The UniForce hydraulic downforce for JD 50/60/90-series no-till drills replaces the OEM springs on each opener with hydraulic cylinders to apply uniform force to the opener throughout its range of travel, for greatly reduced hairpinning of residue and much better holding of opener depth. Overcomes the biggest limitation of these drills, which is lack of effective down-stroke as the coil spring relaxes slightly (the spring has only a teeny range – 0.25” -- of optimum pressure).

*Uniform pressure on all openers

*reduce/eliminate hairpinning

*get consistent depth!

*better use of frame weight

*greater upstroke range on openers than OEM

*3-year warranty on cylinders (some restrictions apply)

The big coil spring on JD 50/60/90 drill openers is a major downfall of that design.  If the spring relaxes when the opener goes into the slightest depression (such as a wheel track), it loses downforce and fails to cut the straw & stalks (hairpinning!) and makes a shallower furrow even if mulch cover is minimal.  To compensate, the operator runs (or should run) extra hydraulic pressure on the JD spring system to torque the rockshaft harder and compress the springs more.  This results in excessive pressure on the gauge wheels & soil for many of the drill's openers, just to keep the ones passing through the slightest depressions in the ground at (hopefully) the proper depth.

Matt Hagny, founder and President of Exapta, says, “Many farmers are well-aware of the limitations of the Deere no-till drills, especially the hairpinning and poor soil penetration in even the slightest depression of field terrain—and I have yet to find a field that’s level as a floor, which is about what those openers need to function well all the way across the drill.  The problem isn’t so much the swing-arm design of the opener as it is the angle at which the big coil spring operates—even the slightest relaxing of that spring causes a big drop in downforce on the opener.”

Exapta's new UniForce hydraulic downforce system cures this design pitfall.  Single-action cylinders maintain a completely uniform force across all the openers of the drill, and uniform force throughout the entire range of travel of the opener.  No modifications of the opener are required to install Exapta’s UniForce.  The down-pressure is adjusted by a single valve located on the drill frame, or by a switch in the cab (optional equipment).  The UniForce’s hydraulic flow requirements from the tractor are relatively low, although an accumulator is available as optional equipment for older tractors pulling the drill in terraces.

 UniForce fits all JD 50/60/90-series box drills & air drills.  

See www.exapta.com for more details, or call 785-820-8000.

 New product: DuraLok^TM firming wheels (seed-lock wheels) for JD 50/60/90 drills

 Upgrade for the in-furrow firming wheels on these drills for improved seed-firming action.  Not too thick, not too thin, not too rigid, and not too soft, the DuraLok is just right to fit the furrow consistently, even on the contour or when the drill is drafting slightly to one side (e.g., on sloping terrain).

 * flexes to fit the furrow, even on contours

* streamlined, narrow hub to shed mud better

* premium NTN bearing with triple-lip seals

* hubs allow for eventual bearing replacement

 Matt Hagny, founder and President of Exapta, says, “I've been involved in both the conceptual and testing stages of various firming wheels over the past dozen years, but none have met my expectations.  So, we did it ourselves.”

 The DuraLok combines all the best features of various aftermarket firming wheels for these drills, plus some additional Exapta technology.  DuraLok features corrosion-resistant alloy hubs to allow bearing replacement when the time comes, although that will be years away with Exapta’s custom-built bearing from NTN that has triple-lip seals on both sides (nobody else in the industry has this).  DuraLok ‘tires’ are made from an extra tough polymer to resist wear and weathering.

 See www.exapta.com for more details, or call 785-820-8000.