Level Fold Max Emerge Planter

Level Fold Max Emerge Planter PLANTERS Planters 9-5-9 Seven years ago Jerald Ryerson bought a Deere 7000 8-row planter. After transporting it on an implement trailer for one season, he decided to find a better way to get it from field to field. "I looked at some of the fold kits on the market but I wasn't satisfied. I came up with my own flange-style hinge that allows the planter wings to fold in a level plane so there's no sagging and less stress on the tool-bar," says Ryerson. Key to his fold kit is the 3-pt. hitch adapter mounted on the tractor that lifts the tongue to provide enough ground clearance for the planter units and lift wheels to swing around. Another key to the system is that it's built with enough clearance between the folded bars so there's plenty of room for most no-till attachments. Ryerson has sold about 40 of the hinge kits in his local area, mostly through Deere dealers who've heard about his idea. He hasn't offered the fold system in kit form because he feels proper installation is the key to success of the unit and he's made all installations himself. He says it takes about three days to do the installation properly, in part because he removes all the planter units from the toolbar before installing the hinge and then "preloads" it before final welding. "This kit is unique in that once installed, the folded-up wing wheel rides on the ground, supporting the folded up units so the hinge doesn't have to support all that weight. We've never had one break in the field and, once installed, it swings so easily it'll fold up if you lean against it," says Ryerson. To lock the planter into field position, you simply slip a bolt through the flanges on the hinge and put a cotter key into the two ends of the planter drive shaft. Ryerson says that, since the hinge only takes up about 11 in. space in the bar, there isn't a lot of refitting needed for toolbar accessories. The kit sells for around $2,000 and can be used on any planter toolbar. Ryerson also folds cultivators, hoes, and other field equipment in his on farm custom shop. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jerald Ryerson, Rt. 2, Ames, Iowa 50010 (ph 515 233-1957).

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