Not happy with spreader performance

[LHS Inc]

I used my Landpride FSP 1000 3pt spinner spreader for the first time last Fall on a 3.5 acre lawn spreading fertilize and the results are showing up now and I'm not very pleased. I've got 3'-4' wide dark green strips in the lawn. The width of spread is 25' a side so I made my passes about 20' apart. I've always used a pull behind broadcast spinner spreader and never had a problem with stripping. I stepped up to the 3pt spreader when I got my JD 3520. I like the spreader, it seemed to operate smoothly.

One solution could be to reduce the rate and tighten my passes to around 10 feet. In the smaller areas of the lawn where I had no choice but to overlap by alot it didn't stripe at all so that might be the key to the problem. For those that have a pendular style spreader yes I know they are the best perfoming in this size spreader but I couldn't see spending 3 times the amount for one when all I've ever used are spinners and got good results. Looking for answers, don't want to have to sell and get a pendular but might have to if I can't solve the problem, live and learn. Thanks.

 

[GGB]

Did you just do an up and back pattern, or use a second application at 90 degrees to the first pattern by applying at half the rate?

Takes longer, but I've not had as much of a problem with overlap patterns by using two passes. Sometimes, I'll even do a third pattern at 45 degreees to the first two passes if I have misjudged how heavy I was applying the fertilizer and have extra leftover.

The other option is to use a less powerful fertilizer and do a second application a few weeks later. This will almost always eliminate the patterns you're describing, especially if you apply with two passes each time.

Easy for me to say, if you've got the time!

GGB

 

[allen in texas]

Are you talking about stripes that are curved like they are made as the spreader slings the fertilizer? Are the stripes across your travel direction?

If this is the case, you need to speed up the pto speed and keep the tractor speed the same.

Pictures of your stripes would help.

 

[art]

It would be interesting to know where the overlap came from?

 

[LHS Inc]

Are you talking about stripes that are curved like they are made as the spreader slings the fertilizer? Are the stripes across your travel direction?

If this is the case, you need to speed up the pto speed and keep the tractor speed the same.

Pictures of your stripes would help.

Its a straight line stripe in the direction that I traveled. I'll get some pics by tommorow.

 

[moored4]

Are you talking about stripes that are curved like they are made as the spreader slings the fertilizer? Are the stripes across your travel direction?

If this is the case, you need to speed up the pto speed and keep the tractor speed the same.

Pictures of your stripes would help.

X2! Is it overlap, long strips the way of travel or like Allen is sugesting!

Pictures would help!

 

[moored4]

Its a straight line stripe in the direction that I traveled. I'll get some pics by tommorow.

Then you over lapped! You might try the 2 pass method mentioned next time that is what I usually do!

 

[LHS Inc]

Then you over lapped! You might try the 2 pass method mentioned next time that is what I usually do!

I have always over lapped due to fert being thinned out to the farthest reach of the throw. Been doing it that way for years with a spinner spreader with out this happening. I used 24-0-11 50% slow release. Its a good quality fert, spreads great. It looks like nothing was spread for 25'-30' and then a dark green stripe. Maybe it was the over lap I don't know, I've just never had this problem before.
I'll have the pics on Tuesday

 

[art]

I've got 3'-4' wide dark green strips in the lawn. The width of spread is 25' a side so I made my passes about 20' apart. I've always used a pull behind broadcast spinner spreader and never had a problem with stripping. I stepped up to the 3pt spreader when I got my JD 3520. I like the spreader, it seemed to operate smoothly.
Thanks.

The book says 23 to 54' granular spread. You will never reach that with grass seed! I would say no more then twenty and more then likely about 10 to 15' which proves closer to your results.

 

[allen in texas]

Its a straight line stripe in the direction that I traveled. I'll get some pics by tommorow.

Ok,
Here's my second theory...
My spreader is adjustable for both direction of throw, ie, left, center, or right, and for the quantity of material delivered. It accomplishes the direction of throw by changing where the material is dropped onto the slinger.
You may have your spread set to throw primarily to one direction or the other and that is what is causing the heavy overlap in the direction of your travel. You will always have 'some' overlap but I think if your spreader is adjustable for direction, that may be your problem. It's chunking everything to one side.

Think about it...
if your spreader is throwing primarily to the right, as you make a pass one direction you throw your fertilizer to the right and when you turn around at the end, to the right in my example, and you make another pass, You throw fertilizer to the right again which is where you just threw fertilizer on the last pass doubling up on the coverage and making a stripe when it all starts to grow.

clear as mud? :confused2:

 

[LHS Inc]

I used my Landpride FSP 1000 3pt spinner spreader for the first time last Fall on a 3.5 acre lawn spreading fertilize and the results are showing up now and I'm not very pleased. I've got 3'-4' wide dark green strips in the lawn. The width of spread is 25' a side so I made my passes about 20' apart. I've always used a pull behind broadcast spinner spreader and never had a problem with stripping. I stepped up to the 3pt spreader when I got my JD 3520. I like the spreader, it seemed to operate smoothly.

One solution could be to reduce the rate and tighten my passes to around 10 feet. In the smaller areas of the lawn where I had no choice but to overlap by alot it didn't stripe at all so that might be the key to the problem. For those that have a pendular style spreader yes I know they are the best perfoming in this size spreader but I couldn't see spending 3 times the amount for one when all I've ever used are spinners and got good results. Looking for answers, don't want to have to sell and get a pendular but might have to if I can't solve the problem, live and learn. Thanks.

The correct width between passes was about 40'-45' given the spread was about 50 feet for this spreader.

 

[fixit]

The correct width between passes was about 40'-45' given the spread was about 50 feet for this spreader.

Thats what i was thinking but i don't know to much about it but it sure sounded like the right ans to me

 

[art]

So then your saying that the amount you were spreading was to light other then where it was doubled?

 

[allen in texas]

So then your saying that the amount you were spreading was to light other then where it was doubled?

That came to my mind also.

 

[LHS Inc]

So then your saying that the amount you were spreading was to light other then where it was doubled?

What I'm saying is you try to lap so the ends of the throw pattern are just touching as they illustrate in the operation section of the manual. Thats what I was trying to do. The ends of the throw are light and when you combine the two passes together you should be close to the rest of the density of the spread. Its what I've always done with positve results and thats why I'm so puzzled. Maybe the throw ends aren't as light as other spreaders have been for me, I don't know.Stretch it out too far then you have skips. I'll reduce my rate and overlap completely and make more passes. I know one thing I'm going to try and not let it happen again. The main reason I got the spreader was to fill up once and go instead wasting time filling up numerous times with a tow behind hooked to a lawn mower. Hopefully I'll have some pics by this afternoon. Its been storming rain here right good today and when it lets up I'll head out.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Any way to tell , or maybe remember, about were you drove when you spread the fertilizer, if you could, that would tell you a bunch as to what the problem may be. whether it was to heavy in the center, or to heavy on the overlap.

 

[LHS Inc]

Any way to tell , or maybe remember, about were you drove when you spread the fertilizer, if you could, that would tell you a bunch as to what the problem may be. whether it was to heavy in the center, or to heavy on the overlap.

Thanks CB I thot of that too. I'm heading out to get some pics and try to measure off to just see what was happening. Keep a look out on this post for my pics this afternoon.

 

[LHS Inc]

I used my Landpride FSP 1000 3pt spinner spreader for the first time last Fall on a 3.5 acre lawn spreading fertilize and the results are showing up now and I'm not very pleased. I've got 3'-4' wide dark green strips in the lawn. The width of spread is 25' a side so I made my passes about 20' apart. I've always used a pull behind broadcast spinner spreader and never had a problem with stripping. I stepped up to the 3pt spreader when I got my JD 3520. I like the spreader, it seemed to operate smoothly.

One solution could be to reduce the rate and tighten my passes to around 10 feet. In the smaller areas of the lawn where I had no choice but to overlap by alot it didn't stripe at all so that might be the key to the problem. For those that have a pendular style spreader yes I know they are the best perfoming in this size spreader but I couldn't see spending 3 times the amount for one when all I've ever used are spinners and got good results. Looking for answers, don't want to have to sell and get a pendular but might have to if I can't solve the problem, live and learn. Thanks.

Here are the pics of my problem. When I started I followed the road ditch to get a straight line going and there is a strip down the edge of it and about 45'-50' over is another strip so that tells me that the spreader is throwing too much to the outside and not enough in the middle. That is the width of my traveling back and forth in the yard because the throw is about fifty feet. I'm sure there was over lap but the strip down the side of the road ditch without any overlap proves too much to the sides. Sorry I didn't take a picture of the ditch, I didn't figure it out until after I left the property. Hopefully I can get the spreader set correctly if that is what the problem is.

 

[arsenix2001]

Did you try checking the spread pattern with sand? I dont know the LP 1000 details, but my befco not only has fin adustments on the plate but also seperate L and R gate control adjustments... Maybe start there and watch the overlap.. Have someone watch you put it down and flag the end of the spread with those little landscaper flags? Just thinking out loud. You have me nervous about my unit now

 

[LHS Inc]

Did you try checking the spread pattern with sand? I dont know the LP 1000 details, but my befco not only has fin adustments on the plate but also seperate L and R gate control adjustments... Maybe start there and watch the overlap.. Have someone watch you put it down and flag the end of the spread with those little landscaper flags? Just thinking out loud. You have me nervous about my unit now

No I didn't check the spread pattern I didn't think I needed to. I just wanted to know how far it spread. The R and L gates were set to open the same amount at the same time. Didn't touch the fins because the manual says to adjust them to throw more right or left by placing in the four different holes. First hole throws more to the left and the forth hole throws more to the right. There are four holes so there's no middle range. Right now they are in the second hole which is more to the left. I re-traced my path and if I had strips every other pass I'd know it was the left side that needed adjusting but its not. I called the dealer and he didn't know whats going on. Like I said before I've always used a broadcast spreader and never had this problem before. I hope I've overlooked something very simple and I wouldn't be ashamed to admit it. I'll let you know if I find out what the problem is whether it equipment or operator error.