Hi Guys! Well I know it doesn't have an engine but it is a walk behind so I thought I would share my latest find. I was looking for a used spreader for my daughter-in-law and I ended up talking to my neighbor lady down at the end of the block to see if she had one she wanted to part with. We are currently doing her yard work as well as the yard where her folks lived before they both passed. My neighbor said she thought there was a spreader down in her folks garage and she would bring it up next time she was down there. Later that day she called to say she had it in her garage so my wife and I walked down to take a look at it. It was an old Scott's drop spreader and it looked like it had barely been used. I gave her $20.00 for it and took it home. Cleaned it up and touched up a couple of small chips but over all it is in amazing shape. In fact, it is too nice to give to my daughter-in-law so I am giving her my Scott's spreader which is a metal drop model as well, although not as old. I spoke to a representative at Scott's and gave them the model number which was 35-3 and they told me it was made in 1963/1964. Anyway, considering this is close to 50 years old I was glad to save it from a future garage sale. Here are a few pictures for your viewing. Note the instruction sheet in the hopper still looks like new. Bill
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Yard Nazi
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Well I had some time today and the weather was decent so I took a look at the Scotts drop spreader. I could pull the cotter pin on the drive side and get the wheel off and was able to check the axle size. Measured at around 11/16". Pretty sure most mower wheels are 1/2". Strike one!! Then I couldn't figure out how to get the other wheel off. There is no cotter pin on the inside so it must be under the plastic hub cap on the outside of the axle. Tried to get a putty knife under the edge to pop it off but no luck Didn't want to break whatever mounting tab(s) were holding it on so I quit. Strike two! This project may be coming to a halt real soon. Might have to look into a good broadcast spreader. Anyone have really good luck with a quality push model. Don't want plastic wheels, sorry. Looking at Agri-fab and Shindaiwa. Reviews on the Scott's Pro had a lot of negatives. There is a new Scotts broadcast model that I just saw that has dual slingers and rubber wheels. Any opinions will be appreciated. Hate to put the old Scotts drop spreader on vacation. :-( Bill
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You can still buy Scotts Drop Spreaders. My piano teacher has a newer Scotts one. I have used it a few times, and it worked extremely well and smooth on her yard, which is rough enough to crack two mower decks in 10 years.
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Thanks for that info Riley, however the issue I am having is the Scotts Drop Spreader I have is too close to the ground when applying Weed and Feed which needs to go on a wet lawn. The bottom is dragging the grass and clogging the openings. That's why I was trying to raise the hopper up by installing larger wheels. I think even Lawnboy77 said he has a newer Scotts and it does the same thing. I will look into the broadcast type to see if the expenditure is going to be worth it. I am only doing fertilizer/weed control on 3 or 4 lawns so it would take a season to pay for the new equipment. Bill
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Oh. I guess I have never had that issue with my piano teachers. It always sits 5-6" above the ground.
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Hi Guys! Well Spring is getting closer and I am going to have to make a decision on whether to add to the equipment with a broadcast spreader. I may be doing as many as 5 lawns so that makes the decision to spend the money a bit easier. I looked at Shindaiwa at my Toro dealer, I believe it was the RS41 model. Also looked at Yardworks at Menards in the 85# model. Says it has rubber never flat tires. Also uses a rod versus a cable to actuate the hopper and comes with a cover with side flaps for directing the fertilizer to either side. The one that intrigues me, however, is the new Scotts Elite broadcast spreader. This has foam filled never flat rubber tires, edgeguard, and has dual opposed rotating slingers. Also stainless steel axle and drive rods for the impellers. The Shindaiwa has no cover and no edge guard and is $140.00. The Yardworks is around $70.00. The Scotts Elite is around $99.00. Looking for any information on either the Yardworks or the new Scotts Elite. Anyone have either of these? If so, your thoughts. I don't need a top of the line commercial spreader but don't want to waste my money on junk. My old 1964 Scott's drop spreader 35-3 works like the day it was new. It's just too low for applying weed and feed to a wet lawn. Bill
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I have not found an owners manual for it yet. I did contact Scott's and the only thing they have on file for the 35-3 is the calibration instructions which they are mailing to me. I will see about getting them added to the library. Send me a PM if you would like a copy and I will scan it and send it to you in an email. Bill
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Okay! Received the instruction sheet from Scott's for calibration of the old spreaders such as the 35 series and the PF-1 and PF-2. The little calibration tool is nothing more than a piece of metal that lays next to the part that covers the holes and shows if the opening is too big or too small. Pretty sure Scott's will mail you one N/C just for the asking however if anyone needs the dimensions I can measure the width and you can probably make one. Let me know if you need the dimensions. I may get it out next time in the shed and measure it and post the size here. Bill
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Okay here is the update. Got the spreader setting tool from the shed and it appears to have been wrapped up with a use and care type sheet for the drop spreaders. Also measured up the tool and have created a sheet with the specs for those that want to make one. Attached is that sheet as well as the use and care. Bill
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Okay for those of you that have been following this thread you know I was complaining that the hopper sits too low on this old drop spreader and when applying weed and feed to a wet lawn the grass drags the bottom of the hopper and it clogs up. Not excited about buying a different spreader so here is what I did. Removed both plastic hub caps very carefully so as to not break the mounting tabs. Removed both wheels. Found 2, 1/2 inch shoulder bolts that would extend 2 inches through the 14" used wheels I picked up today at my local hardware store. The axles that the Scott's wheels were on are actually hollow steel and are much bigger around than the 1/2 inch wheel bolts. Actually the wheel bolts, with a bit of persuasion, threaded right in. Drilled the appropriate hole for the free wheeling side and installed a cotter pin to secure the shoulder bolt inside the hollow tube although it was tight and I don't think it would have come out. Did the same on the drive side and added an extra long cotter pin through the plastic wheel through the shoulder bolt to create the drive aspect. Flat washers under the bolt head and on the inside of the wheel. Now I just need to test it out. I now have a full 6 inches of clearance between the ground and the bottom of the hopper outlet. Here are some pictures. Bill
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