broadcast spreader that doesn't suck

[atitus74]

Over the years I've tried a few of them and so far have never got a good one. Looking for suggestions. This is for mostly flat lawn area. Too large to use a drop spreader, but not large enough to warrant electric/pto spreaders. I need to be able to lay down granular fertilizer, herbicides and pesticide. The pesticide in particular seems to be challenging as the 'granular' material is very light. The problem I can't seem to solve is that I open the gate but no material comes out. I am forced to open the gate much wider than the setting I want and then the material comes pouring out and I have to quickly close it back down to the setting I want. I've had other ones where the gate works well but the range is terrible or uneven. Ideally I'd like to be able to tow it behind the BX but I'm not opposed to a good walk behind if that is the ticket. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Deerherd]

I use one of these for spreading seed, fertilizer etc, works very well. Might be more than you need, kind of pricey. About $1k

 

[dalola]

I think, in the world of broadcast spreaders, you get what you pay for. I'm not sure you can find anything of quality for much less $1K. I've been looking for years.

The big issue is corrosion from the fertilizer. Cheap materials will fail within a few years, even with good care. Some of the cheaper units do perform well for a couple years, however. I find a key feature is the agitator above the fan opening, to keep the material from clumping. I currently have a Brinley pull-behind that has worked well, but is on it's last legs, due to corrosion. Not sure what I will replace it with. Thinking of building a homemade 12V unit to strap to the front of my FEL. Just haven't found a good hopper for a starting point yet.

 

[Ford850]

I've had good luck with a quality Agri-Fab spreader. It has an open/exposed gear set which appealed to me. I thoroughly rinse off the spreader after each use and let it dry. Then I coat every metal surface including all nuts and bolt heads and inside the tubing with Fluid Film, before storing. Even when I leave a coating of fertilizer on the metal parts that I can't easily rinse off, I spray the FF over it all once it's dried. I've been using this for approximately 14 years now, which I never expected. It's used for fertilizer, lime, and grass seed.

 

[dodge man]

Why are you against a 3 point broadcaster? I have one and used it behind my BX for a couple of years and now behind a JD 2025. I like that you can throttle up or down to control how far you broadcast. They cover a lot of ground in a hurry. Mine looks a lot like the pic above behind the utv but is 3 point.

 

[atitus74]

Dodge man I'm not so much against it as thinking it was overkill. I did look at them online. If folks are having good luck with agrifab for example that seems to make sense for my usage and my wallet. If I had 700 to spend, a PTO spreader might be an option.

 

[RjCorazza]

I use a Befco 3 point spreader, and it has worked well for the past 15 years. Now with a larger cabbed tractor I need to come up with a way to operate the gate. I can pull it open with a rope, and drive around till empty. Pushing the gate closed is the problem because of the angle.
Anyway, for most applications I do around one acre at a time in literally a few minutes.

 

[coobie]

Over the years I've tried a few of them and so far have never got a good one. Looking for suggestions. This is for mostly flat lawn area. Too large to use a drop spreader, but not large enough to warrant electric/pto spreaders. I need to be able to lay down granular fertilizer, herbicides and pesticide. The pesticide in particular seems to be challenging as the 'granular' material is very light. The problem I can't seem to solve is that I open the gate but no material comes out. I am forced to open the gate much wider than the setting I want and then the material comes pouring out and I have to quickly close it back down to the setting I want. I've had other ones where the gate works well but the range is terrible or uneven. Ideally I'd like to be able to tow it behind the BX but I'm not opposed to a good walk behind if that is the ticket. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Lesco walk behind or befco baby hop pull behind.

 

[Texasmark]

I have a popular, reasonably priced, 500# 3pt conical spreader that I've used many years. I've learned that low percentage fertilizers, like 15-5-10, that I use on pasture grasses, likes to cake up at the outlet and clog it if I do one of 3 things:
1. Run around with the PTO spinning while the gate is shut
2. Load the hopper to the full 500#
3. Set the gate opening too narrow.

Every time I finish using it I immediately wash it down with clear water and then coat it all over with used cooking oil.

 

[The Fred]

CountyLine Fertilizer Spreader and Seeder at Tractor Supply Co.

Hard to beat this one, it's made in Italy and is the same brand Landpride used. I had the LP version for 20 years until the disc rotted out. TSC version is identical but does not come with an agitator that can be purchased separately.

Also one can spread small amounts of sand in the Winter with this model if it is screened.

 

[dodge man]

I have the exact unit Fred posted. If you have a smooth yard a tow behind would work. My yard is pretty rough. The other problem is a tow behind is setup for a riding mower so the control lever is a long reach from a tractor.

 

[atitus74]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I took a look at the befco and tsc spreaders. The befco hop and baby hop look fantastic. Only wish they were cheaper. Even the TSC model starts at $600. Time to start setting some cash aside for a future purchase. I haven't looked at lesco yet.

 

[bigtiller]

I had an Agra-fab spreader many years. I gave up trying to use the gate to control the amount of material that came out. Instead, I opened the gate wide open and controlled the coverage with the speed of the tractor.

 

[coobie]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I took a look at the befco and tsc spreaders. The befco hop and baby hop look fantastic. Only wish they were cheaper. Even the TSC model starts at $600. Time to start setting some cash aside for a future purchase. I haven't looked at lesco yet.

I know the price is a little salty.I have had my befco baby hop 10 years and it still looks new.I spray it off after every use.I try to buy once and cry only once with the high prices of these implements.

 

[BHD]

Kasco is making herd spreader, and they have a smaller electric model, Herd Broadcast Seeders/Spreaders from Kasco

i know the county spread grass seeding there ditches of the roads and they used a herd spreader that was electric mount on the side of a pickup,

I bought a 1200 model when Herd was still Herd, and it has done all I ever asked of it, there not cheap, I see them on Ebay from time to time,

one on ebay a small pto model HERD M-96 SEEDER 3 POINT HITCH *FREE 1 MI. TRUCK FREIGHT SHIPPING* | eBay do a search for heard spreaders and more will come up,

 

[Alan W.]

I think you would be well satisfied with a three point spreader. I have had a Baltic Baltimatic for over 25 years, a few dents and scrapes but still good as new. Like others have said wash it out after use. I spray mine with used motor oil and diesel to keep from corroding.

 

[duffer]

I too, have a conical spreader from Agrex. (3 pt - PTO) Got mine from my local JD dealer. I wanted one that would "resist" the fertilizer corrosion, and this one has a plastic cone for the material and a stainless steel whirlybird mechanism, rather than just regular steel. Going on my 3rd season with it, and still looks like new. I rinse it off each time, and have no corrosion, and I spread 60+ bags of fertilizer a year, plus other stuff like prodiamine, insecticide, etc.

The ability to control the spread is a real plus. You can regulate the amount, not just by the gate opening, but the tractor speed, elevation of the spreader on your 3 pt.
Paid $995 for mine.

Good luck!

 

[flashpuppy]

Y’all want the best spreader out there?

Lime Spreader - Sides Spread-all Spreaders

Hands down, absolute best spreader. 100% USA made. Heck, I have even done some of the design work on these. These things will spread anything. Probably way overkill and definitely gonna make you choke a little when you hear a price.

 

[dalola]

Y’all want the best spreader out there?

Lime Spreader - Sides Spread-all Spreaders

Hands down, absolute best spreader. 100% USA made. Heck, I have even done some of the design work on these. These things will spread anything. Probably way overkill and definitely gonna make you choke a little when you hear a price.

OK, let's have it. (the price)

 

[SharpFran]

I too, have a conical spreader from Agrex. (3 pt - PTO) Got mine from my local JD dealer. I wanted one that would "resist" the fertilizer corrosion, and this one has a plastic cone for the material and a stainless steel whirlybird mechanism, rather than just regular steel. Going on my 3rd season with it, and still looks like new. I rinse it off each time, and have no corrosion, and I spread 60+ bags of fertilizer a year, plus other stuff like prodiamine, insecticide, etc.

The ability to control the spread is a real plus. You can regulate the amount, not just by the gate opening, but the tractor speed, elevation of the spreader on your 3 pt.
Paid $995 for mine.

Good luck!

Thx for the recommendation! I think that price is fine