Planters JD 71 Planter, seed tank insert for small quantity?

[jimgerken]

I planted some bush beans and sweetcorn yesterday. First time using the two-row 71 I restored last summer. It worked well, but there is one thing that could be better. When you only want to plant say 500 seeds, quite a few of them want to lay on the horizontal ledge around the seed plate area, and so they don't fall into the plate, so don't get planted. The last 50 seeds are unreliable, since you don't know where they are going to land, in the plate, or on the ledge where they are marooned. So I was thinking that the tank (mine are the fiberglass ones) should have some kind of insert. Maybe its a funnel shape, or maybe just a cylinder, but either way it should keep the seed from being able to land or fly out of the seed plate area. If that can be accomplished, almost every kernal will plant.
Is there a commercial product that does this? Or is there a seed tank replacement that has far less (or no) flat area around the seed plate opening for seed to get marooned?
Or, has anyone devised such a thing for their own 71? Any suggestions? I am going to do some experimenting, but though I'd ask the EXPERTS first. Thanks!!!!
BTW-- Here is a picture of the inside of the seed tank. The area that allows seeds to get marooned is the approx 1 inch wide band (green color) around the seed plate. This pic is zoomable and is hi res.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

No photos of what I did, but it should be easy enough to visualize...

I took some plastic funnels and cut the bottom to just barely clear the seed plate dia., then took sheet plastic and pop rivets and made a "ramp" that covered all but where the seed should settle into the seed plate...

I used that to plant sweet corn for about 25 years....

 

[Luremaker]

No photos of what I did, but it should be easy enough to visualize...

I took some plastic funnels and cut the bottom to just barely clear the seed plate dia., then took sheet plastic and pop rivets and made a "ramp" that covered all but where the seed should settle into the seed plate...

I used that to plant sweet corn for about 25 years....

Did you remove the baffle or leave it in place?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Did you remove the baffle or leave it in place?

Left it in place...My funnel, with a little bit of adhesive back foam strips, just set down in the seed hoppers with no other set up needed. It directed 99% of the seed to where it needed to end up IN the hopper.

 

[Luremaker]

Left it in place...My funnel, with a little bit of adhesive back foam strips, just set down in the seed hoppers with no other set up needed. It directed 99% of the seed to where it needed to end up IN the hopper.

I'll be sure to give it a try, I will be planting another 1/2 acre on Saturday. If I remember I'll take a picture.

 

[jimgerken]

I came up with this (see pics). It was s stroke of luck I saw the ice cream pail setting there, and the correct diameter was somewhere between the measurements of the top and the bottom of the ice cream pail. The first one I built went in fine and I silicone glued it in place. But the second one broke a bit since the pail was older and brittle. Even though it was broken, and so I decided not to glue it in, I set it in there and planted anyway. They both worked real well, and controlled the seed real nice. I stopped once when I knew it would be low on seed, rearranged the seed a little, and then ran until the seed was all gone.
Now I am thinking a strategically located mirror, adjustable so I can set it up for visibility to the bottom of the seed tank from the tractor seat, is the next improvement. Yea, its like a real "monitor" system, but without any electronics.
The things I do for entertainment.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Ya done good! Simple, zero expense, and by the way, what flavor ice cream?

 

[bjr]

I had a thread to the almost exact same issue and now I lookin' for some ice cream buckets for my four rower. It's reassuring that I'm not alone in tryin' to get a smaller quantity of seed down the ol' flexiplanter. bjr

 

[BrianR]

I made one from some scrap aluminum sheet I had laying around. Rolled into a circle to fit just outside of the seed plate, and riveted it back on itself. A few daps of clear silicone sealer and it stays put.

Planted green beans and sweet corn that way this year and it worked great.