Deutz Allis 385 corn planter

NGTN

New User
Has anyone used one of these planters were they good planters, I bought one at an auction (cheap). I've read that some were air planters this one is not. It looks like it is wired for a monitor which it did not come with. I want to plant soybeans with it, I need to find a manual for it as I don't know anything about it. Like if it uses plates or some other kind of meter. Thanks for any help.
 
All that I am aware of were air with plates like a White.

The plates are the same as the older AC planters used. There was one 12v blower for every 2-3 rows. The monitor was a dickey john type.

I used one for a few years. As a planter it was fine, nice heavy frame. The torsion springs on the NO-till coulters were shot(rubber NLA from AC), I put a set of White ones on it. It didn't like mud, or even sticky soil, it would plug the drop tubes. The plastic metering bases were problematic, Seed would find its way between the meter body and the plates, causing grief and leaks. The seed hoppers on mine were getting brittle.
 
There actually was a plate version, although I've only ever seen them in the parts catalog. I'm sure it will plant soybeans for you.

For parts you'll likely have to find a Landoll dealer since they purchased the planter from Allis and produced it under a couple different model numbers. Seems like they called numbered them as a model 4400?

You can view the Parts catalog on the Landoll website.
 
There are a bunch of reasons that you bought it "cheap". For anyone to help you, you need to look into the seed boxes, or take one off and look at it...you should be able to tell if it has plates, or whatever it has.

Planting soybeans with a planter is the most expensive way to grow soybeans...your yields will be limited more than other methods of getting them in the ground such as with a drill.

Raising your hand at that auction and then using that machine will end up limiting your income...and that can be expensive! Maybe see what a scrapper will give you??

I am not meaning to be rude, but it is what it is.
LA in WI
 
Are you only saying that because it's a plate type? Just wondering.
I have an Allis Chalmers 333. I think it's about the same machine,but mine's an air planter. I've got no complaints with that one. I don't even remember how long I've had it,but it's been a long time. If it didn't do a good job,I would have gotten rid of it a long time ago.
 
I'm unsure of this fellow's location, but the 30" row spacing isn't a problem for southern climates in early planted full season beans. Many of our top yields come from 30" row full season beans. We had an old hill farm in full season (4.8-5.2) beans on 30" rows that averaged 70 BPA. I might also add that that it was seeded at 115,000 seeds per acre.

Once the ground is totally covered at or near summer solstice there is no reason to plant the rows any closer or at any higher population. You are absorbing all of the available sunlight. I say there is as many dollars wasted on excess seed here as there is any other mistake. We still have guys planting 200,000 seeds per acre. Their yields aren't any better than anyone else's.
 
That's the quadra-disk meter. Landoll didn't make much of it after AGCO let it go in favor of the White and they could have. Parts support for those planters is sketchy from both AGCO and Landoll now.
 
They were about the first to have electric motors but were problematic. Now it is being recycled with Horsch being the leader and only ONE grain tank.
 
Yes it says quadra disk on the side. The area I live in there are several soybeans raised on 30" rows and if its only worth scrap I bought it cheap enough that's ok too, but I'm going to try to make something out of it if possible. Farming is not my primary job and most of my equipment is deals I've found here and there so we will see what comes of it. Thanks to everyone.
 
wilamayb,
Based on your knowledge of southern climates, I stand corrected. I didn't think deeply enough as I was thinking of northern climes. Thank you for clarifying things.
I knew when I wrote my first response someone would differ on row widths...that subject is often contentious up here!
LA in WI
 
Depends on the dealer I think. It's best for me to stay away from the dealer that was Oliver and White on that one and go to the old Allis dealer. Hasn't been a problem there.
 
I have had a Deutz 385 for 4 years now, it's had its failures, but now that I understand it, it plants corn like a picket fence. Landoll stopped making the parts in 2012 I believe, I found parts in Ohio and bought a few of everything. I have a spare manual and a spare monitor. Get in touch with me, I can help you with it, or if it's junk, I'd buy your seed boxes, mine are brittle. Good Luck...

PS, if it has blowers and tubing on it, it's a vertical plate type.
 
I have a 12 row unit. I bought the property, which was lost to taxes and vandalized. it was just parked and not used again.
It's missing 3 lids, but has soybeans in the boxes. There are plates inside. What should I look for to determine the condition
and does anybody know what it might be worth?

Thanks for any help :)
 

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