The MaxEmerge family of row-units have never seen a more versatile and efficient design until the MaxEmerge 5. The 5-family row-units improve productivity, increase uptime and lower the cost of ownership like never before.

The MaxEmerge 5 row-unit was designed for improved performance and serviceability.

Serviceability and changing crops has always been a focus of downtime and potential seed loss. MaxEmerge XP row-units (shown on the left) are designed with the meter and hopper as one component. The frame covers the meter so that it cannot be accessed. Cleanout of excess seed requires the operator to take the entire hopper off of the row-unit and to turn it upside down. The MaxEmerge 5 meter (shown on the right) is accessible without having to remove the box. The MaxEmerge 5 design allows large hoppers to be cleaned out the same as mini-hoppers, simply by opening the meter dome and catching the seed as it falls out. This improvement allows operators to change seed varieties easier and three times faster than it took them on the previous MaxEmerge XP units and provides more uptime during the tight planting window.

The vacuum meter system gently pulls and holds individual seeds to the holes of the seed disk for population control and spacing accuracy, equaling better crop stands and profit. Vacuum seed meters can plant a wide variety of crops and seed types by simply changing seed disks and adjusting vacuum level. Vacuum seed meters are available for planters with MaxEmerge 5 row-units.

Additional features of the vacuum seed meter include:

One moving component (the seed metering disk) for minimum maintenance requirements
Meter located at each row-unit for accurate seed delivery
Good hopper seed flow characteristics for longer operating time per hopper fill
Low airflow in meter so seed treatments are not removed

The MaxEmerge 5 meter shape has also been redesigned for better seed flow. The mini-hopper design allows the planter to successfully operate on side hills up to 14 degrees.

Vacuum meter hub and latching handle

Both the MaxEmerge 5 vacuum meters are equipped with a heavy-duty hub spring and disk latching handle. The spring ensures the seed disk stays properly positioned when operating flat-style seed disks and higher vacuum levels. Proper seed disk positioning means repeatable seed singulation, time after time. The disk-latching handle is designed for easy operation and effortless seed disk changeover. The hub is also machined to tight tolerances to further ensure alignment of metering components.

Vacuum meter seed disks

The ProMax 40 Flat Disk is a flat-disk planting solution field-proven to work since 1991.

The design of the ProMax 40 Flat Disk position allows seed to be released from the optimum position above the seed tube. The flush-face seed tube allows the seed to drop uninterrupted through the tube.

The ProMax 40 Flat Disk utilizes flat holes and a higher vacuum level to ensure every hole is populated with a seed. A double eliminator gently removes multiple seeds at each hole for precise population control. A knockout wheel makes certain that each hole is clear of any debris after the seed is released from the disk.

The unique cell disk design allows planting a variety of seed sizes without any additional parts or individual meter adjustments. Another advantage of cell-type seed disks is the lower vacuum requirement compared to flat-style seed disks. Lower vacuum levels mean less hydraulic demand from the tractor. Most planting conditions call for a flat disk, if you are limited in hydraulic capacity, cell disks are recommended.

Double eliminator

For difficult to singulate seeds, a flat seed disk and double eliminator is a viable alternative to traditional cell-type seed disks. By design, a flat seed disk requires higher levels of vacuum than a cell-type disk because there is no pocket or cell to hold the seed. The higher vacuum level will pull more than one seed to the holes in the seed disk. The double eliminator is set to cover a portion of the hole in the seed disk and is the mechanism to knock multiple seeds away as the disk rotates.

Double eliminators are required with flat-type seed disks only and should not be used with cell-type seed disks. The knockout wheel is also recommended in conjunction with the double eliminator and flat seed disk to ensure seed is ejected from the disk.

Flat and celled type seed metering disks are available to allow planting a wide variety of seed types.

Corn (field, popcorn, or sweet corn)
Soybeans
Cotton
Sorghum
Sugar beets
Sunflowers
Edible beans/peas
Peanuts
Melons, squash, cucumbers

Mini-hopper row-units, which are used only with the CCS, are compatible only with crops that the CCS is approved to plant.

Corn
Popcorn
Sweet corn
Soybeans
Sunflowers
Sorghum
Cotton

NOTE: Due to small seed size and low planting populations, sugar beets can be planted with mini-hopper style meters by adding hopper extensions and not using the CCS tank. These hopper extensions can also be used for planting test plots.

Operating characteristics of vacuum seed meter

The vacuum seed meter is capable of operating at faster planting speeds than mechanical meters. However, planting accuracy will be influenced by seedbed conditions and the operating characteristics of the seed meter. Rough seedbeds and fast planting speeds (above 8.9 km/h [5.5 mph]) typically deteriorate seed placement accuracies when using seed tube technology.

The chart illustrates the effect operating speed has on population when using the vacuum meter. The operating band (color area) illustrates how the vacuum meter performs in relation to the desired population (indicated by horizontal line). The width of the band is due to various sizes and shapes of seeds and planting rate variations.

When operating on slopes above 15 degrees, increased or decreased population may result. To minimize this effect, reduce speed and consider using a flat style seed disk with increased vacuum level.

One of the trademark capabilities of John Deere planters has always been the ability of the Tru-Vee openers to provide an ideal seed furrow.

The thickness of the Tru-Vee opener blade is 3.5 mm (0.14 in.) this blade thickness will provide extended wear life.

The MaxEmerge 5 row-unit also provides better Tru-Vee opener bearings for longer life. The double-row ball bearing provides up to three times the wear life as the single-row bearing.

Also, to help with meter access of 56-L and 106-L (1.6-bu and 3-bu) hoppers the hopper shutoff feature was added. With the shutoff engaged, the meter cover can be opened without first having to remove all of the seeds from the hopper. Lever down, the seed flow is on, lever horizontal and the seed flow is off.

There are significant changes to the MaxEmerge 5 mini-hopper. One update is the straight feed from the CCS hose to the mini-hopper to ensure a continuous free flow of seeds. This design change reduces the potential for plugging issues with larger seed size and the use of seed treatments. By drawing air from the CCS tank, the vacuum source is cleaner, preventing meter debris buildup.

Ductile iron casting is a unique high-tech process that produces a single-piece row-unit shank this enables alignment from the seed trench to the closing wheel.

The row-unit head is also designed using the ductile iron-casting process. The row-unit head provides the mating joints between the row-unit parallel arms and the row-unit shank. It is also the upper attaching point for the seed meter and seed hopper.

Ductile iron casting of the row-unit shank and head assembly provides a row-unit that is 25 percent stronger than other competitive welded row-units.

Rubber tire closing systems are used for most conventional, minimum-till, and no-till planting conditions. The spacing between the wheels is adjustable so the closing system can meet the needs of those who want to plant small seeds at shallow depths.

The wheels can also be staggered fore and aft to enhance residue flow. Four levels of spring force are available and are easily set with the integrated T-handle adjustment. A lower force spring can be obtained from parts, if a lower amount of force is required.

Additional closing wheel options include:

Cast closing wheels, for tough-to-close conditions
Disk closing, for shallow planting depths
Closing wheel frame less wheels, for growers desiring to use aftermarket closing wheels

John Deere planters provide consistent seed depth control in all field conditions. Depth control is a function of the Tru-Vee openers, the downforce system, and the gauge wheel assembly.

The gauge wheel itself is made of durable nylon composition with a concave profile. This profile gently firms the sides of the seed furrow, ensuring a well-defined trench. The shape reduces rocks and residue being picked up and thrown onto the drive chains and row-units, and helps to prevent rooster tailing of soil.

The bolt-through design utilizes an open bearing in the gauge wheel that allows an attaching bolt to pass through the wheel to the threaded hole in the gauge wheel arm. This simple bolt-through design provides for a positive attachment of the gauge wheel to the gauge wheel arm and allows quick removal of the gauge wheel for service.

Adjustability of the row-unit is critical to good performance. More available downforce options than any row unit in the industry

Adjustable heavy-duty downforce, four settings, 0 kg (0 lb), 57 kg (125 lb), 113 kg (250 lb), and 181 kg (400 lb) of downforce
Pneumatic downforce, infinitely variable from 0 to 181 kg (0 to 400 lb) of downforce
Active pneumatic downforce adjusts automatically for changing ground conditions from 0 to 181 kg (0 to 400 lb) of downforce

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