Duncan Uni-Seeder, Owner'S Manual

Page: 24 / 54

22
Sowing Small Seeds
Calibration with Disconnected Agitator Shaft
The fine seed metering wheel used in Duncan Drills is
especially well suited for sowing small seeds such as rape.
Due to the intensive action caused by the agitator the seeds
can adhere to each other, or be damaged, causing irregular
sowing/germination.
Therefore it is recommended that
when sowing small seeds, especially oil seeds and thin
shelled seeds, the drive to the agitator is disconnected.
To do this remove the lynch pin (1) (Fig 13).
Deviations between the calibrated and actual seed rate can
occur when residual dressing agent sticks to the bottom flaps
and thus slows the flow of seed. Before beginning the actual
calibration test fill the calibration trays by turning the crank
handle at a high speed around the 90 setting on the gearbox
scale. This will cause an immediate buildup of the dresssing
agent on the flaps. Return the contents of the calibration trays
to the seed box and proceed with the actual calibration. Due
to the residue buildup on the flaps your calibration will now
reflect accurately the required seed rate.
It is advisable with small seeds to use the 1/10 hectare
method for your calibration, thus cutting down on weighing
errors.
Note - Remember to reconnect the agitator shaft as required
for other seeds otherwise the consistency of seed rate will be
affected.
Sowing Peas
Peas having the size and shape as illustrated in Fig 14 (e.g.
White Field Peas), can be sown without problems with all
Duncan Drills with this type of metering wheel.
The flap should be set to a gap of at least ‘3’ on the flap
setting lever (Page 15, Fig 4).
With these peas it should not be necessary to run the agitator
shaft.
Peas having the size and shape as illustrated in Fig 15 (e.g.
Green or Garden Peas), tend to bridge inside the seedbox
and do not flow freely. This multi-faceted pea requires
agitation for sowing.
Fig 14
Fig 15
!
Fig 13
1
!
Warning - When resetting the metering wheels
on the seeder shaft
Care should be taken when tightening the grub screws
on the fine seed wheel (Page 21, Fig 11`, item 3). Adjust the
grubscrew until the movement of the metering wheel just
stops, then tighten no more than 1/8 of a turn.
Do not overtighten as this can result in breakages while
operating and may render the warranty on these units void.