This is a press release directly from the manufacturer.

Exapta is now the exclusive importer of Aricks bushing kits for John Deere 50/60/90 drills.  The kits replace and upgrade the pivot points for the firming arm, the closing arm, and the main pin at the front of the opener.  The firming & closing kits include special seals that are designed to run dry, so these never have to be greased again.

“Keeping the firming & closing arm pivots working properly can be a real hassle on the John Deere 50/60/90 no-till drills,” says Leah Lanie, Exapta’s Sales Manager. “Even after Deere upgraded them around 2009 to include seals, they still have a tendency to pack full of dirt and not take grease. But with the premium Aricks bushing kits from Australia, these pivots will run smoothly, and they’ll never have to be greased again,” says Lanie. The Aricks seals for the firming and closing pivots have a Teflon coating on the seal contact lip and are designed to run dry, unlike a competitor product from USA — and the Aricks kits have an 8-year track record to prove their durability and trouble-free nature. The bushings themselves are fiber-wound Teflon impregnated, and the steel sleeve has a hardened chrome finish, for silky smooth action (despite much closer tolerances than competitor products), and proven to last at least as long as OEM (usually significantly longer). Exapta’s founder and president, Matt Hagny, says, “These kits are tremendously popular in Australia.  They have a lot of advantages, and we’re very pleased to be their North American sales outlet.”

The main pin and bushings at the front of the opener on the Deere 50/60/90 drills (where the opener attaches to the rockshaft) is another wear item, and it’s critical to maintain furrow width. If these get sloppy, the furrow gets narrower and the seed boot and firming wheel no longer fit, and seed placement may become very poor.  Lanie says, “The first time around, simply rotate the pin by 180-degrees:  Loosen the bolt locking it in position, and put a pipe wrench on the end of the pin. If this has already been done, and they’ve gotten sloppy again, the next step is to replace pins & bushings.” 

Aricks’ main pin kits have been in the field for 4 years, and proven to last at least as long as OEM, and often significantly longer. Hagny comments, “The Aricks front pins and bushings are a fraction of the cost of OEM, and with Aussie persnicketiness for quality control.  There have been plenty of issues in USA with low-quality aftermarket pins and bushings -- so bad that some of them can’t even be installed: they just don’t fit.”  Aricks front pin bushings are steel with a Teflon inner layer (unlike OEM and some other aftermarket products, which are steel-only), and the pin has a hard chrome finish.  The Teflon allows smoother action and less resistance to moving.

Kits (sleeve, bushings, seals) for the firming or closing arms are $41 each.  Kits for the main pin (pin, bushings) are $29 ea.

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

New product: Smallaire Heat Exchangers for air drills

Farmers with air drills often have trouble keeping hydraulic fluid sufficiently cool, partly because of the fan motor.  Air drills may also have issues with gunk accumulating inside the air hoses from humidity, fertilizer dust, and seed treatments.  Exapta’s Smallaire Heat Exchanger solves both problems simultaneously.

Smallaire’s product line includes a proven, rugged Heat Exchanger, which is essentially a radiator that hydraulic oil circulates through, thus cooling it.  But instead of venting this heat to the atmosphere, it is instead used for warming and drying the air going through the hoses to the openers. 

The Smallaire Heat Exchanger was engineered by air movement specialists and has a proven track-record in Australia. When cleanout is needed, there’s easy access with the hinged cover. The Smallaire unit has a huge radiator (24 x 28”, and extra thick), and a plenum to utilize the full extent of the radiator area, to provide maximum cooling of oil (typically 30F reduction) and maximum warming of air in the system.

The Smallaire Heat Exchanger’s universal mount system uses flexible ductwork to allow the radiator to be mounted at a distance from the fan.  This allows it to be mounted in a convenient location, usually to a frame tube using U-bolts.  It also allows it to be mounted higher up than the fan, to draw cleaner air to help avoid choking the radiator with dust and chaff.  For even loftier air intake, a snorkel is available.

Exapta’s sales manager, Leah Lanie, says, “The Heat Exchangers have been great products for farmers struggling to keep their hydraulic fluid cool, which is especially a challenge with older tractors.  Plus, customers report that they truly do help eliminate gunk buildup inside the air system.”

Exapta’s Smallaire Heat Exchanger is $2,300 (USD) without a snorkel.

Exapta is proud to be the exclusive distributor of Smallaire ag products in North America.

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