would you drive 6 hours to look at this seeder? rust in the box

[sixdogs]

My experience is with six foot units in both pull type primary seeders and the slit type seeders. The pull type I have used (Brillion, LandPride) are lighter than the comparable slit seeder and each has a different application. For the pull type the ground needs to be prepped and soft enough for the seed to be pressed into the ground so it can have a good soil-seed contact for germination. It works great that way. Speed is not a virtue and you can only go fast in a big open area. Around buildings, navigation is harder and it might be only a mile or so per hour. Out in the open a few miles an hour. Plus, for a good seeding you need to go in the contour you want and then a second seeding (both at half rate) at a slight angle to the first. One seeding at full rate is not as good as two at half rate. Weight for a six ft unit would be maybe 1000 pounds plus 200 of seed weight. Weight is your friend. Two acres around a new house on prepped soil in two directions might be 4 1/2 hours.

For a harder ground application or one with a lot of sod in it, a slit seeder would work better and there are both ground drive and PTO models. In the same width, most are heavier than the primary seeder mentioned above. They work best operated much slower than the above units and some guys I know go at one or two MPH or slower. Slower is better and if speed is a concern, this is not the seeder. What makes it work are the slits in the soil that the spinning knives make and there are both 2" and 3" spacings as well as straight and curved knives. If the ground is damp, forget it because it turns into a muddy mess. Same with the above seeder but this one is worse. I wouldn't attempt two acres with one of these but I would use for a limited application or overseeding of a grassy area that needs help.

Obviously you can do anything with anything depending on mood and determination but the above is my experience. Hope it helps.

 

[plowindeeper]

I'd jump on it down here if i needed it. It'd bring 3k here not many around

 

[DJ54]

I have an Olathe 48" slit seeder. I'm thinking the manual calls for operating speed of 4 mph. I used it to interseed Timothy on some hay ground last spring, and it did a great job.

It was only 6 acres, and time doing it was not of importance.

The best part is, I only gave $100.00 for it, off Craigslist. Put maybe $75.00 worth of drive chains, and a couple new bearings on the front roller, then put it to work.

Bought it off a guy, who bought it at a high school surplus sale, then never used it. The school used it to reseed their football field.

 

[jenkinsph]

sixdogs,
Thanks for the detailed response:thumbsup:

I need something to overseed pasture grasses on small acreage (2 to 10) jobs. I don't have any experience with drills or turf renovators and trying to get a handle on this.

The other need is for flood irrigated bottom land, need to get the seed in and covered to keep it from washing away when the land is irrigated. Most of these projects include laser leveling the fields with a slope of 6 inches/100ft so the water moves slowly from the top of the field to the bottom. While I can broadcast, harrow to cover and roll the ground this uses more seed. So I am looking for a better way to deal with this. I am almost complete building a new roller with 400 lbs/ft of width and hope that this will improve my results.

I don't know whether a conservation seeder, grain drill, power till seeder or whatever else is the best for my uses. Seed can vary in size from tiny Bermuda to oats which I assume means I need to add/change seed cups or plates depending on the seed size.

Transporting this equipment is another consideration as I need something small enough to move down the highway without issues. Using a 50 pto hp tractor I need something that will match up with this tractor size.

I am open to suggestions thanks,

 

[sixdogs]

If you do a basic seeder like the one at the start of this thread, you need a lot of ground prep. At a minimum, you could do it with a disc harrow followed by the seeder and do it just before it's going to rain. Late summer works best and Spring second best. It takes 70 degrees ground temp for most seed to germinate. Since you mention timothy seed I'll presume New England so seeding in late August or early September would be best.

If you go the above route, Brillion makes the best seeder. You don't specifically need a grass type seeder but you do need one that you can put "plastic paddles" in the grass seed box to keep it from flowing out. If you are doing only timothy , you don't need the paddles since the seed goes in the frotn box and uses the seed cups. This type of Brillion seeder, such as an SS6 would cost $6500 new or $4000 or so used and in great shape. I have an SS6. To completely tear up a field and start from scratch with a lawn-looking job when done you would need more equipment to do a really good job. This would take more money and complicate things accordingly.



A slit seeder would work well in that it would allow you to seed from the get-go without having to disturb the existing grass. You could also seed most any time during the growing season. Do it the day before it rains and you will have great success. But, you can't level the field or move much dirt around. A six ft slit seeder could cost $10,000 to $14,000 new and 60% of that used and in great shape. Brillion makes a great ground driven one that is pricey but works great. They have a video online.
Land Pride makes the OS1572--I think that's the number that is less expensive and also does a good job.

 

[jenkinsph]

sixdogs,
Thanks for the response again as I appreciate the help. Am I correct in assuming a slit seeder will work for both tilled and rolled fields as well as overseeding existing grass pastures? Most of these fields are tilled and leveled with the dirt being loose enough to plant easily. There are some jobs which do not spec out leveling and are overseeded only. I am trying to cover both bases with one unit as these are costly to buy.

This is separate from lawn work as I broadcast most lawn areas with seed heavily and harrow to cover then roll them before watering. I have some experience with this and am getting good results.

 

[sixdogs]

sixdogs,
Thanks for the response again as I appreciate the help. Am I correct in assuming a slit seeder will work for both tilled and rolled fields as well as overseeding existing grass pastures? Most of these fields are tilled and leveled with the dirt being loose enough to plant easily. There are some jobs which do not spec out leveling and are overseeded only. I am trying to cover both bases with one unit as these are costly to buy.

This is separate from lawn work as I broadcast most lawn areas with seed heavily and harrow to cover then roll them before watering. I have some experience with this and am getting good results.

A slit seeder will do both. Get a six footer and not the narrower size and seeding will prove easier because you can cover your tracks. I use a regular Brillion seeder for lots of acres a year that I tear up to bare soil and seed. There are, however, times when I would like to overseed an existing lawn or maybe not rip up an entire lawn and a slit seeder would work better. I'm on the lookout for one and then will have both to cover all of my bases. If I could buy only one it would be a ground drive slit seeder with 2" spacing between the knives (if possible). Landpride makes a good one --I think an OS1572. The Brillion is nice but heavier and more $$. Both are good.

 

[jenkinsph]

A slit seeder will do both. Get a six footer and not the narrower size and seeding will prove easier because you can cover your tracks. I use a regular Brillion seeder for lots of acres a year that I tear up to bare soil and seed. There are, however, times when I would like to overseed an existing lawn or maybe not rip up an entire lawn and a slit seeder would work better. I'm on the lookout for one and then will have both to cover all of my bases. If I could buy only one it would be a ground drive slit seeder with 2" spacing between the knives (if possible). Landpride makes a good one --I think an OS1572. The Brillion is nice but heavier and more $$. Both are good.

Thanks for the help, I did a little searching and correct me if I am wrong but it appears the os 1572 uses ground drive to operate the seeder and uses a pto to drive the slitter. Is this correct? It looks like a good fit for my needs, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Can you recommend a Brillion model number that is similar?

 

[sixdogs]

Yes. Here's the current owner's manual.

http://www.landpride.com/ari/attach/lp/public/manuals/308-303m.pdf

Knife spacing can be 2" or 3" and curved or straight. If you use the aggressive knife I have been told you MUST rake up the thatch before seeding. I don't think this would apply if heavy rains were expected since I seed through fluffed thatch all the time with a Brillion SS6--in the early fall-- and get excellent results.

Brillion has a couple obsolete models around and a current ground drive driven model that I forget the name of. Maybe "till N seed" or something like that. Go to their website and watch the video. Great seeder but heavy and maybe $13,000? Brillion is the Cadillac of seeders, built like a tank and I have used them amlost exclusively for 30 years.

I would, however buy an OS1572 Landpride slit seeder for fill in spaces or overseeding.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Several years ago I over seeded my yard with our old Van Brunt grain drill...
Took 50# of fescue and ran it over the yard several times in different directions...
That old grain drill did a really nice job slicing the yard and getting the seed in the ground...
The results were outstanding...
Those old drills are somewhat hard to come by...
Folk that have them typically do not want to sell...
I know why...
I've attached a pic of a nice unit for sale on e-bay...
To far to travel for but a nice unit none the less...