Planters john deere 1240 4row planter

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

I am in the dogouse now. I haven't got a tractor yet, but could't pass up this planter. 255.00 plus 75.00 for delivery. I want to plant sweet corn and wanteda 2 row. I am not sure if I will use it as is or make it into two two row units. it was on ebay and was only about 40 miles away. Told the wife(after the fact) and she wasn't as excited as I was. I am trying to decide between a Kubota and a Kioti and am looking between 35-45 hp. the planter has seed holder, fertilizer holder and another holder per row. what is the third holder for. I am going to talk to seller tommarow and go see and pay for it this week.
Mike

RodgerF · Mar 20, 2005

I was watching that auction but forgot about before it ended. Seemed like a good deal. Hope it works out for you.

When the sweet corn's ready, tell the Mrs. she can't have any. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rodger

Glenn9643 · Mar 20, 2005

How much are you planning to plant?
Since you haven't bought a tractor yet I would consider wheel spacing that will allow for cultivating the rows after planting. Seems that a lot or most CUTs have very limited wheel spacing options and that often makes cultivating difficult.

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

probably 3 acres sweet corn, 2 acres indian corn, 8 acres pumpkins , 1 acre gourds, 2acres veg.
I really know very little about farming.
I am not dependant on income from it so very low risk.
Last year I planted pumpkins and indian corn and had no way to weed or fertilize it, and produced very nice weeds.
Planted the corn last year by hand. Made for a very grumpy set of kids. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Mike

Indydirtfarmer · Mar 20, 2005

That 3rd "box" is (probably) a pesticide box. (Herbacide, insecticide, ect...) Good old planter. We planted about 700 acres a year, for 10 years or so with one. (corn and soybeans) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

So your wife wasn't all worked up over your purchase??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I can't imagine that.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On level ground, or slight hills, you will be able to pull that planter with 35 or 40 HP, but will need enough weight to handle the load. I'd imagine 4000 to 4500 lbs would deal with it. You have the weight of the planter, plus the weight of your fertilizer to deal with. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The planter we had was a 1260 (6 row, narrow) We pulled it with a 55 HP tractor on some hilly ground. That tractor hit the scales at around 6000lbs though. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Is your planter set up for wide rows, (40") or narrow? (30") /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

The seller says it is set up as wide rows (40 i guess), but says it can be set easily to 30.
there are jd planter plates on ebay but I have to wait until I figure out exactly what it comes with and which ones it will use.
Mike

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

does anyone know where I can get a manual.
thanks Mike

Jim_Fisher · Mar 20, 2005

Mike,

( does anyone know where I can get a manual. )

eBay

You can probably buy one from Deere but they are usually pretty spendy.

johan3400 · Mar 20, 2005

Mike,
That should be a plateless planter. It was(is) a great planter. I pulled a 1240 with a 40hp tractor in hills.

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

Jim,
I do not know much about it. It was on Ebay and sounded like a good deal. Did they make two versions of that model?
I am hoping to pay for it in person and bring it home by Wednesday. now that you brought up the possibility, how does
it work if it does not have plates. How doyou go from one seed size to another. John Deere #1240 4 Row Corn Planter Good Old Planter (7500917715) . i tried to paste the link in here not sure if it worked. Someone asked the seller if it was plateless and they said that it used plates. That is actually one of the reasons I bought it simply and straitforward to use. I am not as schooled as even a novice farmer.I do not have to make money at this, but was trying to make a little extra for kids, savings, and etc. maybe give the kids something productive to do. I am hoping to not through money away on seeds year after year. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
any help appreciated.
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifMike

rdln · Mar 20, 2005

If you didnt know already, give a lot of room between the sweet and indian corn due to cross pollination

mb25acres · Mar 20, 2005

thanks for the tip, I will plant in different field. I am really excited about getting my house sold and moving back into the country. I lived on a small 11 acre farm (horses) when I grew up. I have lived in town for 13 years now with almost no yard.
I just want room for the kids to run ,play and have fun without
being 10 ft from the road. My lovely wife has decided to let me live. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Now I wander how she will be about going ahead and getting the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Mike

johndeere2210 · Mar 20, 2005

The 1240 planter was sold in both plate and plateless configurations. The plate planter was by far more common in our area. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

johndeere2210 · Mar 20, 2005

I will check our owners manual bone yard tomorrow. If we have one I will PM you.

mb25acres · Mar 24, 2005

Well I payed for the planter today, I amglad I am getting it but the seller stated The only thing wrong with it is there is a hole in the left fertilize box the size of a small fist. It also does not have the hydrualic cylinder that it takes to raise and lower the rubber wheels, and the rod support on the hitch to the one side is missing a 4 ft piece. I told him that it did not mention that it needed a hydrualic cylinder and hoses or support. He said that I should be able to get a cylinder from tsc and hoses. he thinks that he can find the missing support. He is going to give me extra seed hoppers and 2-3 sets of planter plates, he said he would give me whatever he has. I think he is doing this becuase of the cylinder, but has not offered to split the cost of the cylinder and hoses. Should I be happy with what he is offering or ask he split the cost of cylinder and hoses. I was thinking about giving him neutral feedback and stating the facts after it is delivered of course.
I only paid 255.00 plus 35.00 for delivery I still think I got a good deal. what do you think, I am trying to be fair. If you want to look at add to see where I am coming from it is item #7500917715 I am new to farm equipment and this is my first item bought period. I went back and could not tell if there was a cylinder in the pics. Do used ones usually never come with this cylinder, and can these wheels be raised another way. maybe a harder way but would still work, then i would be completely fine with it becuase it could actually be used as is, and would not really need them just be nice to have.
Mike
Mike

PineRidge · Mar 24, 2005

Mike you guys both have spotless feedback ratings. Do you really both want to trade off negative feedback, I mean you give him one and he gives you one and you still end up with the planter anyway? I think you did alright considering the planter started at a buck and you still got it at a good price. I would take whatever extra parts he wants to give you and part company as friends.

Besides it's awfully hard to answer a question that's never asked in the first place. A standard question for me when I'm bidding, is the item complete or are there any parts missing?

Good luck for the planting season, we are expecting a lot of sweet corn out of you /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jim_Fisher · Mar 25, 2005

mb25acres,

( Do used ones usually never come with this cylinder, and can these wheels be raised another way. maybe a harder way but would still work, then i would be completely fine with it becuase it could actually be used as is, and would not really need them just be nice to have. )

For many years, it was a common practice to use one hydraulic cylinder for multiple implements. These cylinders usually had a reasonably long stroke and some sort of stroke control to allow them to be used on implements requiring a shorter stroke. At many farm sales (auctions), the cylinders are listed and sold separately.

There is a device sold at farm supply stores similar to a ratchet binder that can be used in place of a hydraulic cylinder. I'm not sure that I'd want to ratchet one up and down at the end of every row, unless I had a really long field.

mb25acres · Mar 25, 2005

Mike,
good points I think I will take your advice just may have to ask more questions next time.
still not excited about going and buying one for close to 100.00
, but I will. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Thanks Mike /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif