Marker Setting for 7000 4-Row 30 Planter

Just bought a John Deere 7000 4-Row 30" Planter. Plan to pull it with a narrow front tractor. Planter Operators Manual says to set the marker extension 13" beyond the end of the main marker arm to the disk marker. Then it says the mark will be for the outside front wheel on a wide front tractor with front wheels set at 60". Since I am using a narrow front tractor, I need to shorten the marker by 30" so the mark will be in the center of the tractor, instead of for the outside front tire. Only problem is, 13" is all I can reduce marker length, then I am down to the outer end of the main marker arm, which is not adjustable. How can I get this done? The setting prescribed by the manual gives a mark that is 105" from the last row planted. I need a mark that is 75" from the last planted row. Any help will be appreciated!

Quick, dirty, & cheap. If you can't shorten the marker, try widening the tractor. Not really widen the whole tractor, but the "target". Bolt a scrap of iron, pipe, or even a wooden 2x4 to a convenient point near the front. At 30 in from the centerline, hang a piece of light chain to near ground lever. This should make a "target" to watch in the same position as the wheel on a wide front.
HTH
Willie

Think you need to lenghten the marker to give you the setting you desire. Since 4-row 30" would be 120", The 105" is from the center of the planter.

Great solution! I can do this. I still would prefer having a mark to line up the center of the tractor on, but don't think that is practical without re-engineering the marker arms. I'll bet Deere is using the same main marker arm as used on their wide-row 4-row planters, so they didn't have to re-engineer the arm. Saved money on engineering, since I would guess the majority of their 4-row planters were sold as wide-row versions. Since most tractors pulling these planters were wide-fronts, their weak recommendation was "good enough." Let the guys with NF tractors figure something else out. Thanks again.

105" from the last row planted gives you a mark that lines up with the outside tractor wheels on the return trip down the field. To produce a mark for the center of the tractor, I need a mark that is 75" from the last row planted. Even if you take the adjustable part of the marker arm off the planter, the main marker arm is still 92" from the last row planted. Can't shorten anymore without a torch. See comments about adding a drop-chain on front of tractor from another response. I believe that's the way to go. Thanks for your response.

(quoted from post at 06:54:11 05/08/13) 105" from the last row planted gives you a mark that lines up with the outside tractor wheels on the return trip down the field. To produce a mark for the center of the tractor, I need a mark that is 75" from the last row planted. Even if you take the adjustable part of the marker arm off the planter, the main marker arm is still 92" from the last row planted. Can't shorten anymore without a torch. See comments about adding a drop-chain on front of tractor from another response. I believe that's the way to go. Thanks for your response.

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If it was mine, I'd take the torch to it. Much easier to follow that mark when it lines up with the center of the tractor.

Probably won't use the torch, but I agree completely...much easier to drive a straight line by following a mark that is centered on the hood ornament.

you need to lengthen it more! not shorten it.

I agree. The math says you need to lengthen it. You subtracted for the width of 1/2 a wide front instead of adding it to the total.

John Deere did not make a factory 7000 4 row 30" planter. You could order the conservation version which allowed you to move the row units to 30" and used a shorter main marker arm. From what you have described you have a standard 7000 that someone has modified to 30" by removing the pipe axle from under the planter and cutting it down then re-installing it. This is the only way to make a standard 4 row 7000 a 30" row planter. I have "cut" some of these planters down and usually just cut the marker arm down and weld flat bar on each side at the top to make a square hole for the marker tube to slide in. For a more factory look you can order part number A33644 from your dealer and cut the marker arm down then install this cap which was used on the 7000 4 row conservation planters. If you don"t want to cut your marker arms down you can also order the correct marker arm for a 7000 4 row conservation from Shoup Manufacturing or from your dealer (p/n AA27419 right and AA27420 left). If you need more information my email is open and I can measure the arms on my conservation planter and give you the correct dimensions for the marker arms if you need them.

Think I saw a custom research planter with the extensions in a "Z" pattern to put the marker disk back under or back beside the main marker arm. Don't know how well it worked.