Park it right. Plant it right.
Your Kinze winter maintenance tips.
A little care now means one less thing to worry about when spring arrives. Get your Kinze planter ready for Planting Season 2027 in three simple steps: Clean It. Protect It. Inspect It.
A little off-season attention can go a long way. Proper storage and preventive maintenance help protect planting accuracy, reduce the chance of unexpected downtime and make spring startup easier. Here’s a simple place to begin.
1. CLEAN IT. A fresh start begins with a clean planter.
Start by clearing away the dirt and chemicals left behind after planting using water and/or compressed air. A clean planter is easier to inspect and less likely to hold moisture that can lead to corrosion during storage. One important precaution: Keep high-pressure water away from electrical components, bearings and seed meters. Too much pressure can damage sensitive parts or push moisture where it doesn’t belong. The goal is simple: park it clean, not with an entire season still attached.
Your cleaning checklist:
- Empty and clean seed, fertilizer and granular chemical hoppers.
- If equipped with Bulk Fill, clean the hopper, entrainment assembly and seed delivery system.
- Remove accumulated dirt and crop residue, paying particular attention to sprockets, shafts and areas where debris can collect and retain moisture.
- Clean and flush liquid fertilizer tanks, hoses, pumps and metering components before storage.
- Store your planter in a dry, sheltered location.
A quick note about liquid fertilizer systems:
Do not let fertilizer remain in the system during storage. Clean and flush the tanks, hoses, pump and metering components with water. Winterize the complete system with RV antifreeze to protect from freezing and oxidation as directed in your Operator’s Manual.
2. PROTECT IT. Take care of what makes it plant.
Cleaning is a great start. Next, take the time to protect your machine from damage in the off season. Not sure about a lubrication point, inspection item or service interval? Check the Lubrication & Maintenance section in your Kinze Operator’s Manual. Procedures can vary by planter, production year and installed options, so use the manual that matches your machine’s model, serial number and configuration.
Find your Kinze Operator’s Manual here:
A few key areas include:
- Lubricate the planter. Use the lubrication and maintenance schedule in the Operator’s Manual for your planter and its installed options. Locations and service intervals vary by configuration.
- Seed meters and discs. Remove the meters and seed discs for annual storage. Clean any residual seed and seed treatments out of the meter housing and brushes. Use caution with high pressure air to prevent damaging brush components. Do not use petroleum products on plastic parts. Store meters, discs and delivery tubes in a safe, dry, rodent-free location.
- Where applicable, disconnect the vacuum hoses from the seed meters and run the vacuum fan at full hydraulic flow for two minutes to remove accumulated dust and debris.
3. INSPECT IT. Make repairs now.
Once your planter is clean and safely parked, give it a thorough inspection. Your Operator’s Manual is your maintenance roadmap. Remember, accurate planting depends on more than technology alone. Well-maintained mechanical components are just as important for consistent operation and accurate seed placement.
Pay particular attention to:
- Safety: Inspect the safety chains, reflectors, warning lights, and SMV signs for function and visibility.
- Row units: Inspect disc openers, bearings and other soil-engaging components for wear or damage.
- Seed meters and driveline: Check for worn or damaged components. Reference the wear life characteristics found in the Operator’s Manual.
- Gauge and closing wheels: Inspect wheel condition, wear and adjustments to the disc blades.
- Fertilizer System: Examine openers, metering components, strainers, hoses, check valves, and connections. Adjust application points as required for wear or placement.
- Electrical systems: Check sensors, wiring harnesses, connectors and cables for visible damage or deterioration. Power up monitors to check for the latest software versions.
- Frame: Inspect the frame, wheels, tires, hitch and row markers.
See something that needs attention? Take care of the repair or order replacement parts during the off-season, while there’s still time to get ready. Use Kinze Parts IQ to help identify the necessary parts for your machine, and maybe a few new updates.
Kinze Parts IQ – Kinze Parts IQ
This is also a good time to have seed meters professionally tested and calibrated, where applicable, to support consistent metering and seed-spacing accuracy.
A little attention now can save valuable time when every planting day counts.
CLEAN IT. PROTECT IT. INSPECT IT.
Because when the planting window opens, your focus should be on the field ahead. Accuracy first. Performance follows!
For support, contact your local dealer → Find Your Dealer – Kinze