Multiplanter – Frequently asked Questions

  • What is the biggest Multiplanter you make?
    How big do you want to go? The biggest Multiplanter frame at the moment is 65m (212ft). We have plans on the drawing board for a 92m (302ft) Multiplanter with 273 tines which can be pulled by a D11. Want to have a go?
  • I want to farm conventionally, can I do this with a Multiplanter?
    Yes, the Multiplanter is designed to work in all soil types and conditions. You can plant using a speartip, then replace it with a low profile sweep to cultivate, or chisel point to renovate. Fit a delta tip to apply gas. All tine operations can be individually depth controlled by the press wheel.
  • My country is undulating and I have large contour banks. Will this be a problem?
    Multiplanters are built in sections and have uniballs and buffer plates for floatation (except some folding wing models, but we can make them with a combination of hinge and uniball if required). The pull can be built so that it will bend when going over large contour banks, we recommend this for the larger models. New addition based on customer feedback. We now fit air chambers to EVERY frame with 1/2" hoses instead of 1/4" hoses so that the oil can escape quicker when sowing at a 90 degree angle over a large contour bank.
  • I'm an organic farmer and I want to be able to seed and cultivate with one machine. Can the Multiplanter do that?
    Absolutely. Sow with speartips at planting time, then swap over to sweeps for interrow cultivating using the same machine. Press wheels can be left on to depth control the sweeps so they will simply skim the weeds off the surface, alternatively, remove the press wheels so that they don't wear out as quickly, but have the wheels of the frame depth control the sweeps. To avoid shifting the tines around the frame, linkage machines will need to be offset, and autosteer will be need to be fitted to the tractor AND the Multiplanter to avoid slope creep and ensure accuracy.
  • I only want a small Multiplanter, will you make one for me?
    Absolutely, whatever size you want. We make Multiplanters of every size - one tine to whatever you can handle!
  • What is deep moisture seeking and how can I do it?
    Deep moisture seeking is useful when you want to plant on the calender into subsoil moisture without waiting for seeding rains. Depths down to 230mm (9") have been recorded using a Multiplanter, while still leaving 50mm (2") of compacted soil over the seed. Simply wind down the nut on each tine and retighten. A nut/bolt combination enables infinite adjustments within the range, as opposed to limited settings that are available on competitor machines.
  • If I buy a Multiplanter now, I may want to extend it in the future. Can I do that?
    Talk to us. There are very few Multiplanters that can't be extended and we would be happy to do it. It is better if we can plan for it before the original machine is built so we can make sure we don't put stays in the way, add uniballs to the outside wing or whatever else may be required.
  • How fast can I seed at?
    For maximum efficiency, speeds of up to 8km/hr can be achieved with 333mm (13 1/3") row spacings, but you can travel faster with wider row spacings. The limitation is that you need to ensure you aren't throwing soil into the adjacent row and upsetting its seed depth.
  • How much will a Multiplanter cost?
    How long is a piece of string? Like everything, it depends on what you want. End tow, folding wing, rear steer, double or single shoot, inter row cultivating sweeps, standard or wider row spacings - one planter for all conditions. Talk to us, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find you'll be able to purchase such a durable, robust machine with high quality components for such a reasonable price.
  • What are the ongoing costs associated with my Multiplanter?
    WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SPARE PARTS! We realise that we are unique as manufacturers because our aim is to make the initial capital outlay your last major purchase. We want your grandchildren to use the same machine for years to come. And no, we won't go out of business, because you will tell all your friends what an amazing job it does, how cost effective it is, and what great people we are to deal with. We have had many of our new customers come to us because they have looked over the neighbours fence and seen what a great job our Multiplanter has done year after year whilst spending almost no money on it. You can't buy that kind of advertising. Besides, we are farmers ourselves and we hate it when things break down. Why would we do that to you if we can possibly help it? Ground engaging tools such as spear tips and press wheels will need replacing, as well as seals over time, but generally the Multiplanter will give the farmer a trouble free life. There is very little that can go wrong. Our pet hates are grease nipples, castings and springs. We can't get away from grease nipples for the swash plates on the wheel assemblies and in the bearings, and our speartips and bearing housings are cast, but you won't find any springs (OK, unless it is a coulter)! We have purposely designed as many of the components as possible so that any breakages can be fixed in your own farm workshop, or you can go into town an buy a replacement off the shelf (eg bearing, bolt etc). We also use as many interchangeable parts as possible so that customers with multiple machines can stock minimal items. eg our Multiplanter speartips, chisel points and sweeps will also fit on the Multiworker Hydraulic Cultivator. Bearings for the tractor, truck and aircraft wheels are all 2 1/4", even though the axles may be different sizes, they are all machined down to fit the same bearing. The most common problems we see are wheel forks being bent by going into a gully (we changed the design a few years ago to 18" castor instead of 10" on the front to help them climb out of gullies and to minimise the wobble up that can happen when travelling down the road at speed) and adjuster bolts snapping off when heavy going seeding at great depth. We continually innovate to fine tune the Multiplanter into the best machine it can possibly be. We have had MANY good ideas come from our customers, and we are looking forward to the many more to come.
  • You have a lifetime warranty at your discretion. What does that mean?
    It means that if it was our fault we will fix it for free, if it was your fault, we will still fix it (or give advice on how it needs to be fixed), but you will need to pay for it. For example, about 10-15 years ago we had a number of wheel parallelograms in a batch that weren't welded properly. We occasionally get a phone call from a customer telling us that one has broken out. If the farmer pays the freight both ways we will fix it for free. For customers where it isn't practical for us to fix the item due to physical distance, we ask the farmer to engage a boilermaker they trust on our behalf, and we will either instruct the boilermaker direct or the farmer as to what needs to be done. We will then pay the boilermaker direct.
  • Why do you sell direct AND have a dealer network?
    We have tried just about everything. We have given dealers a geographical location to service before, and found that one actually used this to NOT sell our machines because we were cheaper than the opposition and there would be very little after sales spare parts income. At the same time we had some farmers tell us that if they had to go through a certain dealer just because of where they lived, then they would not buy a machine from us. Like all professions there are good dealers and bad, and we decided that our first priority was the farmer, so we now give the farmer the option. Some want to go through a dealer because they want to trade in a machine that isn't one of ours (we will trade Multi Farming Systems machines) and because their dealers will keep speartips/press wheel rubbers onhand at planting time. These are both good services and we are more than happy to sell through dealers who provide a good service to their customers. On the flip side, we also sell direct and find it is often quicker and more efficient that way. You're the customer, you decide what you want to do.
  • I hear you sell second hand machines now, what is that all about?
    Customers who are selling one of our machines often ring us to check what a new price would be, and to ask us if we know anybody who might be interested. We maintain a list of people selling, as well as buying, because we often get calls from customers who can't afford a new machine but want to get into the market. A couple of years ago we had a customer who wanted to get a new 36m (120ft) Multiplanter to match the one he had just bought, but needed to sell the two 24m (80ft) Multiplanters he currently had first. That's when we came up with the idea of trading in and reconditioning second hand Multiplanters and selling them on. Farmers still have the option of choosing their design, and it is often more efficient for us to add new steel instead of chopping up an old frame. The farmer gets the design he/she wants at a much cheaper price, sand blasted and painted, with the same lifetime warranty at our discretion. We have always had a list as long as your arm of the people wanting to buy machines, with a list as long as your finger of people wanting to sell them.

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