NOTE: Active hydraulic down force systems require tractors with closed center or pressure/flow compensated hydraulics.

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

Active hydraulic down force keeps the opener gauge wheels in contact with the soil surface on uneven terrain. Mechanical gauge wheel (A) adjustments determine seed depth, not down force.

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

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

The amount of down force applied changes the operating angle of all opener components. Too much or too little down force 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, down force is adjusted too high or there is insufficient ballast.

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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.

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

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 down force. Do not operate above the upper limit of the green zone without ballast on seeding tool.

ORANGE ZONE: Operate in this pressure zone when seeding into soils with minimum tillage or no tillage and when additional ballast is needed to keep gauge wheels in contact with 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 down force.

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

A-Green Zone
B-Orange Zone
C-Red Zone

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RED ZONE: Do not operate in this zone.

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