3-Pt Sprayers Question

[rmonio]

I'm looking at buying the JD 3-Pt Sprayer advertised on the JD website - John Deere products for homeowners: Features for Attachment 40-gal. 3-point Electric Sprayer - anyone have any experience with it (pro/con)?

I will be using it to spray my horse pastures - the smaller unit that I have for my little Deere lawn tractor would take hours to do the same pastures that this unit should be able to handle.

Your help is appreciated - thanks!

-Bob

 

[rvaitor]

I'm looking at buying the JD 3-Pt Sprayer advertised on the JD website - John Deere products for homeowners: Features for Attachment 40-gal. 3-point Electric Sprayer - anyone have any experience with it (pro/con)?

I will be using it to spray my horse pastures - the smaller unit that I have for my little Deere lawn tractor would take hours to do the same pastures that this unit should be able to handle.

Your help is appreciated - thanks!

-Bob

There have been quite a few sprayer discussions. That unit looks pretty nice to me. I am working on building up a sprayer and have pretty much decided buying one ready to go is a good way to go. I like the boom spayers vs the boomless ones in that you probably won't ingest as much chemicals with one of those.

 

[ddivinia]

How much area do you need to cover?

Do you know how much water you will be putting out?

I figure 10 gallons per acre. Figure how long you want the job to take.

I am in the process of ordering a new wylie sprayer. They seem to have some good stuff.

Wylie Sprayers | Home

Boom and boomless have their pros and cons. I have both booms and boomless on my current 3pt sprayer (150G). I am going to a boomless 500G unit. These new nozzles are pretty impressive.

D.

 

[mjncad]

What does Deere want for that unit? Personally I'd go with something that uses a roller pump in that size range and above.

The only thing I saw that I liked with the Deere was that it is I-match compatible from the factory. I had to modify my FIMCO 55-gallon unit to work with my quick-hitch.

 

[rmonio]

Thank you for your replies.

John Deere and sites like JDGREEN are selling this sprayer for $699.

I looked at the FIMCO unit and it did not have the pump nor the wand sprayer with the unit - even though the price was less at Fleet Farm. It said that unit was quick-hitch compatible, but I didn't get to verify.

The Wylie unit looks pretty good - although the price is higher. Is there advantage between a roller pump (PTO-driven) and the electric one that the Deere unit uses? The FIMCO is electric and seems to work well enough for the yard.

Thanks again for you feedback, everyone!

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Roller pump will stand to more abuse and push more volume.

It would have to be a pretty big electric pump to go 10G an acre with a decent ground speed.

D.

 

[rmonio]

Hmm. I've heard others talk about Roller pumps too - what is the difference between that and electric?

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

There are different types of pumps. I am no expert on them. I am familiar with electric, roller, and soon to be gear pump. I am a tad concerned about going to a gear pump pump because they have a lot of bronze in them. If I run liquid fertilizer thru it - it can mess it up.

I find that round up is eating up my electric pumps in a hurry.

Roller pump has been good, but for heavy use people shy away from them.

I wanted to go to a hydraulic pump, but my tractor does not have a motor mode on the rear SCVs and I didn't want to have to use a bungee cord for my spraying like I do with my weed wiper.

Call the guys at Wylie - they can explain all the different types. They sell them all also.

D.

 

[rmonio]

Darin -

Thanks for the clarification. I'll do more research on them - however, I'm thinking my usage might not require something like that overall. I don't do enough spraying - between my FIMCO and this JD unit I'm looking at, I should be ok.

Thanks for the help!

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Darin -

Thanks for the clarification. I'll do more research on them - however, I'm thinking my usage might not require something like that overall. I don't do enough spraying - between my FIMCO and this JD unit I'm looking at, I should be ok.

Thanks for the help!

-Bob

Do yourself a favor and call them. They are really good - no high pressure sales tactics.

I went thru a handful of sprayers. When I bought my 3 pt one I figured I was done.

You have to figure out what you are spraying chemical wise and how much water you need to spread that. For example:

I know I put like 2 pints per acre of Grazon Next. 10 gallons of water per acre for the spray tips to spray properly at the given PSI etc.

So, 150 G sprayer I can do approx 15 acres. Let me tell ya - that was OK when I was doing small stuff. I am going to a 500 G tank this time around.

I had a roller pump with no issues. PTO driven - works fine. Can be a pain to hook up at time. I am going to go with a trailer mounted gear pump with a PTO shaft.

Also, they make a number of different roller pumps. The number of rollers and the coatings, etc. All depends on what you are pumping (trash vs water vs nasty chamicals), etc.

D.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks, Darin. My acreage is around 6-7 acres, so it isn't large.

What is "Grazon"? Also - for pastures that have horses on them, what suggestions do you have for fertilizer/weed killer that I might use?

Thanks for your help!

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks, Darin. My acreage is around 6-7 acres, so it isn't large.

What is "Grazon"? Also - for pastures that have horses on them, what suggestions do you have for fertilizer/weed killer that I might use?

Thanks for your help!

-Bob

Grazon Next is a herbicide I am using for broadleaf weed control.

It might be to contact your county agent to talk about target weeds, etc. Also, I would send off soil samples so you can come up with the proper fertilizer mix.

D.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks - does Grazon Next allow for immediate grazing or does it require 24-48 hours of downtime?

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks - does Grazon Next allow for immediate grazing or does it require 24-48 hours of downtime?

-Bob

I would have to pull the manual on it but I believe there are 7 day grazing restrictions, but that is for lactating cows. Which is dairy cattle - not just calves. Also, they recommend I think 14 days or so for haying.

You can download a specimen label and check it out.

Do you have an applicators license? The new Grazon Next does not require one like the old Grazon P+D.

D.

 

[organ grinder]

I have a Hardi ES 30 estate sprayer. It is on a trailer and is very easy to use. Has an electric pump that runs off the tractor's battery via a switch I mounted on the fender. Mine has a six-foot boom, but there are larger models. It also has a hand wand that is handy. I've had no problems with it and use it 4-5 times a year. As I recall, the price was about $450 four years ago. Hope this helps. . . .

 

[mjncad]

Thank you for your replies.

John Deere and sites like JDGREEN are selling this sprayer for $699.

I looked at the FIMCO unit and it did not have the pump nor the wand sprayer with the unit - even though the price was less at Fleet Farm. It said that unit was quick-hitch compatible, but I didn't get to verify.

The Wylie unit looks pretty good - although the price is higher. Is there advantage between a roller pump (PTO-driven) and the electric one that the Deere unit uses? The FIMCO is electric and seems to work well enough for the yard.

Thanks again for you feedback, everyone!

-Bob

I got my FIMCO sprayer and pump from Gempler's and somebody goofed big time as I got the whole thing truck freight for the cost of UPS rates for the pump only.

Anyway, the pump and torque arm's current price is at: Fimco Roller Pump with Torque Arm, Sprayer Pumps & Tanks - GEMPLER'S

The sprayer is at: Fimco Sprayer -- 3-point, 55-gallon, Three-point Sprayers - GEMPLER'S


The price is about $100 more than the Deere unit; but a roller pump will be better suited for 6 - 7 acres. A roller pump is a positive displacement pump that constantly pumps liquid under consistent pressure when the PTO is activated. The fluid bypass built into sprayers using roller pumps acts as an agitator to keep your chemical cocktail mixed up. Most of the electric pumps seem to be on-demand, and based on using a borrowed 25-gallon wagon mounted sprayer with a Shur-Flo electric pump, the flow surged from the pump's operation instead of being smooth like a roller pump's flow is.

In any case, the FIMCO/Schaben units generally come with a hand-gun; but the 25-feet hose is too short, and the lack of a hose reel and swivel fitting near the gun makes them a PITA to use. From what I see of the Deere unit, their handgun is going to suffer from the same hassles.

The downside of the FIMCO unit is that I had to make it Quick-Hitch compatible; while the Deere is QH ready. In any case if I had to do it over again, I'd design my own sprayer.

I talked with Wylie today about a 125-gallon tank that I want to use for another project; but alas the truck freight killed that deal for me. The guy who called from Garden City, KS was pleasant and there was no pressure to buy.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks for the feedback and explanation.

My next concern is learning what I can and can't use for weed killing/fertilizing when there is cattle and horses on the pastures. Is there any direction that you can share?

Thanks again for your help!

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Thanks for the feedback and explanation.

My next concern is learning what I can and can't use for weed killing/fertilizing when there is cattle and horses on the pastures. Is there any direction that you can share?

Thanks again for your help!

-Bob

County Agent is usually pretty good for that. Where do you plan on getting your chemicals? They might be able to advise you.

First thing is to know the target.
Second - get some recommendations on possible herbicide.
Third - read the label a bunch of times to figure out the pros and cons.

The labels are pretty well laid out.

D.

 

[rmonio]

Thanks, Darin.

Any vendors that you recommend?

-Bob

 

[ddivinia]

Might try here: Farmers Mill & Elevator Incorporated
(507) 645-5648
27920 Danville Ave, Northfield, MN