I need a salt/sand spreader

[dlabrie]

Does anyone have experience with this one? Northern Industrial 3-Pt. PTO Spreader, Model# 1104S095 | Ag Spreaders | Northern Tool + Equipment I can't tell if there is an agitator in it.

I hate to revive older threads but this particular one has merit. Significant history and experience of folks using their sand/salt spreaders.

A few questions I have:

1) I also have a very steep hill on my driveway and would like to use a 3 pt. hitch spreader but many of the previous links (especially to TSC) are no longer available (all I found was this =<CLICK HERE>=). Has anyone had good/bad experience with their hopper?

2) Any good tried and true set ups or ideas on how you fill your hoppers?

3) Controlling the spread ~ I also want to just throw about 8 - 12 foot and imagine just lowering the hopper closer to the ground would do just that...or am I mislead?

Thanks everyone~

 

[sal64]

hello i have tried one of thoughs fertilizer spreaders it lasted 2 yrs then rotted out this looks like a good one Herd Seeder Co. Inc

 

[Dead Horse]

I bought a Heard 5.5 sand spreader in 2005 and have used it a few times. it works great and is a total god send when the drive turns into a luge run........ 1/2 mile long, raises 300 feet in elevation.

 

[PILOON]

I use a walk behind seed /fertalizer broadcaster.
What I adapted was a model with a round hopper with a cone shapped bottom and holds about equivilant of 5 gals of aggrigate. (I use dry sand ot 1/4" crushed stone)

I modify it by locking the free wheel for better traction, fill her up and walk out to the road and back. One trip and drive is done. My drive is hilly and in the 1000 ft size.
I generally leave it out in the elements covered with a tarp sa as to keep the aggregate dry.(wet sand just will not broadcast)

You do have to modify the agitator pin a bit as sand is denser than seed or fertilizer but results are great.
Not a lot of sand is needed, merely what I call a 'salt and pepper' application does just fine. (even on hard blue ice)

 

[dlabrie]

Are you saying that you can cover 1000 ft with 5 gallons of sand, down and back?
David

I use a walk behind seed /fertalizer broadcaster.
What I adapted was a model with a round hopper with a cone shapped bottom and holds about equivilant of 5 gals of aggrigate. (I use dry sand ot 1/4" crushed stone)

I modify it by locking the free wheel for better traction, fill her up and walk out to the road and back. One trip and drive is done. My drive is hilly and in the 1000 ft size.
I generally leave it out in the elements covered with a tarp sa as to keep the aggregate dry.(wet sand just will not broadcast)

You do have to modify the agitator pin a bit as sand is denser than seed or fertilizer but results are great.
Not a lot of sand is needed, merely what I call a 'salt and pepper' application does just fine. (even on hard blue ice)

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

I have a spreader that I bought from CCM, I think a 500#. I wash that thing more than my socks and it still gets rusty, and that is just from lyme and fertilizer. I was thinking about using it for a sand/salt mixture, are these things rotting off the back of your tractor?

if you use it for salt and sand DON'T wash it that activates the salt and eats up the metal faster Brian

 

[HeavyHitch]

I have a drive that's 450' long and some places over 20% grade and use a Beyer salt and sand spreader that works in a standard 2" receiver.

 

[Zephrant]

Does anyone have experience with this one? Northern Industrial 3-Pt. PTO Spreader, Model# 1104S095 | Ag Spreaders | Northern Tool + Equipment I can't tell if there is an agitator in it.

The red metal version looks identical to what I have, but I bought mine local at "Big R", a typical farm and feed store. It works well with dry sand- at the slowest RPM and nearly dragging on the ground it spreads far wider than my road. I need to make some plates to redirect the sand on the road better.

I used it for fertilizer this summer, and it was great- very fast, and boy did I fertilize... I'm pretty sure the neighbors three doors down got some, it was throwing so far.

 

[harold4]

I built a hydraulic one and I spray it with stone guard seems to help

 

[PILOON]

How to make a DIY spreader if you are handy.

A differential makes the wheels turn so conversely the wheels will make the drive shaft turn.
You obtain a differential from a recycle yard and rotate it so the driveshaft flange faces upwards. Attach a ,say, 12 inch disk to the flange.
Next create a funnel shaped hopper above (metal or wood) that is supported by braces to the axle housing and fabricate a hitch arm to the axle housing. (V shaped tongue). Hitch it up and tow it down your drive.
Wheels will turn that disk which in turn will broadcast your sand and or salt.
The biggest challenge will be to create a shut off mechanism so as to stop the flow but with a lever and push rod and guillotine device you can come up with a workable solution.

I have actually seen a commercial version of this device that was quite clever in design. We tried it out and it was very effective.
One advantage is that you can use your FEL to load up the hopper if you have only that one tractor.
Downside is when you are in a dead end situation like a driveway without a turnaround.