Frontier OS1072M "seed jam"

[dlm4001]

I bought a Frontier over seeder (OS1072M) that had been setting on the lot for a couple of years and had it shipped to my farm. It was new, but needed cleaning up, which I did, and had my local dealer give it the once over. Everything was deemed working, just needed some cleaning and grease.

I am planting Orchard Grass and the seed feeder mechanism is inconsistent. I am trying to meter my seeding for horse pastures (overseeding). I have the apeture set to 'half' and when I clear the seed box and rotate by hand, the seeds disperse at a regular interval. When I load up the seed box about 3/4 full (about a hundred pounds of orchard grass seed), after a few yards of travel, the seeds become compacted and the aggitator bar just begins to grind the seed... that is no good.

I emptied the box and cleaned all seed paths. I put in about 25 pounds and it seem to work ok, so I think it is the weight of the seed compacting itself. Using 25 pounds at a time is a work problem when you are planting a couple of 5 acres pastures.

I got the seed at Southern States and it is coated with a red powder coating. The coating is dry and not the hard shell coating you see on some seed.

Could it be the coating?
Is this piece of equipment a known problem?
Is it just me? (I don't claim to be an expert farmer... but I work hard)
Has anyone used the OS1072M, OS1060M, OS1048M, TR1072. TR1060 or the TR1048 and had a problem with them? (All of these are effectively the same machines).

I am very late for planting orchard grass and need to get it on the ground immediately. IF I don't get better performance next time out, I am going to broadcast the seed and just use the OS1072M as an arerator. (expensive aerator).

I am not making a statement about the OS1072M. I will have to try it with different types of seed before I give up. I have some large lawns I will try to plant with a bluegrass or a multi season mix and see how it works there. I will make and effort to buy uncoated seed as well.

Any help is appreciated.

Dennis (dlm4001)

 

[TroySD]

Any chance the seed is damp and is compacting and plugging due to added friction?

We have that happen from time to time when applying Urea and Map fertilizer. It will get tacky and the flow goes down and then it plugs. If thats the case the fix is to mix in a little floor dry.

 

[dlm4001]

When I took the seed out last night (with a cut jug as a scoop) it was dusty. I got covered in red dust. The seed was in a paper bag in a barn, so it could have absorbed some moisture from the atmosphere (it has rained several times since it was there. It seemed dry.... but I imagine it would not take much moisture.

I am headed out to try again with about 25lbs in it and opening the apeture to full. I will make a run of about 25 feet at the proper speed and then get out and look closely to see if there is seed down.

 

[dlm4001]

With a lighter load in the seed box, the seed still jammed n several cups. I resorted to aerating the field with the OS1072M and broadcasting the seed. This was not the method I wanted to use.

The seed fell pretty steadily through the broadcaster opening, but I did have couple of times here I had to free it up.

I think it might be the unseasonally high humidity we have here (NC) and the coating on the seed.

I have a another five acre field to plant wth orchard grass and will buy 'uncoated seed' to see if this helps.

Anyone else have a Frontier overseeder and using it with good results?

DM