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Hitch Solves Deere Clearance Problem
Anyone who owns a Deere 7000, 7200, or 1770 front-fold planter knows that when the planter is folded for transport, often there isn't enough ground clearance as you enter or exit a field or cross railroad tracks. If you catch the planter's folded row units on a road or ditch bank, they can get bent or broken, leading to expensive repairs and costly downtime.
  Rex Fischer had that problem with his Deere 7200 planter, and he decided to do something about it. His new patent pending "Dandi Planter Hitch" gives the front row units an additional 12 in. of clearance.
  The unit consists of a 45-in. wide by 54-in. high frame that attaches to the 3-pt. lift arms. A 4-in. sq. crossbar inside the frame forms a new "drawbar" for the planter and is raised and lowered by a pair of hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders operate off tractor hydraulics and are activated by a lever in the cab. A flow divider valve keeps both cylinders in synch.
  "It adds height in transport but when the hitch is in the down position, the planter is positioned the same as it was originally," says Fischer.
  "I came up with the idea after I bought a 7200 planter three years ago. I had fields that I couldn't get in and out of. I use it on my International Harvester tractor and have a total of about 27 inches of clearance under the front row units. The exact amount of clearance will depend on what tractor you're using.
  "It pivots the entire main frame of the planter upward. but doesn't raise the planter's rear end."
  The hitch is designed for 12, 16 and 24-row planters.
  A limited number of hitches will be available for this season. List price for the Dandi Planter Hitch is $3,750.
  Fischer also offers an optional hitch position indicator. It uses a magnetically mounted flashing light in the tractor cab to remind you the hitch is not in the planting position.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dandi Products, Inc., 500 West North St., P.O. Box 922, Kendallville, Ind. 46755 (ph 260 347-6830; fax 260 347-6829).


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2004 - Volume #28, Issue #2