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Planter Maintenance- Weekly Checklist
Posted March 19, 2025
Row crop planters are precision machines that perform multiple critical tasks simultaneously—clearing residue, opening and holding a furrow, placing seeds with perfect spacing, applying fertility, and closing the furrow seamlessly—all while planting over 14 seeds per second. Just like a high-performance car requires fine-tuning before a race, your planter needs to be correctly adjusted before each planting season to maximize yield and profitability. Join us over the next 4 weeks as we highlight items that should be on your Spring maintenance list.
Row Cleaners
Row cleaners are essential for ensuring seeds make direct contact with soil by removing residue. Before planting season, check them by spinning to detect loose bearings and inspect the frame for tight pivot bushings, addressing any maintenance needs. Tine or spike-style row cleaners work best in tilled soil, while razor wheel or shark tooth styles are designed for no-till conditions, cutting through surface residue and clearing it away.
Parallel Arm Bushings
Proper parallel arm maintenance ensures smooth planter operation and consistent seed depth for uniform emergence. Worn components cause row-unit chatter, leading to spacing issues. To check for wear, move the row-unit vertically and horizontally—if excessive movement is detected, compare by replacing components on one row.
Seed Tube
To ensure proper seed placement, measure your seed tube guards before the season—they should be at least ¾ inch wide, and if less, replace them with new 15/16-inch guards. Always replace guards when installing new opener disks to prevent seed tube wear from disk contact. Inspect seed tubes for wear, especially at the bottom, to maintain accurate spacing. BullsEye® seed tubes, with tungsten carbide tip inserts, offer extended durability. Worn seed tube guards lead to poor furrow formation and inconsistent emergence, so regular checks and timely replacements are essential.
Seed Shoe & Furrow Firming Point
To ensure proper seed placement, measure your furrow firming point or compare it to a new one to ensure it is making the proper V trench for optimum soil to seed contact and germination. Inspect the seed shoe and replace if worn. Always replace it if the Furrow firming points are replaced.
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