old seed drill for alfalfa, clover, etc ?

michaelr · Aug 31, 2017

Would like to plant some cover crop, just a couple acres. Like alfalfa, clover, hairy vetch, etc. What to look for in an seed drill?

michaelr · Aug 31, 2017

Going to an auction Saturday, and curious if any of these would be good candidates? Please educate me. There are a few drills on the photo page here of the auction,
auction photo page

Traditional Farmer · Sep 1, 2017

If you can find one in good condition an Oliver Superior drill can't be beat and they made them in narrow versions.I have one that was bought new around 1940 was used very little
think its a 9 spout/disk model.

coshoo · Sep 1, 2017

The two galvanized drills appear to have grass seeders as well as the main drill- they would be better for small seeds. Like all the old stuff, condition is the main consideration. Look them over to make sure all the drop tubes are there, all the discs turn and are not sloppy on their shafts, etc.

coonie minnie · Sep 1, 2017

You definitely want a drill with the "small seed", sometimes called "grass seed" attachment, which is a small hopper set to meter small seeds. The galvanized drill pictured seems to have that extra box. That extra box should have a decal with rates for alfalfa, clover, etc.

DRussell · Sep 1, 2017

A Brillion seeder is the best in the business for planting grass seeds in my opinion.

gene bender · Sep 1, 2017

for a few acres why not use an engate spreader thats the way we used to do it for years and years.

David from Kansas · Sep 1, 2017

The sale listing says one of the JD drills has a fertilizer box so don't confuse that with a seed box. I see this is in eastern NE. Around here those drills would only bring junk price without a alfalfa seed box, but with it they tend to sell a little better, depending on condition. We have planted lots of alfalfa with a JD/VanBrunt regular grain drill, but you have to have a drill that is not totally worn out as sometimes small seed will leak out or you can get a feed holes that you can't get shut down far enough.

michaelr · Sep 1, 2017

I appreciate all the feedback guys. What is the deal with the homemade looking dolly wheels on the front of that galvanized drill? ok, so I now understand to look for the small seed box with the drop tubes(as it must handle alfalfa), and to wiggle the disk openers to make sure they are not too loose, ensure drop tubes present. Is there a way to turn the shaft on those things by hand to test if the seed boxes all rotate?

IowaJohn · Sep 1, 2017

I use a pliers or an adjustable (crescent) wrench to turn my drill so I can see seed coming through the flutes.

paul · Sep 1, 2017

An 8 inch crescent wrench on the square shaft that drives all the seed flutes and turn in the direction of normal rotation has worked on all that I have been around.

Paul

Leroy · Sep 1, 2017

Those are not home made, they are a part of the drill. That is what is known as a press wheel drill mostly for dryland farming. The press wheels on the back carry that part of the drill and without something in front to carry the front part there is no way you could set a planting depth and they carry the openers in transport position. Never see a drill like that here in Ohio.

WNYBill · Sep 2, 2017

The Brillion is the way to go, but not for nearly $10K. Even the used ones are out of my price range. I thought about an old grain drill with a seed box.......however you end up with another piece of old equipment that MUST be stored under cover and most are rotted by the fertilizer. We continue to use a hand carried cyclone seeder to plant clover and brassica on 2-3 acres of food plots.

Bill

old seed drill for alfalfa, clover, etc ?

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