Meter Rate Check

Meter rate check is used to confirm product application rate before or during seeding.

Using seed treatments and inoculants can cause bridging. Be sure that the treatment is dry going into the tank. If seed rate or distribution problems persist discontinue using the machine and contact your John Deere dealer.

1. Determine target application rate for the product in use and set transmission according to chart.

2. Check that existing meter wheels can deliver product at desired rate.

3. Make sure that there is sufficient product in tank to collect a measurable sample. Product must be at least 152 mm (6 in) deep and cover all meter inlets.

4. Close meter gates on all runs not being checked.

5. Zero out scale with empty bag.

6. Run blower to blow seed from air hoses before installing bags.

7. NOTE: Bracket and bags are optional. See your John Deere™ dealer.

   
   A49892-UN-14AUG02

   A - Rate Check Bracket

   Single-Rank Machine: Remove screw at bottom of steel seed tube (at opener boot) and insert steel tube into rate check bracket (A).

   
   A51135-UN-04DEC02

   
   A51134-UN-21APR03

   A - Rate Check Bracket

   B - Primary Hose

   C - Splitter

   Two-Rank Machine: Option 1: Remove primary hose (B) where it enters the splitter (C) and insert into rate check bracket (A). Option 2: If equipped, insert solid end of shut off gate into slot (A) in splitter to block seed flow to front rank for meter wheel the rate check is being performed on. Remove secondary hose where it enters the opener and insert the hose into rate check bracket (A). Refer to "Converting from Narrow to Wide Row Spacing" for more information.

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8. 
   A51135-UN-04DEC02

   A - Bracket

   Hang bag on bracket (A). Run hose through bracket to bag.

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9. NOTE: When seeding at low rates or for increased verification accuracy, course distance is increased.

   Lay out a 122 m (400 ft) course distance. If tractor radar has been previously calibrated, it is used to measure this distance. The following field conditions are needed:

   • Correct tire pressure.
   • Product must be 152 mm (6 in) deep and cover all meter inlets.
   • Field ground conditions.
   • Normal seeding speed.
   
   

10. IMPORTANT: Blower must be at operating speed for proper results.

    Travel the course distance at seeding speed with blower operating.

11. At end of course, allow blower to run until all seed has been blown from hoses before removing bag.

12. NOTE: Recommended scale must be able to weigh up to 2.3 kg at 45 g (5 lbs at 1/10 lbs) increments.

    Weigh the total contents of each bag.

13. Calculate seed rate using following formula:

    SINGLE-RANK MACHINE

    METRIC FORMULA:

    (Kilograms of Seed Collected Per Bag x 100 x 10 000) ÷ (Row Spacing (cm) x Course Distance (m))

    EXAMPLE:

    (0.68 kg collected x 100 x 10,000) ÷ (38 cm rows x 122 m course) = 147 kg/hectare seed rate

    ENGLISH FORMULA:

    (Pounds of Seed Collected Per Bag x 12 x 43 560) ÷ (Row Spacing (in) x Course Distance (ft))

    EXAMPLE:

    (1.5 lb collected x 12 x 43,560) ÷ (15 in rows x 400 ft course) = 131 lb/acre seed rate

    TWO-RANK MACHINE

    METRIC FORMULA:

    (Kilograms of Seed Collected Per Bag x 100 x 10 000) ÷ (Row Spacing (cm) x Number of Openers per Meter Roller x Course Distance (m))

    EXAMPLE:

    (0.68 kg collected x 100 x 10,000) ÷ (19 cm rows x 2 openers per meter x 122 m course) = 147 kg/hectare seed rate

    ENGLISH FORMULA:

    (Pounds of Seed Collected Per Bag x 12 x 43 560) ÷ (Row Spacing (in) x Number of Openers per Meter Roller x Course Distance (ft))

    EXAMPLE:

    (1.5 lb collected x 12 x 43,560) ÷ (7.5 in rows x 2 openers per meter x 400 ft course) = 131 lb/acre seed rate

14. NOTE: See your John Deere™ dealer for assistance, if desired.

    If calculated application rate is above or below target rate, adjust transmission setting and repeat procedure.

15. Upon completion, return hoses and meter gates to original positions.