CIH really needs to change the design of their gauge wheel arms. They don't run tight against the disk on back. I know CIH argues that it's to let the dirt fall out, but the main purpose of the gauge wheel is to hold the seed trench wall in place. With the gap on back it lets the seed wall dirt come up, thus destabilizing the trench plus it lets dirt inside the gauge wheel and leads to plugging. I ended the plugging problem by going to MudSmith spoked gauge wheels but would still like to see the tire firmly against the opener disk. CIH even came out with a black land fallow attachment to move the disk out, but that defeats the purpose of having the narrowest seed trench in the business. And it doesn't work with the heavy blades and bearings now being made for the planter.
What are your soils like? We tried one in very heavy black soil and it wouldn't close the trench and did what you are describing by lifting whole chunks out between the trench wall and the closer disc. I couldn't believe how soft the ground was after a planter pass, be a good if they can make it work properly but keep that trait. The rest of the machine was as good as our deere.
CIH really needs to change the design of their gauge wheel arms. They don't run tight against the disk on back. I know CIH argues that it's to let the dirt fall out, but the main purpose of the gauge wheel is to hold the seed trench wall in place. With the gap on back it lets the seed wall dirt come up, thus destabilizing the trench plus it lets dirt inside the gauge wheel and leads to plugging. I ended the plugging problem by going to MudSmith spoked gauge wheels but would still like to see the tire firmly against the opener disk. CIH even came out with a black land fallow attachment to move the disk out, but that defeats the purpose of having the narrowest seed trench in the business. And it doesn't work with the heavy blades and bearings now being made for the planter.
What are your soils like? We tried one in very heavy black soil and it wouldn't close the trench and did what you are describing by lifting whole chunks out between the trench wall and the closer disc.
I couldn't believe how soft the ground was after a planter pass, be a good if they can make it work properly but keep that trait.
The rest of the machine was as good as our deere.
@@Foz300 We have soils varying from medium clay to silty loam. Closing the seed trench has never been a problem for us, even in no till.
Properly set openers are supose to prevent the w