Planters JD 71 Flex Planter Gauage Shoe?

[bjr]

JD Parts show a gauge shoe that can be mounted just ahead of the disc openers, has anyone ever used these and in what kind of soil conditions? I'm having trouble trying to keep the openers from going to deep in soft soil (rototilled garden and maybe uneven surface conditions) and was wondering if mounting a shoe plate to smooth out the surface ahead of the openers would be of benefit. I'm using a four row setup. bjr

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey bjr,

Check out the depth bands the mount to the side of your disks, I got a set of them to put on ours, looks like they will do what you want.

[Luremaker]

I have the front compaction wheel on my JD 71 and cole planter. Makes all the difference in the world for depth control in my well worked up soft soil. Another option is the depth bands.

[jimgerken]

You guys have me thinking. What about spacing the row unit so it runs in the center of the tractor tire track? Assuming you had the garden soil really fluffed up by roto tilling, it might work about right. We need to run an experiment.

[bjr]

I've investigated a little at the JD Dealer and what parts that are available prohibitively expensive. I see pictures of some of these planters with standard looking car tire guage wheels and axle mounted right to the tool bar. Has anyone else use that setup? I was thinking of using the laminated tire/wheel for a field mower setup from Agri-Supply and mount it right to the tool bar. Do Tool bar guage wheels work or is there problems? I don't know how to post links like you guy do? bjr

400 X 8 LAMINATED TIRE & WHITE WHEEL 4 B - Agri Supply