
Starting up Section 1
A. PREPARATION AND CALIBRATION
Attach the drill to the tractor and raise the drill to its maximum height, remove the transport
pins. Calibrate the seeding mechanism for seeds to be sown as in Section 2. Settings.
B. RUNNING IN
If the drill is new and is to be used in cultivated soil, it is better to “run-in” the drill in hard
ground, such as a grass field. It is easier to work off the paint and rough edges from the seed
tube and disc coulters when working in firm ground as there is more friction to turn the
discs. This only requires a few turns across a field without seed. The depth control of the
Uni-Drill can be tried out by 1. Retracting or extending of the depth control ram to increase
or decrease the depth of penetration. 2. Retracting or extending of the tractor top link if the
drill is mounted, Check that all discs turn relatively freely; it may be necessary to slacken
off seed tubes that are rubbing tight against the discs.
C.SEEDBED PREPARATION
It is not necessary to prepare a fine seedbed as for other drills. The Uni-Drill prepares its
own mini seedbed by using an angled disc and seed tube coulter tine. In most fields it is only
necessary to plough and perhaps level and roll. If the soils are loose, puffy soft or have loose
stones on the surface, it will generally be advantageous to roll or press the field first. This
will reduce blockages and help maintain even depth control.
Where a fine seedbed has been prepared and it gets wet then the soil acts as a sponge and
absorbs a lot of water, making it almost impossible for the drill or any other implement to
work in it. Therefore it is better to consolidate loose seedbeds soon after any tillage, so that
they will not absorb so much water. The drill will work on most consolidated seedbeds
provided the drill is being used at speed. At a speed of over 6 MPH the centrifugal force on
the discs and rollers tends to fling the sticky soil from them; just like driving a tractor along
a road, where the dirt on the tyres is thrown off when it reaches a certain speed.
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