Great Plains PH-20 Operator Manual - Manual (Page 21)

19
Section 3 Adjustments
12/29/2011 PH-15, PH-20, PFH-15 and PFH-20 Precision Fertilizer Hitch 148-365M
Great Plains Mfg., Inc.
Section 3
Adjustments
Coulter Depth
A no-till coulter is mounted on the hitch directly ahead of
each opener on the drill. The coulters cut through heavy
trash and make a groove in the soil for the openers.
The hitch is designed to allow coulters to penetrate ap-
proximately two inches (5 centimeters) into the soil when
the tongue is level. Depth can be adjusted hydraulically for
all coulters or manually for individual coulters. Adjust
coulters 1/2 to 1 inch deeper than the drill openers.
NOTE: If your implement has the optional Coulter Com-
mand system, refer to Coulter Command Adjustments,
page 20, for information on adjusting coulter depth.
Hydraulic Control
Make the following adjustment when drilling in level
ground with the seed box half full. Extend or retract tongue
cylinder so that coulters are at desired depth. Note setting
on cylinder gauge (see Figure 3-1) so that you can return
to the same depth.
1. Extend or retract tongue cylinder so that coulters are
at desired depth. Note setting on cylinder gauge (see
Figure 3-1) so that you can return to the same depth.
NOTE: Use cylinder gauge as a reference only. Gauge
does not measure actual coulter depth.
Figure 3-1
Cylinder Gauge
Coulter Mounting Height
You can change the depth of individual coulters by adjust-
ing coulter-mounting height. If you adjust coulter height,
be sure to rebolt coulters vertically straight and spaced
correctly. To raise or lower an individual coulter:
1. Loosen mounting clamps and adjust coulter to desired
height. Do not lower coulter spring bar below top u-
bolts on coulter clamp.
2. To retighten clamps, refer to Figure 3-2. Snug hex-
head clamp bolts (1) just until u-bolts are tight on each
side of spring bar.
3. Tighten nuts (2) on u-bolts.
4. Finish tightening hex-head clamp bolts.
Figure 3-2
Individual Coulter Mounting
NOTE: Even when coulter is held securely, there may be a
gap between clamp halves.
Coulter Down Pressure
The amount of coulter down pressure needed to cut a soil
groove varies with soil conditions. Hard soil or heavy crop
residue may cause shallow penetration. If coulter penetra-
tion is different than desired, add weight or shorten coulter
springs to improve coulter penetration.
Added Weight
In hard soil conditions where coulter penetration is limited,
you can add suitcase weights to brackets on hitch frame.
Adding weight on hitch frame provides best weight distri-
bution for no-till drilling.You can add up to 2,000 pounds of
additional weight. Place an equal amount of weight on
each weight bracket.
Figure 3-3
Weight Brackets, Models PH-15 and PH-20
NOTE: Models PFH-15 and PFH-20 do not have weight
brackets. To increase weight on models PFH-15 and PFH-
20, do not run fertilizer tanks empty. Instead, use weight of
liquid in tanks to improve coulter penetration.
11871
10300
18043