Simtech Depth Control

[Jsmith2211]

Hello all,

We are now on our second season with our simtech, and we have got on reasonably well with it. The main issue I have found is that the seed depth control is virtually non existant. Our fields are not the flattest, and I regulaly find that one leg will be 3-4" deep and another will be 0.5" deep and there is nothing I can do about it. if its dry it isnt the end of the wold as the deeper seed has time to germinate, but when it is wet anything sewn too deep just doesnt grow! Has anybody experimented with any way of making the legs follow the ground a bit better? or is it a case of give up and get a different drill that suits slightly uneven fields! It is making me look bad when I am doing contract work and I cant get small seeds in to the right depth, which results in very patchy emergence. One of the benefits to a direct drill is the ability to overseed grassland, and I cant drill grass seed at 3"

Thanks

 

[TJ61]

Depth control is a big problem for me in cultivated land. I only have a 3m and to be fair seed depth is even across the width in all the conditions I have used it. Direct drilling is fine but especially when the boots are new or little worn they will pull in to cultivated ground more, so when the depth control roller passes over, the soil is loose and the rings sink in. This will happen even after rolling post cultivating so the only solution for me so far has been to take some weight on the tractor hydraulics. I have considered fitting a full roller further back or depth wheels but will see how this years sowing looks ? For grass and flower SFI mix I have fitted some spreader plates above the tines with the seed hose directed on to them so I can cultivate at any depth with the tines and leave the seed on top to be mixed in to surface tilth with the chains.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Hello all,

We are now on our second season with our simtech, and we have got on reasonably well with it. The main issue I have found is that the seed depth control is virtually non existant. Our fields are not the flattest, and I regulaly find that one leg will be 3-4" deep and another will be 0.5" deep and there is nothing I can do about it. if its dry it isnt the end of the wold as the deeper seed has time to germinate, but when it is wet anything sewn too deep just doesnt grow! Has anybody experimented with any way of making the legs follow the ground a bit better? or is it a case of give up and get a different drill that suits slightly uneven fields! It is making me look bad when I am doing contract work and I cant get small seeds in to the right depth, which results in very patchy emergence. One of the benefits to a direct drill is the ability to overseed grassland, and I cant drill grass seed at 3"

Thanks

there are plenty of (bigger seed) tine drills that are developed with rollers presses etc for depth control and ground following, but they do need to be very seperate units for each coulter, and plenty of weight for not just penitration but steady ness in work.
Disc drills better for depth control by their nature rolling and cutting steady not so much vibration /variation and couple them with press wheels on to each as a guide ,and again seperate units, thats how / why the moore uni drill was developed. along with added weight as above of course.

ive always said those what you have are a very primitive machine for the money imo only good bit is the bottom of the tine design, but no its not enough is it. as youve found. but using them selectivly with cheap seed will be their niche if the money is there to pay for the extra implement yes.

none of our fields are like you see in the photos that abound either, smaller more headland aqward shapes, up and down steep knapps hollows undulations on a small scale variation and all on very rolling countryside locally. put that on your drawing board mister machine designer .

 

[Jsmith2211]

there are plenty of (bigger seed) tine drills that are developed with rollers presses etc for depth control and ground following, but they do need to be very seperate units for each coulter, and plenty of weight for not just penitration but steady ness in work.
Disc drills better for depth control by their nature rolling and cutting steady not so much vibration /variation and couple them with press wheels on to each as a guide ,and again seperate units, thats how / why the moore uni drill was developed. along with added weight as above of course.

ive always said those what you have are a very primitive machine for the money imo only good bit is the bottom of the tine design, but no its not enough is it. as youve found. but using them selectivly with cheap seed will be their niche if the money is there to pay for the extra implement yes.

none of our fields are like you see in the photos that abound either, smaller more headland aqward shapes, up and down steep knapps hollows undulations on a small scale variation and all on very rolling countryside locally. put that on your drawing board mister machine designer .

We find it easier doing smaller fields with our simtech than with the combi, do the headlands first (24M) then up and down till it's coloured in. Simple. My only gripe is seed depth and the rubber boots coming off the bottom of the hopper when it vibrates too much. we have found in the sandier soil where it makes more of a tilth it isnt such an issue as the seed is all covered, but in soggier conditions on clay drilling wheat into grass it doesnt make a tilth (above ground anyway) so you find some seed left uncovered on the surface. My main annoyance with depth in arable was for the rye, as it doesnt like going too deep, it also worries me that some of the legs will not sew the seed deep enough to not be harmed by pre emergence.

Thing is though it is a cheap and simple drill I suppose you have to accept that it won't place the seed so well as something that costs 3x as much! Not sure how the claydon / weavings get around it as never seen anyone complaining about depth on them?

 

[Bury the Trash]

coul;d be im gonna be getting the dawson meme out again in a minute

they are not any more precise , (tine ) but with like the claydon moving more soil so the seed has more choice / more tilth made.

the soil conditions being just right is the key to all direct drilling not so much with cultivation because that forces the 'right' or more suitable conditions for a seedbed , only less localised. which means it can a bit wasteful its true.


last Rye i grwe ... it was broadcast

 

[BBE]

I've had problems getting OSR in at the right depth. If you're only wanting to be at 20mm the coulters ride out over wheelings leaving seed on top. Only solution I found was to run through with a tine first to take out the wheelings - but this somewhat defeats the object! Also found it's easy to drill wheat too deep

 

[robs1]

It's important to put the link arms on the slotted holes( on the tractor not the drill) so the drill can follow any uneven ground

 

[BBE]

It's important to put the link arms on the slotted holes( on the tractor not the drill) so the drill can follow any uneven ground

Do you mean these?

 

[robs1]

Do you mean these?

Yes it allows the drill to follow any contours rather than follow the tractor

 

[BBE]

Yes it allows the drill to follow any contours rather than follow the tractor

OK thanks, haven't done that before, I'll give it a try.

 

[steveR]

OK thanks, haven't done that before, I'll give it a try.

It helps with several jobs, where a mounted machine is following the ground.

 

[robs1]

It helps with several jobs, where a mounted machine is following the ground.

Not advised for a hedge trimmer or sprayer though

 

[steveR]

Not advised for a hedge trimmer or sprayer though

Granted

 

[steveR]

Depth control is a big problem for me in cultivated land. I only have a 3m and to be fair seed depth is even across the width in all the conditions I have used it. Direct drilling is fine but especially when the boots are new or little worn they will pull in to cultivated ground more, so when the depth control roller passes over, the soil is loose and the rings sink in. This will happen even after rolling post cultivating so the only solution for me so far has been to take some weight on the tractor hydraulics. I have considered fitting a full roller further back or depth wheels but will see how this years sowing looks ? For grass and flower SFI mix I have fitted some spreader plates above the tines with the seed hose directed on to them so I can cultivate at any depth with the tines and leave the seed on top to be mixed in to surface tilth with the chains.

My "similiar" Aitchison suffers too on cultivated land, albeit a lot narrower! I was advised here that rolling prior to drilling is the best solution, and this is what I now do. My cultivations are usually heavy discs, with a cambridge roller pulled in tandem.

I think if I was to use the drill on ploughing, I'd want to see a heavy furrow press in action infront of the drill or on the plough.

 

[steveR]

Yes it allows the drill to follow any contours rather than follow the tractor

Unless Sir is using some ageing tractor with nice, sloppy linkages....

 

[robs1]

My "similiar" Aitchison suffers too on cultivated land, albeit a lot narrower! I was advised here that rolling prior to drilling is the best solution, and this is what I now do. My cultivations are usually heavy discs, with a cambridge roller pulled in tandem.

I think if I was to use the drill on ploughing, I'd want to see a heavy furrow press in action infront of the drill or on the plough.

They used to offer a roller made of small tyres for using instead of the front discs when drilling ploughed/cultivated ground.

 

[steveR]

They used to offer a roller made of small tyres for using instead of the front discs when drilling ploughed/cultivated ground.

Wouldn't cost a lot to get something for a front linkage?

 

[robs1]

Wouldn't cost a lot to get something for a front linkage?

This was meant to stop the drill sinking in but a small roller on front linkage would do the same and counter balance the drill, they are surprisingly heavy with a tonne of seed in.

 

[Jsmith2211]

This was meant to stop the drill sinking in but a small roller on front linkage would do the same and counter balance the drill, they are surprisingly heavy with a tonne of seed in.

Downright scary on the road full of seed with no weight on the front!

 

[steveR]

This was meant to stop the drill sinking in but a small roller on front linkage would do the same and counter balance the drill, they are surprisingly heavy with a tonne of seed in.

And they are a long way back...

My little 2.2m* Aitchison needs the 100hp Kubota properly weighed on the front. Not that much in the box, bit I have a lot of extra wright on the frame for penetration on summer stubbles....




* All that was available in Covid year...