You know the feeling—your planter’s in the ground, the monitor looks fine, but something’s off. Then you look back and see the row units bouncing. It’s frustrating, and it’s costing you even emergence. The thing is, row-unit bounce can have a few different causes—everything from downforce issues to planting too fast, to gauge wheels that aren’t quite dialled in.
But one of the most overlooked (and easily fixable) factors? Residue that’s not being cleared properly.
Let’s dig into where bounce starts—and how to stop it before it eats into your yield.
Multiple Causes, Same Outcome
Sure, bounce can come from running too fast, planting in tough no-till ground, or even not having enough downforce. But one of the biggest contributors is what’s happening ahead of your gauge wheels.
If residue isn’t being moved out of the row, your gauge wheels end up riding on top of it. That leads to shallow planting, inconsistent seed depth, and uneven emergence. We all know what happens from there—some plants get ahead, others lag behind, and the field starts losing uniformity. Residue management ends up often being the hidden piece of the puzzle.
Martin-Till Row Cleaners Do the Heavy Lifting
This is where Martin-Till Row Cleaners really shine. They’re aggressive enough to move heavy residue when you need it but adjustable enough to avoid trench blowout. Whether you’re in high-trash corn stalks or heavy-cover crops, these row cleaners help create a clean, consistent path for your opener blades and gauge wheels.
The cleaner the row, the less interference your gauge wheels have—and the smoother the entire unit runs.
That’s the foundation of effective residue management, and it makes a huge difference in how the rest of your row unit performs.
Now Think About Gauge Wheel Width
Once you’ve got your residue taken care of, it’s time to consider what kind of gauge wheels you’re running—because Gauge Wheel Width plays a much bigger role than most people think.
Narrow gauge wheels can be a big help in heavy residue or no-till conditions, but wider 4.5″ wheels still have their place—especially in conventional tillage or lighter residue. Their broader footprint helps distribute weight and prevents sinking in softer soils, keeping your planting depth consistent.
If you’re using residue managers, though, things change. As residue gets pushed aside, wider wheels may end up riding on that material, leading to uneven depth and poor emergence. Switching to a 3″ gauge wheel can help—it stays in clean soil and maintains consistent depth, even in tough conditions.
Whether a narrower wheel is right for your setup depends on factors like down pressure, planter type, tillage, and residue management. But if row-unit bounce is an issue, a 3″ wheel could be a smart move.
And it’s not just the width. MudSmith’s open-rim design keeps mud and debris from building up inside the wheel, so you’re not stopping to clean them out halfway through the field.
Treat It Like a System
Your planter is only as good as the system it’s built on. Fixing Row Unit Bounce often means looking at the entire row unit—from the residue manager, to gauge wheels, to downforce and speed.
So yes, bounce might be caused by too much speed or a poor downforce setting. But if you’re running clean, consistent rows and using the right gauge wheel width for your conditions, you’re taking out a big chunk of the problem right there.
Martin-Till Row Cleaners + properly matched MudSmith Gauge Wheels = a smoother row unit ride, more consistent seed placement, and better stands.
Tweak It Now, See It in the Stand Later
If you’re still seeing bounce or uneven emergence, don’t assume it’s just one thing. Start with what you can control:
- Clear the row with Martin-Till Row Cleaners
- Match your Gauge Wheel Width to the conditions you’ve created
- Adjust speed and downforce to finish dialling it in
Cleaner rows. Better contact. Less bounce. And a seed depth control you can actually count on.
Want help figuring out the best combo for your planter? Give us a call at 1-855-612-7006—we’ll walk you through the setup and help you get it right.