JD 71 planter Help

[SCDolphin]

I just found an old planter that I think is a JD 71 with a fertilizer hopper on it. Some parts are missing including from the frame it is mounted on. It has some wide plates that were grown into the ground by weeds and vines.
I am new to tractors and no nothing about planters but would like to restore this if possible. It is missing the hoppers, plates, one of the internal chains but I hope it will be worth fixing. I sure would appreciate any advice TBNers could give me.
Is there a name for the frame it is mounted on??

Thanks

 

[Farmwithjunk]

That looks like a first generation #71. They were updates several times during their production run. There are a BUNCH of parts missing. With the cost (through Deere) to buy NEW parts, you'd probably be money ahead to find a complete row unit.

In the pictures, I THINK I see a sideband fertilizer applicator, but not real sure. Ground drive for the fertilizer attachment is through the wheels I do believe. Planter unit itself drives off of the packer wheel. The row unit is mounted on a cultivator frame. Not uncommon, especially for veggie growers to mount them in similar fashion.

The same combination unit would be used to plant a crop, then remome or retract the planter units and use it to cultivate and sideband fertilizer as the crop grew.

You've got a start to a planter but a real project there. If there's enough of a fertiizer attachment to somehow get it working, you have a good find, as MOST #71's were sold and used without that option.

If you have an opportunity, could you get more pictures of the fertilizer sidebander? What brand? (Is it OEM Deere?) I'm interested in building something similar to mount on a 2-row cultivator for sidedressing sweetcorn and popcorn.

 

[SCDolphin]

Thanks

Will get picts today

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I agree with FWJ about the fact that this being a pretty good find because of the fertilizer attachment. I have a 71 and love it except for fact that it has no fertilizer boxes. That's the first one I have seen with the fertilizer attachments. It is very handy to be able to put down fertilizer while planting. It's a pain to have to go back and do it after planting.

 

[wolc123]

A lot of guys go in with a broadcast spreader just before or after planting but, doing it that way, you have to use more than double the ammount to have the same effect as dropping it only on the rows. Certainly with the recent spike in fertilizer prices, that option is not to attractive and planters with fert attachments are going to fetch higher prices because of it. If I was forced to do it that way I would skip the planter all together and broadcast the seed also, but only because I get free seed (you have to use 4 or so times the seed to get comparable yields from broadcast corn compared to row planted).

 

[Farmwithjunk]

A lot of guys go in with a broadcast spreader just before or after planting but, doing it that way, you have to use more than double the ammount to have the same effect as dropping it only on the rows. Certainly with the recent spike in fertilizer prices, that option is not to attractive and planters with fert attachments are going to fetch higher prices because of it. If I was forced to do it that way I would skip the planter all together and broadcast the seed also, but only because I get free seed (you have to use 4 or so times the seed to get comparable yields from broadcast corn compared to row planted).

Back when I was still planting near 100 acres of corn every year with a 4-row #71 Deere planter, I used liquid pop up (starter) fertilizer after broadcasting granular before discing. Liquid application is easy while planting but the system was rather involved, easpecially if for just a few acres. Just not practical on a small scale. I took my #71 and downsized it to 2 row. (Sold other pair) Now I'm just planting about 1/2 acre of sweet corn and 1/4 to 1/2 acre of popcorn each year. To make the job simpler, I just bought a nice, low acre #39 Massey Ferguson planter w/ granular fertilizer attachment. If that works out, my son wants the #71's. I'm planning on doing some clean up and MAYBE a paint job on the #39. It's in incredable shape, just dirty. I'll set the row width to 30" (40" now) and use it this spring. Paint, if that happens, will go on in warmer weather.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Back when I was still planting near 100 acres of corn every year with a 4-row #71 Deere planter, I used liquid pop up (starter) fertilizer after broadcasting granular before discing. Liquid application is easy while planting but the system was rather involved, easpecially if for just a few acres. Just not practical on a small scale. I took my #71 and downsized it to 2 row. (Sold other pair) Now I'm just planting about 1/2 acre of sweet corn and 1/4 to 1/2 acre of popcorn each year. To make the job simpler, I just bought a nice, low acre #39 Massey Ferguson planter w/ granular fertilizer attachment. If that works out, my son wants the #71's. I'm planning on doing some clean up and MAYBE a paint job on the #39. It's in incredable shape, just dirty. I'll set the row width to 30" (40" now) and use it this spring. Paint, if that happens, will go on in warmer weather.

Nice looking MF planter you found FWJ. I had a JD 246/247 with granular fertilizer applicator. I fixed it up and sold it after I got my 71. Kinda wishing I had kept the 246. The 71 is a better planter but I sure do miss the fertilizer attachment. As mentioned, with the high cost of fertilizer, it sure is more economical to be able to put the fertilizer right beside the row rather than broadcasting.

 

[SCDolphin]

Here are more pictures of the Planter which I enclosed the serial number found in the area with the covers where a chain is located and picts of fertilizer device which says cole on the back .of the hopper.

I am missing the hoppers, seed plates one chain and spring. If anyone can give me any info I am a newbee. I did find an original owners manual on ebay for $20 but it has not arrived yet.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm familiar with the Cole side-dresser. It's a good unit. Cole parts are still available. Search Cole or Covington for info. A friend of mine uses a set-up something like that, only with Cole planter units too. You made quite a find. Look around for any John Deere planters in junk yards. MOST of what you need will be common to just about any Deere plate-type planter. Here's my 2-row #71.

 

[SCDolphin]

FarmWithJunk

Wow That is absolutely beautiful. Part of the yellow wheel sat in the dirt for a while so lots of rust. I hope I can get a 10th of what you have in appearence. That is too pretty to use.

 

[wolc123]

That is a nice looking 71. I bet you will get well over $1k for it after you get your MF fixed up for your own use. Corn is getting to be a real big crop for deer food plotters and JD 71's or Yetter equivenents are the most popular planter ammoung these guys. Not many of them seem concerned with the lack of fertilizer attachments but I suppose most of them have enough cash to pay for the extra fertilizer required by broadcasting. The thing about planting corn for deer, is that a little starter fertilizer (50 lbs/acre or so of 15-15-15) dropped on the rows is really all that is required in most cases. This is because white clover is still the most popular plot food and if you plant the corn on an old clover field, most of the nitrogen the corn needs as it matures is there for free thanks to the clover.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

That is a nice looking 71. I bet you will get well over $1k for it after you get your MF fixed up for your own use. Corn is getting to be a real big crop for deer food plotters and JD 71's or Yetter equivenents are the most popular planter ammoung these guys. Not many of them seem concerned with the lack of fertilizer attachments but I suppose most of them have enough cash to pay for the extra fertilizer required by broadcasting. The thing about planting corn for deer, is that a little starter fertilizer (50 lbs/acre or so of 15-15-15) dropped on the rows is really all that is required in most cases. This is because white clover is still the most popular plot food and if you plant the corn on an old clover field, most of the nitrogen the corn needs as it matures is there for free thanks to the clover.

I've got a standing offer of $1200 for the #71's IF I decide to sell. May just keep 'em. I've got seed plates I filed out to plant green beans, sugar snap peas, and several other garden crops. The #39 MF planter would be a dedicated corn planter. I just got finished scrubbing it up. Next to narrow it down to 30" rows.

 

[Oleozz]

Here is a pic of a model 71 planting sweet corn. I got this planter because the previous owner bought it only for the fertilizer box and then resold it. It's in good shape but like many other folks I wish I had a fertilizer box for it. I have the drive wheel and the front coulters that opens the ground for the fertilizer.

 

[Barneyhunts]

Oleozz, Farmwithjunk,
Is there a good way to gauge where to run when operating a planter without row markers? I've been told to hang chain with drag from the FEL? Do you have other ways to gauge where to plant?
Thanks

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Oleozz, Farmwithjunk,
Is there a good way to gauge where to run when operating a planter without row markers? I've been told to hang chain with drag from the FEL? Do you have other ways to gauge where to plant?
Thanks

With a 2-row planter, provided you have the tractor wheel spacing set right, you just run with the rear tire in the tire track from tha previous pass. You should have the track width set at 2X the row width. Track width is measured from center to center of rear tires.

 

[Barneyhunts]

Thanks Fwj, you're a good resource.
Barney

 

[300UGUY]

I have a model 70, which looks very similar to the 71, the only difference being the 71 has a spring tensioner for the chain. I have fertilizer boxes, but i haven't used them yet. One thing, without the fertilizer unit, 1 man can handle a 2 row unit very easily, but the fertilizer units are very heavy, and are not driven by the same drive that drives the seed unit. In other words, you might have to do some more fabricating to get a fertilizer unit to work.

 

[Oleozz]

My biggest problem to date has been getting the corn covered properly. I have adjusted the toplink about every way possible and that doesn't seem to make much difference. As you can see from the pic my seed bed is not real smooth but I have not been able to afford a heavy duty harrow yet. My 71 is also missing the gauge wheel and so maybe that is making a difference. We did have a good crop last year so overall I am pleased with the planter.