broke the spreader

[billonthefarm]

Thought it might be a good day to spread a load of manure for my neighbor. I guess I was wrong. Seems as the manure was froze on the bottom of the spreader and now I can fix the chain. At least it wasnt clear full.
bill
Untitled URL Link

 

[Anonymous-0]

No good deed goes unpunished!

Glenn

 

[rrlund]

Just the chain? Last spring I blew a gear box that runs one of the beaters on the Myer Vmax all to pieces. A few months ago the beater on the same side stripped all the splines out of the inside where it drives. About $1200 all together in repairs,not to mention it wasn't anywhere near empty either time.

 

[Don-Wi]

how long was it sitting loaded? The most important rule of winter spreading, NEVER leave the spreader loaded for more than a couple hours unless it's only just below freezing (still in the 30's) and make sure the tractor runs BEFORE you load it up.

If you load it before you start the tractor and it fails to go, you're gonna have a sh*t-sickle before long. Same goes for letting it sit before unloading it.

We try to just pile it up in the winter. Between what just runs off the field and how hard winter hauling is on the tractors and the spreader (short runs, plowed ground, etc...) we fgure it just aint worth it. Come March or April, we'll start trying to get out there but it ussually isn't worth it till late April.

Spent too many times with frozen spreaders (1 time will do it) to want to risk it.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[billonthefarm]

Oh trust me I know what you are saying. I loaned the spreader to a neighbor so he could clean out his horse barn. I went and got it today so it didnt sit around loaded forever. I stuck a pitchfork in it and it just seemed to be loose dusty bedding but on the very bottom something was froze. I was worried about it being froze so I brought it into the barn lot on the snow and ice where it was slick from melting and thought the wheel would slip before something broke. He is a good neighbor and he has done some favors so I will happily fix it. In fact I will see if I can run down some parts today.
bill

 

[Anonymous-0]

I did It! That was Thursday last week, I got fixed Saturday. I broke the gearbaox Chain. That was real fun, bent the sprocket too...yeah fun. But for me Saturday was at least 40 deg. outside.

 

[Don-Wi]

I know how that can go- I bet the very little bit of moisture in it all settled to the bottom and froze up tight.... Our spreader is PTO driven, but it atleast has shear pins up front for the whole thing and on the back for just the apron. Still manage to break the chain once in a while though...

The last time we had a major chain break we finally gave up and bouht a new chain for it. Wasn't all that bad cost wise and within a couple hours my dad and I had it changed out. Did it on a rainy day in the shed so we didn't loose any valuable field work time either.

Donovan from Wisconsin