Opener Assemblies
All About Opener Assemblies
You asked. We deliver! Forges de Niaux offers a longer life, stay-sharp blade with a hub, bearing and rivets that hold up! 30 – 40% more wear life than competing openers. The Forges de Niaux takes it to the next level with a unique steel and special heat-treat process. Same dimensions as OEM. Uses Peer double-row larger 205 bearings, whereas OEM and other aftermarket are double-row 204 bearings (smaller diameter). They also use 5/16″ rivets instead of 1/4″. We can source FDN opener blades for most models and brands of planters including Pre-XP, Kinze, White and Case. Just call and ask!
The stamped hub is finish-machined—unlike any other—creating an improved fit over all other brands. FDN narrowed the tolerances to 50 thousandths axial runout and 1/16″ radial runout, whereas industry tolerances are 80 thousandths axial runout and 1/8″ radial runout. The bearing is never loose in the hub, nor too tight (which shortens bearing life). The order of the finish machining (rivet holes after the centerline is established), along with the powder coat painted blade, ensures everything is within tolerances and the bearing doesn’t fail prematurely from misalignment.
Tough, Proven
The Niaux 205 and 204 blades stay sharp longer. But the additional wear life on the Niaux 200s doesn’t impair their toughness, because the extra hardening occurs only on the outermost inch or so (also, they use a different steel to handle the additional hardening—it’s not the usual 15B30 steel that all the other blades are made from).
Better Bearing
Uses Peer double-row 205 bearings, whereas OEM and other aftermarket are double-row 204 bearings (smaller diameter). The stamped hub is finish-machined—unlike any other—creating an improved fit over all other brands.
Sharper, Deeper Bevel
Forges de Niaux blades have a deeper bevel of 3/4″ vs others that are only 5/8″. The sharpest, longest-lasting blades on the market.