Horsch Twinter Drill

[R&D]

Thought I would share some photos of our Horsch Sprinter conversion we did ready for spring drilling this year. Based on an 8m drill at 320mm unit spacing, the twin tine conversion gave us a paired row spacing of around 140mm. Using 2" Dutch coulters it does actually increase this a bit more. The original seed pipes were split to give a total of 50 coulters.




Skyfall wheat drilled 7th march, ground had a pass with a trio in the autumn then two passes with a dalbo cultimax harrow pre drilling. Photo was taken on 6th april.


Same again , photo taken on 14th april

 

[PSQ]

On the one hand, the backwards leg idea is genius!
On the other, a result remarkably similar to any of the other options with a wider paired row opener.

What was the cost of the stock Horsch Sprinter leg?

 

[R&D]

The Horsch leg was around £47.

I agree the results look similar to a paired row coulter, but because the seed fell into the slot of the point and into moisture the germination has been very good. Last spring we struggled getting the seed into the moisture with the duett coulters, the seed just seemed to sit on a shelf on top of the moisture but in the dry tilth. And then in the autumn they seem to smear in clay soils so we wanted to find a way of using a single shoot coulter. Something that is a bit difficult when a drill is on 320mm row spacing.

 

[Shutesy]

Like this design a lot!! Have you got any more photos of the whole machine @R&D ? We might be interested in a Sprinter as our next drill but a bit concerned about all the packer wheels still when conditions are a bit sticky.

 

[R&D]

I don't have any photos of the whole drill but a friend made the above video a few weeks back, skip to 3.30 minutes for the drill!

The rear packer wheels do make a mess when its sticky. I have just added an angle iron scraper across the rear packer wheels and so far it has made a great job.

 

[PSQ]

Like this design a lot!! Have you got any more photos of the whole machine @R&D ? We might be interested in a Sprinter as our next drill but a bit concerned about all the packer wheels still when conditions are a bit sticky.

Some models (2016 and later?) have a staggered rear wheel arrangement to improve self cleaning, but at the same time Horsch moved to a near puncture proof but more rigid 10 ply carcass, that doesn’t self clean as well as the older spec of tyres.

As is usually mentioned at this point: “if it’s too sticky for packer tyres on the drill, then it’s too wet to be drilling”.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

Looks good

Like a slightly beefed up Dale

 

[Barley]

That is fantastic What a great idea!

 

[alomy75]

As above; outstanding idea! Does the break back work ok with the backwards leg? I’m in my first year of metcalfe on a 4m so similar concerns (12mm band on 250 centres); it’s all met between the row now but this idea would let me get back up to 32 rows in a 4m if blackgrass becomes an issue due to lack of competition. How much is trash flow impeded?

 

[alomy75]

I was just thinking why don’t Horsch do that and realised; the coulter pressure is halved which would make it less than the old CO-type leg was on its own. Wouldn’t it?

 

[R&D]

Coulter pressure didn't concern me when I was planning the idea. When you see two Dutch coulters at the side of the existing lump of Duett coulter I suspected the Duett would trip more often. In reality it confirmed it wasn't a problem, the coulters very rarely move, and for us it was usually because of stones even in the field we direct drilled.

We did not have any trash to deal with this spring so as yet I cannot comment on that but adding in the drop plate to carry the legs has increased the under frame clearance which can only be a good thing.

 

[alomy75]

Very interesting...have you had to adjust the in-work switch after putting your drop plates in? I guess you’ve gained 3-4” clearance? Completely agree about the duetts; I removed mine before trying them but seeing them taking up a whole pallet rather than a shoe box for the metcalfes made me wonder how on earth I could drag them underground when it’s dry and hard...

 

[R&D]

Not had to adjust anything other than the depth stops. Just had a measure, only actually gained around 2 1/2" with the drop plate.
Am I correct in saying the 4 and 6 meter sprinters have 3 rows of coulters?

 

[Old apprentice]

I was just thinking why don’t Horsch do that and realised; the coulter pressure is halved which would make it less than the old CO-type leg was on its own. Wouldn’t it?

If the coulter preasure is halved won't it vibrate in the soil more there for less likely to block the seed pipe ? What do you guys think . I am using a kvernland ts and the tines vibrate considerably I think it helps to keep tubes clear.

 

[alomy75]

Not had to adjust anything other than the depth stops. Just had a measure, only actually gained around 2 1/2" with the drop plate.
Am I correct in saying the 4 and 6 meter sprinters have 3 rows of coulters?

My 4m has 3 rows; can’t comment on 6 but I would lean toward them being the same. One other thought from a friend of mine; would the front coulter of the pair not lift over a large rock/obstacle as much as the rear would in a break back situation? Or does the multigrip just keep going up and up until it clears whatever is in the way? I do know that my central coulter assembly fouls on my metering unit when it trips or certainly has done in the past

 

[alomy75]

If the coulter preasure is halved won't it vibrate in the soil more there for less likely to block the seed pipe ? What do you guys think . I am using a kvernland ts and the tines vibrate considerably I think it helps to keep tubes clear.

I think on a TS it would and also create some extra tilth by the vibration. The multigrip holder is kind of ‘off or on’ in terms of breakback. It’s either in-work or in-trip; there’s no in between. TS has a leaf spring doesn’t it that would flex/vibrate continually like the old CO-type Horsch legs.

 

[R&D]

My 4m has 3 rows; can’t comment on 6 but I would lean toward them being the same. One other thought from a friend of mine; would the front coulter of the pair not lift over a large rock/obstacle as much as the rear would in a break back situation? Or does the multigrip just keep going up and up until it clears whatever is in the way? I do know that my central coulter assembly fouls on my metering unit when it trips or certainly has done in the past

I guess the front leg would have less clearance than the rear as it is closer to the pivot point. I did wonder if it might shear the bolts instead but it’s not been a problem.

 

[R&D]

Twinter update,
For autumn drilling I added some shims between the leg and the coulter to achieve a perfect 160mm row spacing across the drill.

Also direct drilled wheat into chopped spring barley straw to see how it would cope of which it did without any issues