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Air drills for sale

An air drill is a precision seeding implement that uses pneumatic pressure to deliver seed and fertilizer from a towed air cart through distribution hoses to ground-engaging openers. Unlike a conventional press drill that relies on gravity, an air drill meters product centrally and uses an airstream from a hydraulically driven fan to push seed through primary and secondary runs to each row. The result is consistent seed placement across widths of 40 to 84 feet — coverage that's almost impossible to match with mechanical drills.

You'll find air drills from Bourgault, Seed Hawk (Väderstad), John Deere, Case IH, Morris, Flexi-Coil, New Holland, and Salford in our listings, ranging from older paralink units to current independent opener systems with sectional control and variable rate capability.

How does an air drill work?

The system has three working parts: the air cart (with seed and fertilizer tanks, metering rollers, and a fan), the drill frame (with the openers, packers, and depth control), and the hose distribution network connecting them. Product drops from the tank onto a metering roller calibrated to your target seeding rate, then enters the airstream where the fan — typically running at 3,500 to 4,500 RPM — carries it through primary runs to distribution towers, then through secondary hoses to individual openers.

Openers can be knife, disc, hoe, or paralink designs. Disc openers (like those on a John Deere 1890 or Seed Hawk units) cut through residue cleanly and work well in no-till conditions. Knife and hoe openers handle high-residue and tougher soils but require more horsepower per foot of width. Most modern air drills place seed and fertilizer in separate bands — either side-band or mid-row band — to prevent fertilizer burn.

Air drill vs. air seeder vs. no-till drill

These terms get used interchangeably, but they describe different tools. An air seeder typically uses cultivator-style shanks for shallower seed placement on tilled ground. An air drill uses precision openers — usually discs or knives — for accurate depth control, often in zero-till systems. A no-till drill is built specifically for direct seeding into untilled stubble, with heavy down-pressure and aggressive residue cutters. If you're seeding canola, wheat, pulses, or small grains across thousands of acres, an air drill paired with a high-capacity air cart is usually the answer.

Top brands and models to know

Bourgault

Bourgault's 3320 and 3720 Paralink Hoe Drills are workhorses on the Canadian Prairies, known for independent opener travel and consistent depth control. Pair them with a 7000 or 8000 Series air cart for tank capacities up to 950 bushels.

Seed Hawk / Väderstad

Seed Hawk's toolbar with dual-knife openers delivers seed and fertilizer in a single pass with minimal soil disturbance. Models like the 84-12 (84 feet, 12-inch spacing) are favorites for large operations.

John Deere

The 1890 No-Till Air Drill with single-disc openers and the newer P576 and N560F are common in our listings. Watch for units paired with C850 air carts that offer sectional control and ISOBUS compatibility.

Case IH and Flexi-Coil

The Case IH Precision Disk 500 and Flexi-Coil 5000 and 5500 hoe drills remain widely available in good working condition, often with rebuilt openers and replacement boots.

What to look for when buying a used air drill

• Opener wear: Inspect disc blades for diameter loss (a 18-inch disc worn below 16 inches needs replacement), check knife and hoe points for shank wear, and look at boot condition. Replacing a full set of openers can run $15,000–$40,000 depending on width.
• Packer wheels and tires: Check for cracking, flat spots, and bearing play. Packer condition directly affects seed-to-soil contact and emergence.
• Hose and manifold condition: Pull a few secondary hoses and look for internal abrasion, especially on the bends. Worn hoses cause uneven seed distribution between rows.
• Fan and metering system: Run the fan and listen for bearing noise. Inspect the metering rollers for grooving — worn rollers throw off rate calibration, particularly on small-seeded crops like canola.
• Frame and hydraulics: Check the wing fold cylinders, transport locks, and main frame welds. Look for stress cracks near the hitch and wing pivots on drills over 60 feet wide.
• Monitor and control system: Confirm the rate controller, blockage sensors, and any sectional control hardware are functional. Older monitors can be expensive or impossible to replace if the OEM has discontinued support.

Buy used air drills at Ritchie Bros.

We list air drills from 30-foot single-shank units up to 84-foot toolbars paired with tow-between and tow-behind air carts. Every listing includes detailed photos, opener specifications, and inspection notes so you know what you're bidding on before the auction closes. Browse current inventory above, or check our upcoming auction calendar to find Bourgault, Seed Hawk, John Deere, and Case IH drills coming to sale near you.