Principals of Active Hydraulic Opener Down Force System

NOTE: Active hydraulic down-pressure system requires tractor be equipped with closed center or pressure/flow compensated hydraulics.

NOTE: Open center hydraulic systems cannot run the blower and active down force at same time.

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A - Gauge Wheels

Active hydraulic system keeps the opener gauge wheels in contact with the soil surface to follow ground contours over uneven terrain. Mechanical setting at the gauge wheels (A) determines seed depth, not hydraulic force.

The amount of down-force needed to keep gauge wheels in contact with surface depends upon soil hardness, moisture, and residue cover.

Too little down-force causes insufficient spring compression and inconsistent opener penetration resulting in uneven seed depth.

Do not use more down-force than necessary for openers to penetrate soil and to maintain firm contact between gauge wheels and surface.

Too much or too little down-force will effectively change opener arm operating angle, causing front (leading) or rear (trailing) of gauge wheel to contact surface, resulting in inaccurate and/or uneven seed placement.

Rear (transport) wheels lifting off the ground is an indication of excessive down-force and/or insufficient ballast.

IMPORTANT: Too much down force causes rear of drill to lift. This condition results in uneven opener penetration and variations in seeding depth.

Excessive down force increases wear on components.

Use only as much down force as necessary to achieve consistent opener depth.

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A - Green Zone

B - Orange Zone

C - Red Zone

• NOTE: Two-Rank Machine: Do not operate a non-ballasted drill above the high limit of the green zone.
  GREEN ZONE (A): Operate in this pressure zone when seeding into conventionally tilled fields with loosened soil. If openers appear to plow through loose soil, operate with zero or low down force.
• ORANGE ZONE (B) pressures between green and red zones:
  • Single-Rank Machine: Used in minimum-till to no-till fields when additional pressure is needed to keep gauge wheels in contact with the surface.
  • Two-Rank Machine: Used in minimum-till to no-till fields when additional ballast is needed to keep gauge wheels in contact with the surface. Operating a non-ballasted drill in this pressure range may result in inaccurate seed placement.
• RED ZONE (C) pressures above high limit of orange zone:
  • Single-Rank Machine: Used only in the harshest field conditions when full pressure is needed to maintain gauge wheel-to-soil contact. Operating in this pressure range may result in inaccurate seed placement.
  • Two-Rank Machine: Not used. As the seed box empties there is not enough weight available, even if cast ballast has been added.