Planters Another planter done!

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( John, Those are really nice looking units. Be careful if you ever sell them. I have a neighbor dealer that made modifications to JD planters and sold them in places like Ebay and other public venues and was doing really well until he got a registered letter from JD's Lawyer. Best I remember, it stated to immediatly stop selling modified JD products as John Deere or face legal action. The dealer kept selling his units, however, he did stop using the JD decals and calling them John Deere units in his sales presentation. ---Ken Sweet )</font>

I've been down that road with JD already. It was over reproduction toys that had Deere emblems on them. I got a clarification on the issue before starting on the planters.

One, Deere no longer makes the #71 planter units. They're patents have ran out. Yetter Manufacturing now owns any production "rights". I buy replacement parts through Deere. I use licensed Deere decals in my "restoration". I'm in no way modifying the planter unit itself. All original parts, assembled as Deere did themselves. I'm claiming no improvements or modifications. According to Deere, (per a letter I have on file) The #71 flex planter was sold originaly as a "unit planter" intended for use on various mounting systems. (read improvised mountings) As long as the original planter unit is not compromised, altered, modified, or improved, there is no risk of patent or copyright infringements. All is contingent upon using O.E.M. parts on the units themselves, if intended for re-sale, and represented as "John Deere model #71 flex-planter units".

SO... To make a long story short, Mother Deere says "Sell'em"!

 

[rfawkes]

You mentioned you had all kinds of seed plates available. I am looking for plates that can be used for small seed, smaller than milo. I want to use my planter for carrots, mustard, that size of seed. My Allis Chalmers seed plates are interchangeable with John Deere.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Contact Lincoln Ag, they have plates for many common seeds.


<font color="blue"> Lincoln Ag Products Home Page </font>

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You mentioned you had all kinds of seed plates available. I am looking for plates that can be used for small seed, smaller than milo. I want to use my planter for carrots, mustard, that size of seed. My Allis Chalmers seed plates are interchangeable with John Deere. )</font>

I don't have any "blanks" right now. I bought a few, and machined them for a few garden crops myself. Lincoln Ag sells blank plates. You need them. Then you must lay out and then machine the proper size seed cells for what you want to plant. I've done it myself with a protractor and a small file. Takes a bit of time, but when they're done, a plate will last a lifetime.

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue">The #71 flex planter was sold originaly as a "unit planter" intended for use on various mounting systems. </font>

John, Sounds like you have it covered, if JD sold these in 2 row configurations or, just sold individual units that the farmer could mount on his own toolbar or hitch mechanisim--Great news-- Ken Sweet

 

[Holzster]

Indy - How long did it take?

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Indy - How long did it take? )</font>

I spend roughly 3 hours per row unit, reconditioning them. The hitch components take about 6 hours to cut out, clean up, prime and then paint. Final assembly takes about an hour.

IF... the seed boxes are rusted, I spend another hour or so on each one, sanding priming, and then painting them.

Decals and detailing, about an hour.

SO....What you see in the picture represents about 15 hours of playtime.....er...hard work...Yeah, that's it! HARD WORK...!

 

[thegreatrandini]

Cool Indy!!! There was a guy in Baileyvile Kansas making similar units a while back.......

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

Here's a few shots of the planter hooked up to a tractor. First couple show the older style seed boxes.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

Pic #2