Came across an old Allis Chalmers model 74 no till 2 row planter that appears to be in good condition for its age. I would be using it for some food plots and plant less than 6-8 acres a year...just hobby farming. I have found a place that carries parts which was my main concern. Anyone have any experience with this planter that can share their opinion?

Ive never run one but ive looked at a few.Almost bought a 4row but changed direction before i bought it.From what I seen of them they look pretty solid and there are parts floating around out there.I guess the idea is each planter is its own machine and you can put them on any toolbar theyll fit on which makes them handy. Other than that info thats all I know. Also,ive never seen a two row no till.Just some 4 rows and mostly 6 row. That said, you might want to grab it. Probly wont find another 2 row no till.

No till don't work worth a darn in the near solid rock Ozarks. Can't plow either, mostly just broadcast and rake it in.

Funny you say that bigbob.My dad always told these stories of him and my uncles when they were real young,pickin stone and throwing them on a stone boat pulled by teams of horses.Told me how awful heavy it was and how many loads they pulled off and how the poor horses had a time pulling them.Always thought he was embellishing a little,you know both ways up hill type of thing. Then one day while hunting along some woods that would have borderd their big corn fields around that time,i stumbled upon the spot they dumped them over the bank. Enough stone there to build a castle and then some.

Not so funny to the kids doing the loading! LOL

My friend has one seems to work just fine. I believe they make an adaptor so you can use john deere seed plafes in them. Also lincoln ag products make after market platesJ

6-8 acres with a 2 row will take some time and assum you are planting corn/sorghum, beans etc. ( row crops) with it. This planter does not handle heavy no-till residue very well UNLESS residue is well rotted and decomposed in dry planting soils. If YOU HAVE NO WAY TO DO TILLAGE AHEAD OF TIME, I would suggest a non-selective herbicide and some Nitrogen fertilizer to help break last year's residue down into something manageable for that light weight planter. Do it at least 3 weeks before planting. Keep the soil as bare as possible (if erosion is not a major concern) and feed the bacteria a little Nitrogen to help gobble up the cellulose fiber so your planter can get through it. Keep your runners sharp, add some weight (concrete blocks or tractor weights) and make sure it (soil) is dry. I started with a Blackhawk 2 row, still have it along with a JD 2 row - both converted to 3 pt. I also use my 4 row Buffalo w/o the sweeps and can handle pretty heavy residue with just the rolling cutter and runners in my 10 ac. of food plots. Here I rotate Legume (sweet clover) to Grass (corn) every other year to break up disease and keep weeds manageable (some are good). Check mine and other's plots every March to evaluate wildlife usage and how much is left over to see if I need to adjust amounts. My Take ... the mike

Thanks for the info, I picked up the planter this weekend and was very pleased with the condition and how well it was built. I've sprayed a few acres and will be using it soon. Wife, that is good info about the fertilizer. Thanks