Planters John Deere 246 Corn Planter Questions

[Debroy]

I have repaired several fertilizer bins that were rotted at the bottom using body putty. One set was rotted totally off the rings. You have to remove all of the rust and paint with a wire wheel in order to obtain good solid adhesion. Then apply the putty inside and out, sand smooth, paint, then apply a good quality car wax. One set that I completed 5 years ago are still in service and show no signs of further deterioration or mechanical failure. The key is to wash out the fertilizer bins after each use. Fertilizer is very corrosive. I hope this will help you. Don't give up on that planter, the 246/290 planters are the best out there. In my area they are worth between $600 and $800 without new paint.

 

[Debroy]

I have a JD 246 planter. Does anyone know where I could find the 7 1/2" gauge shoe attachments for that planter?

 

[artcarneyagr]

I recently purchased a 246-247 and haven't used it yet. Trying to figure out plate number for sunflowers.

Also, anyone have any tips or a good reference on how to use it? This is all new to me.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I recently purchased a 246-247 and haven't used it yet. Trying to figure out plate number for sunflowers.

Also, anyone have any tips or a good reference on how to use it? This is all new to me.

Contact Lincoln Ag Products. They supply a large variety of plates for old JD planters including sunflowers. They have a website.

 

[artcarneyagr]

Contact Lincoln Ag Products. They supply a large variety of plates for old JD planters including sunflowers. They have a website.

Thanks! That's a good resource!

 

[patchnball]

John Deere still makes SOME parts for them. Shoes/runners are still available. Fertilizer parts are hardest to find. I had my fertilizer boxes Line-x to keep them in good shape. Manuals are available on e-bay sometimes. Just finished planting 6 acres of corn with mine. Works well. Thinking about moving up to a no till planter just because of time constraints. E-bay also has planter plates for them. Enjoy your new antique toy.

 

[artcarneyagr]

I have the fertilizer boxes and the stuff for them moves, so I guess that's a good thing. The boxes/cans need a little attention at the bottom as there's a few holes that need patching - might add JB Weld to patch them.

I just planted 4 acres of sunflowers with the planter, I think I'll have a several doubles as I used the B6-24X plate which is really for corn. I may send in some seed to Lincoln next week to go ahead and get the correct plate ordered for next year.

Sure is a handy implement. I'll have to fix it up some and narrow my spacing for next year, I planted at 37" spacing but would rather have it down to 28" and gain a few extra rows in my plot.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I have the fertilizer boxes and the stuff for them moves, so I guess that's a good thing. The boxes/cans need a little attention at the bottom as there's a few holes that need patching - might add JB Weld to patch them.

I just planted 4 acres of sunflowers with the planter, I think I'll have a several doubles as I used the B6-24X plate which is really for corn. I may send in some seed to Lincoln next week to go ahead and get the correct plate ordered for next year.

Sure is a handy implement. I'll have to fix it up some and narrow my spacing for next year, I planted at 37" spacing but would rather have it down to 28" and gain a few extra rows in my plot.

I hope your sunfower plot turns out well. You will likely get lots of doubles, triples, etc using a corn plate but that shouldn't matter much. I'm guessing you are after a dove field. Another word of caution, deer LOVE the young sunflower heads. I have lost a whole crop to deer in the past.

 

[artcarneyagr]

I hope your sunfower plot turns out well. You will likely get lots of doubles, triples, etc using a corn plate but that shouldn't matter much. I'm guessing you are after a dove field. Another word of caution, deer LOVE the young sunflower heads. I have lost a whole crop to deer in the past.

Yep, it's a dove field. I wonder if a coyote decoy set out in the middle would help deter the deer?

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Yep, it's a dove field. I wonder if a coyote decoy set out in the middle would help deter the deer?

I don't know, but I doubt it. Once the sunflowers get up a bit, I don't think the deer will see a decoy, and very little deters a hungry deer.