planter plates

deere755 · Jun 5, 2011

I have been planting plots and replant areas with a model 71 planter for 3 years now. This is the 1st year I ever bought brand new plates and man what a difference it makes in the way the planter spaces out the corn. It was bad about dropping doubles from time to time but not with the new plates. I think I will buy new plates for it next year if I still have the planter. Population was closer to what it should be also. I always had to back it off before but this year I had to bump it back up. Just thought I would pass this along for all the 71 owners.

LeadPoison · Jun 5, 2011

I could be wrong... but didn't they make steel plates at one time? Seems like they would not wear out like the plastic ones.

bjr · Jun 6, 2011

Not to steal the tread, but, what those little clicker (I think there is supposed to be a spring in there somewhere) things in the bottom of the hopper supposed to do and how do you know if they are working or not on the Flex 71 planter. bjr

deere755 · Jun 6, 2011

LeadPoison said:
I could be wrong... but didn't they make steel plates at one time? Seems like they would not wear out like the plastic ones.

I have some old steel plates. The only thing I don't like about them is they tend to rust. Not sure how big of a deal it is.

DeeDubya · Jun 6, 2011

The nylon (not plastic) plates have been around for 40 years. I know IH, JD and MF used them. I think mostly because of less friction and no rust. The spring "clickers" are to pop out any kernals or debris that gets stuck in the seed holes in the plate.

beersngars · Jun 6, 2011

deere755 said:
I have been planting plots and replant areas with a model 71 planter for 3 years now. This is the 1st year I ever bought brand new plates and man what a difference it makes in the way the planter spaces out the corn. It was bad about dropping doubles from time to time but not with the new plates. I think I will buy new plates for it next year if I still have the planter. Population was closer to what it should be also. I always had to back it off before but this year I had to bump it back up. Just thought I would pass this along for all the 71 owners.

Were the old plates properly sized to the seed?