seeder questions

[dennis leary]

Hello, I'm thinking of buying a used John Deere seeder that I saw on Craigslist. Specifically, it is a Van Brunt 8 row 3-point seeder. I have a few questions:
The seller says the seeder is set up for grass seed, but if I want to plant super small seeds, like clover, will I need to buy seed boxes for the interior, or can I adjust the seeder itself to plant tiny seeds.
What kind of ground prep would you recommend prior to planting, and what would be the best way to increase my chances of good germination afterwards?
Thanks very much.
.

 

[M5farms]

[SUP][/SUP]You will need a good seed bed to plant . Disced and leveled. For small seed without a small seed box you will need to mix the small seed with oats or wheat to get good distribution.

 

[zoedog2012]

[SUP][/SUP]You will need a good seed bed to plant . Disced and leveled. For small seed without a small seed box you will need to mix the small seed with oats or wheat to get good distribution.

cracked corn will work with small seed if you don't want to plant another crop, but oats would be great.

 

[kneedeep]

Check it out good before you buy. Make sure it drops seed like its supposed to. Lot of those old seeders are just plain worn out. It has lots of gears and dogs that if they don't work right, it is not going to plant. I spent a lot of time and fuel trying to find one that was not worn out. A new paint job and "my tractor won't crank, I'm selling it for my dad or tractor is in the shop" was the standard theme. If it won't plant, I ain't buying was told to every owner and only one hooked it up and showed me it WOULD work!!
Of Course I bought it, but I still had to rebuild a lot of it. Lots of people sell them because they don't work.
Unless of course you want a rebuild project!
When you find a good one, you will know! JMHO

 

[sweettractors]

Hello, I'm thinking of buying a used John Deere seeder that I saw on Craigslist. Specifically, it is a Van Brunt 8 row 3-point seeder. I have a few questions:
The seller says the seeder is set up for grass seed, but if I want to plant super small seeds, like clover, will I need to buy seed boxes for the interior, or can I adjust the seeder itself to plant tiny seeds.
What kind of ground prep would you recommend prior to planting, and what would be the best way to increase my chances of good germination afterwards?
Thanks very much.
. View attachment 398301

We have used these to inter-seed legumes into existing pastures. There needs to be some moisture in the soil for this to work well. Of course, a new seeding would require preparing a seedbed with a plow and disc harrow or a roto tiller. Mixing small seed with larger seed or cracked corn works very well, if you want to use the drill as-is. Ken Sweet