Help with planter

[Daniel H.]

Has anyone used a planter like this before?




It is a Cole and it is factory one-point hitch. I am having trouble getting it to work consistently. Often, the wheels will come off the ground, and the planter will miss several feet in the row. I have tried many adjustments, but I can't seem to get it right. I also have tried going very slow with the planter as well. It seems as thought there is not enough down pressure on the rear wheels. I have the manual for the current Cole 12MX, but my hitch is different, and the manual doesn't help. Thanks for suggestions. If anyone has a copy of a manual for tis older style, please let me know.

[WKPoor]

I have have no experience with that planter. However I clearly see your problem. That unit will have to float on the ground under its own weight in order to make continous contact. I'm not familiar with the fast hitch but its needs to have a mechanical float ability (probably) to make that unit work. Most emplements that trail behind a 3pt have the same issue that in order to work correctly they need to self draft. Otherwise they are constantly either too high or too low.

[brichter]

Daniel, I have almost the same planter. Mine was designed for a small 3 point hitch garden tractor but I have rigged it for my cub. The only difference I see is my fertilizer hopper is chain driven from the wheel where yours has the shaft with the gears. If the ground is prepared and level I don't have any problems. You really have to keep the gears lubed and loose and the wheel turning or you will have lots of skips in; your rows.

[Jim Becker]

I think WK set you on the right track. The lift link that runs from the Touch-Control rockshaft back to the Fast-Hitch rockshaft has a collar with a set screw. Loosen it and slide it forward on the link to let the hitch float. The weight of the hitch itself will provide some down pressure on the planter.

One other thing I notice about your planter is that the runner has gauge shoes that control planting depth. They should control the vertical position of the runner. If the ground is very uneven, the press/drive wheel will need to float relative to the runner. Is there some type of pivot built into the planter frame that may be pinned solid or otherwise disabled?

You also need to make sure the planter is running at the right pitch so the runner and press wheel are both putting enough pressure on the ground. The vertical bar with the adjustment holes will affect this as will the front depth adjustment of the fast-Hitch.

If you can't set adjuctments to keep the runner at the right depth and the press wheel on the ground, maybe the ground needs some more smoothing before you plant.