John Deere 71 Flex Planter Depth Control

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

I just bought a 2 row 71 Flex last week. Today I put some corn in the ground. I think I have to different models of planters, a 71 and a 70 mounted on a 3 point frame. Both units are not planting deep at all, as one of them is just laying the seed on top of the ground. I tilled this soil 15 minutes before I planted, so it is very loose, although my tractor tires are right in line with the planters. Regardless, I would think the double disk openers would slice through this fairly easy.

I have the yetter manual for this planter, and it talks about depth control on page 19. What it doesn't say is where you actually read the depth you want?? I've taken some pictures of the unit that is placing the seed on top of the soil. So, is this first picture set to plant deep, or shallow? Do you see anything wrong with the planter in the pic?

The planter is working fine as far as the seed coming out goes. My units came with a 20 tooth sprocket on the press wheel, and a 9 on the drill shaft. This gave it a 2 1/2 inch seed spacing, which is way too much for corn. I ordered two more 20's to increase seed spacing to 5 to 6 inches.





Also, what are the front springs on the unit used for? Picture also attached of that.

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

Here's the other picture of the depth control cam.



Which is a deeper setting? I didn't want to waste any more corn by trial and error. Any help is appreciated.

 

[hotchkiss]

I have a five row flex 71 that runs off the three point hitch, been there with regard to the manual. If your two row has been fabricated from a larger planter and runs off the three point, there is no exact science to the depth control gauge in your first photo. In reality all it does is control resistance on the press wheel so as to apply more pressure to the ground when it travel over it. For me, I set my depth gauge at the deepest setting and really control depth with how low I set my toot bar. Sometimes I set it in the middle. What you may be doing is not lowering your three point low enough once it goes deep enough it will raise up the press with the play permitted with springs and depth gauge. Also make sure your three point assembly is adjusted to lower as low as possible. My buddy had a NH TN-95 he bought off me and had the adjustment off and was laying all his corn on the surface because the 3 point wouldn't go low enough.

Can't help you with the spring in the front your model is a little different than mine and I can't see the entire unit. YOu may want to post a photo of the whole planter.

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

Thanks for the feedback.

I am lowering the 3pnt as low as it will go. When I lower the unit and start moving, I keep holding the lever down so it goes as low as possible. I may need to add some weight to the toolbar to get it lower, we'll see. I picked this unit up for $600, which was a bargain looking at other Flex 71's. These simple little planters seem to have some gold in them, somewhere!

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

Well, I figured out part of the problem. Those spring tabs on the front of the planter affect how low the planter drops when you lower the 3 point. I moved the tabs down to the bottom notches, and when I lowered the planter, the tool bar only went down to about 22" from the ground. I then moved the tabs to the top notches, and the planter lowered to 15" or so. The manual says to have the bottom of the toolbar 16" from the ground.

Then I messed around with the top link of the 3 point. I figured if I cranked it up more, the disks would drive down in the ground more. This was true, but then the press wheels were just touching the ground, and not spinning all the time. The bottom line is, you really have to fine tune the 3 point hook up to get this planter to plant properly. I know it's an old planter, and will work fine for a food plot, but I should have bought the JD 7000 and been done with it. I'm going to get my food plot in this year, and then re-sell this over-priced unit to another food plotter!

 

[hotchkiss]

Glad you figured something out. Mine looks nothing like yours in the front!

 

[sixdogs]

This is an old thread but I've been setting up a 71 planter and can offer the Yetter 71 owner's manual for a better explanation of how to adjust planting depth. Yetter bought the 71 planter from JD and the two are 99.9% the same. Here's the PDF of the Yetter manual.
View attachment 6010-150_series_planter_rev_e.pdf

Adjusting the planter depth is easy-peasy but you must adjust for soil conditions so each time can be different. I prep my ground the same each year so changes are minor. Look in the Yetter manual for exact steps but you basically set the toolbar 16" off the ground. Then Turn that cam looking thing with the numbers on it until the discs engage as deep as you want. Then set the tension on that spring to give the press wheel you want. Then go start boiling water for corn. :licking:. It's that easy.

Guys make it harder by planting in excessively fluffy soil and use too much tension on the press wheel. It send the seed to China. Or, there is too little tension on the press wheel and the drive/press wheel doesn't maintainground contact and they get skips. I pack my ground flat each year after working it.

Adjustments are easy but the old Deere 71's are rusted up. On the new Yetters, the cam wheel is adjusted by pulling back on that wing nut looking thing and turning the cam with no tools needed. The JD's are all rested up and you need a wrench. These are great planters that fed--and still feed--zillions of people and animals. Fool with setting it up and you be rewarded each spring when you plant.

I'll try to post some picks later of what I mean.