[AT] ford corn planters

[Greg Hass]

Not knowing about the exact planters you are asking about, I will talk 
in general. First of all, by looking at the internet and comparing 
makes, you are looking at 40's era planters. I can say for sure you want 
disk openers as I have seen corn planted with a shoe opener and it is 
not pretty. As far as I have seen, all plates are made for each make of 
planter and do not fit other brands. However, I do remember years ago 
when everyone still used plates,  some company made an adapter which 
allowed JD plates to be used on AC planters. That was the only exception 
I remember. As for parts; you are correct, about your only options are a 
parts machine or make your own. Except for disk bearing, which I think 
you could find something that would work; nothing on these old planters 
is that precise or travels that fast.  Some years ago a neighbor brought 
down a gear from under one of the plates that had stripped out 3 teeth. 
He had welded 3 humps where the teeth had been, believe me he was a 
terrible welder, however , I took my die grinder and was able to shape 
new teeth that turned in the other gear, not perfect but they turned. As 
I said, things on these old planters turn slow, and when he quit farming 
ten years later the gear still worked.
      My next concern would be what are you going to do with these 10 
acres? Is it a food plot, just for fun or hobby or is it to make money 
on?  Having planted corn for over 50 years I can tell you there is an 
awful difference in planters. For many years when I was young my dad 
planted corn with a grain drill with 3 out of 4 holes blocked off which 
gave us 28 inch rows. Not the best but we had corn. Next came an IH no. 
40 corn planter. I don't know why, but you never could tell what it 
would plant, one bag of seed, 16 thousand seed per acre; the next bag 28 
thousand seed per acre; drove us nuts. As soon as IH came out with the 
400 air planter we bought one new.  We used it for many years but its 
one flaw was the press wheel which controlled the seed depth was 2 feet 
behind the seed disk thus if it was on a hump the seed might be one half 
inch deep and if the press wheel was in a dip the seed might be 4 inches 
deep. Both my brother and I got tired of the uneven depth and as we were 
each going our separate ways; a whole other story, he bought a 6 row IH 
900 series and I bought a 4 row White planter. Both do a good job.  In a 
round about way I guess what I am wondering is if, after using such a 
good planter, would you be happy with what a old 2 row would do. Or is 
there a way to keep on doing as you have been and  either pay to have it 
planted or something else. I cannot say as I don't  know your situation. 
I'm not trying to discourage you from the 2 row as I am a big believer 
in doing things for myself. I guess my final concern would be; you know 
how the corn you have been planting looks, have you compared it to a 
field planted with an old 2 row. I plant my sweet corn with a 1 row unit 
I bought off an older 8 row and fixed it to fit the fast hitch on my 
farmall cub. Maybe not as fancy but a lot of fun.
    Greg Hass
                                             P.S. The biggest difference 
between old a newer planters is seed placement. On the newer planters 
you can take a measuring tape and if set for 7 inch spacing it will be 7 
inches ,on the older planters it can vary 2 or 3 inches.  I guess it 
depends how much that matters.