Closing Wheels Archives - Schaffert Mfg. Co.

Closing Wheels Instructions

ZIPPER™

Angled spiked closing wheels

Zipper
complete wheel
Cast Zipper
complete wheel
Zipper Spyder™
complete wheel

Standard, rubber closing wheels have a tendency to press the soil closed causing a smooth effect, especially when the soil is wet. On a hot, dry windy day, the furrow will crack back open exposing the seed. The Zipper Closing Wheel will eliminate this problem.

About the Zipper

The Zipper is a 13″ angled spiked closing wheel designed to take the place of standard, rubber closing wheels. It works in all soil types, and is the go-to wheel for the toughest of no-till conditions.

The non-aggressive, 1″ angled spikes on the Zipper feather the soil in the furrow while simultaneously applying pressure to ensure the furrow is zipped shut.

As the spikes close they create indentations which allow moisture to sink in, increasing seed-to-soil contact.

Zipper closing wheels are angled so that when they engage the soil at the 5, 6, and 7 o’clock positions, they are breaking the side wall down over the seed plus compacting the soil around the seed. Then, when they exit the soil at the 8 o’clock position, they are angled such that they release the soil, leaving it compacted around the seed. Because of this, you will not need to drag a chain behind them.

Other closing wheels on the market are aggressive and have the potential of actually flipping seeds out of the furrow. You will not have that problem with the Zipper.

Benefits of the Zipper

Features—Design—Benefits

  • Longer wear, heavy duty cast metal spikes
  • Breaks down sidewall and zips seed V shut at the same time
  • Tubular design of spike allows it to release soil and eliminate plugging while compacting the soil around the seed
  • Angle design doesn’t flip or throw soil out; it allows for accurate release
  • As the Zipper closes it creates indentations which allow moisture to sink in
  • Feathers the soil in the seed V with its wide track design
  • Designed to break up compaction without being too aggressive
  • 1″ spike will not get too close to or disturb seed
  • Allows for better seed-to-soil contact

Eliminates Common Problems

  • Compacts the soil better than straight-fingered wheels
  • Moves soil with minimal compaction into the furrow
  • Eliminates air pockets
  • On a hot windy day the trench will not break back open

Where They Work—Suitable for Many Soils

  • Made to work in tough soils
  • Works in no-till or conventional

Ease of Installation

These photos were taken comparing two fields right across the road from each other at the same time.

The planter planting corn into corn stubble had regular press wheels. The planter planting corn into wheat stubble had Zipper closing wheels. The ground was muddy when these plants were planted, the soil heavy and wet.

The weather turned hot and windy after planting, and you can see where the seed V closed with the regular press wheels has cracked back open. Here, the corn plants are leaning, and unable to throw out good root systems.

This study was performed in wet, less than ideal conditions by Beck’s Hybrids 2015 Practical Research.

“Wheels that crumbled the seed trench shut from the sides generally outperformed wheels that applied more pressure above the seed. In the wet conditions we were planting into, this action helped decrease compaction above the seedling and allowed for more even and uninterrupted emergence.” – Beck’s

All-Cast Zipper

Left-size Zipper all-cast closing wheelThe NEW all-cast Zipper and Mohawk Closing Wheels won’t build up with mud due to not having plastic rims catching mud on each side.

We experimented with these in 2019 in very wet soils and farmers were impressed with how clean they stayed in wet sticky soils.

Hub Covers help prevent wrapping of vining cover crops

COVER CROPS

Many of the spiked wheels on the market wrap or plug in cover crops. The cast Zipper is less likely to plug or wrap in heavy cover crops.

If they do start to wrap, one can order Hub Covers (shown here) as an option to prevent wrapping of cereal rye, vetch and other vining crops

We have even had farmers switch the Zippers around (shown below), running the right on the left side of the planter and the left wheel on the right with the fingers turned inward, to eliminate wrapping of cover crops.

Zippers have been switched around to help eliminate wrapping

CAST WHEELS FOR DRILLS

Schaffert Mfg.’s all-cast wheels are an excellent option for John Deere and Case IH drills.

Cast Zipper on a Case IH 500 drill
Cast Mohawk with eccentric bolt on Case IH 500 drill
Cast Mohawk on Case IH 500 drill
Cast Zipper on a John Deere drill
Eccentric bolt kits for Case IH 500 drills (top); John Deere 750 and other single press wheel drills (bottom)

Included in the cast wheel kit for these drills is an eccentric bolt that changes the pitch in on the back side of the closing wheel. This allows the wheel to bring soil in into the furrow behind the wheel, compacting it down around the seed.

Please note that the Case IH 500 eccentric bolt kit has been updated since the video above was created. The new eccentric bolt works in the same manner.

SINGLE TO DUAL WHEEL CONVERSION KITS

We have conversion kits that transform your single press wheel to dual closing wheels. Works great with our Mohawk and Zipper wheels.

Kits fit Case IH and White 5000-6000 series planters.

single press wheel to dual closing wheel conversion kits for Case IH and White 5000 & 6000
Single to dual closing wheel conversion kits

Zipper Spyder™

The NEW Zipper Spyder is a self-cleaning wheel in wetter soils. They weigh 11 pounds each.

Many of the spiked wheels on the market wrap or plug. We have had farmers switch the Zipper Spyders around, running the right on the left side of the planter and the left wheel on the right with the fingers turned inward and interlocking, to eliminate plugging.

Zipper Distinct Features over the Mohawk

  • More aggressive
  • Breaks up sidewall compaction better
  • Rototills soil in for better compaction
  • Pulls more soil from the sidewall in over the seed because the spikes are angled out and down
  • Creates an ice cream cone shape with the soil in and above the seed V (the Mohawk creates a flat ice cream cone shape)
  • Less mud build-up
  • Rocks or root balls will not stick
Zippers
Mohawks
Zipper (left) wheels create an ice cream cone shape with the soil in and above the seed V. Mohawks (right) create a flat ice cream cone shape.

Testimonials

MOHAWK™

Angled spiked closing wheels

Mohawk  ring only
Mohawk  Wheel
Cast Mohawk

Standard, rubber closing wheels have a tendency to press the soil closed causing a smooth effect, especially when the soil is wet. On a hot, dry windy day, the furrow will crack back open exposing the seed. Eliminate this problem with the Mohawk Closing Wheel.

About the Mohawk

The Mohawk is a 13″ angled spiked closing wheel designed to take the place of standard, rubber closing wheels. It works in all soil types, most notably in the toughest of no-till conditions.

The non-aggressive, 1″ angled blunt spikes on the Mohawk feather the soil in the furrow while simultaneously applying light pressure to ensure the furrow is stitched shut.

As the spikes close they create indentations which allow moisture to sink in, increasing seed-to-soil contact.

Mohawk closing wheels are angled so that when they engage the soil at the 5, 6, and 7 o’clock positions, they are breaking the side wall down over the seed plus compacting the soil around the seed. Then, when they exit the soil at the 8 o’clock position, they are angled such that they release the soil, leaving it compacted around the seed. Because of this, you will not need to drag a chain behind them.

Other closing wheels on the market are aggressive and have the potential of actually flipping seeds out of the furrow. You will not have that problem with the Mohawk.

Farm Journal agronomist Ken Ferrie conducted a three-year study examining closing wheel designs, including the Mohawk. He classified the Mohawk as a firming spiked closing wheel, which are designed to provide both crushing action of the sidewall and firming above and around the seed. Ferrie concluded that in the toughest no-till conditions, wheels like the Mohawk get the job done the best.

Source: Eckelkamp, Margy. “Test Plots: Close and Seal the Deal.” Farm Journal Magazine. 9 Feb 2013. www.agweb.com/farmjournal/article/test_plots_close_and_seal_the_deal

Benefits of the Mohawk

Features—Design—Benefits

  • Stitches seed V shut
  • Uses existing wheels and bearings, and replaces tire with the Mohawk ring, saving you $$$
  • Breaks down compacted sidewall and closes the furrow at the same time
  • Longer wear, heavy duty cast steel spikes
  • Feathers the soil in the seed V with its wide track design
  • Designed to break up compaction without being too aggressive
  • 1″ spike will not get too close to or disturb seed
  • Allows for better seed-to-soil contact

Eliminates Common Problems

  • Compacts the soil better than straight-fingered wheels
  • Moves soil with minimal compaction into the furrow
  • Eliminates air pockets
  • On a hot windy day the trench will not break back open

Where They Work—Suitable for Many Soils

  • Made to work in tough soils
  • Works in no-till or conventional

Ease of Installation


The NEW all-cast Mohawk Closing Wheel won’t build up with mud due to not having plastic rims catching mud on each side.

We experimented with these in 2019 in very wet soils and farmers were impressed with how clean they stayed in wet sticky soils.

Hub for Mohawk all-cast closing wheels

COVER CROPS

Many of the spiked wheels on the market wrap or plug in cover crops. The cast Mohawk is less likely to plug or wrap in heavy cover crops.

If they do start to wrap, one can order Hub Covers (shown here) as an option to prevent wrapping of cereal rye, vetch and other vining crops

CAST WHEELS FOR DRILLS

Schaffert Mfg.’s all-cast wheels are an excellent option for John Deere and Case IH drills.

Cast Mohawk on a Case IH 500 drill
Cast Mohawk with eccentric bolt on Case IH 500 drill
Cast Mohawk on Case IH 500 drill
Cast Mohawk on a John Deere drill
Eccentric bolt kits for Case IH 500 drills (top); John Deere 750 and other single press wheel drills (bottom)

Included in the cast wheel kit for these drills is an eccentric bolt that changes the pitch in on the back side of the closing wheel. This allows the wheel to bring soil in into the furrow behind the wheel, compacting it down around the seed.

Please note that the Case IH 500 eccentric bolt kit has been updated since the video above was created. The new eccentric bolt works in the same manner.

SINGLE TO DUAL WHEEL CONVERSION KITS

We have conversion kits that transform your single press wheel to dual closing wheels. Works great with our Mohawk and Zipper wheels.

Kits fit Case IH and White 5000-6000 series planters.

single press wheel to dual closing wheel conversion kits for Case IH and White 5000 & 6000
Single to dual closing wheel conversion kits

In the Field Performance

MOHAWKS VS STANDARD CLOSING WHEELS

This graph shows data from a field of soybeans planted on May 29, 2013 near Ponca City, OK with Black Machine tool bar equipped with John Deere 7200 Max Emerge II row units. Some rows had standard rubber closing wheels and some had Mohawk Closing Wheels.

2.5″ of rain fell on the field a week after planting, causing erosion down the rows even though the farm had not been cultivated in 5 years.

Stand counts were taken June 15, 2013 on varying degrees of slope down 36′ row.

The steeper the slope the greater the erosion of the soil down the furrow, and the less stand counts behind the regular closing wheels.

MOHAWK AFTER 1500 ACRES

The following photos show a Mohawk closing wheel that has been run 1500 acres and is still in excellent condition.

MOHAWK AFTER 9000 ACRES

The following photos show a used Mohawk closing wheel next to a brand new Mohawk ring. The wheel has been run 9000 acres and is still in good working condition. Wheel courtesy of John Yeutter, Eustis, NE.

Mohawk Distinct Features Over The Zipper

  • Creates a flat ice cream cone shape with the soil in and above the seed V (the Zipper creates a more rounded ice cream cone shape)
  • Slightly less aggressive than the Zipper
  • Mohawks are more economical when using your existing wheels and bearings
Mohawk ring mounted to John Deere 7000 metal rims
Zippers
Mohawks
Zipper (left) wheels create an ice cream cone shape with the soil in and above the seed V. Mohawks (right) create a flat ice cream cone shape.

Testimonials

CHICKEN TRACKER™

Press & Gauge Wheels for Planters & Drills

Standard, rubber closing wheels have a tendency to press the soil closed causing a smooth effect, especially when the soil is wet. On a hot, dry windy day, the furrow will crack back open exposing the seed. The Chicken Tracker will eliminate this problem.

About the Chicken Tracker

chicken-tracker

Schaffert Mfg.’s Chicken Tracker was designed to take the place of the original Case IH planter press wheel. It has been modified to fit most other planters and drills.

Unlike the original solid press wheel which can smear soil, the Chicken Tracker mulches and mellows soil over the seed bed.

Pressure is applied at three points over the tread on the chicken tracks at all time, firming soil around the seed.

The application of pressure on 3 points provides good seed to soil contact, leading to more even emergence and higher yields.

chicken-tracker-running
chicken-tracker-testimonial-1sm
Photo courtesy of a customer in Illinois

The Chicken Tracker helps eliminate mud build-up and will not plug up with rootballs.

It is easy to install. Just pull the bolt—the bearings are all there.

Benefits of the Chicken Tracker

Prepares the Seed Bed

  • Mulches and mellows the soil over the seed bed
  • Firms soil over the row
  • Does not smear soil like rubber press wheels can
  • Pressure is applied at 3 points on the tracks at all times
  • Eliminates air pockets

Eliminate Common Problems

  • Helps eliminate mud build-up
  • Will not plug with root balls
  • On a hot windy day the trench will not crack back open

Where They Work—Suitable for Many Soils

  • Made to work in tough soils
  • Works in no-till or conventional

Ease of Installation

  • Takes the place of your original press wheel
  • Easy to install, less than 5 minutes per row
chicken-tracker-field

Benefits of the Chicken Tracker

Problem

A producer in Texas with a John Deere 455 drill was having problems with the regular press wheels building up with mud and also not putting enough dirt over the seed. The regular press wheels were leaving tracks too deep in the furrow.
The farmer stated that many years he does not get enough soil over the seed.

When they get a hard rain and the wheat is emerging in the trenches made by the regular press wheels, they lose some stand from crusting and burying plants that were already emerging and leafing out.

Solution

We shortened the Chicken Tracker’s spokes from 6″ to 4″ and beveled them to fit the John Deere 455 drill unit.

We wanted the Chicken Tracker to mellow the soil over the seed row and also hold the drill units up at the planting depth for uniform seed depth placement.

Results

In the rows in tilled soil with the regular press wheel the seed depth is almost 1″ deeper with very little cover over the seed. The press wheel is the depth control on these drills. The rows with the regular press wheels are running 1″ deeper than the row with the Chicken Tracker.

Unlike the regular press wheels, the Chicken Tracker is not building up with mud.

The Tracker holds the drill unit at the correct set planting depth, giving uniform seed depth placement. The rows with the Chicken Tracker show the proper amount of mellow, mulched soil left over the furrow.

Testimonials

Closing Wheels

Eliminate Sidewall Compaction and Increase Seed to Soil Contact

If you use no-till or other alternative till planting methods, you know how difficult it is to properly close seed furrows.

Sidewall compaction left from double disc openers on planters makes it hard for standard closing wheels to close the seed V properly in all soil types and conditions.

Especially in wet heavy textured soils, standard press wheels tend to smear the soil over the seeds and do not break up the sidewall compaction left by the double disc openers. Then when a hot windy day comes after planting in wet soil conditions, the seed V will often crack back open, exposing the seeds.

If the seed V does stay shut after planting with standard closing wheels, many times the sidewalls of the seed V stay compacted, not letting the roots of the plants penetrate the sidewalls. If they cannot penetrate the sidewall, the roots will not build a good brace root system, and the plants will tend to fall over later in the season.

Schaffert Mfg.’s closing wheels address these problems, and more. We offer a variety of closing wheels that work in all soil types.

seed V cracked back open after planting, causing cornstalk to fall down
Corn stalk has fallen down due to not establishing a solid root brace system after the seed V cracked back open from being planted with standard rubber closing wheels.

Here is a good example of a corn field that was planted with a planter that had rubber closing wheels and the ground was hard no-till planting into last year’s corn stalks and the previous year’s wheat stubble.

The planter opened up the seed V and seeds were placed in the furrow and then the closing wheels closed the seed V. It was wet when planted and then after planting a few days went by with hot windy days. The seed V cracked back open, leaving the seed exposed in the furrow.

The corn plants had already germinated and started to grow, but not having soil over the seed, the nodular roots failed to emerge below the soil surface. What happens after that is with no nodular roots, the corn plant will still grow but it won’t form any brace roots. Then, when the corn gets shoulder high or at tassel time with some wind, the plants will fall over due to not having any soil over the top of the seed at planting.

When corn is planted into wet soils and the seed V is closed with rubber tire closing wheels by pressing the soil together in the middle but leaving a seam, then when the soil dries out it will shrink and the seed V will open up, causing the root systems to not form above where the seed was placed in the furrow. This results in spindly plants and small ear placement and downed corn in the field.

May times farmers think these downed stalks in a field like this are from root worm damage, because root worm will eat off the roots of corn underground. But in this case, it was caused from not closing the seed V properly and the roots didn’t form at all to hold up the plants. You can see in this photo where the seed V is cracked back open on each side of the growing corn plant that has fallen down.

This is why you won’t see downed corn in a field where the Zipper or Mohawk ran to close the seed V. The Zipper and Mohawk closing wheels will break up the side wall of the seed V, stitching it shut so it doesn’t crack back open after it was planted. Thus, good root systems will form and the corn will product a big robust stalk and a good root system with big ears of corn, and they won’t blow over like they have in this photo.

OUR CLOSING WHEELS

MOHAWK

Mohawk Wheels compact the soil better than straight-fingered wheels. It feathers the soil in the furrow with its wide track design, and is made to work in tough soils.

Mohawk spikes are made of heavy duty cast steel for longer wear, and they penetrate 1″ deep to not disturb the seed.

The Mohawk Wheel is easy to install, using existing wheels and bearings and replacing the original tire with a Mohawk ring, saving you !

ZIPPER

Zipper Wheels share many features with the Mohawk. They are designed to break up compaction without being too aggressive, and work in no-till or conventional soil.

The spike’s tubular design allows it to release mud and eliminate plugging. The spike’s angle design does not flip or throw soil out—it allows for accurate release.

As the Zipper closes it creates indentations which allow moisture to sink in.

index-chicken-tracker

CHICKEN TRACKER

The Chicken Tracker takes the place of the original press wheel on drills and Case IH planters.

Unlike this original solid press wheel which can smear soil, the Chicken Tracker mulches and mellows soil over the seed bed.

Pressure is applied at three points over the tread on the chicken tracks at all time, firming soil around the seed. This provides good seed to soil contact, leading to more even emergence and higher yields.

single press wheel to dual closing wheel conversion kits for Case IH and White 5000 & 6000

CONVERSION KITS

Transform your single press wheel into dual closing wheels.

We have closing wheel conversion kits for Case IH and White 5000-6000 series planters.

Works great with our Mohawk and Zipper wheels.

FURROW V CLOSER

The Furrow V Closer closes the seed trench ahead of the press wheels in heavy, wet soils.

The FVC does not run in the seed trench, but rather to the side of the seed V opening, making it easier to place starter fertilizer and/or chemicals in the furrow with the seed. Its poly discs are resistant to herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer, and mud build-up.

We have models available for most planters.

WEIGHT CHART

closing wheel weight chart for Mohawk-Zipper line

Testimonials