Moore unidrill settings

[del_boy]

Just purchased an old moore unidrill to direct drill some grass around the farm. Anyone have any settings for grass and possibly small seeds such as turnips and forage rape?
Also any tips on setting them up?
Currently replacing every bearing in the discs. The drilling coulters look worn aswell and probably need replacing but they are quite dear for what they are, has anyone swapped these with something else?
Might look at changing the discs at some point if we get some good results, the notched disc from agrilinc look the cheapest, any pros and cons for the notched over the original plain disc?
Any help much appreciated

 

[Longpod]

You can still download the instruction manual from the Moore website:

http://www.moore-unidrill.com/unidrill-downloads.aspx

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Just ask the Moore people. Our drill has a serial number, they told me how old it was, which manual to download, and emailed me the settings.
We had a local engineer overhaul it in the context of farmer use on less than 50 acres a year. A pro user would need to take a different approach because once one bearing goes, the others won't be far behind.
We are using it for the first time on Saturday so I hope it works as well as I expect. Our discs are well down so I too will be pleased to hear about disc and coulter options. I think a full overhaul of the discs coulters and bearings could be a costly exercise but once done it should do a lot of work.

 

[del_boy]

Just ask the Moore people. Our drill has a serial number, they told me how old it was, which manual to download, and emailed me the settings.
We had a local engineer overhaul it in the context of farmer use on less than 50 acres a year. A pro user would need to take a different approach because once one bearing goes, the others won't be far behind.
We are using it for the first time on Saturday so I hope it works as well as I expect. Our discs are well down so I too will be pleased to hear about disc and coulter options. I think a full overhaul of the discs coulters and bearings could be a costly exercise but once done it should do a lot of work.

We could have got away with just tightening a few bearings but for the price we are replacing all 36 of them.
How worn can the coulters get? We had to buy 2 new ones as they were bent and the new ones are alot different making our ones looked really worn out. Will only be drilling grass and root crops.
We dont have the calibration tray or handle with ours, are you planning on drilling grass in one pass or 2 passes?

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

If u pm your email I can send you what Moore sent me on calibration but it might not be the same drill?
Ours is the arable drill so yes we are making 2 passes in grass but I was told by my expert it's only one for Tyfon .
Don't know much about coulters save to say I am told ours will last us a while longer.
The Moore people are so helpful I would just ask them.

 

[del_boy]

Have sent pm
Have you got the 21t sprocket or the 34t? Am bit concerned we've only got the 21t and it might not go low enough to allow 2 passes.

 

[YELROM]

I just made a calibration handle for ours
Just find a bit of pipe that's a good fit on the gearbox drive, then cut the notch in with a grinding disc,bend a bit of round bar bit of weld job done
The calibration trays should be the covers over the metering wheels if its the same as ours(1997),you unclip them at the top then push them down over under the metering wheels
We drill grass once over and 45 to 50 with slides fully open and flaps on second notch that is about 15 kg/ac
Halving the setting will not be right for double drilling though

 

[pine_guy]

@hally

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

We have the 21 t fitted
The chain seems too tight to use the bigger cog but I will find out tomorrow. The previous owner never used the bigger cog, and I am concerned someone maybe took a link out of the chain.
The real expert will be along soon!

 

[hally]

Real expert
Ive never owned one of these older drills mine have all been sulky hoppers in the case of the box drills in which you push out a pin which locks together the grass and small seed pegwheels. No chains or gears involved sorry

 

[yellow belly]

I found that having coulters in good condition was essential for accurate seed placement drilling rape and cereals

If changing the bearings then fitting seals carefully is essential
Notched discs were only a benefit in wetter conditions on cultivated land


With grass seeds this may also be the case

Drill once but slower
Not seen any benefit in drilling grass twice

 

[hally]

I wouldnt worry about notched disc never needed them myself, the back rollers are more likely to stop turning on bad conditions

 

[del_boy]

I wouldnt worry about notched disc never needed them myself, the back rollers are more likely to stop turning on bad conditions

The notched discs are £18 from agrilinc but they dont do the plain disc, spaldings is £30 for a plain disc so big price difference on a full set

 

[hally]

The notched discs are £18 from agrilinc but they dont do the plain disc, spaldings is £30 for a plain disc so big price difference on a full set

Seem good value. I suppose if in very dry stubbles the notches may help but in grassland I don’t think it matters either way so go for the best value

 

[del_boy]

How far out are the suggested settings in the book as we have no calibration tray or handle with ours

 

[hally]

Not far usually
Just put in one bag drill to its gone then fine tune.
If you calibrate with weigher I always find on runs slightly faster in reality

 

[clbarclay]

Unless you have a later version such as the tandems which were much heavier, I would recommend buying the original size 16" discs for a unidrill. I put 18" on mine when I rebuilt it for DD arable and it was a mistake. The drill has worked better since they wore down to 16". Problems like a typical lack of penetration should not be such an issue though if only drilling grass seed.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

We had lots of trouble yesterday and end point was calling contractor to do the job next week!
We had v worn discs and coulters which led to lack of penetration in a burned off grass sward.
So they are getting replaced.
We turned the drawbar over and used the tractor with the lowest hitch point but it still needs a lower hitch point so we are going to drill another hole on the frame to help the geometry. The later models were adjustable I believe.
As to calibration this took ages and we found out the hard way that with an old drill we must calibrate the 18 separate seed units. A couple are open too much and this means inaccuracy, and in our case the two halves of the calibration trays being about 30% apart.
At least we now know what we need to do to get it right.

 

[hally]

We had lots of trouble yesterday and end point was calling contractor to do the job next week!
We had v worn discs and coulters which led to lack of penetration in a burned off grass sward.
So they are getting replaced.
We turned the drawbar over and used the tractor with the lowest hitch point but it still needs a lower hitch point so we are going to drill another hole on the frame to help the geometry. The later models were adjustable I believe.
As to calibration this took ages and we found out the hard way that with an old drill we must calibrate the 18 separate seed units. A couple are open too much and this means inaccuracy, and in our case the two halves of the calibration trays being about 30% apart.
At least we now know what we need to do to get it right.

I wouldnt be drilling those holes until you see how new discs and coulters affect the penetration

 

[del_boy]

We had lots of trouble yesterday and end point was calling contractor to do the job next week!
We had v worn discs and coulters which led to lack of penetration in a burned off grass sward.
So they are getting replaced.
We turned the drawbar over and used the tractor with the lowest hitch point but it still needs a lower hitch point so we are going to drill another hole on the frame to help the geometry. The later models were adjustable I believe.
As to calibration this took ages and we found out the hard way that with an old drill we must calibrate the 18 separate seed units. A couple are open too much and this means inaccuracy, and in our case the two halves of the calibration trays being about 30% apart.
At least we now know what we need to do to get it right.

How big are your current discs?
Ours are about 15" but there are 2 missing so bought 2 new 18" serated discs from agrilinc, will probly have to buy a new set as i cant see 2 new discs working with 16 worn ones.