It may seem complicated at first but once you've done it 2-3 times it is really easy. Just get into the habit of doing it when you are planting a new seed and you won't even have to think about it.
Also...it took me a few years to learn this but I always had a tough time getting the hoses hooked up and clamped again after removing them for calibration. I finally stopped disconnecting them and now just raise the drill up enough so that I can catch the seed in small pails. This has made life so much easier when calibrating.
Calibrating 606 NT Drill
Set Up
- Move draw bar on tractor all the way out
- Inflate tires to 60 PSI
3. Check Hydraulic Fluid in tractor
4. Lift drill all the way up and hold up for 30 seconds to “Re-Phase” the cylinders.
5. Set coulters in ground and adjust frame height 24 3/4” to bottom of frame from ground and then set cylinder stop there.
6. Level seed box with drill in ground - level on top of main box. 1 7/8” wrench.
Calibrating (I do this in the barn - not in the field)
Ensure that lockout hub is disengaged.
Adjust clutch to engage fully (clutch tab lever all the way up - use 9/16” socket) when cranking jackshaft manually for calibration.
Crank jackshaft counter-clockwise - 102 cranks per 0.1 acre
Raise drill and place pails or pans below tubes to catch seed from 3 tubes and combine them to weigh. Do not remove seed hoses.
Divide total weight by 3 to get the average weight of seed.
Multiply by number of tubes to be used (from 3 to all 9).
Multiply by 10 to get total pounds per acre.
If weight comes out in ounces - divide by 16 to get pounds per acre. Green pail (2 gallon) weighs 1.0 pound.
A few pics to help explain some of this because sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
To calibrate with the hand crank, first mark a line with a Sharpie where your clutch is currently set (note my mark in the photo below). Then loosen these two 9/16" nuts and move the clutch lever all the way up and tighten them there.
Get your pails in place to catch the seed and turn the crank handle 102 turns counter clockwise - this equals 1/10th of an acre.
These 2 gallon pails easily fit under the drill to catch seed.
Plastic covers to block seed tubes and a little card I cut out to block small seed from going any further than the 3rd tube for calibrating.
Works well. I just catch seed from the first 3 tubes when calibrating for the small box.
Weigh the seed you catch and average out per the number of tubes and then do the math to calibrate pounds per acre. Adjust drill settings and do it again. Rinse and repeat until you get the rate you are looking for....THEN MAKE NOTES OF THOSE SETTINGS.
When you have it calibrated where you want it, don't forget to remove and secure the crank handle and reposition your clutch and tighten it up.
You probably already know this but it helps me to put a zip tie on the top hydraulic hose so I get hooked up right the first time.