
Great Plains | 411-633M | 10/21/2021
82
PL5500 Planter
Troubleshooting
Liquid Fertilizer Troubleshooting
Problem
Cause
Solution
No fertilizer
flow
Various possible pump issues
Refer to the pump manual.
Tank and/or pump valves closed
Check that tank and pump valves are open (page 45).
Chain missing at one or more drive
stages
Check all chains from ground drive to pump.
Tank plugged
Dilute or clean out any material clogging discharge port
(page 63).
Strainer plugged
Close all valves. Inspect strainer. Clean screen as needed
(page 63).
Switch to a larger screen size if materials clog strainer
rapidly and large size orifices are in use.
Pump setting at or near zero
Recommended pump adjuster settings are in the range
2 to 10. See Material Rate manual.
Material run
-
out
Check tank level.
Material low
-
loss of prime
Add material. When tank level is below pump inlet level,
any air allowed in the line can cause the pump to lose
prime.
Air in pump due to slope
Add material, meter from one tank at a time, or close
empty tank. When planting across a slope, material can
flow from one tank to the other. If an empty tank is open to
the pump, the pump will not meter fertilizer.
Low rate
Fertilizer transmission in low range
when high range was intended.
Change sprockets. See Material Rate manual.
Various possible pump issues
Refer to the pump manual.
Low pressure at
desired rate
Orifice size too large
Choose alternate orifice plate size based on charts in
Material Rate manual.
Orifices correct plate size, but holes
are enlarged from use
Replace orifice plates. Discard worn plates. See Material
Rate manual.
Rate may actually be low
Check fertilizer DRIVING/DRIVEN sprockets.
Uneven flow at
desired rate
One or more orifice plates plugged
Clean and reinstall orifice plates. Check that materials are
not too viscous or granular for the orifice size. See Material
Rate manual.
Plate sizes vary between rows
Check that all nozzles have the same size plates (with the
possible exception of outside rows serving zone coulters).
Pressure
unstable
Strainer clogged
Close all valves. Inspect strainer. Clean screen as needed
(page 63). Switch to a larger screen size if materials clog
strainer rapidly and large size orifices are in use.
Dumping at
normal
pressure
Relief valve setting too low
Review relief valve setting according to the Material Rate
manual.