Planter choice

MoMike

Member
I'm looking at a couple of older planters, both 1960'ish. Ford 309 and IH 56, both 2 row. What I've found online it seem the Ford has a very limited choice of population ranges. I've not been able to find anything on the IH. Is it possible on the Ford planter to use a heavier rate plate to push the population up a bit? Or would the IH have a better range of populations just by having a choice of plates as well as sprocket choices?
 
Ford very hard to find plates for.IH never heard of a 56 as a 2 row they were only 4 or 6 row, for a 2 row it has to be a chopped up planter made out of a 4 row. If you want a good 2 row planter look for a Deere 246 for a 3 point hitch or for a pull type a 290 but if you don't care about markers then you could used Deere unit planters. And there are way more seed plate combinations avaible for the Deere than the IH And Ford no plastic plates. Forget both of what you are looking at and look for a good planter with parts avaible along with plates.
 

[b:9404cada56]"IH never heard of a 56 as a 2 row they were only 4 or 6 row, for a 2 row it has to be a chopped up planter made out of a 4 row."[/b:9404cada56]

IH did make the 56 as a 2-row. No cobbling/chopping needed.

[b:9404cada56]"And there are way more seed plate combinations avaible for the Deere than the IH"...[/b:9404cada56]

Could be, but, between IH plates and aftermarket, there's quite a selection of plates for an IH planter. Blanks were/are available, too. I've often desired that the seed be graded better than it is, but have never had an issue finding a plate for corn that is adequate.

[b:9404cada56]..."And Ford no plastic plates."[/b:9404cada56]

Ford did/does have plastic/poly (or whatever exactly they're made out of other than a metal) plates in some seed sizes available. I'm pretty sure there's many plastic plates that will work with the 309. I've sold dozens of used Ford plates, most were plastic, some weren't.

AG
 
If they made a 2 row 56 planter why is there no parts books avaible on a IHC parts site?
 
(quoted from post at 04:14:28 04/11/17)

[b:f863a91980]"If they made a 2 row 56 planter why is there no parts books avaible on a IHC parts site?"[/b:f863a91980]

If it's not there, you've got me as far as to why. You'll need to direct your questions and concerns on this matter to someone at CIH. You'll likely be dealing with someone from a generation of people that may not know what a 56 planter is/was, or, perhaps even what IHC was. CIH's online parts lookup on the consumer side leaves a lot to be desired. My paper books and fiche cards still seem to work when needed.

I have a 2-row 56 planter. It needs to be rebuilt/restored, and I have just about everything new on the shelf to build a new planter except the main frame and hitch. I just have to get around to doing it. My 2-row 56 is definitely not some kind of a cob-job cut-down from a 4-row. I've personally seen perhaps a half-dozen other true 2-row 56's in maybe the last 20 years, and maybe 2 dozen more online. I wouldn't even consider them to be "rare".

AG
 
Momike,
IH most certainly did make a 2 row #56 planter. They sell like hotcakes at auctions around here in WI. Either an old IH or JD in good condition will do a nice job for you. Plates for both brands are readily available; lots of plates are hanging today/tonight on nails on a machine shed wall or old barn. If you need future advice on plates needed get back on this forum and I can help you....I lived thru that era and my seed business required me to have hundreds of plates on hand.

Ford planter plates can be hard to find. Possibly get from a man who owns a Ford planter???

Best advice I can give you now is if you buy an IH planter, and need an operator's manual, contact "Binder's Books". You DO need a manual for setting populations correctly on planters. Otherwise you are just planting blind.
LA in WI
 
(quoted from post at 01:08:29 04/11/17)

Mike: It wasn't my intention to get derailed and not answer your question. Given the choice of the 56 and the 309 being similarly equipped, in similar conditions and having similar prices, I'd buy the 56. I have no experience operating the Ford, and I like red stuff, so I may be biased.

Check and compare parts availability, pricing, etc. before you buy. Compare row unit equipment (runners, disc openers, disk furrowers?).

The 309 planter parts book is on a NH dealer's website. Many plates appear to still be available. I'd advise you to double-check with a dealer, though. I don't know if there's ever been an aftermarket source available for new Ford plates. Used are not easy to find (check ebay).

Lincoln Ag Products has new plates for IH planters. CIH probably has some available yet. Used ones are not hard to find.

It appears that what is commonly called plastic by farmers is referenced by Ford/NH as "acetal resin" (Polyoxymethylene). Derlin is another term used by some other manufacturers.

I can't think of a lot of negatives as far as a 56 (in field-ready condition) goes. Hitch height is important. They're light, but not underbuilt. You probably won't be able to no-till with one. The markers can be finicky. There were many options from IH and add-ons from others (Acra-Plant, Gandy, etc.) years ago.

AG
 
We had a 4 row 56 series when I was younger. I still have plates hanging around in the barn and if you buy the planter your welcome to them.
 
I have had both. A Deere 246 and an IH 2 row 56. The 56 wins hands down. Follows the ground better to keep it driving and the seed depth is controlled better. Also has a bigger fertilizer hopper and seed hoppers. If you had perfectly flat worked up perfect ground then I think the 246 would work ok. Otherwise No thank you on you on that one. A 290 is also a pull type and would be good as well.

As far as the Ford, the only thing I know is it is 3pt. hitch like the 246 is. A friend had one and could never get both sides to plant the same. Rebuilt the side and still couldn't get it right. He got rid of it and bought a 4 row pull type.
 
This is on Messicks site and they have the books for the 449 as I have used them and the 449 is the planter that the people I work with want because it was the only 4 row planter made that could be set to 30" rows and had a clutch lift that is a requirement. He has a 4 row 56 setting there that will probably be parted out for the boxes as they will fit the 449 planter. He got ot thinking he could convert to clutch lift but found out he could not do it. and he is a profesional iron worker with a machine shop and welder.
 
Leroy - Your opinion of the 290 planter must be the result of a bias for Deere. Dad had a 490 planter bought new in the early 1950's and it was a worn out archaic piece of junk in the early 1960's. Only ever planted 80 to 100 acres per year.
 

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