Consult your service manual for specific checkpoints. For example, fertilizer attachments include pumps, nozzles and strainers that may require service.

9. Operator safety. Check road lighting systems to make sure they are working properly. Check that your SMV (slow moving vehicle) emblem is mounted properly and its reflective surface is clean.

10. Planter settings. As you complete the inspection and maintenance for each system on your planter, make your initial settings for the first crop, including the down-force setting on the row unit, depth of the row unit, and population rate.