John Deere 7000

Looking for a newer planter. Have read up on the John Deere 7000 and have found a 7000 conservation 4 row with dry fertilizer. Were all of the 7000 conservation finger pick up or were some of these plate planters like the standard 7000 planters? What should I look for, common wear places? Any body have one the want to let go?

I had a 1240 and looking to move up in the world, maybe eventually go to 30" rows.

"Here" I've only ever seen one 7000 planter with plates in it, all are finger pickup.

I understand is it in peanut or cotton areas there may be more plate versions?

To be honest I didn't know they had a plate option, don't see any around here.

Anyhow I think its a regional thing?

Paul

Small John Deere 7000 Planters were originally available in 4RN or 4RW versions. 4RN versions could be adjusted for 30, 32 or 34" planting widths. 4RW versions could be adjusted to plant 36, 38 or 40 inch widths. 4RN versions are kind of scarce now as there were not nearly as many sold new as the 4RW versions. It's a project to covert a 4RW to a 4RN, since you have to torch the wheel frames off and reposition when you move the planting units to the narrower configuration. Most were sold with Tru-Vee Double Disk Openers, although the factory still offered Runner Openers on earlier 7000 models. Most were sold with Plateless Seed Boxes (currently called Finger Pick-Ups), but the old Plate-Type Seed Boxes were still available. Some die-hard farmers that were skeptical of changing to the new Plateless system stayed with the Plate Planters, but the vast majority of corn producers switched to Plateless. Peanuts and possibly some other seeds would not work with early Plateless Planters and required a Plate Planter with a special hopper bottom. For a planter equipped with the Plateless option to plant beans, you needed to remove the Plateless meter from the bottom of the seed hopper and install a Soybean Feed Cup meter, which sowed beans much like a grain drill. Those old planters are still excellent, if properly maintained. They can be continually rebuilt providing a very reliable planter for years.

Added Info for 7000 Planter: 7000's were first introduced in the Fall of 1974 for the 1975 Sales Year. 4RN versions were introduced a couple (?) of years later. Conservation Planters were also introduced a couple (?) of years later. Regular 4RW and 4RN versions came with 5 X 7 steel tubing on the main frame. Not sure, but I believe Conservation Models had 7 X 7 main frames. When considering the purchase of a used 7000, make sure the integrity of the frame is good, then look for wear items to determine how much you'll have to spend to bring your planter up to standards. If you have a 1240, look for wear as you would on that planter. Check wear on Double Disk Openers, Gauge Wheels (including tires and bearings), Firming Wheels (including frames for side-to side slop). Planter should have 7.60-15 implement tires and be inflated to 40 psi for optimum operation. If equipped with No-Till Coulters, which were available on regular planters and should be standard on Conservation models, check wear on coulters and bearings. If equipped with liquid or dry fertilizer attachments and/or herbicide/insecticide attachments, look for obvious wear. I would remove the Finger Pick-Up mechanisms from the bottom of the seed hopper and have your John Deere Dealer inspect and service them before use. Also, check seed tubes to be sure they aren't cracked or broken and aren't plugged with spider webs or junk. If equipped with a monitor, be sure it is operating properly. Be sure you get an Operators Manual that matches your planter for general operating tips, including setting seed spacing and planting depth.

Good info.

Shoup is a great place to mail order parts for them.

Precision 20-20 offers some better than JD finger meter replacement meters and seed tubes, if one needs to replace these parts an upgrade to Precision is worth looking at for corn meters.

The old bean cups will spill out beans to plant; the meters that are more like a corn meter from either JD or Kinze will do a better job of putting out bean seeds and other such crops.

You can plant as good as it gets with a JD 7000 if you get the parts in new condition, excellent seed depth and spacing and all.

Paul

Try to get one that comes with finger pick up for corn, and the cups and plates for both beans and sorghum. Spin the packing wheels. If those bearings are shot it's a job to replace them.
Make sure all the rubber spacers are present in the population gear assembly.
Hook up hydraulic hoses and raise and lower it , checking alternating marker arm operation. Repairing them will cost you $300 and 4 hrs labor.
Check seed box leds snap down and latching tabs are not broken.

That is exactly what I needed to know, Thanks.