John Deere VT17 Series Vertical Tillage Tools
Agriculture
- Adjustable gang angles for desired aggressiveness
- Simple adjustments for increased uptime
- Rolling baskets and blade options enable a smooth field finish
Equipment Features
Featured List
- Hitch: Drawn/Clevis
- Working Width: 10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m)
- PTO HP: 70 – 90 hp (51.5 – 66.2 kW)
Featured Content
Adjust gang angles to change aggressiveness
The gang angles on the VT17 Series adjust from 0 to 12 degrees. For growers practicing true vertical tillage, gang angles should be set at 0 degrees. However, the VT17 Series also has the capability for a more aggressive cut to satisfy growers with harder soil types. To adjust the gang angle, use the included angle adjusting lever to shift the slide plate to a desired setting.
An option exists for growers to order a reduced gang angle, limiting the adjustment to 0 to 5 degrees. With this option, growers meet minimum tillage requirements for many state-run, governmental conservation programs.
Greaseable bearing shown
Choose between sealed or greaseable bearings. Sealed bearings do not require regular maintenance, and reduce the chance for contamination, lengthening the life of the bearing. Greaseable bearings typically have a longer life, but require routine maintenance.
Optional middle breaker
An optional, adjustable middle breaker mounts between the wheels on the center frame tube. It acts as a soil disrupter in the centerline of travel left open where the front and rear gangs do not overlap.
VT1710 shown with 3-m (10.5-ft) working width
Growers can choose between four working widths: 3 m, 3.7 m, 4 m, and 4.6 m (10.5 ft, 12 ft, 13 ft, and 15 ft). Vertical tillage units are known for their high horsepower requirements, causing some producers to purchase larger tractors to accommodate. The VT17 Series working widths allow the horsepower requirements to remain low, which lets growers use their current utility tractors to practice vertical tillage. These widths also allow for easy road transport in most areas.
Optional furrow filler
Furrow fillers on the outside of the rear gangs reduce outside ridges and smooth out the soil surface.
Two blade options for the VT17 Series Vertical Tillage Tool
Straight fluted blade
Shallow concave fluted blade
- Straight fluted blades
- 50.8-cm (20-in.) diameter
- 6-mm (0.24-in.) thickness
- Less aggressive cut
- Shallow concave fluted blades
- 55.9-cm (22-in.) diameter
- 5-mm (0.20-in.) thickness
- More aggressive cut
Each blade is fluted, allowing the soil to mix and the crop to incorporate into the soil. True vertical tillage is achieved with straight blades at a 0-degree gang angle. However, depending on soil conditions, crop residue, and the grower’s desired field finish, a higher-degree gang angle or shallow concave blades may be needed.
35.6-cm (14-in.) diameter rolling basket
Rolling basket finishing attachment
Down pressure adjustment
- Designed to break up clods for improved levelness and uniformity of field finish
- Down-pressure adjustment: in changing field conditions, use the double-nut adjustment on the rolling basket to produce desired field finish
Optional scrapers for shallow concave blade
Scraper kits for the VT17 Series disk blades and furrow fillers help remove buildup in wet, sticky soil types.
NOTE: Scraper kits are only needed if choosing the shallow, concave blade option.
Three adjustments to properly set up the VT17 Series Vertical Tillage Tool
Adjust depth of tillage tool
Depth: adjust the depth of the tool with a simple pin and clip system. Choose between 0-76 mm (0-3 in.).
NOTE: Make sure to adjust back to transport mode when moving the unit from field to field.
Use crank to level the tillage tool
Fore/aft leveling: turn the crank’s handle at the front of the machine to level the front and rear of the tillage tool. Turning the crank clockwise will lower the rear and turning counterclockwise will raise the rear. To prevent ridging, Frontier™ equipment recommends readjusting the levelness when the unit is at actual working depth.
Adjust gang angles to change aggressiveness
Gang angle: use the included angle adjusting lever to shift the slide plate to the desired setting. The gang angles adjust from 0-12 degrees. A larger angle will cause a more aggressive cut in the soil.