Planters JD Flex 71 New disk opener installation

DempseyB · Jan 21, 2012

Hey Guys, I am refurbishing a John Deere Flex 71 Planter.I am installing new seals and coulters "disk openers" Can someone tell me is there a torque spec on installing new blades. I have noticed the tighter I torque them they will start to touch each other and lock up. Has anyone taken on this project?

HCJtractor · Jan 21, 2012

I just today installed new openers on my AC planter I am restoring. I bought new openers that were already attached to new hubs and they came with a handful of new spacers (washers or machine bushings) that fit under the hub between it and the casting. This lifted the blade ever so slightly and allowed a little more clearance. i am not sure if the Deere is similar but I expect it has nothing to do with torque (it needs to be tight) but simply needs shimmed out with however many washers it takes to supply adequate clearance. Since my new blades came with a generous supply of spacer washers, I expect this is a common issue. My blades also touch but will rotate. Be careful though because it really will pinch your fingers! Found that out the hard way.

DempseyB · Jan 22, 2012

Thanks for the imput HC,These openers did come with the hub already installed.However there were no spacers supplied.The flex 71 has a rubber seal that goes between the opener and the mounting threads.I am not real sure how tight the opener is suppose to be against the seal.I am sure there is someone out there with some very good experience on the flex 71 as it was a very popular planter. I am getting ready to hopefully complete this restoration

flusher · Jan 22, 2012

HCJtractor said:
I just today installed new openers on my AC planter I am restoring. I bought new openers that were already attached to new hubs and they came with a handful of new spacers (washers or machine bushings) that fit under the hub between it and the casting. This lifted the blade ever so slightly and allowed a little more clearance. i am not sure if the Deere is similar but I expect it has nothing to do with torque (it needs to be tight) but simply needs shimmed out with however many washers it takes to supply adequate clearance. Since my new blades came with a generous supply of spacer washers, I expect this is a common issue. My blades also touch but will rotate. Be careful though because it really will pinch your fingers! Found that out the hard way.

The operator manual for the 71 has 55 pages. Unfortunately, there is essentially nothing there about disc openers. No mention of torque anywhere in that manual. Shim it until it works the way you like.

I bought my 71 a few months ago.

I found that the double disc openers tend to clog in my soil (gravely loam). So I removed one of the discs to make a single disc opener. Worked OK. I had a devil of a time getting the hex caps removed so I could get to the hex key bolt that holds the disc to the hub.

flusher · Jan 22, 2012

flusher said:
The operator manual for the 71 has 55 pages. Unfortunately, there is essentially nothing there about disc openers. No mention of torque anywhere in that manual. Shim it until it works the way you like.

I bought my 71 a few months ago.

View attachment 247680

I found that the double disc openers tend to clog in my soil (gravely loam). So I removed one of the discs to make a single disc opener. Worked OK. I had a devil of a time getting the hex caps removed so I could get to the hex key bolt that holds the disc to the hub.

View attachment 247681 View attachment 247682 View attachment 247683

Oops-hit the submit reply too soon.

The heads on those hex caps were very short and the corners of the hex had been rounded over the years. It was obvious that the guy who sold me the 71 never serviced those disc openers. I had to weld a washer and nut to the hex cap to get it off. Did this on three of the four discs. I replaced the hex caps with a longer hex bolt with a beefier head so I can get a wrench on them the next time I need to adjust/replace the openers.

farmforwildlife · Jan 22, 2012

HCJ
Just curious. Where did u buy your AC disc openers?

DempseyB · Jan 22, 2012

Nice looking unit Flusher!!!

Tritonman · Jan 22, 2012

If your flex planter is clogging you must not have the mudscraper kits installed on it.

To the other guy you want the discs to touch when tightened down so that it will form a furrow one side is left hand threads the other is right hand threads

flusher · Jan 23, 2012

Tritonman said:
If your flex planter is clogging you must not have the mudscraper kits installed on it.

To the other guy you want the discs to touch when tightened down so that it will form a furrow one side is left hand threads the other is right hand threads

The scrapers are installed. It's the gravel in the soil that's causing the clogs.

Briar Hill Brittanys · Jan 23, 2012

On the 70 Flexi units I rebuilt, there is a thin washer that rides between the disc opener and the seed boot. It's part # M17520, it's listed as obsolete for the 70, but the 71 part #B29159 is the one I used. Without the washers, the new openers ran together so tight, they'd hardly turn. The parts guys at the local JD dealership were very helpful. You can also go here, John Deere - Parts Catalog , and find the parts breakdown for a bunch of JD planters. I printed off a complete set of the parts for my 70s, and took it with me to JD when I needed the parts. Many of the parts for my older 70 Flexis we were able to reference to the same part on a 71, and they worked just fine. Good luck with your rebuild. Mark

HCJtractor · Jan 23, 2012

farmforwildlife said:
HCJ
Just curious. Where did u buy your AC disc openers?

Got them at Valubilt, part # B45-3194, cost $72.84 for each complete assembly including bushings and bolts. Looked great, fit perfectly.

HCJtractor · Jan 23, 2012

Briar Hill Brittanys said:
On the 70 Flexi units I rebuilt, there is a thin washer that rides between the disc opener and the seed boot. It's part # M17520, it's listed as obsolete for the 70, but the 71 part #B29159 is the one I used. Without the washers, the new openers ran together so tight, they'd hardly turn. The parts guys at the local JD dealership were very helpful. You can also go here, John Deere - Parts Catalog , and find the parts breakdown for a bunch of JD planters. I printed off a complete set of the parts for my 70s, and took it with me to JD when I needed the parts. Many of the parts for my older 70 Flexis we were able to reference to the same part on a 71, and they worked just fine. Good luck with your rebuild. Mark

Do the openers need to touch, or come close? I can adjust mine and I assume the Deere works the same, by varying the numbers of spacers. Just wondered how it is designed to function, and how much, if any space, is appropriate??

Farmwithjunk · Jan 23, 2012

HCJtractor said:
Do the openers need to touch, or come close? I can adjust mine and I assume the Deere works the same, by varying the numbers of spacers. Just wondered how it is designed to function, and how much, if any space, is appropriate??

They should touch, just barely, but touching......

jimgerken · Jan 23, 2012

It would work out real nice if they touch slightly. When everything is new, you will use spacers. Later when the coulters wear down, you can take out spacers to bring them back together.

HCJtractor · Jan 23, 2012

Thanks for the clarification!

DempseyB · Jan 23, 2012

You guys are being great help.This is my first planter rebuild and all this info is greatly appreciated!!

Will post some pics of this soon.

nickmthw · Apr 3, 2012

where can i find lets say a rebuild kit for the double disk seed opener of the john deere 71 planter
we bought a 4 row planter...and the 2 outside units are pretty worn..
i may actually weld up an area of the seed opener and machine it
to mate back to the drive chain casing..
the double disk seed opener is pretty worn..
i was just looking for some parts..i need the ring gear for sure..and the double disk..any info on where to purchase id greatly appreciate..
also....can you buy the seed opener housing?..maybe from yetter?
if so..anyone have an idea of what it may cost?
also..does anyone have a good picture of the seed opener..
where it mates to the drive casing..so i can get an idea of how much
mine is worn..
..

thanks..

nick

bjr · Apr 4, 2012

I haven't seen anyone mention Yetter as supplier. I've talked to them a couple of times and they seem to nice people, but pretty proud of their parts (Spendy). They DID NOT supply anything for a 70 model planter and was kind gruff when they said that. I needed the seed tubes for the 70 they are kinda rounded at the top where they drop down through the holder bracket. I'm still tryin' to find seed tubes, it's been a couple of years finding them. In the mean time I drove some PVC pipe in the holes for seed to drop down. bjr

nickmthw · Apr 4, 2012

Does anyone know a place i can get the disk
For the double disk opener at a reasonable price
Yetter wants $63 each.. Thats with the hub and all
Though

pjbci · Apr 4, 2012

Check with shoup manufacturing. The complete opener blades for my 7000 series planter are about 25 bucks. Think just the blades are about 15 without the bearings.