Certain parts of planters wear and need annual inspection, adjustment or replacement. Most folks know to check disk openers, gauge wheels and other soil-contacting components. Here’s a checklist of less obvious problems:
1. Bottom end of seed tubes
Rocks and hard clods get between the gauge wheels and crack or break the bottom of the tube, disrupting the smooth flow of seeds to the seed furrow.
2. Disk opener guard, the curved piece of steel that protects the front of the disk openers
Rocks bend them back into the disk openers where they grind against the disk opener edges.
3. Tined row cleaner wheels for side-to-side freeplay
The wheel may turn freely, but side-to-side play indicates the wheel’s bearing is loose and looking for ways to fail.
4. Alignment of the seed meter discharge chute with the top of the seed tube
On older planters with sheet metal row unit frames, housings get tweaked, creating protruding surfaces or edges that disrupt the smooth flow of seeds from the seed meter to the seed furrow.
Note: If you noticed random kernels of corn, beans or seeds laying on top of the closing wheel frame or under the seed meter last planting season, there’s probably a problem with the way the seed meter housing is sitting in the row unit frame.
5. Every spring on the planter frame and row unit
Chances are good on an 8-row or larger planter that there’s at least one down-pressure spring, closing wheel frame spring or drive chain tensioner spring that’s broken. Manually touch every spring to wiggle it to make sure it’s in place and tight enough to do its job.
More planter prep help:
Spring Planter Prep: 5 Common Problems, Uncommon Causes and Solutions
Your 19-Point Planter Checklist to Ensure Smooth Spring Planting
