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Planting, Seeding & Spraying EquipmentPlanter Row Unit Maintenance
A row unit has many wear points, and each one affects seed placement. A steady maintenance routine saves time in the planting window and improves stands.
Key points
- Inspect row units one by one before every planting season.
- Follow the manual on grease type, spots and intervals.
- Never check hydraulic leaks with your hands.
- Store the planter clean, dry and supported.
Why does row unit maintenance matter?
Each row unit does the same job, and one worn unit can spoil a whole row. Parts such as bushings, bearings, discs and tubes wear gradually, and the effects show up as uneven depth or spacing long before anything breaks.
A habit of inspecting units at set times, rather than when trouble appears, keeps small wear from turning into a lost planting day.
A planter that sits in a shed all year still needs attention. Mice, moisture and rust do their work without any miles on the machine.
What should you check before planting season?
Raise and secure the planter using the manual's transport locks or stands. Then go unit by unit with a flashlight. Check the disc blades, scrapers, gauge wheels, pivot bushings, arms and chains.
Replace parts that show wear, cracks or heavy play. If you find a unit that looks different from the rest, investigate rather than ignoring it.
- Disc blades: wear, edge condition, contact with each other
- Gauge wheels and arms: wobble, wear
- Bearings and bushings: play and dryness
- Seed tubes and guards: cracks, buildup
- Chains and sprockets: wear, slack, alignment
How do you service discs, bearings and gauge wheels?
Disc blades should touch each other along the front edge as the manual describes. Worn blades let the furrow close poorly and lose depth control. Many manuals give a method for checking blade contact; follow it for your model.
Grease points and bearings should be serviced with the specified grease and at the intervals in your manual. Over-greasing can blow seals, and under-greasing shortens bearing life. Gauge wheels need to turn freely and show even wear.
On a cattle ranch where the planter only runs a few days a year, it is easy to skip routine care. Resist that, since the few days you plant matter a great deal.
What about seed tubes, sensors and meters?
Clean seed tubes and check for cracks, rough spots or buildup. Treated seed can leave residue that sticks. Clean sensors with a soft cloth or the method the manufacturer recommends. Avoid using sharp tools that could scratch them.
Check the meter mount and seals. A loose mount changes alignment and can cause spacing problems.
Carry a small box of spare parts, such as a few chain links, a cotter pin assortment and a spare tube, so a minor failure does not stop the planter for a day.
How should you handle chains, drives and hydraulics?
Check chains for stiffness, rust and stretch, and replace worn sprockets with chains. Lubricate as the manual specifies. Tighten guards back on afterward.
Hydraulic lines for fold, lift or down force can be under high pressure. Never check a leak with your hand, since injected fluid can cause serious injury. Stop and call a qualified mechanic if you see a leak or damaged hose, and replace hoses with the manufacturer's specified parts.
How should you store and prepare the planter?
After the season, clean the units, remove seed and trash, and touch up bare metal where the manual allows. Store the planter under cover on firm, level ground, with the units supported according to the manual.
Before next season, grease, inspect and adjust again. Keep a log of what you replaced, so you can plan parts purchases early.
- Clean and empty all hoppers
- Support the planter as the manual shows
- Cover and keep out of weather
- Keep a simple maintenance log
What are common row unit mistakes, and when should a technician do the work?
The most common mistakes are skipping greasing, using the wrong grease, over-tightening parts, replacing only one of a pair of worn wheels, and ignoring a unit that looks a little different from the rest. Another is storing the planter dirty, which holds moisture against metal all winter.
Another mistake is working on the planter while it is raised on the tractor hitch alone. Use proper stands or blocking as the manual shows, and keep other people clear.
Routine cleaning, greasing and replacing bolt-on parts like tubes, scrapers and wheels are reasonable owner tasks if you follow the manual. Work involving hydraulics, structural welding, electronics and calibration of precision systems belongs with a qualified technician. If a repair would cost more in time and risk than the dealer service charge, take it in. Ask for a written estimate and keep your records.
- Wrong or missed grease
- Mixing worn and new parts
- Ignoring one odd unit
- Storing dirty and wet
- Working under unsupported equipment
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.