GREAT PLAINS PL5200, Operator'S Manual

Page: 38 / 110

Great Plains | 411-825M | 12/07/2020 31
PL5200 Planter Table of Contents Index Operation

Fan and Meter Pressurization
Make sure the correct seed disks are installed, and
the seed inlets gates are set for the seed. Refer to
Material Rate manual.
1. With the fan off, check the meter pressurization
on the console. Re-zero as needed, see seed
monitoring system console manual.
2. Determine the recommended fan rpm.
3. Determine the recommended meter pressurization.
Refer to Material Rate manual.
4. Start the fan. Gradually increase fan rpm using
the tractor hydraulic flow control for the circuit.
5. Check that at least a small amount of pressure is
being sensed at the meters and meter
pressurization is near the suggested value.
6. Start delivery fan.
7. Fill the meters:
a. With the fan running, put the tractor in park and
set the park brake.
b. Walk behind the wings, remove several rain
covers from the seed meters, and check for seed
in the meters by looking through the clear disks.
Rows to check are those with longer hoses and
sharper hose bends.
If a meter runs completely out of seed, back-
pressure to the airbox manifold may prevent
prompt refill. To fill a starved meter, close the
seed inlet gate for about 15 seconds, then restore
it to the original setting.
8. Fill the disk pockets with seed:
a. For electric drive and hydraulic drive, run a FILL
DISK operation.
b. For ground drive, use one of these options:
 With RSM clutch switches off, use a 7/8 inch wrench
to rotate the wing meter system drive shaft 1 1/2 turns
(top forward).
 Lower the planter and plant for a short distance. It
takes a few feet before seed begins to drop from the
meters.
9. Check control air system pressure. With meters
and disks filled, meter pressurization should be at
target value.
10. Begin planting. Troubleshoot any obvious
problems or alarms.
11. During the first pass, take note of the average
populations reported on the seed monitoring
system console:
 Screen 1 (first row above graphs), Average Overall
Population
If the population is only slightly low, the problem
can be skips (periodic empty disk pockets). If
slightly high, the problem can be doubles
(periodic pockets with double seed). A meter
pressurization adjustment may correct either
condition.
If the reported population varies from the desired
population by a significant amount, preform the
following check:
a. Expose several seeds in each of several rows,
being careful not to disturb their relative
positions.
b. Measure and average the distance between
seeds.
c. Compare the average to the predicted seed
spacing for the population in the Material Rate
manual.
Any instances of no seed where expected may
be sign of skips. Two seeds at the same place
indicates doubles.
12. Resume planting. During the next pass, note the
following on the console:
 Screen 1 (second row above graphs), Minimum Row
Population
 Screen 1 (third row above graphs), Maximum Row
Population
A small variation of population between rows in
normal. However, a row consistently running
lower or higher than the other rows, could
indicate a meter or seed sensor problem that
needs attention. See “
Population and Airbox
Troubleshooting ” on page 75.
Meter pressurization can be adjusted with
the planter in motion.
To increase meter pressurization:
i