[AT] ford corn planters

[jtchall at nc.rr.com]

The 900 series I have been using was certainly a Cadillac of a machine, even 
has Yetter row cleaners. The corn is for grain crop so yeah, it needs to be 
done right. There must be a million 309 Ford planters on Craigslist, I'm 
sure they are fine for gardening and sweet corn patches. Our land will not 
compete with midwest yields, lot of guys pulling back on corn acres this 
year with the low prices. 2 years ago record average yields around here were 
around 160 bushels. Some folks hit over 200 in places, I had one field go 
180. The reality is average good yields here are 110-130 bushels, you can't 
buy much of a planter on those profit margins. I may can hire someone to 
plant mine for me this year. We just started planting corn again 2 years 
ago, like most folks around here we quit because there was no money in it. 
When the price shot up coupled with better hybrids, folks went back to 
growing it.

I do have a lead on a Ford with disc openers at a fair price. I'll have to 
see what kind of shape it is in. I may could get a year or two out of it 
before upgrading to a 4 row. I've seen a couple AC planters for sale. Hoping 
more come available as spring draws near.

We had a 1240 Deere dad sold a few years back. It was so worn out it was 
pitiful. I looked at a IH 56 (I think) that needed rebuilding. Couldn't find 
any aftermarket parts and IH wanted $90 for one row opener--The machine 
needed all 8--I left it for a scrap dealer.

Ideally I want a no-till machine, but would settle for a very late model 4 
row or a 2 row in mint condition. If I'm honest with myself I should wait 
till a modern no-till comes along at the right price.

John


-----Original Message----- 
From: Greg Hass
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 6:57 PM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] ford corn planters

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.
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