Drop spreader ???????

[Indydirtfarmer]

I'm in need of a seeder to place grass seed. It will be used on prepared soil, as opposed to existing turf. I have access to a powerseeder when I need that. Here's what I'm THINKING about doing! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

I want to build my own seeder. It would be a 3 point hitch mounted, 6' to 8', with a roller/cultipacker on the rear. That roller would drive a sprocket/chain drive to run a drop spreader to do the actual seeding.

Here's where I need help. I can use 2 or 3 walk-behind drop spreaders to do the seeding. I have a plan to utilize the shaft's where the wheels would normally be to run my chain drive. I need some decent spreaders.

I would like (in a perfect world) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img], to find spreaders that are around 40" to 48". If that doesn't happen, 30" x 3 would work. They need to be of fair quality, and the bigger the better.

Anyone know a source? Brand names? HELP!!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

Yeah, I know, KRAZIE IDEA [img]/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] (but I will make it happen!)

[Bowhunter]

I bet something like the attached picture would work pretty well, if you can make it. I can't remember where I found the pic but I think it was either on this site or on Sweet Farm Equip.'s site.

[Indydirtfarmer]

That's one of the brands I'm looking at "imitating". That's a "Ferguson" seeder. It is made now with the seedbox directly in front of the roller. Since my original post, I have found a source for the drop seeders. Gandy makes 42" units. I plan on taking 2 of them and putting them end to end. I'm sure that I can mount them less than 1-1/2" apart. The drive sprockets can be mounted at each end. That'll give me the width I'm after (84") I can keep the entire width under 8' with no trouble. (ease in hauling) That unit looks like a "Sweet Tractor" photo. Ken Sweet responded to an earlier post of mine with a great deal on one of those Ferguson units.

It just looks like a great "home-made" project to me! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Bowhunter]

I don't know how big the unit in the picture is, or how much it costs. That pretty color would match your tractor pretty well though. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Indydirtfarmer]

That appears to be the 6' model. I'm trying to come up with something at least 7' wide. That'll cover the width of my tractor. The 7'er is well over $4000. If I'm spending that much, it'll be a Woods "Super Turf Renovator".

With parts and steel on hand, a few odds and ends I'd need to buy, and the Gandy drop spreaders, I can build one that'll do the job for around $975. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

That leaves more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the NEXT project [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[sweettractors]

That unit with a 84 inch width is $1995 and we will have 1 ready in about 4-5 days--Using your own labor and parts At $975, you cant go wrong--Pictured in the attachment is also a used 8ft Farnam for $1995 that is very handy for seeding/renovating--Ken Sweet

[sweettractors]

Another view of the Farnam from the front--Ken Sweet

[Indydirtfarmer]

I must have got my prices mixed up. That is a good price on the Furguson seeder. I was thinking more like double your price.....

That "pasture renovator. do you rent them? I have an occational demand for one, but not enough to warrent buying one. I'm about 35 minutes drive from Mundfordville. (Just south of Louisville)

[sweettractors]

We dont rent them, We shipped the last used Farnam to Hawaii along with a new disc mower and hay tedder. They are pretty hard to find at a good price.--Ken Sweet

[Indydirtfarmer]

The 7' Ferguson seeder. Are you going to stock that one in, or is it possible for me to pick up at Clarksville, In and save a buck or two?