PL5500 Planter
Operation
Great Plains | 411-633M | 2021/10/21
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Be sure to rule out other causes, such as incorrect
meter disks, before adjusting meter pressurization to
reduce doubles.
Alternate Skip/Doubles Check
Small seeds, particularly milo, may not be sensed as
skips or doubles by the seed tube sensors, and
watching seed population is unlikely to locate the
pressure limits. The following test can also be quicker
for all seeds:
1. After planting a few passes with the initial
settings, remove the rain covers from several
seed meters. Use rows with a variety of seed
hose lengths and routes.
2. Make a meter pressurization adjustment, and
resume planting for a pass or less.
3. Stop the planter motion but leave the engine at
field rpm and the fan running.
4. Inspect the seed disks closely. Look for empty
seed cells (skips) and cells with multiple seeds
(doubles).
5. Repeat step 2 through step 4 until limits are
established. Record the limits and calculate an
average.
6. Install the rain covers and plant with the
calculated average.
Furrow Check
1. Expose several seeds in several rows, being
careful not to move them.
2. Measure and average the distance between
seeds.
3. Compare the average to the predicted seed
spacing for the population in the Material Rate
manual.
4. Any instances of no seed where expected may
be a sign of skips. Two seeds at the same place
indicates doubles.
Fine
-
Tune Meter Pressurization
After several passes of satisfactory planter operation,
fine-tune meter pressurization. During longer passes,
with fewer distractions:
1. Observe the current overall average population
from the monitor.
2. Adjust the fan speed down in small increments.
Wait 5 to 10 seconds between adjustments, until
skips occur (population begins falling below
target). Note the pressure where skips begin.
3. Restore the pressure to the initial value at step 1.
4. Adjust the fan speed up by small increments until
doubles occur (population begins rising above
target). Note the pressure where doubles begin.
5. Adjust meter pressurization to a value halfway
between the limits from step 2 and step 4. This is
the ideal value for your crop, disk, and
population. Record this value for future use.
Butterfly Valve (Dry Fertilizer)
To adjust the butterfly valve, loosen the bolt (1) and
rotate the handle (2). Tighten the bolt.
0° is wide open
-
maximum air flow.
90° is closed
-
minimum air flow.
The butterfly valve provides the most effect at
settings between 20° and 70°.
Start at 45° on both butterfly valves and adjust as
needed.
Set to 0° when dry fertilizer is not used.
Loading Hoppers
Agricultural Chemical Hazard
Read and follow all supplier cautions for safe
handling of treated seed.
Irritant Exposure Hazard
Do not mix lubricants into seed with hands or
any part of body. Wear protective equipment.
Use tools.
There are two different sizes of planter hoppers - 3.0
bushel and 1.6 bushel. The process for loading both
hoppers are the same.
Release the hopper lid latch and raise the hopper lid.
Leave the lid all the way open for loading.
1. Check that each hopper is correctly seated and
mounting bolts are secured. Make sure the
hopper discharge opening is aligned with the
seed inlet tube.
90
60
30
0
848-020C
1
2
70°
45°
20°
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