Parallelogram Testing – 11 June 2025
Dan was out yesterday with Doering Farms Australia to observe the progress of the trials of the new Manutec tyne mounted parallelogram. The aim of these trials is to fully test the first Manutec Mod 0 tyne mounted parallelogram.
Conditions for the trials have been in very hard challenging conditions so the trials units have been subjected to large rocks, hard dry abrasive soils, severe inside turns and also severe outside turns. These conditions have thrown up a few challenges, but each one proves to be a good learning point.
The trials are being conducted on a Flexi-Coil 5500 machine with hydraulic tynes, which was not the intended machine, but with some quick modifications we were able to get the units fitted up and ready for trials. The Flexi-Coil 5500 tyne has also provided a few challenges as it has high levels of flex as it works in hard conditions. The trials period will be over 6 weeks long over a large farming area that will cover a large range of different soils, terrain, seed types and seeding conditions.
The Manutec Zero Maintenance systems and the KISS principle have been used throughout. No grease nipples anywhere and all maintenance points have been designed for quick and easy repairs.
One of the first learning points was the design of the seed delivery system. So far we have tried 2 different systems and these trials will allow us to fine tune the final design. We will also use the results of these trials to improve our current in-frame press wheel seed delivery system as well.
From the videos you can see that as the parallelogram does not turn/follow it was important to come up with a design that could cope with both extreme twisting and extreme dragging on the inside and outside wings of the machine. This capability is important as the machine that is being considered for phase 2 is 80’ in width. So far this trial unit has done about 1500 hectares and the pivots have not developed any slop, still a lot of hectares to go, but so far so good. Another benefit of this trial is that we will be using the results to develop new pivots for the Manutec Double Disc Parallelogram system.
Next, we are hoping along with every farmer for some rain so we can move on to phase 2 of the trials in some wet conditions. The parallelogram system being used in these trials is fitted with a high durability press wheel and so we have added a scraper capability to help cope with wet seeding. So these trials will be used to further develop how we fit and position the scraper and what kind of scraper blade works best. We will then use the results to look at what additional scraper systems we can look at to support all of the other Manutec press wheel systems.
While it is still early days, we are observing improved seed placement and an improved seed trench. We are waiting to see whether this translates to improved germination and seed establishment. So far the seeding programme has been mainly canola, however other seeds will follow as this season’s trials progress.
The trials units are using a heavy 9mm spring for down pressure consistency and breakout in hard dry conditions and also to test the units in high pressure breakout conditions. Most likely the production units will come with a range of springs depending on soil types and seeding conditions. You can see in the videos that the press wheel pressure is very consistent.
Once fully tested the Manutec tyne mounted parallelogram will be able to be configured to fit most common tynes, turning any conventional machine in to a low maintenance parallelogram planter. Manutec is also working with Australian farm machinery manufacturers to facilitate complete Australian made seeders that are fitted with these parallelograms. This gives our farming customers two options to either retrofit an existing machine or a complete new build.
Many thanks to Greg and Tim Doering and their team for supporting these trials, as well the product design and development process. This type of support is instrumental in developing products that are designed to improve yields and to work in Australian farming conditions.
The Manutec product development process involves a number of years of prototype testing before we go to full production. Year 1 testing focuses on the basic construction and function so that improvements can be made before scaling up to full machine testing. Full machine testing follows and the focus is then durability and any tweaks to improve performance. The next step is to expand the trials into different geographical areas to test different soil types, seed types and moisture levels.
If any of our other farming customers are interested in future trials please get in touch with Manutec and they will put you in contact with Dan to discuss. Dan is also looking to begin some trials on a new hydraulic coulter system, so would also welcome any customers with an existing hydraulic tyne machine that could easily be fitted with the new prototype.
Update on the new Manutec tyne mounted parallelogram unit – 23 June 2025
The below videos were taken 7 days after the first trials videos were taken and this is the same unit and same Flexi-Coil 5500 machine (Doering Farms) that is operating in the low lying hills between Truro and Eudunda.
We went out on this occasion for two reasons, firstly to observe how the units was holding up after 2 weeks of seeding, to see how the unit were handling the transition from dry seeding to wet seeding and also to see if we could spot any germination yet in the areas planted the week before.
This unit is still in very good condition, the pivots still have zero sideways movement despite some fairly serious turns and the wheels are in very good condition. For last weeks trials we had made up some new seed tubes with a slightly different design to make it easier for the seedtubes to ride over limestone. The new design was doing very well but eventually hit something with enough force to bend it back slightly, so we have taken that one back to the workshop. So for this weeks trials we are back to using one of our standard seedtubes.
The conditions this week are probably perfect seeding conditions. The tyres fitted to this unit are our 80mm high durability wedge tyres and the unit has a shaped scraper blade that covers 100% of the tyre face. The blade has been set up well off the tyre and you can see from the videos that other than the small amount of mud on the face of the tyre that no additional mud/clay is being picked up and the scraper is not having to do much. The parallelogram unit is riding nicely, the spring being used is still our Extra Heavy 9mm spring. Next week we will be changing to the 8mm.
Germination, this is quite interesting. Given that the 5500 already has a row of heavy press wheels across the back, you would not expect to see a lot of difference in germination of the Canola planted last week. That was not however the case and the row that I had marked was already above the surface, the Parralelogram rows are also easier to spot when germination does occur as the Parralelogram unit plants in to the middle of the row. All of the other rows have a 3” spread seed boot that plants on the edges of the rows. None of the other rows were showing any signs of the canola seedlings breaking the surface.
The next update will be from the Riverland Mallee on one of Doering Farms other Flexi-Coil 5500 machines. For the Mallee machine we will be trialling the same seedtube from the earlier trials that has had some extra strength added to the “ski jump”. We will also be adding some extra stiffening ribs to the press wheels arms. One lesson that we have learned from these trials so far is the high level of sideloading and twisting that these units are subjected to during tight turns. The pivots are performing exceptionally well under this conditions however the seedtubes and press wheels need to be designed to take both forward impact force and sideways “bulldozing” force. We will also be trialling one of the Mallee units with a wider shallower wedge (110mm vs 80mm). This tyre will provide higher levels of flotation and sidewall compaction in the sandy Mallee soils.
Air Hoe Drill Gang Conversions – 30 June 2025
While Dan was out doing phase 4 of the Parallelogram trials (shallow limestone reef soils) he was chatting to Tim Doering about how the trials were progressing and Tim reminded him that the Truro Flexi-coil 5500 machine also had had one of our gang conversions fitted. I had been out in the field with this machine all day observing the shallow limestone reef trials and I hadn’t even noticed our gang conversion. Tim suggested it would be good for me to go out and have a look.
A bit of background information. Greg Doering had rung me two weeks prior and explained a little challenge that they were having with the gangs on their 5500. The Doerings have steel capped all of their gang wheels plus they have also reinforced all of the centres. Currently when they snap an axle they take the broken gang in to Eudunda and get the local engineers (Buschutz Engineers) to turn up a new axle and rebuild the gang. This means that the machine cannot be used until the repaired gang can be refitted to the 5500.
Greg asked me whether one of our gang conversions could be used as a temporary replacement until the original could be repaired. This would mean a much shorter period out of action. I explained to Greg that it was possible, however the walking beam design on the centre section of the 5500 would provide some challenges and perhaps fitting in the wings would be easier and if necessary do a double swap.
We both agreed it was worth a try. I must admit being just a little bit nervous as I know how hard these machines work. By lunchtime that day Greg had picked up his new Manutec Air Hoe Drill gang conversion.
I was surprised when Tim told me that they had ended up being able to fit the conversion on to the centre section. They did this by die grinding our pillow block housing to match the original 5500 hole pattern. (Note: Manutec uses a bigger bearing) Anyone that runs these machines knows that most of the damage on these machines tends to happen on the centre section.
So I headed back out to the seeder to check out how the gang was holding up as rather than using it as a temporary fix they had left it on the machine. By the time I arrived back to see the machine it was folded and moving on to the next paddock.
I quickly took these pictures of the gangs fitted up on the 5500. So far they seem to be holding up. Also of interest was that the original prototype testing for these gang conversions were done on a Morris Air Hoe Drill not far from where the Doerings farm.
Update on the new Manutec tyne mounted parallelogram unit – 17 July 2025
The last group of videos are the last of those taken during the final stages of the 2025 seeding programme. These videos show the new prototype parallelogram operating in shallow limestone conditions. There is also a video showing how the parallelogram tracks on the inside of a tight turn as the airseeder bar moves around a mid-paddock tree.
Of particular interest in the shallow limestone conditions is how the parallelogram reacts after the seed delivery tube hits the limestone. The hydraulic tynes continue over the limestone and barely any movement can be seen in the tyne as the hydraulics take over and keep the tyne in the ground. The impact force of the seeding tube hitting the limestone then causes the parallelogram to breakout up to clear the limestone. On occasion this breakout is quite extreme even with a downforce spring that is 20% higher than those used on similar parallelograms. These conditions are on the extreme end and most farmers would never need to seed into shallow limestone reefs. However the shallow limestone country is some of the best as far as production is concerned. So it is important to build systems that can cope with these conditions.
Based on the information from the previous trials we have made tweaks to the design of the parallelogram to improve performance, improve durability, reduce maintenance and to try different configurations with the press wheel tyre in different soil types. The shallow limestone trials have given us more data that we will use to further adjust the design to reduce the breakout force and height of breakout in these types of conditions.
Much of the decision making process as far as improvements and design changes has been based on a cost benefit analysis, the kiss principle and also the Manutec Zero Maintenance philosophy. Using these principles has ruled out a lot of unnecessary changes that would add cost, complexity, additional maintenance and additional points of failure. Similarly in some instances we have simplified the design in places, where this could lead to improved performance or durability.
What have we learned from all the trials conducted.
- The seed delivery tube is not only subjected to extreme front on impact forces it is also subject to very high sideloading forces during tight turns. The design of the tube must include side bracing in addition to being able to withstand impact forces such as hitting a limestone reef at 10km/hr.
- The shape and angle of the seed delivery tube has a significant impact on the amount and size of breakout. We are working on a “ski slope” design that will allow the tube to absorb some of the impact forces more gradually and reduce the breakout force.
- The cost of using expensive tungsten coatings on the seed delivery tubes in most soil types is not always justified. This is especially the case if high impact forces are present as we have seen in the shallow limestone trials. For farms with soils that are highly abrasive to steel then hardfacing can be added as an option. This will keep the cost down for 80% of farmers. The leading knife point should still be hardfaced.
- The seed delivery tube needs to be easily (quickly) adjustable for those farmers that need to regularly adjust seeding depth. However the seed delivery tube also needs to be capable of withstanding high impact forces in some seeding conditions. We are working on a design that can be adapted for both situations, ie two different set up methods, depending on the working conditions. Note: Some systems maintain a rigid seed delivery system and then utilize adjustments in the wheel angle to adjust the depth. Our thoughts on this method is that it adds cost, adds additional future points of failure/wear and that it may also impinge on trash flow. Given this it may not be the best option and an adjustable depth seed delivery tube is better.
- The overall design of the system must allow for significant sideloading caused by tight turns and side-dozing. The sideloading will eventually cause fatigue issues from flexing and overflexing. Adding extra ridgidity in some components will help to reduce fatigue related failures, however it will also add additional sideloading on to the pivots. So it is critical that the pivots are able to be locked very tight and are vibration proof so that they cannot come loose when subject to high levels of sideloading and vibration.
- For those farmers operating in areas of high breakout such as what we observed during the shallow limestone trials then a dampening system would be beneficial in addition to a modified seed delivery tube to further absorb some of the breakout force.
- Our parallelogram units feature an adjustable pressure feature on the springs and we also tried two different thickness springs. From the trials our conclusion was that the adjustable pressure feature was probably not necessary and that most farmers would just “set and forget” the pressure. A better option is a standard spring with a high pressure or low pressure option depending on conditions. This would give farmers operating in heavy wet/clay conditions or light sandy soils the option to set up with a low pressure spring, for those in mixed conditions a medium pressure spring and for those in harder drier conditions a high pressure spring.
We will now be moving on to the next phase of this project the Prototype Mod 1. Thanks to Doering Farms for working with us on these trials and we look forward to further trials with them.
At the conclusion of these trials I also had a look at the gang conversion that the Doering’s added to the rear of their Flexi-Coil 5500 as a “hot” spare. Happy to report that the gang conversion was elevated to a full time role and has performed very well. We were not sure how they would go fitting our conversion on to the 5500 as our pillow blocks are bigger than those on the 5500 and there is not a lot of space to modify the mounting area. They overcame this very simply by using a die grinder to elongate the holes in the Manutec pillow blocks to match the Flexi-coil 5500 hole pattern. For other 5500 customers looking for gang replacements this is something that Manutec can do for you on one of our CNCs, which should make fitting the gang conversions a much simpler process.
If any other customers are interested in doing some trials we would be happy for you to contact us.
