3pt broadcast spreader???

[dave2]

Hey folks,
Anyone use something like this??




I've got one in fine shape but no manual. Want to use it this spring to fertilize the pastures but don't know how far to open the ports. First time fertilizing and don't wanna over/under do it. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 

[showcrop]

It looks like it is a Lely which is what I have. The key to these is to get the whole on off and adjustment mechanism freed up with penetrating oil and hammer pliers etc. You will see that rotating a ring will open and close the two openings. I set mine at about 2.5 -3.0 I believe for spreading a mixture something like 30-10-20 on grass. There should be a place to secure a rope that will enable you to open it to start releasing from the drivers seat
 

[dave2]

different brand (diadem), but should be the same principal....Prolly simpler than I am making it. Everything is free and pretty clean except for the control area markings. I'll clean them up this winter and try again. There is a big sticker on it with some numbers and what looks different size dots (all faded/scratched) that may have been the idiot sticker. These things were real common and may still be in some of the neighbor's barns. Maybe I'll just start knocking on doors and may find one with a visible sticker.
 

[mazemeister]

yep, they're pretty much all the same. app rate is going to depend on your pattern width, ground speed, gate setting, and the humidity that day (dry fertilizer flows faster than damp at a given gate setting).

if you get your fertilizer in 50# bags, i'd toss 1 bag in, pick a ground speed that is a comfortable speed to drive, figure out how wide it spreads (remember to overlap some), pick a gate setting, and see how far you go with it. figure out the acreage and adjust the gate setting up or down, try another bag. when you're close enough, go for it.

another approach is make sure you are under-applying, do the whole field, then you'll know what you did (write down that info for next year) and you can make adjustments to make up the difference the second time over.
 

[mazemeister]

btw the sticker might give you a good starting place but don't believe it, calibrate yourself.
 

[dave2]

Maybe this is a bad idea then (???)........... My places are small (1/4 to 1 acre) uneven and have some fruit trees. Maintaining a steady speed will be impossible. I have one of the little push broadcasters that holds 50 pounds or so. Maybe that is the best bet?

Thanks.
 

[Michael Soldan]

No Dave,its a good idea. I have used mine for fertilizer and for seeding down pasture,you need to experiment,even if you don't have large acerage. Like was said ,throw a bag of fertilizer in,open it a little and drive around at your leisure until its empty..the worst to happen is that you don't get enough on and you would have to take the same drive again,you'll figure it out
 

[randallinMo]

I've got one almost just like it. Mine is notorious for being almost impossible to calibrate. The setting chart on it is WAY off. About the only good thing about those things is that it beats walking with a push spreader.
In order to be more accurate, you can build some "catch boxes" and weigh the amount you are putting on. Build 3, 3x3 square frames out of 2x4's. Tack plastic to the bottom of each one. Place these 3 boxes across your spread pattern (one on each side and one in the middle). DRive at the speed that you think you can maintain and spread fertilizer over the boxes you have set up (driving over the middle box). Stop after having gone over the boxes. Weigh the total amount of fertilizer in all three boxes. Multiply this amount times 1613 and this will give you the total pounds PER ACRE you have just applied. Adjust your settings as necessary.
 

[Coloken]

Don't try to calibrate it to do a "one pass" thing. Set it to a way less point and drive over and over till out of fertilizer.
 

[dave2]

[PJH]

Good advice on setting it tight and making multiple passes. Not only with fertilizer, but also with seed. Better to have a corner a little light in coverage than to have it all in one corner. And none on the remainder. . .

I've got one and I like it.
 

[RodinNS]

You don't need a chart as they're pretty well useless. Open it enough to get an even flow and drive as fast as you dare drive. That will put you somewhere around 300 #/acre.

Rod
 

[GordoSD]

Hook it up and put 100 lbs of fert in it. Engage it and drive 40 feet. Stop. Get out and measure the width of the fert band. Lets say it is 32 feet. Now Start your GPS odometer. Drive .25 miles. That would be distance for 1 acre. Add fert if needed. That means you applied 100lbs on 1 acre. Modify amount you start with to get what you want on 1 acre.
 

[paul]

This fella has one too, maybe you can share info with him?

http://farmingforum.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=1009484


;)
--->Paul
 

[Rick Kr]

Per your comment below about 1/4 to 1 acre plots.

You may be better off with a little pull behind hooked to your four wheeler. One in the 150lb range. Just my thoughts.

Rick