Minneapolis Moline Drill Grass Seeder ?'s

big a

Member
Going to try to use this old drill to sow some alfalfa, but have some questions first.
I've got no guide to tell me what to set it at to try for about 10lbs/acre seeding rate.
Anyone have an old manual that would say where to start?
Grass seed tubes are missing also, and half the people I talk to say they aren't needed any, just let seed fall on the ground.
Seed tubes seem to have a small formed metal piece that pinned to the back of the cup...those missing too, so no easy way to rig something up.
Can I run without these?
Lastly...anyone know the size of the flat chain that drives the grass cups? I've got idlers, but no chains.
 
Been years since I had the Moline P3, and don"t remember the setting for 10-12 lbs per acre, but I"d try about 1/3 up the scale and seed an acre, then refill and note the amount needed. Regarding the chain size, IDK either, but since you have the idler sprockets, you can size the flat chain according to that. Guessing it would be about a 30 or 35? BTW, I got excellent alfalfa stands with 10-12 lbs, as long as I pulled a packer behind. No, you don"t need the grass seed tubes.
 
You can use water hose to drop it down
most don't. Isn't there a chart on the
inside of the box ? You will have to
adjust because their measure is pints you
have to get a pint jar and measure a pint
of seed weighs and go that way . If I
remember I will look at mine tomorrow and
see where that's at . Also there will be a
difference between treated seed and non
treated the treated will flow faster
 
thanks guys! Not sure what I've got, but think it's a P3. It's on steel, and in excellent shape. Hasn't seen much use at all.
I've got pics but can't get them to post.
39595.jpg
 
Those pics look like the 2 P-3s that i had, except they were low rubber. I changed mine to hyd lift. One point about setting the grass seeder, just like the grain box.....if you reduce rate, bring the lever all the way back to zero, then advance it. Don"t just pull it down to a lower setting. There is slop in every mechanism, and you won"t get the rate you want.
 
Nice looking bonus if on steel if you got a
few acres you don't have to worry about
flats. I had a couple over the years my
uncles bought a new one. Apparently one day
they were seeding with horses and they
kicked up a nest of ground bees when they
finally got the horses stopped and seen
what was left of the old seeder they went
and got the new drill and that was tractor
pulled no more worries about ground bees.
There are manuals for sale on ebay and if
you go to a threeshree there usually guys
there selling manuals. I ve got one
someplace.
 
My Dad believed the grass seed tubes were a joke. I was too young to remember but he took them off when drill was new. Back in the day they hand mixed innoculant on alfalfa seed. Between that being a little tacky, dust, and cobwebs the tubes would plug. Let it bounce was his theory. Dragged field after planting.
 
Im bad just looked at the drill the chart I
was thinking about is in the grain box
that's just for oats barley etc. However I
looked at the grass box and I remember now.
The dial is calibrated in quarts and this
used to be real fun before the Internet but
Google how many lbs of alfalfa is in a
quart the answer is 2 lbs per quart. So
that would be setting your dial on 5 that
would be 5 quarts x 2 lbs equal 10 lbs to
the acre double check me but that's the way
I did it and I had nice stands.
 
You say its in great shape, looks to hardly be used. Did it set outside all the time? Its supposedly in such good shape, yet 1/2 the parts are missing.
Check the grass flutes, which is the proper name for them, at least in NE Kansas. Look for blockages, usually at the bottoms.
 
Found my manual the chain is no 25
detachable chain not roller chain Shoup
has it .One seeder calls for 40 links the
other is 47. The grass attachment is an
extra no charts in any manual.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. Going to give it a go and see what happens. I'll start with things set at 5 and try. Plan to check calibration before actually drilling any seed.
Been catching some nice rains here lately, so waiting for it to dry out.
Found some 25 detachable chain at a local implement dealer, so should be good to go.
 
Well....after all the rains in the last week, I finally got it drilled today. 5 was right on the money. 50 pounds of seed went on 5 acres perfect!
Thanks for all your help guys!
Got some good pics of the seed charts I'll post in a seperate post, for future reference.
 

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