We installed Tru-Count clutches on our 16 row 1770 JD planter last year. They worked quite well. Our only issue was with the implement switches we had installed. We'll have to go with something else for next year.

So far for maintenance we have removed the screw on the top of the clutch and sprayed the spray that came with the kit every 100 acres periodically (I edited this because I realized that I didn't spray it nearly as often as every 100 acres. I probably sprayed it once every two or three days at the most. It might have been much less often than that. I did whatever the directions say to do and for some reason I had it in my mind that the directions said to do every 100 acres, but after thinking about it, I know that's not right). After the season was over I failed to get a drop of oil into each clutch (where the hose goes in to the clutch) until about 6 months after we had finished planting. Will that cause any problems?

Last year we covered a little over 2700 acres with the planter. Next year we may have to cover as much as 3700 acres with the same planter. We're really not going to have time to deal with any issues. I've read about some people really struggling with dragging clutches or clutches that sometimes disengage making it so the planter leaves skips. This did not happen with us, but I'm wondering what the cause is? We're going to tear the planter apart this winter as usual and fix anything that needs fixing and I am considering taking the Tru-Count clutches off and taking them apart and cleaning them up or something to try to insure that they will not be a source of any headaches for the next 3700 acres.

What would you recommend? For those of you that have had issues with a clutch, what did you have to do to resolve it? We want to take each clutch off, inspect it and do what you did before the season starts rather than in-season. Any suggestions? Thanks.