Vicon (now Kubota) Pendulum Spreaders

[bunchgrass]

I'm looking to buy a decent (not Chinese crap) spin spreader and saw Vicon had some that looked good. Now it appears that Kubota bought Vicon and is marketing the spreaders under their own label -- ex VS 400. Anyone have experience with either the Vicon originals or the Kubota version? Vicon had a slew of models but Kubota seems to only carry 3 that I can tell.

 

[5030]

Think I'd buy one from Agri-Supply. Much cheaper. It's a pendular spreader btw. I have one.

 

[Farmer495]

I'd go with Kubota/Vicon, good brand and they were considered the gold standard in 3pt spreaders. I run an older Vicon, very happy with it.

 

[5030]

Keep in mind that a spin spreader and a pendular spreader are 2 different things entirely.

 

[Big Barn]

We had three of the original Vicons on the farm. All the 2200 pound (metric tonne) 3 pt hitch mounted versions.

The only thing I ever replaced were the pendulum spouts.

 

[bunchgrass]

Yeah --- I should have used the right term but didn't. Spin spreaders aren't pendulum spreaders.

Anyone spread seed or gravel with the Vicon/Kubota? My Kubota dealer is trying to get me to buy a Landpride (also now owned by Kubota). None of the local Kubota dealers has any of the Vicons in stock and the salesman claims they're never sold one in this area. Guess we're a bunch of cheapskates.

 

[mjw357]

Anyone spread seed or gravel with the Vicon/Kubota?

I got lucky and picked up a used Vicon PS 203 for $150, put another $150 in parts in it, works great. I use it exclusively for spreading clover and grass seeds.

 

[Hay Dude]

Vicon makes really nice spreaders. Kubota is very busy these days buying up smaller AG-equipment companies

 

[5030]

I spread 46 granulated (prills) and seed with mine, I'd never consider spreading gravel with one. Sounds like almost instant death to me.

I have the Agri Supply model PDV 500, 500 pound capacity, Item number 76161, $2119.99. I also have their spin spreader, 672 pound capacity, P250, $499.99.

Never had any issue with either but I don't spread gravel either...lol I keep them greased and clean them out (pressure wash them inside) after I use them. 46 will destroy any spreader in short order if left inside the hopper.

Just be sure your 3 point can carry the weight of the spreader and the contents.

Neither is as you term it 'Chinese Junk'. Neither are made in China.

 

[5030]

Spreader death is always caused by lack of cleaning out the fertilizer after use. All fertilizer is corrosive on metal parts' so even if the hopper is poly, the rest of the parts are metal and prone to corrosion.