[lambear]

I'm going to get a bigger drill this winter, and I'm debating between these 2.. Other than the obvious $100,000 price diff. What are some pros and cons? I currently run a 5710, fairly happy with the unit.

- are the any upcoming maintance issues to be concerned with on the 3310? It's an 08 vintage I'm looking at.

- does anyone have experience with each ? Maybe side by side trials?

 

[Andrew_D]

We run a 5710. Haven't run a 3310/3320 but I can offer this: Neighbour had a 5710 (maybe 5810 actually). They bought a second drill this spring since it was late. Got a 3310. All summer you could see a better plant stand where the 3310 ran vs the 5710. I have no idea what the yield difference was (if any), but.......the 5710 is gone and a new 3320 is on the way for next spring.

Andrew

 

[lambear]

I noticed a visible difference on a neighbours field, between 3320 and a Jd drill. I'm awaiting his yield maps. Everyone talks highly of these things.

 

[SWMan]

5710 is a great drill but once you seed with an independent opener drill you will appreciate the consistency of seed placement and won't want to go back. There are more limitations with regards to speed and opener size but a 3310/20 will put the seed in the ground the best.

As far as that vintage it would depend on acres but the hyd. cylinders, hoses, pneumatic tires, caster pivots would all require some random maintenance soon.

 

[Duane H]

We ran a 5710 for about 10 years and now have had a 3310 for 3 years the 3310 pulls easier and also better plant stand one thing with a 3310/3320 you can see when your going to fast as your packing right behind opener then you start to see dirt on your back rows. I run 1" vertical openers with the 4.5 round tires. Other than taking some time in the spring to check air psi in all the tires and having to adjust all the openers I like the drill. I like being able to lock up MRB with just the turn of a valve. I can adjust depth on 55' in about 20min.

 

[Andrew_D]

Regarding depth adjust, a different neighbour has had a 3310/3320 for a few years now. He just dials the pressure way down for canola and up for wheat. Says it puts the canola at 1/2"-3/4" and the wheat at 3/4"-1" without adjusting actual depths of each opener.

Andrew

 

[SWMan]

Regarding depth adjust, a different neighbour has had a 3310/3320 for a few years now. He just dials the pressure way down for canola and up for wheat. Says it puts the canola at 1/2"-3/4" and the wheat at 3/4"-1" without adjusting actual depths of each opener.

Andrew

This is an over-simplistic way of looking at things. Although I agree that increasing pressure can increase seed depth in some situations it also is harder on everything to run high pressure and there is risk of over-packing. In a spring seeding situation with adequate moisture there really isn't a ton of pressure needed to keep the openers in the ground. Only time I dial pressure up is by a hard-packed approach or the top of a dry hill. Also field conditions(worked or not, type of stubble, amount of straw...) have a larger effect on depth that the pressure from what I have seen. You can't escape crawling underneath the drill.....unless you have a QDA.

 

[Baudy]

Plant stand and emergence are nice to talk about, but what about yield? AND is the yield difference enough to sustain the extra capital and maintenance costs? I'm pretty sure every independent drill manufacturer doesn't talk about the total cost per acre of an independent drill.

 

[9795wire]

Good point on yield, we do a lot of yield plots with our weigh wagon in a big area every fall on many different farms will every kind of air drill made - In general there is no coralation to the type of seeding outfit and high yields.
One neighbor is consistently in the top 3 for wheat and canola with a 25 year old Bourgault 8810.
Lambear - seriously look at a 8910 with valley packing on row packers. We set up a new 60 ft last year for less than 1/2 the cost of a 3310/20, and even more compared to a seed hawk. It will pull far easier then the 5710 as well and follow the ground better.

 

[Partners]

Good point on yield, we do a lot of yield plots with our weigh wagon in a big area every fall on many different farms will every kind of air drill made - In general there is no coralation to the type of seeding outfit and high yields.
One neighbor is consistently in the top 3 for wheat and canola with a 25 year old Bourgault 8810.
Lambear - seriously look at a 8910 with valley packing on row packers. We set up a new 60 ft last year for less than 1/2 the cost of a 3310/20, and even more compared to a seed hawk. It will pull far easier then the 5710 as well and follow the ground better.

The people who have the new drills are happy..Us who run older stuff do not see alot of difference across the fence..We use a 8810-10" space with 3" openers, and the HD rubber packers..I think our crops are as good or better than the Seed Hawks across the road..Pull 50ft with a 6350 tank with a JD 9100 ..10,000 lbs lighter than a 5710..means less fuel, smaller tractor required..cost savings all around..

 

[Andrew_D]

This is an over-simplistic way of looking at things. Although I agree that increasing pressure can increase seed depth in some situations it also is harder on everything to run high pressure and there is risk of over-packing. In a spring seeding situation with adequate moisture there really isn't a ton of pressure needed to keep the openers in the ground. Only time I dial pressure up is by a hard-packed approach or the top of a dry hill. Also field conditions(worked or not, type of stubble, amount of straw...) have a larger effect on depth that the pressure from what I have seen. You can't escape crawling underneath the drill.....unless you have a QDA.

Yes, I agree. Just stating what a neighbour does! Have to keep in mind of course, that we've had more than a few wet/damp springs in the last 10 years. Almost every year, seeds at 1/2"-1" with minimal packing will all come up! Makes every drill look good!

Andrew

 

[lion]

There are more limitations with regards to speed and opener size but a 3310/20 will put the seed in the ground the best..

In regard to speed does that mean you think you have to go slower with an independent drill?
And will there be more ridging so a rougher job left?

 

[slim]

All the independent opener drills are rough compared to a gang packer drill

 

[SWMan]

In regard to speed does that mean you think you have to go slower with an independent drill?
And will there be more ridging so a rougher job left?

If you go too fast the rear rows will throw dirt onto the front ones with an independant drill. Same will happen with a 5710 but the packer gangs will compress the dirt and seeding depth will not be affected as much. In fact you can set the frame to seed shallower on the front of a 5710 expecting that some more dirt will be added over those rows at seeding speed. Not ideal but it can be done. With an independent drill seeding too fast can throw a lot of dirt on the front rows and dramatically change seed depth just by seeding 1mph faster in some cases, loose soil aggravates the situation.

So I would say that all independant drills should have a "speed limit", what that is will depend on soil conditions and opener size.

 

[thorpy]

Regarding depth adjust, a different neighbour has had a 3310/3320 for a few years now. He just dials the pressure way down for canola and up for wheat. Says it puts the canola at 1/2"-3/4" and the wheat at 3/4"-1" without adjusting actual depths of each opener.

Andrew

I know guys that do this as well, and it boggles my mind. In one breath they praise the accuracy of the independent opener drill, and then on the next talk about not taking the time to adjust the depth correctly between crops. I don't run one, but it doesn't make sense to me.

Adequate to excess moisture is the norm in my area. Have demoed the independent opener drills, and haven't seen a difference compared to the c-shank drill. Other areas may show different results....

 

[lion]

If you go too fast the rear rows will throw dirt onto the front ones with an independant drill. Same will happen with a 5710 but the packer gangs will compress the dirt and seeding depth will not be affected as much. In fact you can set the frame to seed shallower on the front of a 5710 expecting that some more dirt will be added over those rows at seeding speed. Not ideal but it can be done. With an independent drill seeding too fast can throw a lot of dirt on the front rows and dramatically change seed depth just by seeding 1mph faster in some cases, loose soil aggravates the situation.

So I would say that all independant drills should have a "speed limit", what that is will depend on soil conditions and opener size.

Thanks. I think it's finally clicked in my head why throwing dirt would affect an independent drill worse. And I guess it's just because the dirt gets thrown on another row after the packer?

 

[NESASK]

Thanks. I think it's finally clicked in my head why throwing dirt would affect an independent drill worse. And I guess it's just because the dirt gets thrown on another row after the packer?

Yes, there are no gang packers to finish the job off.

 

[meskie]

The dirt gets thrown on the rows no matter what drill your using you just can't see it as easy with a gang packer. Speed that you can travel has a lot to do with the conditions and the type of your soil. An independant opener drill loses the stability of the shanks if you get going to fast causing them to bounce and defeat the purpose of the independant drill. We run a 5710 and a 3320 drill and in the wet years we have had the 3320 does a better job pulls easier and appears to have better yeild. Drills are never really seeding the same things or in the same feild but in general it has less wheel tracks with the 3320 and the crop matures more evenly.

 

[lambear]

Pulled the trigger and bought a 3310... As far as a $/acre .. It's gotta make me $3/acre more than the C shank or it's just shiny cool looking paint.

 

[SWMan]

Pulled the trigger and bought a 3310... As far as a $/acre .. It's gotta make me $3/acre more than the C shank or it's just shiny cool looking paint.

If you grow canola cutting the seeding rates will more than pay for it. Seed depth is very consistent. I think even stands in wheat has a payback too but that is harder to quantify. Good luck with it.