Principles of the Active Downforce System

Active hydraulic downforce systems require tractors with closed-center or pressure/flow compensated hydraulics.

If the tractor has open-center hydraulics, see your John Deere dealer or qualified service provider for an Open-Center Hydraulic Kit with Change Valve.

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A - Gauge Wheels

Soil composition, moisture, and residue cover determine the amount of downforce required to maintain soil contact and penetration.

Do not use more downforce than necessary for openers to penetrate soil and for gauge wheels to maintain firm contact with soil.

The amount of downforce applied changes the operating angle of all opener components. Too much or too little downforce causes opener to operate at an inefficient angle. An inefficient operating angle results in inaccurate and uneven seed placement.

If rear (transport) wheels lift off the ground, downforce is adjusted too high or there is insufficient ballast.

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

Excessive downforce increases wear on components.

Use only as much downforce as necessary to achieve consistent opener depth.

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A - Green Zone

B - Orange Zone

C - Red Zone

The seed and fertilizer openers have three color coded pressure ranges.

SEED OPENERS:

GREEN ZONE: 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 downforce. Do not operate above the upper limit of the green zone without ballast on the seeding tool.

ORANGE ZONE: Operate in this pressure zone when seeding into soils with minimum or no tillage. Operate in this pressure zone when additional ballast is required to keep gauge wheels in contact with the soil surface. Avoid inaccurate seed placement. Do not operate a seeding tool in this pressure range without additional ballast.

RED ZONE: Do not operate in this zone.

FERTILIZER OPENERS:

GREEN ZONE: Operate in the lower part of this pressure zone when seeding into conventionally tilled fields with loosened soil. If openers are plowing through loose soil, operate with zero or low downforce.

ORANGE ZONE: Operate in the upper part of this pressure zone when seeding into soils with minimum or no tillage. Operate in this pressure zone when additional ballast is required to keep gauge wheels in contact with the soil surface. Avoid inaccurate seed placement. Do not operate a seeding tool in this pressure range without additional ballast.

RED ZONE: Do not operate in this zone.