Great Plains YP1630F-1670 Operator Manual - Manual (Page 56)

52 YP1630F Table of Contents Index Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
401-832M Table of Contents Index 2012-12-27
Row Unit Down Pressure
Row unit springs provide the primary control of down
pressure necessary for row unit disks to open a seed
trench. The springs allow the row units to float down into
depressions and up over obstructions. Springs also
provide down force on optional unit-mount coulters, and
provide the primary down force for press wheels.
Heavy-duty springs (page 105) are optional.
The total down pressure also includes the weight of the
empty row unit, and the weight of materials loaded. Use
half full hoppers when optimizing your settings.
Refer to Figure 48
A T-handle
sets down pressure individually for each
row unit. This is useful for penetrating hard soil and
planting in tire tracks. For best results adjust tractor tires
so they are not ahead of rows.
Use only enough down pressure to cut the seed trench
and maintain proper soil-firming over seed. Excessive
row unit down force will lead to premature wear on row
unit components, uneven seed depth and gauge wheel
slippage.
The ideal amount of down-force causes the side gauge
wheels to compress any loose surface soil, but not press
a trench into subsoil.
To assess down-force, operate the planter for a short
distance on typical ground (with or without seeding), and
stop. Leave the planter lowered (row units in ground).
At several row units, inspect the furrow created by the
opener discs, but prior to furrow closing by the press
wheels.
Refer to Figure 49
1.
If the side gauge wheels are leaving no tracks, or
light tracks, increase down-force.
2. If the wheels are compressing trash and loose soil,
and leaving clear tracks right at the top of the
subsoil, down-force is probably correct and needs no
adjustment.
3. If the wheels are creating a trench into the subsoil,
down-force is too high and needs to be reduced.
Standard Springs Spring Down Force Heavy-Duty Springs Spring Down Force
First Holes
(Closest to Tractor)
38 kg (85 pounds)
First Holes
(Closest to Tractor)
70 kg (155 pounds)
Second Holes 45 kg (100 pounds) Second Holes 79 kg (175 pounds)
Third Holes 52 kg (115 pounds) Third Holes 93 kg (205 pounds)
Fourth Holes 61 kg (135 pounds) Fourth Holes 102 kg (225 pounds)
Fifth Holes
(Closest to Hopper)
70 kg (155 pounds)
Fifth Holes
(Closest to Hopper)
111 kg (245 pounds)
Figure 48
30 Series Down Force
25454
1
1
Light or no side gauge
wheel tracks Insufficient down-force
Increase down-force
Gauge wheels compress
loose soil only Ideal
No adjustment required
Side gauge wheels
making deep tracks Down-force too high
Reduce down-force
Note: Do not set all rows higher than hole set four.
Using high settings across all rows causes uneven
planting. Individual rows may be set higher if
running in tire tracks.
Note: Inspect rows both in and out of tire tracks.
Figure 49: 30 Series:
Assessing Down-force
1
2
3