John Deere 246 and 446 Corn Planter | 247 and 447 Cotton Planters - Operator's Manual
John Deere 246 & 446 Corn Planter / 247 & 447 Cotton Planter Operator's Manual
This is the Operator's Manual for the John Deere 246 and 446 Corn Planters and the John Deere 247 and 447 Cotton Planters, covering setup, operation, planting adjustments, marker systems, and the full range of optional attachments across 68 pages. This is the original factory-issued guide for all four models and is available as an instant digital download.
About the John Deere 246, 247, 446, and 447 Planters
The 246, 247, 446, and 447 were John Deere's unit-type row crop planters from the mid-20th century, designed to be mounted on toolbar frames in 2-row, 4-row, and wider configurations depending on row spacing and tractor horsepower. The 246 and 446 were configured for corn planting, while the 247 and 447 were the cotton variants — sharing the same basic planter unit mechanics but fitted with cotton-specific hoppers, seed plates, and cell-drop attachments. The distinction between the numbered pairs (246/247 versus 446/447) reflected different toolbar mounting and marker configurations. These planters used a cell-drop metering system in which the seed plate rotated through the seed supply and carried individual seeds to the furrow — a system that required correct plate selection matched to seed size and shape, and proper rotor timing for consistent spacing. The 247 and 447 cotton variants also accommodated fine seed and peanut attachments, making the manual relevant for a broader range of specialty crop applications than the model names suggest. These planters were widely used across the Corn Belt and Cotton Belt and remain in use on small acreages today.
What This Manual Covers
This 68-page manual covers all four planter models from identification and specifications through field operation, marker systems, and the complete attachment lineup. Key sections include:
- General Information & Specifications — identification views; factory specifications; model-specific component identification for all four variants
- Operation — preparing the tractor; attaching the planter; preparing for field operation; transport procedures; planting depth adjustment; drill planting procedures; plant population adjustment; hill-drop planting operation; field safety
- Marker Systems — marker operation and adjustment for 246/247 and 446/447 configurations separately
- Attachments & Optional Equipment — fertilizer attachments; insecticide and herbicide attachments; gauge shoes; pre-emerge sprayer; double-disk openers; cotton cell-drop attachment (247 & 447); double-disk furrowers and covering knives; press wheel bands and rubber press wheel tires; brush cut-off and baffle plate (247 & 447); fine seed attachment (247 & 447); shelled and unshelled peanut attachments; pea or bean attachments; ratchet drive sprocket
- Lubrication & Assembly — lubrication points and service intervals; complete assembly procedures
Why This Manual Matters
- Corn and cotton in one document: The 246/446 and 247/447 share the same basic unit mechanics but differ in hoppers, seed plates, and cotton-specific attachments — this manual documents both, covering the cross-model differences that create confusion when sourcing replacement parts or converting between crop types
- Seed plate selection and population charts: Matching the correct seed plate to seed size and adjusting for target plant population are the foundational planting tasks — the factory charts and plate selection guidance in this manual are the reference source for getting those settings right
- Hill-drop and drill configurations: Both planting modes are documented with separate operating procedures, important when switching crops or adapting the planter to different field conditions
- Cotton-specific attachment documentation: The cell-drop attachment, brush cut-off, fine seed attachment, and cotton-specific hopper configurations for the 247 and 447 are documented here — information that generic corn planter resources won't contain
- Full attachment coverage: The extensive optional equipment section documents fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, peanut, and pea/bean attachments — covering the planter's full capability range rather than just its base configuration
- Original factory content: This is the manual John Deere issued to 246/446/247/447 owners, carrying manual code OM-825366
Manual Code: OM-825366