Pendulum vs. plain spreader?

[daveinnh]

I'm looking for a 750 -1,000 lb capacity PTO speader to distribute lime & fertilizer. It would be good to have choice of directing flow - full or combination of center & either side.

So what is the benefit of using a pendulum type spreader?

Other thoughts?

[Charolais]

I'm looking for a 750 -1,000 lb capacity PTO speader to distribute lime & fertilizer. It would be good to have choice of directing flow - full or combination of center & either side.

So what is the benefit of using a pendulum type spreader?

Other thoughts?

Over the years I've used several types of spinner spreaders and they are all the same as every one has always put out more material on one side than the other. Lely was the best spinner I've owned but it also threw more to one side.

About 10 years ago I borrowed a Vicon pendulum type and found it spreads more even than any spinner spreader I've ever used. So I bought one. I mainly spread nitrogen 34% on hay and pasture land and use it for seeding. It's the most accurate spreader I've ever used. It can be calibrated going through some steps and with the price of fertilizer the accuracy pays off in wasted material. After the first year of usage I added an electric actuator to open and close the gate mainly because I have a cab tractor and don't want to spread with the back window open. The next year I added a S-lite guidance system and weather proof cover so I can spread in the rain. Nitrogen is so expensive I now spread when it's raining to make sure it gets in the soil and not lay around on dry ground for ever how long. This summer I added and capacitive proximity switch to the bottom of the hopper so I know when the hopper is empty without having to watch behind me as often. I use the return to point feature on the S-Lite when I stop and after refilling it insures me I start back where I stopped. The switch will pick up the material through the hopper wall(didn't have to drill a hole in the hopper) and switches a light on to let me know it's empty. I now have what I think is the perfect spreader for my use. I have no green streaks or yellow streaks in the fields and not doubling up with overlap because I can always see where I've been with the GPS unit. I can spread night or day and in the rain. I spread 12 tons of 34% annually so I have to be careful of waste and at the same time I don't want to miss any areas either. At $485 per ton I want every bit of the nitrogen in the correct place.

As far as directing the material to one side or the other the Lely is the only spreader I've used that had that option. The Vicon doesn't. Never used it on the Lely but had instructions on how to. For my use I think the Vicon is the best spreader for me. If there's one that will spread a better pattern I'd sure like to see it and use it.

[Andrewnewy]

We sell both the Lely and Vicon, the Pendulum spreader daveinnh said, much more accurate, as there is no bias left or right. The biggest advantage of the spinner spreaders is when you spread compost and large chuck products, however for general fert spreading my money would be with the pendulums. There is also a range of different spouts which will change spreading widths, or one sided spreading, or banding you name it.

Also, don't know what prices are like in the US, but here in Australia they are cheaper than the spinner units!

My other big piece of advice would be look for parts backup, there are now some chinese ones floating around which are a few grand cheaper than say the Vicon, however, when they break, be prepared to throw them in the bin and start again. On the other hand a product like the Vicon, we have units now 15+ years old still going, and parts are still readily available, so while they will cost you more to start with, they will last a life time!

[Robert_in_NY]

Over the years I've used several types of spinner spreaders and they are all the same as every one has always put out more material on one side than the other. Lely was the best spinner I've owned but it also threw more to one side.

About 10 years ago I borrowed a Vicon pendulum type and found it spreads more even than any spinner spreader I've ever used. So I bought one. I mainly spread nitrogen 34% on hay and pasture land and use it for seeding. It's the most accurate spreader I've ever used. It can be calibrated going through some steps and with the price of fertilizer the accuracy pays off in wasted material. After the first year of usage I added an electric actuator to open and close the gate mainly because I have a cab tractor and don't want to spread with the back window open. The next year I added a S-lite guidance system and weather proof cover so I can spread in the rain. Nitrogen is so expensive I now spread when it's raining to make sure it gets in the soil and not lay around on dry ground for ever how long. This summer I added and capacitive proximity switch to the bottom of the hopper so I know when the hopper is empty without having to watch behind me as often. I use the return to point feature on the S-Lite when I stop and after refilling it insures me I start back where I stopped. The switch will pick up the material through the hopper wall(didn't have to drill a hole in the hopper) and switches a light on to let me know it's empty. I now have what I think is the perfect spreader for my use. I have no green streaks or yellow streaks in the fields and not doubling up with overlap because I can always see where I've been with the GPS unit. I can spread night or day and in the rain. I spread 12 tons of 34% annually so I have to be careful of waste and at the same time I don't want to miss any areas either. At $485 per ton I want every bit of the nitrogen in the correct place.

As far as directing the material to one side or the other the Lely is the only spreader I've used that had that option. The Vicon doesn't. Never used it on the Lely but had instructions on how to. For my use I think the Vicon is the best spreader for me. If there's one that will spread a better pattern I'd sure like to see it and use it.

You can spread to to side with a Vicon, you just need to get the proper spout. Vicon has quite a few to choose from. They have left side, right side and they also have a spout that you can change (if I remember correctly) from left to right by turning the tip. Its basically like having your hand cupped, anything in your hand won't fall out on the back stroke but when you swing the other way it gets spread.

I have two Vicons, I have a 1 ton model mounted on a Vicon cart that I use for banding in the vineyard and I also have a 500 pound unit that I use for topdressing hay and certain crop fields. They will last a lot of years and what wears out on them is the stainless steel plates used for metering the amount of material flowing to the spout but it takes a very long time and a lot of use to wear out.

[Charolais]

You can spread to to side with a Vicon, you just need to get the proper spout. Vicon has quite a few to choose from. They have left side, right side and they also have a spout that you can change (if I remember correctly) from left to right by turning the tip. Its basically like having your hand cupped, anything in your hand won't fall out on the back stroke but when you swing the other way it gets spread.

I have two Vicons, I have a 1 ton model mounted on a Vicon cart that I use for banding in the vineyard and I also have a 500 pound unit that I use for topdressing hay and certain crop fields. They will last a lot of years and what wears out on them is the stainless steel plates used for metering the amount of material flowing to the spout but it takes a very long time and a lot of use to wear out.

Well I learn something every day. Thanks for the info. The Vicon I borrowed was rebuilt the next year. My neighbor said that one was 26 years old. No problem to get the parts in this area.

[LHS Inc]

I've got a 3pt Land Pride broadcast spreader. I used it last Fall to fertilize a 3 acre yard. I thot it did a good job but come spring when the grass greened up I was horrified to see dark green streaks in the yard. The streaks were all the same width thruout the lawn. It eventually grew out of it but it looked nasty and now I'm scared to use the thing.

I'd love to have a pendular spreader but they cost about 3-4 times the amount I paid for the Land Pride.

I've never had a problem with my small tow behind broadcast spreader before but this one did a number on me.

Maybe if I can come up with the money I'll get one. I was looking at the Befco models.

[Robert_in_NY]

I've got a 3pt Land Pride broadcast spreader. I used it last Fall to fertilize a 3 acre yard. I thot it did a good job but come spring when the grass greened up I was horrified to see dark green streaks in the yard. The streaks were all the same width thruout the lawn. It eventually grew out of it but it looked nasty and now I'm scared to use the thing.

I'd love to have a pendular spreader but they cost about 3-4 times the amount I paid for the Land Pride.

I've never had a problem with my small tow behind broadcast spreader before but this one did a number on me.

Maybe if I can come up with the money I'll get one. I was looking at the Befco models.

Look to areas with vineyards, you can find decent used Vicon spreaders for a fraction of the cost. Farm auctions at old vineyards are good places also. If you only plan to use it on a few acres an old Vicon would be a great investment. My 500 pound Vicon cost me $75 as I bought it from an estate. My 1 ton unit cost me $750. The dealers here all have used Vicons on their lots as well for a fraction of the cost of new.

[hrcarver]

Also love my pendular spreader. I have the frontier, but may try the vicon when it wears out (Not that the frontier is junk, but I use it A LOT). Wore out my lely 10-15 years ago.


...But for directional spreading, I'm not sure about that. I suppose you could turn the cup on the back. I'm always on open fields so can someone explain how that works? Seems to me it would throw heavy like that. You can somewhat control the swath width with gear/rpm for strips.

[Robert_in_NY]

Also love my pendular spreader. I have the frontier, but may try the vicon when it wears out (Not that the frontier is junk, but I use it A LOT). Wore out my lely 10-15 years ago.


...But for directional spreading, I'm not sure about that. I suppose you could turn the cup on the back. I'm always on open fields so can someone explain how that works? Seems to me it would throw heavy like that. You can somewhat control the swath width with gear/rpm for strips.

If your spreading to just one side you have to adjust the flow to the appropriate rate. Its no different then setting the rate for full broadcasting, you just have to do the math and if its too high a rate then close the metering plate to the appropriate setting.

With banding all it does is have a short spout and it tosses the fetilizer only on the sides and not in the middle. I usually spreading at 9' rows so I only want the fertilizer on the rows and not the centers. The banding spout works great for this.

[hrcarver]

If your spreading to just one side you have to adjust the flow to the appropriate rate. Its no different then setting the rate for full broadcasting, you just have to do the math and if its too high a rate then close the metering plate to the appropriate setting.

With banding all it does is have a short spout and it tosses the fetilizer only on the sides and not in the middle. I usually spreading at 9' rows so I only want the fertilizer on the rows and not the centers. The banding spout works great for this.

I assume changing spouts also the correct way to throw to one side?