Annual Planter Inspection

Frame Inspection​

  1. The hitch style and condition of harness and hoses at the hitch

  2. Each section’s frame for structural integrity (cracks, breaks, damaged connection points or cylinders)

    1. Toolbar height needs to be level and 20-22” off ground.

  4. Each sections electrical harnessing, hydraulic connections, seed delivery system, and vacuum system for damaged connections, harness and hoses

  5. IF Equipped, the systems bulk fill system (motor, tanks, etc)

    1. Ensure cleanliness
    2. Check for damaged lines or manifolds
    3. Check for cracks in the tanks
    4. Ensure the motor/blowers are functional and not compromised
  7. IF Equipped, the planter’s lift assist hardware for structural integrity and etc
  8. Each frame’s transport tires for air pressure or bad rubber

Drive Inspection

  1. Inspect the ground engaging tire (correct air pressures, good rubber)

  2. Check for Chain and sprocket for wear/damage

  3. Check for Motor wear/damage and leaks

  4. The main hex shaft (or transmission mechanism)

    1. Not bent or damaged
    2. Locking collars are tight and do not allow for movement horizontally
    3. Bearings and sprockets run smoothly
    4. Gearboxes/drives not damaged
    5. Row clutches not damaged, are clean and are operational

Fertilizer System Inspection

  1. Inspect the systems tank(s), trailer(s) etc.

    1. Ensure no leaks in pump(s), fittings, hoses, etc
    2. Check frame for cracks/holes
    3. Cleanliness of the system is critical for proper operation. Contaminants can cause a lot of unnecessary headache when trying to calibrate and operate the system.
    4. Clean any in line filters to pump.
  3. Inspect the system pump(s)

  4. Inspect all system fittings for leaks/damage

  5. Inspect the sensing components

    1. FlowSense:
      1. Check for any visible harness damage
      2. Check for signs of leaks
      3. Check the turbines for good function
  7. Inspect the placement components
    • Keeton:
      1. Make sure tip is in tact
      2. No leaks in plumbing
    • Conceal:
      1. Check all collets
      2. Check that plumbing is secure
      3. Check for leak signs
      4. Check for the knife life
      5. The bolts
      6. Signs of rust
      7. Check for swingarms, bracket damage that could break during season
    • FurrowJet: 
    • Inspect the firmer for flatness & tension – if less than 12 oz of force, replace.
    • Inspect FJ wings for wear – The wing height tool has a replacement mark to verify. Failing to do so may cause nozzle damage and incorrect flow issues.
    • Verify wing retention pin installed
    • Verify nozzles are not plugged
    • Inspect row filter/check valve for cleanliness
    • Inspect plumbing for leaks/cracks
  9. Inspect the control components
    • OEM
    • RedBall
    • Raven
    • Surefire

Precision Planting

  • vApply HD
      • Inspect the module for leaks or cracks where there is fertilizer damage
      • If running HD with turbine, inspect turbine for plugs or any build-up
    • PumpStack
      • Check that all fittings are tight and not leaking
      • Inspect for cracks and etc


Row Unit Inspection

  1. W Bracket

    1. Visual inspection of W plate and attachment bolts, wear/cracks/wallows

    2. Plate styles and wear points – Welded vs Cast

    3. W plate is truly vertical to allow uninterrupted movement

    4. U-bolts are tight and intact and signs of movement (Scuffs where it would rub)

  2. Parallel Arms

    1. Not Bent

    2. Stand behind the row unit and lift it up and down and side to side checking to make sure the arms are tight. If there is more than a ⅜” of vertical or any side to side movement at the rear, it is time to rebuild the parallel arms.

  3. Shank & Goal Post

    1. Excessive wear stress cracks on shank and goal post. Stampe sheet Shank damage is normally no-till or rocky conditions. Goal post damage can occur from rock strike and excessive side shear. Can be accentuated by parallel arm bushing wear or adverse conditions

  4. Downforce System

    1. Spring Style

      1. Broken or uneven tension

      2. Wear of bracket where rubbing Parallel Arm

    2. Air Bag System Inspection

      1. Inspect for leakage

      2. Inspect for cracking on sidewall

      3. If lift bags – check these as well

      4. Inspect load pin wiring & routing, run health check if possible

      5. Air Compressor

        1. Change air filter annually

        2. Inspect belt/idler pulley

    3. Hydraulic Downforce

      1. Ram/rod inspection

      2. Leaking

      3. Scoring

      4. Inspect load pin wiring & routing, run health check if possible

      5. Hydraulic Manifold

        1. Filter Nut retention kit installed

        2. Fittings- Check for leaks

        3. Change filter (Every 5 years)

  5. Meters

    1. Meter Maintenance (the parts which do not pertain to testing the meters)

    2. Check hoppers for cracking at mounting points

    3. Check latches - set properly & correct tension 

  6. Seed Tubes

    1. Every tube needs to be pulled out for proper inspection. Verify hook is in 

    2. correct position

    3. Inspect/ feel the bottom of the tube, check for hangnails or curled plastic.

    4. Check for side wear when blades are removed.

      1. If visual wear on side of tubes, immediately check the seed tube

    5. SpeedTube

      1. Recommendation is that the belt is removed during off-season

      2. Check feeder wheels for wear & replace if necessary

      3. Check housing, seed lens sensor, belt pulleys and belt for wear

      4. Check the wear liner for grooving - make sure it has a metal liner and replace as necessary.

  7. Disc Openers

    1. Not all discs and hubs are created equal. Important to check for trueness or runout on any new blades

    2. Disk opener should be 15” – only 1⁄2” of wear before replacement (14.5”)

      1. If new blades were put on before the start of last season and you are currently  ≤ 14.80”, you will need to replace the blades before this season (assuming you are planting the same number of acres in the same conditions).

    3. Contact Requirements

      1. 3mm 2” - 2 1/2” contact

      2. 3.5mm 1-1/4” - 1-3/4” contact

      3. 4mm ¾” - 1” contact

    4. Inside disc scrapers

      1. Rotary - If ½ of material vs new is wore - needs replaced

      2. Straight blade - If ½ of material vs new is wore - needs replaced

      3. Springs - Verify no binding & tension is adequate 

  8. Seed Tube Guards

    1. New are ⅞” wide at the base. When they wear to ½” replace them (replace at ¾” wide when WaveVision seed tubes are used).

    2. SpeedTube guards are replaced at .64”

  9. Seed Firmers

    1. Do the tails appear to be true or do they have a bend? If bent, they need to be replaced

    2. Are the tails flat on the bottom or are they formed into a “v”? If no longer flat they should be replaced.

  10. Gauge Wheels

    1. Lift each gauge wheel up to contact the stop, turn the GW and check for contact with the disk. If it is hard to turn and turn blades, shim out. If the wheel does not gently scrub the disk, shim in. Is there enough rubber lip left to scrub disc when shimmed in. If metal on metal - gauge wheel needs replacement.

    2. Visual inspection of socket on the arm. Wear issue if moving in & out and not tight. Bushing and/or arm need replacement If newer style that has threaded bushing on arm - rotate threads and verify not a flat spot on threads. (Replace every 2 years to eliminate thread wear.)

    3. Look for chunks out of the wheel

    4. Inspect wheel bearing

  11. Depth System

    1. Inspect rocker arm for wear - Is the hole round or elongated?

    2. Is the shoulder bolt showing wear?

    3. Inspect gauge wheel arm

      1. Is the pivot socket worn - needing replaced?

      2. Arm wear where riding on rocker arm - can they be reversed for extended wear.

  12. Row Cleaners

    1. Is the vertical movement free? Replace any bent row cleaners brkts or arms

    2. Inspect for bushing wallow - should be no horizontal movement

    3. Visual inspection of spike, finger, blade. Excessive wear?

    4. Visual inspection of “treader” wheel, wear allowance = ½ the tread. Wear affects traction & depth

    5. Inspect bearings for tightness and seizing

    6. Place planter on floor and verify that coulters are minimum of ½” above the disc opener bottom. (Creates a false bottom if wrong) Spin to verify lowest point 

    7. Must be sharp, dull coulters will hairpin trash.

  13. Closing System​ 

    1. Rubber/Spike Wheel (OEM)

      1. If planting 1”-2-½” deep - 2 ½”spacing, center of wheel to center of wheel

      2. Inspect wheel bearings

      3. Centered over row - verify it trails true (Over the center of trench)

      4. How much side to side movement - no more than ¼-½”?

      5. Examine for loose bushings. 

    2. FurrowForce

      1. Inspect the bearings

      2. Inspect the bolt heads

      3. Inspect the hub housing wear (Cracks, breaks, etc)

      4. Inspect the side to side movement of the system