John Deere Model B Grain Drill

super99 · Nov 19, 2014

I have a Model B grain drill that I use to plant cover crop rye with. It has the rope trip to raise and lower the openers. I'm getting too old for pulling the ropes, my arm and shoulder won't take it any more. I drilled 58 acres with it this fall and left the openers down all the time, overplanting the ends, and the acre counter said I drilled 65 acres. I would like to convert it to hydraulic lift, make my life a lot easier. Thinking about calling Kelsem's in Waterloo, Bowie's in Tipton or Colfax in Iowa to see if I can buy parts necessary to change it over to hydraulic cylinder for the lift. Anyone have one setting in the weeds they don't use that they would sell me the necessary parts to change it over? Yes, I should update to something newer, even no-till, but this drill belonged to the guy I worked for in Jr high and High School, I planted a lot of wheat with it when I was a kid, kinda like to keep her running in memory of Sparky.

DeltaRed · Nov 19, 2014

Lot of 'B's are converted to hydralic.Many are shopmade conversions.As was the one I had.They worked well.And it's not hard to convert one,A little steel and a bit of welding is all that is needed.And later the drill can be converted back to rope.

Don-Wi · Nov 20, 2014

We just go roundy roundy with ours, do an x when we get to the middle to drilluthe corners, then pull the rope to lift the openers. Only have to pull the rope 2x's then in a field.

Donovan from Wisconsin

J.Wondergem · Nov 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 02:15:15 11/20/14) We just go roundy roundy with ours, do an x when we get to the middle to drilluthe corners, then pull the rope to lift the openers. Only have to pull the rope 2x's then in a field.

Donovan from Wisconsin

That's the way Dad taught us to use one too.

Leroy · Nov 21, 2014

That is the way we always did it as well. But then we always pulled a light weight packer and a spike tooth behind that and they were ofset to right about 2 feet and when you got done you had seed in a firm seed bed like with a press wheel drill but it was also as smooth as a lawn with only one tire track down the middle of the field and 2 on each corner if we did not rehook the packer and harrow, if we did that there were NO tire marks in entire field. That is the way we did wheat, oats and soybeans.

rockyridgefarm · Nov 21, 2014

Unbolt the clutches, build a little bracket like pictured, attach it to the lift points, add cylinder... If you do a really nice job, it might even look factory. I have been told this is a factory kit. Wish I had taken better pictures. I've since sold this drill.

Tx Jim · Nov 21, 2014

(quoted from post at 13:03:55 11/21/14) I have been told this is a factory kit. Wish I had taken better pictures.

From what I can determine from your photo that drill has a factory cylinder lift attachment.

John Deere Model B Grain Drill

super99

Well-known Member

DeltaRed

Well-known Member

Don-Wi

Well-known Member

J.Wondergem

Well-known Member

Leroy

Well-known Member

rockyridgefarm

Well-known Member

Tx Jim

Well-known Member

Similar threads