Broadcast Spreaders

[Ken N Tx]

Getting ready to do some overseeding of my lawn (2 acres) and am looking for opinions on a pull behind spreader.

Need pros and cons on wheel types, rubber or plastic? Ground is bumpy and rocky..

Any opinions on makes?

Saw an aerator/spreader at Lowes, anyone try this out?

[Ingersoll444]

Someone on board had one of those spikeairators, dont remember who though. Was it John??

As for the tires. All I have, and have used are the cheap push ones with the plactic tires. They DO slip a lot. If you are buying for long turm use, I would get real air tires.

[Ken N Tx]

This is what i found at Lowes Website..
Opinions??

[simple_john]

ken i have both of those...

but the broadcast spreadr is a 175 lb model...

I got the 175 lb spreader thinking i could spread sand/salt in the winter with it... but that never worked.. the cotter pin spin unit was too small to push the sand.. i ended up getting a modified cotter pin spreader thingie and an extension on the pull arm so i could pull it while i still had weights on the back of the tractor..

It still never worked... the salt/sand was just too heavy to spread...

Then last spring i tried to spread lime.. (i got the powdered instead of pellets - my mistake) it was too heavy for the unit to spread properly..
I ended up stripping the gears in the spreader motor unit...

Now brinly sent me a new gear set.. (Free)
but i never got around to replacing it..

I use the drop seeder... it works fine and aerates (a little) and serves both purposes.. seeds and aerates...

ive still got the 175 lb spreader sitting in the back yard.. i hope to replace the motor gear unit and try it this year.. so far.. im not thrilled with it.. But i tried to use it for more than it was made for...

[simple_john]

heres a pic of the stock cotter pin setup...

http://www.apartofme.com/images/MVC-502X.JPG

[simple_john]

here a pic of the modified spreader thingie i added..


http://www.apartofme.com/images/MVC-506X.JPG

[simple_john]

the extender arm i added..

http://www.apartofme.com/images/MVC-500X.JPG

[simple_john]

by the time it was all said and done.. i wasted a lot more money and effort on the thing than it was worth.. But it was not made to spread sand and salt.. or powdered stuff...
so i sort of misused it... and Brinly was nice to send me the replacement gear set for free.. but i was into the thing for about 225$ (i think) and it sits in my yard as an expensive planter... :bonk:

[slkpk]

My agri-fab looks indentical to the Brinly. Have not had any problems using it with fert & seed. I really like mine. slkpk

[Argee]

it sits in my yard as an expensive planter... :bonk:

Do you use it to spread lime or fertilizer on your grass?