Used Herd spreader/sander value

[apriordan]

Craigslist special near me. Can't find any locally (NH) but ebay in Ohio or Indiana the Herd 5.5/ 550 new is $1,999.00. A Herd 7.5 or 750 is $1,599 from another vendor. Confused why the larger unit is more, but I digress.

Short version of the story - what's a fair/reasonable value for a used Herd spreader? Looks clean, and I'm sure it functions flawlessly as his photos have this and other skid steer style implements stored in a garage with his tractor. Listing is for $950. What do folks think?

 

[leonz]

Find out why he wants to sell it and ask if he has just used sand or salt and sand. if the base is rusted use small hammer to check the steel and if its sounds solid fine(thud) or if not the steel will echo/vibrate more.

 

[crazyal]

I have a Herd 750 I bought for $250 but it needed some work. The previous owner used it for fertilizer and left some in it. So I had to replace the output shaft of the gear box, aluminum plate at the bottom of the sand box and the aluminum plate that throws the sand. I replaced the input shaft and seals while I had the gear box apart. I also rebuilt the sand box with new steel, didn't have to but I wanted to make it like new. I probably have about $600 into it now. $950 isn't a bad price but I would see if you could get it for less.

 

[apriordan]

I have a Herd 750 I bought for $250 but it needed some work. The previous owner used it for fertilizer and left some in it. So I had to replace the output shaft of the gear box, aluminum plate at the bottom of the sand box and the aluminum plate that throws the sand. I replaced the input shaft and seals while I had the gear box apart. I also rebuilt the sand box with new steel, didn't have to but I wanted to make it like new. I probably have about $600 into it now. $950 isn't a bad price but I would see if you could get it for less.

OEM paint still covers the box, spreader disk and surrounding metal shows corrosion i.e. worn, rusty looking in photos.

Since I'd be applying wet sand, the herd is recommended by almost everyone I speak with.

Devil in my ear recommends buying a pto salt/fertilizer spreader for $500 from the local tractor supply or a poly bin seed spreader for about the same cost as over the long run its cheaper. Don't follow the logic but if I didn't have the cash then it might make sense with a lower barrier to enter.

Regardless, a brand new 750 spreader is 1600 so spending 950 is a bit high. I was thinking 780 or 800. Is that too much of a low ball on a 950 asking price?

 

[crazyal]

The only issue I have is when I get out to put sand down the temps usually have dropped down to around the 10 degree point and the dirt starts to stick to the inside of the hopper. It has a shaft inside the hopper that bangs around that helps but since it only hits the part of the hopper that's tapered it doesn't get it all. But my hopper is painted with primer which I think allows the sand to stick to it easier when it freezes. If I remember correctly the two aluminum parts were kind of pricey (maybe close to $100 each) and the shafts were really cheap. But just a little corrosion wouldn't be enough for me to change it out. The fan that throws the sand out has metal mounted on the fins that throw the sand. Three of them were missing on mine because it had corroded to the point where the screws holding the steel on had nothing to grab to. But parts were easy to get. A local Kubota dealer called them up and within a week had them.

I would offer $750 and see what you get for a reply. If he's getting lots of offers then you might not hear back. I think you will probably get a counter offer in the middle at $850. I would check the gearbox for oil before buying it. It would be easy for someone not paying attention to lay it on it's side and have oil leak out the breather. It has ball bearings and two gears inside, probably wouldn't be too expensive to repair if it was used low on oil. Also depending on what size tractor he has and yours the PTO shaft could be cut too short so those could be a hidden expense.

 

[apriordan]

The only issue I have is when I get out to put sand down the temps usually have dropped down to around the 10 degree point and the dirt starts to stick to the inside of the hopper. It has a shaft inside the hopper that bangs around that helps but since it only hits the part of the hopper that's tapered it doesn't get it all. But my hopper is painted with primer which I think allows the sand to stick to it easier when it freezes. If I remember correctly the two aluminum parts were kind of pricey (maybe close to $100 each) and the shafts were really cheap. But just a little corrosion wouldn't be enough for me to change it out. The fan that throws the sand out has metal mounted on the fins that throw the sand. Three of them were missing on mine because it had corroded to the point where the screws holding the steel on had nothing to grab to. But parts were easy to get. A local Kubota dealer called them up and within a week had them.

I would offer $750 and see what you get for a reply. If he's getting lots of offers then you might not hear back. I think you will probably get a counter offer in the middle at $850. I would check the gearbox for oil before buying it. It would be easy for someone not paying attention to lay it on it's side and have oil leak out the breather. It has ball bearings and two gears inside, probably wouldn't be too expensive to repair if it was used low on oil. Also depending on what size tractor he has and yours the PTO shaft could be cut too short so those could be a hidden expense.

This is helpful crazyal, I was second in line. The other guy couldn't come utility next week or the following weekend. I asked if there was a deposit on it and there was not. The owner then called me a day or two later and asked if I could come yesterday/today. I'll be on site looking at the machine.

I didn't even think of the PTO shaft length, or gearbox oil. This is huge, another recommendation was to lightly hammer on the bare metal or what appears to be corroded/rusted to see what shape it's in.

Current owner has a Kubota HST with underneath mower deck. His tractor is definitely smaller/shorter than mine to the ground, stupid question but it sounds like all 3pt hitches dont use same length pto shaft. Hopefully I can find more info on JD parts about an OEM or required length shaft.

Thanks again Al

 

[apriordan]

Got it for 760. Got some work ahead of me. Needs a bit of angle grinder and painting time. Will also need to get in and replace the 90 weight oil...

 

[jimmysisson]

What, no pix? Good score, all the same.
Jim

 

[apriordan]

What, no pix? Good score, all the same.
Jim

A little rough for sure. Got some 80-90w gear oil tonight. Going to pop it open tomorrow and rig it up then run it. Hope it works. Other wise I'm $300 out on a pto shaft.

 

[apriordan]

Here are a few photos...






... buyers remorse, definitely. Could had a king cutter new for the same or less delivered.

Thoughts?

 

[crazyal]

Clean it up, get that white power off of it (looks like salt or fertilizer), and then paint it Deere green.

 

[apriordan]

Clean it up, get that white power off of it (looks like salt or fertilizer), and then paint it Deere green.

View attachment 495819

I ended up trading it back to the previous owner. The gate would not open after I loaded it with sand. Had it less than a week, but during that time realized I need my utv/gator to carry a sander so I can use the front end loader to fill with large quantities.

My driveway is 2-300yds long and there are 3 parking areas. Plowing with a bucket, check. Stopping to shovel sand into the hopper every time it's out, no thanks.

I lucked out big in that the broadcaster didn't function. Too bad too, cuz the owner is a nice dude and I felt bad but need to figure something else out...

Since I see the dpw loaders and sand trucks working in tandem, I'm leaning that direction even tho it costs a boat load more...

 

[crazyal]

I've put sand down on my 2/3 mile drive in every possible way I can think of. Before the sander I would use 5 gallon buckets and my side by side to sand. I would spread it like chicken feed. Before that I would just get a load of gravel on the loader and just use a shovel to spread it as needed. Filling the hopper is plenty of work and requires me to drive back to the pile of gravel several times but it's less work than filling buckets and then manually spreading it. It's not much harder, in my case, to fill the hopper by shovel than it would be to use my backhoe loader and shovel it over to the hopper. It would be nice to have a conveyor belt that I could dump gravel onto with the loader to fill the hopper but until I find one for cheap I work with what I've got. I had thought of getting a good sander like a Western Pro Flo style to handle heavy wet sand. But they are not cheap. I think the cheaper poly hopper spreaders are good for salt only.

I replaced the gate that slides in and out with a piece of stainless steel and used some flanged bearings to make it slide very smoothly. The key is to keep it clean. Unfortunately it sounds like the previous owner didn't. Salt and fertilizer really play havoc with the aluminum and bare steel shafts of the gear box.

After watching a show on Alaska and seeing a deicing machine that uses spiked wheels to break up the ice I'm now thinking of building something similar.

 

[apriordan]

I've put sand down on my 2/3 mile drive in every possible way I can think of. Before the sander I would use 5 gallon buckets and my side by side to sand. I would spread it like chicken feed. Before that I would just get a load of gravel on the loader and just use a shovel to spread it as needed. Filling the hopper is plenty of work and requires me to drive back to the pile of gravel several times but it's less work than filling buckets and then manually spreading it. It's not much harder, in my case, to fill the hopper by shovel than it would be to use my backhoe loader and shovel it over to the hopper. It would be nice to have a conveyor belt that I could dump gravel onto with the loader to fill the hopper but until I find one for cheap I work with what I've got. I had thought of getting a good sander like a Western Pro Flo style to handle heavy wet sand. But they are not cheap. I think the cheaper poly hopper spreaders are good for salt only.

I replaced the gate that slides in and out with a piece of stainless steel and used some flanged bearings to make it slide very smoothly. The key is to keep it clean. Unfortunately it sounds like the previous owner didn't. Salt and fertilizer really play havoc with the aluminum and bare steel shafts of the gear box.

After watching a show on Alaska and seeing a deicing machine that uses spiked wheels to break up the ice I'm now thinking of building something similar.

The poly spreaders are not sold as wet sand friendly. Matter of fact there are only a few that will lay dry sand.

What, about a spreader prevents it from broadcasting wet/heavy sand? Spinning disk? Auger? Motor? All?

I'm leaning towards a truck bed broadcaster like the DPW uses, and my loader to fill. Thinking of putting the sander on a trailer and towing with the tractor. The other I'm thinking is strapping it to my side by side dump bed.

 

[TO_Bud]

To spread damp sand you need to have the auger pull the sand down through the shoot. Without the auger action the sand just bridges funnel and no flow. Herd has developed a quick attach system for their sander to mount on the loader arms. They also built up the leading edge of the hopper like the cutting edge on a loader bucket. To load the hopper you tilt completely forward and scoop up the sand. Then of course they supply a hydraulic motor to spin the spreader. Very pricey to say the least. Probably better off with one of these SaltDogg SHPE Salt Spreader about $2700.

 

[apriordan]

To spread damp sand you need to have the auger pull the sand down through the shoot. Without the auger action the sand just bridges funnel and no flow. Herd has developed a quick attach system for their sander to mount on the loader arms. They also built up the leading edge of the hopper like the cutting edge on a loader bucket. To load the hopper you tilt completely forward and scoop up the sand. Then of course they supply a hydraulic motor to spin the spreader. Very pricey to say the least. Probably better off with one of these SaltDogg SHPE75 Salt Spreader about $2700.

The only issue now is getting a 50/50 mix, or keeping the sand dry. Also, I better start saving for a broadcaster for next season... even the smallest are expensive as ****

 

[leonz]

Investing in the smallest VICON spreader with the stainless steel liner,
screen, agitator and the salt and sand tube will let you get way ahead
of the game as long as you have your dry sand in the garage or use a
space heater to heat the sand up if its frozen solid.

Another good way to keep the broken sand flowing is to use windshield washer fluid
in each hopper full of sand.

 

[apriordan]

Investing in the smallest VICON spreader with the stainless steel liner,
screen, agitator and the salt and sand tube will let you get way ahead
of the game as long as you have your dry sand in the garage or use a
space heater to heat the sand up if its frozen solid.

Another good way to keep the broken sand flowing is to use windshield washer fluid
in each hopper full of sand.

Windshield washer fluid you say?!
I don't have a covered let alone heated space for any material as of yet. Bldg. that is now in the list of things to do. Presumably if I stock up on sand in the other 3 seasons, would a tarp be sufficient? Or am I making more work for myself in the long run?

The town uses a huge hopper with a chain belt/auger. If I only had 6,000 for one of those haha