Deere Planter Kit Locks Closing Wheels In Place
 ✖  |
"Holding closing wheels in alignment on our Deere Max-Emerge II planter was a problem for us until we came up with this modification," says Randy Lohrentz, inventor and manufacturer of a new add-on kit for Deere planters that locks closing wheels in place.
"We farm row crop in south central Kansas and we were having problems with emergence because we couldn't hold closing wheels over the row. Last winter we made a modification to solve the problem. When we put out about a hundred units with local farmers last year, we discovered that the problem was even worse that we'd thought. The farmers who put them on their planters were all very pleased at the way they locked the wheels in place without any more slippage," says Lohrentz.
The problem is that closing wheels mount on a swing arm with an eccentric at the pivot point that adjusts alignment. The standard eccentric is held in place by a bolt that creates a pinching force which Lohrentz says is not strong enough to keep the eccentric from turning while in operation.
"When the eccentric slips, the closing wheels move out of alignment resulting in poor seed-to-soil contact and poor surface compaction above the seed," says Lohrentz.
His add-on kit consists of a new eccentric and a locking bar that clamps around the eccentric. Installs quickly with a single 3/4-in. wrench. Once installed, the kit actually makes it easier to adjust alignment.
"Takes just 5 min. per row to install. Once they're set, they're set until you change them again," notes Lohrentz. Al-though price was not yet set when this is-sue went to press, he estimated it would be beween $25 and $35 per row. He's looking for dealers and distributors.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, R&L Manufacturing, Inc., Rt. 1, 13412 East 56th, Buhler, Kan. 67522 (ph 800 543-2977 or 316 543-2977).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
Deere Planter Kit Locks Closing Wheels In Place PLANTERS Planters 19-1-34 "Holding closing wheels in alignment on our Deere Max-Emerge II planter was a problem for us until we came up with this modification," says Randy Lohrentz, inventor and manufacturer of a new add-on kit for Deere planters that locks closing wheels in place.
"We farm row crop in south central Kansas and we were having problems with emergence because we couldn't hold closing wheels over the row. Last winter we made a modification to solve the problem. When we put out about a hundred units with local farmers last year, we discovered that the problem was even worse that we'd thought. The farmers who put them on their planters were all very pleased at the way they locked the wheels in place without any more slippage," says Lohrentz.
The problem is that closing wheels mount on a swing arm with an eccentric at the pivot point that adjusts alignment. The standard eccentric is held in place by a bolt that creates a pinching force which Lohrentz says is not strong enough to keep the eccentric from turning while in operation.
"When the eccentric slips, the closing wheels move out of alignment resulting in poor seed-to-soil contact and poor surface compaction above the seed," says Lohrentz.
His add-on kit consists of a new eccentric and a locking bar that clamps around the eccentric. Installs quickly with a single 3/4-in. wrench. Once installed, the kit actually makes it easier to adjust alignment.
"Takes just 5 min. per row to install. Once they're set, they're set until you change them again," notes Lohrentz. Al-though price was not yet set when this is-sue went to press, he estimated it would be beween $25 and $35 per row. He's looking for dealers and distributors.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, R&L Manufacturing, Inc., Rt. 1, 13412 East 56th, Buhler, Kan. 67522 (ph 800 543-2977 or 316 543-2977).
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
