Nice job on the manifold, could brass ball valves and fittings be used instead of plastic?I have lots of that stuff around.Maybe I should just buy plastic?Where did those quick couplers come from and what size are they(on the PTO roller pump)Great Idea on making the inlet and outlet foolproof!I`m waiting on my tank so I can continue fabricating.I`m building a conventional type carriage (like the store bought spayers)to mount everything.I hope to make it as nice or nicer than a mfg unit.I`m a detail nut. Thanks for the help.
Building boom sprayer w/foam marker
- Thread starter PineRidge
- Start date
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OP
PineRidge
Super Member
7864 said:
I was actually going to use brass ball valves myself until I checked the price.
Copper and brass have both gone sky high. And since the PVC is rated for 150 PSI and considerably less money that's the route that I took. Was concerned that the threaded PVC fittings would leak but I gave all the fittings 4 wraps of Teflon tape and I had none. Picked up the cam & groove fittings from SumnerRubber, they have lots of different sizes in both aluminum and polyethylene and the prices are right.
OP
PineRidge
Super Member
Well as of yesterday evening the last few pieces that were needed to complete this project electrically showed up here via UPS. Now that it's all here, I should be able to wrap this project up today and let you all know how it works. I'll have more pictures to share with you later today, gotta finish my cup of Joe and get to work wiring.
OP
PineRidge
Super Member
Yup, we finally finished up the wiring of our project this afternoon. (thank god)
The 1st picture shows the 3 conductor wire that was pulled to the right fender control area. This wire was connected to a two position Carling waterproof spdt switch that controls the foam output between the left and right side of the boom.
The second and 3rd pictures show the wires pulled (7 conductor from sprayer & 3 conductor from left/right right fender) to a point under the instrument cluster where it was all fused, connected, and insulated properly. While I had the lower cowling apart I also troubleshooted the glow-plug timer module since the instrument cluster light was intermittently winking at me from time to time. As it turns out I have a bad 60 dollar timer that I'll need to replace before winter rolls around. But for the time being I just pulled the timer out of the circuit.
Fourth & 5th pictures show the now completed rig spraying and laying down foam balls. I started doing a bit of experimenting and used an inverted funnel covered with a ladies hose on one side of the boom and the end of a plastic watering can covered with a ladies hose on the other side of the boom. The watering can end wins in my book as it puts down grapefruit sized balls of foam that stick to the grass and are very easy to see from a distance. I'll be putting one on each side of the boom now.
6th picture shows where I mounted the switch to control the spray rig. 1st position is off, second position is automatic timed operation of air compressor and 3rd position is manual run or purge for initial startup.
7th picture shows the new waterproof SPDT Carling switch that controls the foam to the left/right side of the boom. I never used the original rabbit/turtle switch that was mounted here since there is another on the joystick, so I installed the new switch then pulled the paddle handle off the original switch and installed it on the new switch. It looks stock and the paddle is much easier to find with my finger when I need to reverse the foam output.
8th picture shows the gun in operation from the tractor seat giving the pine trees a drink of much needed water.
Last picture shows the RV plug/receptacle that I used. When the sprayer is no longer connected I tuck the receptacle behind the seat.
I ran roughly 150 gallons of water through the sprayer today to test it and in that time used a total of 2 gallons of diluted foam solution so the foam concentrate should go a long, long way.
The features of this boom sprayer include:
10-foot collapsible boom with a full 12-foot spray pattern
Boom utilizes seven TeeJet brand spray bodies with diaphragm check valves for drip-free shut-off, XR-80 degree nozzles, and nozzle strainers
Both boom tips are equipped for foam marking
Foam generator utilizes a diaphragm air compressor rated for continuous operation
Air compressor can be switched from manual to timed operation with the flip of a switch at the instrument panel
Foam can be directed to either boom tip with the flip of a switch on control cluster (right fender)
Solid-state timer is fully adjustable on both the pulse (on time) and pause of air compressor cycle
Hypro brand 6 roller PTO pump protected by an in-line 80-mesh strainer and equipped with proprietary cam lock couplers to prevent incorrect inlet/outlet hose connections.
65-gallon poly tank with easy-to-see gallon markings to assist with the ratio of water/chemical mix and also equipped with internal agitator to keep chemicals mixed
Twin ball valves to isolate poly tank
Spray manifold equipped with adjustable pressure regulator, glycerin dampened psi gauge, and ball valves to isolate boom or wand
Trigger spray gun with adjustable spray tip & quick attach coupling
Watering type wand (high volume, low pressure) with quick attach coupling
Hand reel with 100 foot of EPDM hose equipped with ball valve on quick coupler to make attachment of wand or gun quick and leak free
Two separate 5-gallon foam generator tanks. Each controls one side of the boom for hours of use between refills
Parking hangers for both wands, the PTO pump, and the flexible intake/return lines
Electrical connection is made from sprayer to tractor via a 7-pole trailer plug & receptacle for quick hook-up
5-inch castor's for easy positioning of sprayer within the pole barn
The 1st picture shows the 3 conductor wire that was pulled to the right fender control area. This wire was connected to a two position Carling waterproof spdt switch that controls the foam output between the left and right side of the boom.
The second and 3rd pictures show the wires pulled (7 conductor from sprayer & 3 conductor from left/right right fender) to a point under the instrument cluster where it was all fused, connected, and insulated properly. While I had the lower cowling apart I also troubleshooted the glow-plug timer module since the instrument cluster light was intermittently winking at me from time to time. As it turns out I have a bad 60 dollar timer that I'll need to replace before winter rolls around. But for the time being I just pulled the timer out of the circuit.
Fourth & 5th pictures show the now completed rig spraying and laying down foam balls. I started doing a bit of experimenting and used an inverted funnel covered with a ladies hose on one side of the boom and the end of a plastic watering can covered with a ladies hose on the other side of the boom. The watering can end wins in my book as it puts down grapefruit sized balls of foam that stick to the grass and are very easy to see from a distance. I'll be putting one on each side of the boom now.
6th picture shows where I mounted the switch to control the spray rig. 1st position is off, second position is automatic timed operation of air compressor and 3rd position is manual run or purge for initial startup.
7th picture shows the new waterproof SPDT Carling switch that controls the foam to the left/right side of the boom. I never used the original rabbit/turtle switch that was mounted here since there is another on the joystick, so I installed the new switch then pulled the paddle handle off the original switch and installed it on the new switch. It looks stock and the paddle is much easier to find with my finger when I need to reverse the foam output.
8th picture shows the gun in operation from the tractor seat giving the pine trees a drink of much needed water.
Last picture shows the RV plug/receptacle that I used. When the sprayer is no longer connected I tuck the receptacle behind the seat.
I ran roughly 150 gallons of water through the sprayer today to test it and in that time used a total of 2 gallons of diluted foam solution so the foam concentrate should go a long, long way.
The features of this boom sprayer include:
10-foot collapsible boom with a full 12-foot spray pattern
Boom utilizes seven TeeJet brand spray bodies with diaphragm check valves for drip-free shut-off, XR-80 degree nozzles, and nozzle strainers
Both boom tips are equipped for foam marking
Foam generator utilizes a diaphragm air compressor rated for continuous operation
Air compressor can be switched from manual to timed operation with the flip of a switch at the instrument panel
Foam can be directed to either boom tip with the flip of a switch on control cluster (right fender)
Solid-state timer is fully adjustable on both the pulse (on time) and pause of air compressor cycle
Hypro brand 6 roller PTO pump protected by an in-line 80-mesh strainer and equipped with proprietary cam lock couplers to prevent incorrect inlet/outlet hose connections.
65-gallon poly tank with easy-to-see gallon markings to assist with the ratio of water/chemical mix and also equipped with internal agitator to keep chemicals mixed
Twin ball valves to isolate poly tank
Spray manifold equipped with adjustable pressure regulator, glycerin dampened psi gauge, and ball valves to isolate boom or wand
Trigger spray gun with adjustable spray tip & quick attach coupling
Watering type wand (high volume, low pressure) with quick attach coupling
Hand reel with 100 foot of EPDM hose equipped with ball valve on quick coupler to make attachment of wand or gun quick and leak free
Two separate 5-gallon foam generator tanks. Each controls one side of the boom for hours of use between refills
Parking hangers for both wands, the PTO pump, and the flexible intake/return lines
Electrical connection is made from sprayer to tractor via a 7-pole trailer plug & receptacle for quick hook-up
5-inch castor's for easy positioning of sprayer within the pole barn
Attachments
OP
PineRidge
Super Member
Thanks Bob, and we never had any doubts about makin er' work.
mudcat
Platinum Member
I don' t need one but following this thread sure makes you want one. Fantastic job Pineridge.
OP
PineRidge
Super Member
Thanks MudCat, glad you enjoyed the thread as much as we had fun with the project. I'm very happy with the finished sprayer.
It also proves that you don't have to spend $800-1500 for a good foam marker, should you want to add one to an existing sprayer.
It also proves that you don't have to spend $800-1500 for a good foam marker, should you want to add one to an existing sprayer.
rswyan
Super Star Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2004
- Messages
- 11,278
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S, Simplicity 18 CFC, Cub Cadet 782
The only thing I can see you missed on the list is height chains on the boom tips to assist in leveling.
So when are you coming over to do my lawn ?
So when are you coming over to do my lawn ?
OP
PineRidge
Super Member
Good point rswyan and the chains really do make setting the boom at the right height easy, especially if you need to raise it to clear an obstruction then set it back down.
Bring it over? Bring what over?
Bring it over? Bring what over?