Optima maize drill

[Albert]

Hi guys

I'm having problems with my kverneland optima maize drill
One of the optisensors is playing up. I'm hoping it may just need cleaning.

How do I get to the optisensors on the drilling units to clean them?

Thanks

 

[Ted M]

By strange coincidence I've had the very same problem today. Number 1 unit refused to monitor the seed despite everything else working okay.
After a bit of fiddling it did several acres fine then played up a bit more then worked again before seemingly giving up completely for the last 12 acres.
With the hopper empty I took off the plastic cover over the seeding disc with the little window in it and used a wipe to try and clean the sensor best I could.
Didn't solve the problem unfortunately.

 

[Albert]

@Ted M

I have taken the plastic window off to have a look in but I'm not sure where the sensor is.

Is it inside the U shaped black plastic that is at about 11 o clock on the seed disc?

Thanks

 

[Farmer Roy]

Hi guys

I'm having problems with my kverneland optima maize drill
One of the optisensors is playing up. I'm hoping it may just need cleaning.

How do I get to the optisensors on the drilling units to clean them?

Thanks

@Ted M

I have taken the plastic window off to have a look in but I'm not sure where the sensor is.

Is it inside the U shaped black plastic that is at about 11 o clock on the seed disc?

Thanks

I know nothing about that particular brand, but on JD, Kinze, White & every other precision planter I’ve seen the sensor is about a third of the way down the seed tube. Dust & seed dressings etc can accumulate on them & affect accuracy. Sometimes I would run the feather duster through each time I filled up, but at the very least each time the seed boxes came off to change variety, empty out boxes, start a new job etc etc.
Pull a seed box off & shove a feather duster up n down the seed tube. Find the connection in the wiring harness ( normally just in front of each row unit ) unplug it, give it a good spray with CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner. If still doesn’t work, you need to buy a new sensor. I’ve run JD MaxEmerge vacuum precision planters for close to 30 years now, you usually get a few sensors play up each season ( if the little window gets scratched that can affect them as well ), always carry a feather duster & a can of electrical cleaner in the cab when planting & always have a few new sensors in the spare parts kit.

ps - I used to do contract planting for years, running 8 m then 12 m JD planters . . .

 

[Ted M]

@Ted M

I have taken the plastic window off to have a look in but I'm not sure where the sensor is.

Is it inside the U shaped black plastic that is at about 11 o clock on the seed disc?

Thanks

Yes, that's it so I'm told

 

[welshfarmer]

The black plastic U shape would be the sensor, there will be 2 clear lenses on the inside that should be kept clean, if its like the old one I used to use it over reads the seed when the sun shines on it. If it's an intermittent problem check the wiring for damage. I currently run a Kuhn planter and on that the plugs for the sensors are close enough together to swap between adjacent units so I can see if it's a sensor problem or a wiring problem.

 

[Will 1594]

If its owt like on beet drill
It’s banana shaped under seed cell wheel
Get a soft tooth brush , shave sides down with grinder a bit so you can poke it up where seed comes out and give sensors a brush
Specks of muck can make them play up
Got two switched off in box at minute , will be looked at next season , but eye watering price