Oliver corn planter

Looking for info on my Oliver planter. I planter corn this year but it looks terrible. I used the same plates the previous owner said he used but clearly didn't work out so well for me. These are the plates I have and looking for help with what plates go for what seed. I have 4 plates numbered 245537b, 4 plates numbered 245531b, 4 plates numbered 245510b, 4 plates numbered 245511b, 4 plates numbered 245506b, 4 plates numbered 245500b, 1 plate numbered 245533b, 1 plate numbered 245501b. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Did you use graded seed? Back years ago when we used a plate planter the seed corn came with a plate recommendation for each bag. I can remember a sizable stack of plates kept as for a given variety a customer could not be assured they could get the same seed size year after year. A lot of seed companies do not grade for a plate size but will simply note whether the seed is round or flat or some other configuration. It sounds like the last owner just assumed that you knew what he did plus the local seed dealer who also handles fertilizer and chemicals obviously was not concerned. Getting a handle on this problem starts with working with your seed salesman to know what you purchase is plate planter compatible. If that can not be accomplished then the planter needs to be sent down the road and replaced with something more modern.

It wouldn't surprise me if they don't grade seed by size any more, as the newer type planters use fingers, or air now.

Two questions: Do you have an operators manual. I am guessing you have a 540 planter. Did you get graded seed and how much corn do you plant?

Size graded seed is still available.

i used dekalb seed the bag had 2 plate typed on the bag one is the other cih. Nothing refering to any plates I have. I only planted about an acre to see how the plater would do. I believe it is a 540 but no markings or plate stating model or serial number. I do not have a Manual but planning to get one. I made the first pass and checked the rows and it looked like it was doing ok but once it germinated it is very spotty. Before planting I pulled the plates that were in and checked the slots compared to seed size and they seemed to fit well but I'm guessing they were too small and not every kernel felling into place to drop like they were supposed to.

How i was taught to see if the plate was right was to put 3-4 kernels in the palm of the one hand, and the plate in the other, and gently see if one kernel fits in each cell with some room to spare, of course you don't want two kernels or even a kernel and a half to fit in there, and you are good to go. But i think that company the use to make those plastic plates is still in business, seed salesman should know.

Ok I'll try that and see what I can figure out. Thanks for the help.

If you planted and the seeds were placed ok look around we have a good
crop of gophers . They backed off on the insecticide and the thinking
is that a little more food equals more gophers and moles. In one spot
there was over 40 feet and every seed was gone in that row.

On that age planter I do not know what plates were used. I did have a 492 about 45 years ago and at that time the seed companys did include plate numbers for some makes but for the Oliver the plate numbers they listed did not corespond to the way the plates were numbered for my planter, And at that time plastic plates were not avaible for any planter. If yours takes the newer plate that also fits the Deere planters in all tractor planters up thru the 7000 series then you could if the seed bag is marked for deere size get the measurements and Deere lists every plate they made by size in 1/64" in all 3 directions, The Lustran site also lists that way and that way you might figure out what plate will work for what grade. The planter I had listed a size on the plate but for what it said for medium seed it would actually take 2 kernels in each sell. And the people in the area I work with all only use plate planters with them being JD 290 or 999, or McCormick horse drawn or what is now becoming very desireable the McCormick 449, 449A or 450 planters last built in very early 60's. Some still using Black Hawk planters and plates for them are about non existant. For graded corn you just have to find the correct seed company. And for a lot of these farmers 3 bags is a lot of seed but country around there are hundreds of thousand of these farmers.

I would need to check but my neighbor will still have plates for them and for Leroy get in tough with me as he also has Black Hawk plates + there are some Black Hawk parts left I think. The computer ate your phone number.

that might be my best option upgrading to the jd plastic plates. I thought bout just doing that right away but figured I'd just give it a try and see how it turned out. Should have just upgraded. I could just get another planter but everything else I have is Oliver figured I'd just stick with tradition.

with a plate planter you don't just dump the seed in and go planting, you have to match the plates with the seed, who knows what the last guy planted, small, medium, large rounds or flats, sometimes we didn't have the right plate so we had to borrow them from the dealer or find ones close enough to work