Spreader Manure Spreader help request

[HappyCPE]

I have an opportunity to buy a New Holland model 125 PTO spreader. Has a single beater. It is used and the seller says "it needs work." It's a consignment and the he can't tell me what it needs. Price is below $400. I am a novice and could use something to haul a pile of horse exhaust once in a while, and don't want to spend too much.

My question is, what do I look for? Are these things easy to repair? {did I say I'm a novice?} Is it worth the money? I know sight unseen it is hard for folks to give any specific answers but I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks.

 

[Billy_S]

The price certainly sounds right. I have a small, ground driver spreader that cost around $1400 new.

Unfortunately, I have no idea if the one you are looking at would be a good choice as I don't know what is wrong with it or how handy you are. Here is the page to what I have:

http://www.millcreekspreaders.com/

 

[Mike120]

Most used manure spreaders that I've seen are pretty well eaten up by corrosion. "it needs work" can cover a lot...Sheet metal and wooden floors can be replaced or patched. Hook it up to a tractor and make sure that the problems are not with the beater drive or the conveyor chain/angle iron. That is generally much more effort to fix.

Also find out where it came from. In your neck of the woods the horse people are not as rough on them because they spread 70% bedding and 30% manure. Dairy farmers spread pure manure and run them until they fall apart. If it came from a dairy farm, it probably isn't worth fixing or they would have fixed it.

I looked at probably a dozen used spreaders before I said to heck with it and sprung for a new one from JD/Fronter.

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

I have an opportunity to buy a New Holland model 125 PTO spreader. Has a single beater. It is used and the seller says "it needs work." It's a consignment and the he can't tell me what it needs. Price is below $400. I am a novice and could use something to haul a pile of horse exhaust once in a while, and don't want to spend too much.

My question is, what do I look for? Are these things easy to repair? {did I say I'm a novice?} Is it worth the money? I know sight unseen it is hard for folks to give any specific answers but I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks.

Working on manure spreaders comes through my shop from time to time. I think Mike120 is on track. I would first see what kind of parts you can get for it first. We have to make some parts and use a machine shop sometime. Depending on the repairs needed it can get big...... could get in to welding, torch work etc... seems like you can't do anything to them with out heating something up first. But it could turn out as a good deal..... try to find out what is wrong with it.

I sell the mill creek and it is a good spreader.... price and compare.

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[HappyCPE]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I had been relying on pictures from the seller. Today I went and looked at the real thing.

Well, what a surprise. The machine was nothing like the pix. Lots of rust in the sides [not visible in pic] the chains were nearly rusted through [seller claims it had new drive chains] and, finally, it had been smashed into at the rear by some other vehicle [again, not at all shown in the picture]. A total wreck.

So, it was a waste of time and gas. The seller is a new tractor dealer and should know better about dragging people out to look at used machinery that is ready to be scrapped. He should also have walked out to the back of his yard instead of emailing me that he didn't know what was wrong with it.

So, thanks again for everyone's help, and Caveat Emptor!!!