Cheap-o spreader bites dust! (bigtime!)

[HydroHarold]

Having recently dispatched my Scott's pusher spinner spreader for "operation unbecoming a garden tool" by reducing it's three dimensions to one... FLAT, I now seek the wisdom of MTF's spreader elite.

I guess I'll go tractor pulled this time and wonder which is the most versatile or which type, drop or broadcast, does what better. And of course the inevitable "brand" determination. Is there a major difference between Brinley and AgriFab or John Deere for that matter (other than the diamond encrusted 18carat hopper) that would warrant buying one over the other?

I promise I'll buy whatever you say is best! :)

[Archdean]

HH,
Elite I'm not but if you need to apply lime use a drop spreader ( I don't nor do I have one ) for all other fert and etc applications use a pull behind rotary spreader in the 50# hopper category with balloon tires , I use an agfab and have had it for 14 years , maintain/clean/lube it and it will last a lifetime!!

Note a 100# hopper is just to top heavy and cumbersome!!
I posted a pic of the set up I believe it was in a thread titled Ball Hitches or perhaps in the lawn care section!!!

Sorry it is this thread first post and first thumb pic!!
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=2400

Good luck!

[cadurning]

The guy at the Do it Best center has a pull behind broadcast on sale for $35.00 so I thought that I would give it a try. The price seemed reasonable for a 35# hopper. What a POS. The tread width is very narrow so it wants to tip over in the rough spots and the plastic wheels just slide across the grass if there is a hint of moisture.

In my opinion the AgFab is a fine spreader. It has pneumatic tires and is wide enough so it will not spontaniously tip over. The Craftsman spreader may be ok also.

[CatDaddy]

I'm pretty happy with my Agri-Fab #54-0211 broadcast spreader. I bought it at Lowe's ~$135. It says 125lbs max load, yet only holds 3 20lb bags of weed-n-feed or bug killer though. It's worked well so far, but I haven't had it a year yet.

-=A=-

[Ingersoll444]

You know, I was looking to buy a tow behind spredder, but as I was using my cheepy Schotts speedy green 3000 last I thought that most of the time I use it in the early AM. Cant be starting up a tractor at 7-8 am, so I think I will stick with my push spredder. When this one dies, I will invest in a bigger one though.

[JDFANATIC]

Harold,

I have quite a junkyard of spreaders, until the last two, I never really found the right one for my situation and application needs. I do have a drop spreader such as Dean recommended, but the hopper was so small that on hills I had so much trouble with material spilling over the top that it sits in permanent purgatory. Anyway, two spreaders ago, my BIL (a landscaper) talked me into this Lesco walk behind:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/grf58/Lesco_0004.jpg
With the exception of the powdercoated frame and the poly/fiberglass tub, all the hardware is stainless. It is really a great spreader, fine control, and consistent. It was on the expensive side. I believe there are tow behind models. You can see there is just the start of some rust, but it is ~ 12 years old now, but all I ever did was hose it off after use. (Only recently did I learn to coat the metals after use with a anti-corrosive or WD-40).

Now of course I have my bulk PTO spreader:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/grf58/3PTSpreaderFull_0004.jpg
Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[HydroHarold]

That Lesco looks like it made to be used, real metal parts and all! That's the kind of quality I'm looking for after the Scott's disaster. I like the idea of a PTO in the rear but when I bought my tractor (GX335) "dealer" didn't mention things like types of PTO etc. and I wasn't quite educated enough. (Wasn't foruming yet!)

Been working this GX pretty hard grading and blading and I'm totally satisfied with the mechanical performance so far! Nice to have a machine that will really work the dirt...

[JDFANATIC]

Harold,

That's great news! Glad it's working out for you. I'm working up my courage (slowly) to cross those Hudson River bridges again! :dancingpa

Why don't you post some pics of your projects?

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[bontai Joe]

Earthway spreaders are top quality drop and broadcast spreaders:
http://www.earthway-outlet.com/?source=overture
I was saving up for a tow behind one in stainless steel for salt spreading in the winter, but still haven't gotten it done. They are not cheap, but they are very good quality. :fing32:

[Wild Bill 83]

The Lesco spreader is a top quality piece of equipment....Lesco is a major supplier of equipment and supplies to golf courses...so they know what works and don't. But you will pay for it....lol

I cheated.......I already had a Scott's 'push' spreader, and I modified it into a pull behind. Some old conduit, a few bolts, and the wire welder is all it took.....lol

I had enough pushing that thing for 3 acres worth of Weed and Feed, and didn't want to spend the money on the pull spreader.

Here are some pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/spreaderhitch2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/spreaderhitch1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/f1rstimpression/My%20Tractors/62withspreader.jpg

[Jim_WV]

Wild BIll, your ingenuity is still alive and well I see. Nice job :fing32:

[chipmaker]

I used to have a nice variable speed spreader that ran off 12 volts wth a stainless steel hopper that held 1 bushel, and the spreader wheel was also made out of stainless steel. The only portion thatw a not wa the base of the hopper which closed off the hopper bottom and also provided a place to mount the spreader wheel and flow control gate. The gate abd its linkage was also made out of stainless steel. I found it brand new in a surplus and unclaimed freight and damged good store in Mississippi one year. It had the hpper bent in pretty darn bar, and the cast iron base plate was broken, but all parts were there. I dissassembled it, straightened out the hopper that you could not tell it was ever bent, and brazed up the cracked base plate.....Used it for many years until it got stolen out the back of my pickup truck.

I also made a drop type spreader which held 250 pounds of material (fertilizer ) out of 11 ga steel plate. I was in such a hurry, I decided to use it before I got it painted, and had intended to paint it later on. I used it to spread bahai grass seed, and also clover and also fertilizers, but evidently did not get it washed out sufficiently as by the time I need to use it again the next year it was nothing but a solid mass of rust, which was impossible to clean up right without a sandblaster, which I did not have at that time, so I wound up scrapping it. It worked great though......and probbaly would still be in use if I had taken the time to paint it pr at least make sure it was cleaned correctly.

I currently have a large bulk spreader ike JDFanatic, which is name by Balti Spreaders. It holds 10......50# bags of fertilizer and still has space left. I have nbot used it in a few years but at least it was cleaned up properly after use. I always use the spray film lubricant called molykote, which is a dry film material, which is also sold under various names by implement dealers for coating insides of hoppers etc ........that stuff works good at keeping things rustfree and working properly.

[thesmartfarmer]

If you are looking at a broadcast 3-point or tow behind I carry both (jdFanatic has one on the back of his tractor) I can get the plastic hopper type but I do not recommend them. If you are interested just PM me and I let me know which one you are more interested in and hopefully I can get what you need.

[Wild Bill 83]

Thanks Jim WV!


Pulling the spreader with the tractor made it a lot easier to tell where I had made the last pass across the yard...tire marks...lol...plus it took the 'work' out of spreading 750lbs. of Weed and Feed!!

As you can see in the pictures, the yard needed some help!

[Ingersoll444]

Pictures are not working on my end.

[cadurning]

Finally got around to taking pics of good spreader/bad spreader

this one had a 17" track. When I encountered any rough ground it wanted to tip over. AAGGGRRAH
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/cadurning/spreader/yellowtrack.jpg

This is the AgFab with a 30" track
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/cadurning/spreader/aftrack.jpg

This gear case has plastic gears which shot craps after a few uses. It is now locked up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/cadurning/spreader/yellowgear.jpg

AgFab has metal gears that appear to be heavily made.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/cadurning/spreader/afgears.jpg

Here are both together. The pneumatic tires are much better than those POS plastic things.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/cadurning/spreader/both.jpg

[HydroHarold]

Took the Earthway link from BontaiJoe and ordered (phone, not via net!) a 2170T and a deflector and raincover kit. Should be here by Friday and I'll test it with some granular lime. I still have the pick handle handy for dicipline but if it f's up it'll go back by UPS pronto. I can't have one that is too tippy so the Agrifab is still an option.

[CatDaddy]

Harold, I'm really happy with my agri-fab. The pneumatic tires handles the bumps/unevenness in my lawn really well. It's never once felt 'tippy' even when spreading herbicide & ant poison along my ditches. I'd run with one side on the level & the other wheels down on the ditch slope. The hopper wasn't more than 2/3rds full though.

-=A=-

[Ohioplowboy]

The reason some spreaders dont hold their max payload is because fertilizer has different densities, and things like Urea(nitrogen) is lighter than say Potash ( potassium). I would never, ever, ever think of watering or fertilizing my yard, but I do spread alot of fertilizer throughout the year. My spreader of choice is a Big A 2800 floater with a New Leader 2020 dry box and a Raven lightbar...and someone else in the seat. I usually opt for a rough riding tractor and whatever 6 ton capacity spreader my fert dealer has availible.

[cobalt246]

Hey Hydro, how do you like your 2170T Earthway? I am thinking of the same one at my local farm supply for $150.00 or the JD for $237.

[Splicer]

I heard the Lesco is the way to go...

[cobalt246]

Splicer, I don't think Lesco makes a tow broadcast spreader.

http://www.lesco.com/ProdCatalog/ProdCatalogNav.aspx?ProdGroupID=49

They look mighty nice, though, and mighty pricy too.

I have an Earthway push that is 10 years old and still works well.