Equipment Notebook: June 2000, Spreaders

A staple in every contractor’s arsenal of tools, the granular spreader is an integral piece of lawn care equipment. These versatile machines are used in a wealth of ways – from applying herbicides and fertilizers to spreading such items as salt, sand, mulch, seed and soil amendments. Most anything can be applied with a spreader, according to Dan Haizlett, national marketing manager, Spyker Spreaders, North Manchester, Ind.

When selecting a spreader, a contractor should look for one that’s durable and able to withstand rigorous use. Some spreaders have hollow axles, nylon gears and bolted frames, which are less-than-desirable features that reduce longevity, Haizlett pointed out.

Jeff Kendall, director of sales and marketing, EarthWay Products, Rocky Gorge, Ind., added: "You don’t want a spreader that’s going to be disposable. You want the best quality possible."

Contractors should look for spreaders made of solid stainless steel, which minimizes rusting and corrosion problems, he advised.

MAINTENANCE CONCERNS. Calibration is one of the most important maintenance concerns with granular spreaders. To save money and make a profit, a spreader must be precise, and proper calibration is the only way to ensure this accuracy, noted Tom Jessen, owner, Perma-Green Supreme, Crown Point, Ind. "What you’re risking is money vs. the time necessary to do a proper calibration. If proper calibration isn’t done, you’re looking at increased callbacks, service calls, even lost customers," he said. "That’s far more expensive in the long run."

Generally, every time contractors apply a new product, they should recalibrate their spreader. Even if the same products are used for an extended period of time, a spreader should still be calibrated regularly since parts can get loose or misaligned, throwing the application rates off, Jessen pointed out.

To figure out exactly how accurately a spreader is operating, Jessen advised taking a machine with a 5-pound hopper, for example, on a measured property, making an application and recalculating how many pounds went down. "If the target was to spread 5 pounds of fertilizer on a 10,000-square-foot lawn, you shouldn’t have any fertilizer left," Jessen said. "Doing this is the only way to know if the machine is putting out exactly what you want."

In addition to diligent calibration, spreaders should be cleaned daily, to eliminate build-up and keep the spreader in working order. Haizlett advised washing the machine with warm water and soap. "It’s just like cleaning a car," he said, adding that a product like WD-40 can be rubbed over metal surfaces to maintain them.

To avoid rusting, make sure to thoroughly dry off the machine after washing. "Tip it back so it drains," Kendall said.

Jessen, though, advised against using water to wash off a spreader unless the water can be collected to avoid soil contamination. For cleaning, he suggested using compressed air from an air hose and then sweeping up the residue and throwing it back into the hopper.

Other spreader maintenance concerns include greasing moving parts with light gear oil weekly. Routine maintenance such as this is vital and will reduce repair costs over time, according to Kendall.

SPEEDY SPREADERS. Whether they’re sit-down, stand-up or a combination approach, motorized granular spreaders are an increasingly popular option for contractors. A motorized spreader’s benefits include being able to get a job done much faster than with a conventional spreader. Jessen, for example, said his company’s motorized spreader works about three times faster than a push spreader.

Generally, motorized spreaders can operate anywhere from 0 to 4 mph, according to Kendall. If the spreader moves any faster, it can throw the fertilizer too far afield and reduce its effectiveness, he noted. And motorized spreaders are generally more consistent than a conventional spreader, since operator fatigue is not a factor, according to Kendall.

A motorized spreader operates at a constant speed – around 4 mph or so – providing a steady application rate, which saves money and increases profit, Kendall said.

The main drawback to a motorized spreader its price, which can be several times the cost of a conventional model. A motorized spreader, however, can eventually pay for itself if used enough, Kendall pointed out. EarthWay’s motorized spreader for example, costs around $1,400 compared to the $400 or so that a push model costs. "But contractors are saving about 25 percent in material that they’re spreading and keeping good labor," he observed.