| Disk openers (PROS) |
Knife openers/spoons (CONS) |
| Low horsepower requirement |
Higher horsepower requirement |
| Lower fuel costs |
Higher fuel costs |
| Higher seeding speeds while still maintaining a smooth soil seed bed |
Higher seeding speeds leave the seedbed very rough relating to higher repair bills for following field operations by traveling over rough ground. |
| Cannot pull up rocks |
Great at pulling up rocks |
| Seed through high standing stubble. Can use combine stripper headers or straight cutter headers and cut as high as you like. No restrictions. |
Monitor how high you cut with your combine header. As a rule of thumb you should not cut any higher than the width or spacing of your seeding tool. |
| Seed with the least amount of soil disturbance reducing the potential of germination of weed seeds |
Promotes more weed germination than a disc opener |
| Seed into vine crop stubble with no hang-ups Example: pea stubble |
Vines hang on to openers causing bunching in the field. |
| Seed into wetter soil conditions |
Need drier soil conditions to prevent plugging of openers |
| K-Hart double disk openers |
Competitors' double disk openers |
| 206 series double roll ball bearings with triple lip seals on both inside and outside Improved design, better than using tapered roller bearings. |
Smaller, inferior single ball bearing with single lip or double lip seal. They use small 204 or 205 series bearings. |
| The largest and best-protected bearing system in the industry. Besides the triple lip seal protecting both sides of the bearing, you now have the option of greasing this bearing once a year if you so choose. |
Inferior single ball bearing with single lip or double lip seal. They use small 204 or 205 series bearings. |
| ¾" offset leading blade which allows the opener to cut through residue and soil better than nose to nose blades |
Nose to nose blades, Greatly increased the chance of hair pinning. |
| 16" & 17" Heavy Duty blades made with the latest technology and material available to ensure long lasting durability. |
14" or sometimes 15" lighter material blades. |
| Largest selection of packers on the market |
Limited packer choices |
| Built Heavy Duty, specifically designed for no-till conditions but can also work in pre-worked ground |
Designed more for lighter duty no-till work. |
| K-Hart double disk openers |
Competitors' single disk openers |
| K-Hart disk openers have a less complicated design having fewer moving parts |
More moving parts. Depth wheels etc. |
| Easier to change seeding depths with one frame cylinder stop |
To change seeding depths, each opener has to be individually adjusted |
| Can work no-till and pre-worked ground |
Single disk openers have problems keeping the disk turning in loose soils |
| Less horsepower required for blades to roll straight ahead |
Single disk openers run on angles requiring more horsepower |
| Minimum residue disturbance |
Most single disk openers use a side depth wheel. This wheel pulverizes the soil it rides on, making the soil prone to wind erosion |
