Moore 240G, Instructions Manual

Practical recommendations 

32 

FIELD OPERATION 

Do not turn sharp corners with the Uni-Drill especially in direct drilling operations as this will give massive 
disc to soil side thrust. When this happens the disc is parted from the seed coulter and trash can then enter 
between them resulting in blockage to the seed flow. It is better to lift the machine out of and into work when 
turning corners. 
 

WORK RATE

 
As there is no disc bounce due to the high inertia coulter system with press wheels, relatively high ground 
speeds can be tolerated giving high work rates. (11 - 15 Km/hr). The operating speed and the quality of work 
which results is controlled by field conditions but where ever possible a steady speed should be maintained. 
As field conditions vary, it may be necessary to adjust the coulter settings to maintain seed depth and cover. 
 

DRILLING IN A CONVENTIONAL SEEDBED 

When working in cultivated soil, most of the drill weight is carried on the press wheel rollers and tractor 
drawbar. Seed depth can be obtained by Extending or retracting the depth control ram. The soil is usually 
tracked to the depth required by the disc seeding units and consolidated by the press wheel rollers - this 
gives excellent seed soil contact equaling ideal conditions for seed germination. 
 
It is recommended that the centre of the field should be drilled first and the headlands last. If the headlands 
are planted first then the tractor and drill will travel and turn on planted ground, thus disturbing, compacting 
and moving seeds that have been placed at a constant depth. Check the seeding depth in the field and on 
headlands, remember the headlands tend to be more consolidated than the remainder of the field. If 
headlands are drilled last the field is left tidier on completion. 
 
On rougher types of seedbed the drill itself tends to be self leveling. The seed tube and disc coulter units 
tend to move the soil from humps to hollows. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO HARROW AFTER SOWING. 
Harrowing will move seeds either shallower or deeper thus giving uneven germination. Remember seeds 
that are planted two to three inches deep take about two weeks longer to germinate and appear as weak 
plants that are under stress and are susceptible to disease and slugs  
 
If rolling behind the drill on lighter soils is thought to be beneficial, remember that the seed has been 
accurately placed at the ideal depth for early and even emergence. Rolling will tend to flatten the ridge of soil 
between each press wheel mark and will in fact add to the soil cover over the seed thus slowing emergence 
and probably reducing vigour. This extra soil cover over the seed must be allowed for, when deciding drilling 
depth when starting the field. 
 
 

DRILLING IN WET CONDITIONS 

The Uni-Drill is fitted with adjustable scrapers for the press wheels. Wet Soil will usually build up to about one 
inch on any wheel. Adjust the scraper so as to knock off the excess soil that would build up over the normal 
amount of soil that sticks to the press wheels. Leave a gap of 15 to 20 mm between the scraper and the 
press wheel. Never reverse the drill with the seed tube coulters in the ground as this would block the seed 
outlets with soil. Where there are very wet pockets of soil in some fields, the road wheels can be used to 
slightly raise the drill out of the ground thus assisting the drill to drill high; always keep the drive wheel in 
contact with the ground. Speed is the biggest aspect, below 7 km/hr the disc coulters will tend to block above 
9 km/hr is the optimum for drilling.