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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

John Deere planter

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Irv

12-28-2003 13:45:56




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I am thinking of getting a corn planter. I had a Ford 309, but I sold it. I found plates were very expensive, and only availible thru New Holland and it need a lot of work anyway. I am thinking about getting a JD 494 or 494A. Is there anything else I should be looking at? I am in mid Mich. and it wood be used for foodplots and sweetcorn. Thanx, Irv.




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Gary

12-28-2003 18:34:45




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
My choice would be a 4 row plateless JD 7000. They are out there if you look hard enough. I would think fairly cheap too but more than a 494A. Be sure to get the bean cups if you intend to plant soybeans. My 2 cents worth.



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Scotty

12-28-2003 18:03:46




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
I grew up in Indiana on 160 acres. In the early 70's my father inherited the farm with all the equipmet. One item in particular He was most impressed with was a JD 494A planter We used until the mid 80's when we went No-Till! It was a really reliable planter for conventional tillage. I only remember one major breakdown around 1982, or 83. The dry fertilizer gear box, or transmission broke apart in the field. Scotty

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Stan - I have a question

12-28-2003 16:54:38




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
I'm a tractor nut, but I haven't been around a working farm since about 1958. We had a horse-drawn McCormick planter that we converted to use with a tractor with hydraulics. I think Dad upgraded after I left.

I don't remember any of our planter plates ever wearing out and needing replacing. Is this what you're referring to in your post, or are you talking about replacing lost plates?

Just curious,

Stan

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Irv

12-28-2003 17:08:10




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 Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Stan - I have a question, 12-28-2003 16:54:38  
For different crops, you need different plates - you are planting different populations - field corn is different from sweet corn - soybeans diffent yet. I basically need 2 sets - one field corn, one sweetcorn. Irv



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kyhayman

12-28-2003 19:04:13




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 Re: Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 17:08:10  
I hate to say this but you will probably need a lot more than 2 sets of plates. Different plates for different seed sizes, too. I had a 494A that I used for 10 years, great planter. Bought it for $100, sold it for $100.



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paul

12-29-2003 08:26:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to kyhayman, 12-28-2003 19:04:13  
Yea, the finger planters like the 7000 are a lot easier to deal with in corn, we had 4-6 sets of plates for our old Case 3-point planter, & that wasn't enough for just field corn. Also field corn is not really sorted as well as it used to be, they assume everyone has a finger or air planter these days.

--->Paul



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Stan - Florida

12-28-2003 17:50:41




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 Re: Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 17:08:10  
Irv,

I now understand. Back in the day, we had maybe 4 different seed corn plats and one or maybe two soybean plates.

Things were a lot simpler when we had horses and two-cylinder tractors, I guess.

Good luck in your quest for plates,

Stan Huff
Melbourne, FL (formerly central Indiana, back in the day)



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Indydirtfarmer

12-28-2003 16:26:58




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
You might want to look for a John Deere 71 flex planter. They are unit planters, that mount on a toolbar. They are still made, and parts are still available through Deere. I don't have one myself, but I am on the hunt. I have an 8 row Deere 7200, but want a 71 flex planter in a 2 row configuration, for our rather large garden, and we also grow a few acres of green beans, to sell commercially. I still have my old Deere 7000 4 row x30" but it's getting tired, and needing to be retired. John

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Tim(nj)

12-28-2003 15:12:05




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
494 planters use the most popular plate style there is. All Deere plate planters used it, Allis-Chalmers planters used it, and I believe late model Oliver and White plate planters used it too. Lincoln Ag still makes new ones, and they're not that bad on price, not like New Holland (I had a 309, too), plus there are piles of them around seed dealerships. I bought a milk crate full of plates a couple of years ago for $15. Most were plastic and steel for JD, with some steel IH and BlackHawk/CO-OP mixed in. Sold the three sets of BH plates for $15, then sold the 4 IH sets for $15. I'd say I did well, as I have 10 sets for my 494A out of that crate.

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Steve

05-17-2004 20:37:15




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 Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Tim(nj), 12-28-2003 15:12:05  
Can you give me the full name of Lincoln Ag who still makes the plates for the 494A? I am desperate to find some. I need milo and sweet corn. thanks.

Steve
Jamesport, MO



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Irv

12-28-2003 17:05:14




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 Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Tim(nj), 12-28-2003 15:12:05  
Yeah, I know about Lincoln Ag. I helped a friend who didn't internet get some plates for his JD. I tried to get plates for my 309 from them, but no go. I had the 309 in a shed at a friends house. Now he is blind, so no way he could have done anything, but somebody took my sweetcorn plates - $200 and used once! As near as we could tell, the bozos didn't take anything else. What I found incredible was that a bozo could take that, arguably the highest value, most obscure item there. They passed up tools, lawn mowers, and other easy to sell items. I suspect somebody took them to hang on a wall! "antique" (Damm brand %%%% new!!!!) They were metal, not plastic like other plates I have seen. Next time I will guard the damm things! BTW I have enjoed your posts - you are very knowledgable on small farm stuff. Irv

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Fern(Mi)

12-28-2003 14:25:37




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 Re: John Deere planter in reply to Irv, 12-28-2003 13:45:56  
494 takes plates also. The JD 494 a populare some of the older longer established elevators carried plates, and may evenhave some hanging around. Best bet is to buy the machine with an assortment. Have fun.



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Steve

05-17-2004 20:33:32




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 Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Fern(Mi), 12-28-2003 14:25:37  
do you have a source for the planter plates? I need milo and sweet corn for my 494A and am having no luck. Any help is appreciated.

thanks.

Steve
Jamesport, MO



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steve450

12-28-2003 22:03:08




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 Re: Re: John Deere planter in reply to Fern(Mi), 12-28-2003 14:25:37  
Our seed dealer sells plates to fit a 494A for around $6.00. We bought a set for ours last year.
BTW, Great planter. Very simple.



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