Adjusting Active Hydraulic Down-Pressure (Tractors With Closed Center Hydraulics)

A63539-UN-28OCT08

ZX015859-UN-02NOV98

A - Adjusting Knob

B - Gauge

C - Lock Wheel

D - Maximum Pressure on Drill W/O Ballast

E - Maximum Pressure on Drill W/Added Ballast 454 Kg (1000 Lb) of Suitcase Weight

CAUTION: DO NOT ride on machine to adjust down-pressure or you could fall off and be run over resulting in serious injury or death to you or others.

NOTE: Active hydraulic down-pressure system is installed on the drill as standard equipment and is for use with tractors with closed center hydraulics or pressure/flow compensated hydraulics.

If a tractor is being used with open center hydraulics, see your John Deere dealer and order the single point hydraulic down-pressure system. See Attachments section.

When adjusting active hydraulic down-pressure it is important to remember the following:

The opener gauge wheels determine the depth of penetration and therefore seed depth.

The active hydraulic down-pressure system keeps the opener gauge wheels in contact with the soil surface as the ground contour changes.

The amount of down-pressure required depends upon soil hardness, moisture, and residue cover.

1. Using tractor SCV I lever, lower the openers. Lever must be locked in the forward position to provide constant pressure/flow to drill openers. See Preparing the Tractor section to correctly set the relevant tractor SCV.

2. 
   A63539-UN-28OCT08

   
   ZX015859-UN-02NOV98

   A - Adjusting Knob

   B - Gauge

   C - Lock Wheel

   D - Maximum Pressure on Drill W/O Ballast

   E - Maximum Pressure on Drill W/Added Ballast 454 Kg (1000 Lb) of Suitcase Weight

   Set hydraulic down-pressure to 4800 kPa (48 bar; 700 psi) by turning adjusting knob (A), viewing pressure on gauge (B) and locking knob into place with wheel (C). (This is only an initial adjustment.)

   IMPORTANT: Excessive down-pressure can increase wear, increase draft loads, decrease effective seed depth and reduce gauge wheel bearing life. Use only as much pressure as necessary to achieve consistent operating depth.

---




3. Make a Trial Pass In The Field:

   If seed depth is not satisfactory, adjust opener gauge wheel position. See Adjusting Opener Depth in this section.

4. If active down-pressure is not satisfactory, adjust down-pressure.

   IMPORTANT: Never adjust hydraulic down-pressure so needle is over 10000 kPa (100 bar; 1500 psi) without proper ballast and weight.

   NOTE: Increasing down-pressure above the initial settings will move the needle over 4800 kPa (48 bar; 700 psi). In order to keep machine in proper contact with the surface, weights must be added to the weight bar. (For 3-m machines a maximum of 454 kg (1000 lb) can be added to the weight bar). If drill frame lifts, there is usually excessive down-pressure and/or insufficient ballast.