vicon pendulum spreader parts help.

[Robert_in_NY]

Im trying to find the hydraulic cylinder that goes on a vicon pendulum spreader. I asked my local dealer but they deal with another company and my parts guy wasnt sure the guy he talked to understood what im looking for. Its a special hydraulic cylinder that replaces the lever setup for opening and closing the metering disc. I was told today that its over $4k for the cylinder which i really cant believe so im hoping some of our dealer members who deal with vicon can help me out and either confirm that price or find what I'm looking for at a more reasonable price. Thanks guys

 

[Charolais]

When I checked on that same part some years back it was over $1,000 then. I ordered and electric type from Surplus center and built mine. It has a controller on it and have to teach it the stroke needed. Easy to teach and change as needed. I just press a switch and it opens to what I set it at and the same on closing. I think it's rated at 100 pounds pull. I left the hand handle connected and didn't have to drill any holes. I did make a bracket and used a split collar to attach the end of the cylinder to the frame of the spreader and came off the side of the collar to make it line up. I also just ran the hand adjuster all the way open so the cylinder would never break that part. It can be taught 2 settings and it's seldom I ever change the setting because I spread the same amount each time anyway.

I also added a level sensor because I spread with a cover over the hopper and need to know when it's empty. I use a outback s-lite and when I get the signal the hopper is empty I stop and use the return to point feature on the s-lite to get back to where I stopped.

I'm also getting out of cattle and need to sell the Vicon spreader. It's all set up for a cab tractor and is in great working order.

My dealer gets parts but where he gets them they only sell to dealers.

 

[dieselscout80]

When I checked on that same part some years back it was over $1,000 then. I ordered and electric type from Surplus center and built mine. It has a controller on it and have to teach it the stroke needed. Easy to teach and change as needed. I just press a switch and it opens to what I set it at and the same on closing. I think it's rated at 100 pounds pull. I left the hand handle connected and didn't have to drill any holes. I did make a bracket and used a split collar to attach the end of the cylinder to the frame of the spreader and came off the side of the collar to make it line up. I also just ran the hand adjuster all the way open so the cylinder would never break that part. It can be taught 2 settings and it's seldom I ever change the setting because I spread the same amount each time anyway.

I also added a level sensor because I spread with a cover over the hopper and need to know when it's empty. I use a outback s-lite and when I get the signal the hopper is empty I stop and use the return to point feature on the s-lite to get back to where I stopped.

I'm also getting out of cattle and need to sell the Vicon spreader. It's all set up for a cab tractor and is in great working order.

My dealer gets parts but where he gets them they only sell to dealers.

What is a outback s-lite?

Do you have a part number for this: "I ordered and electric type from Surplus center and built mine. It has a controller on it and have to teach it the stroke needed. Easy to teach and change as needed. I just press a switch and it opens to what I set it at and the same on closing. I think it's rated at 100 pounds pull."?

 

[Charolais]

What is a outback s-lite?

Do you have a part number for this: "I ordered and electric type from Surplus center and built mine. It has a controller on it and have to teach it the stroke needed. Easy to teach and change as needed. I just press a switch and it opens to what I set it at and the same on closing. I think it's rated at 100 pounds pull."?

I'd have to look but I'm pretty sure I used Item# 5-1577-12, 11.81" STROKE 107 LB. 12 VDC LINEAR ACTUATOR and Item# 5-1577-C,LINEAR ACTUATOR CONTROLLER

I mounted the controller buttons on the outside of and enclosure and the controller inside the enclosure and then added to cheap push buttons to open and close. Had to modify the wiring a little to get this like I wanted it. On the actuator length just open the hand lever all the way up and take a measurement for total stroke and then match to the actuator length you need. They sell several different lengths. I put all this together back in 2007.

The Outback s-lite is a guidance system. GPS. As high as fertilizer and nitrogen is now it pays for itself the first time if you spread 10 tons or more per year. I have everything set up to spread in the rain night or day with the s-lite. As high as nitrogen is I only spread when it's raining so I make sure it goes in the ground. GPS allowed me to do that and get it right.

 

[leonz]

Hello Robert,

I would call the prince hydraulics folks and tell them about your cylinder-
all it is a basic double acting hydraulic cylinder its certainly not going to cost you $4,000.00 for sure.

I am positive the Prince folks can replace it for you at much lower cost.






leon

 

[Charolais]

Hello Robert,

I would call the prince hydraulics folks and tell them about your cylinder-
all it is a basic double acting hydraulic cylinder its certainly not going to cost you $4,000.00 for sure.

I am positive the Prince folks can replace it for you at much lower cost.






leon

I've never seen one but what I've read it doesn't sound like it's a basic hydraulic cylinder. A good part of the linkage is plastic on the Vicon. A regular hydraulic cylinder would crush the plastic easily. The one I modified I made sure it couldn't travel to far either way and destroy the original parts. And it uses an encoder to repeat travel distance in both directions. Remember the opening stroke has to be controlled to get the proper flow of what ever you are spreading. And repeat each time it's opened and closed. I'm think Vicon has something a little special for this application. Granted it's not worth $4,000 or even $1,000 to me.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hello Robert,

I would call the prince hydraulics folks and tell them about your cylinder-
all it is a basic double acting hydraulic cylinder its certainly not going to cost you $4,000.00 for sure.

I am positive the Prince folks can replace it for you at much lower cost.






leon

I don't have a cylinder currently, I am trying to change it over to a system that can be controlled by any tractor which is why I am looking at the hydraulic option. They cylinder has a relief valve if I recall welded onto it. Its designed to not destroy the plastic linkage on these spreaders. Cummins and Bricker are the distributer for them in this area and its been a hassle for my parts guy to get a good answer from them on this. Thats why I decided to ask on here to hopefully find someone who deals with a different dealer that can help me out.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

When I checked on that same part some years back it was over $1,000 then. I ordered and electric type from Surplus center and built mine. It has a controller on it and have to teach it the stroke needed. Easy to teach and change as needed. I just press a switch and it opens to what I set it at and the same on closing. I think it's rated at 100 pounds pull. I left the hand handle connected and didn't have to drill any holes. I did make a bracket and used a split collar to attach the end of the cylinder to the frame of the spreader and came off the side of the collar to make it line up. I also just ran the hand adjuster all the way open so the cylinder would never break that part. It can be taught 2 settings and it's seldom I ever change the setting because I spread the same amount each time anyway.

I also added a level sensor because I spread with a cover over the hopper and need to know when it's empty. I use a outback s-lite and when I get the signal the hopper is empty I stop and use the return to point feature on the s-lite to get back to where I stopped.

I'm also getting out of cattle and need to sell the Vicon spreader. It's all set up for a cab tractor and is in great working order.

My dealer gets parts but where he gets them they only sell to dealers.

Unfortunately, I change settings quite often. The best system to me is the one Vicon offers. I agree its not worth over $4k but I really don't want to go the electronic route unless I have no other choice because I want to be able to use this behind any of my tractors. I'm limited on what I can use to bale with because of the electronics on my baler and it is a challenge if one tractor goes down, I can't just hook it to any other tractor unless I wire up that tractor as well.

 

[leonz]

Robert I think you need to contact The Kvereland folks they are the Vicon Parent Company and are located in North carolina to get the right answer.

I cannot understand why Cummings and Bricker are behaving like this?


www.kvernelandgroupusa.com

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I know their the parent group but all they will do is refer me to a dealer. Thats what I am trying to do here, see if any of our dealership members on here can help me out and I will rather give them my money then picking someone out of the blue from online.

I don't know whats going on with C&B either, they usually are pretty good but for some reason the guy my parts guy talked to didn't seem to understand. I am thinking he quoted the electronics system that is an option for these spreaders. I do know my parts guy is still looking but I need to get this thing ready so as soon as I can get in the vineyard I can start spreading potash.

 

[Charolais]

I know their the parent group but all they will do is refer me to a dealer. Thats what I am trying to do here, see if any of our dealership members on here can help me out and I will rather give them my money then picking someone out of the blue from online.

I don't know whats going on with C&B either, they usually are pretty good but for some reason the guy my parts guy talked to didn't seem to understand. I am thinking he quoted the electronics system that is an option for these spreaders. I do know my parts guy is still looking but I need to get this thing ready so as soon as I can get in the vineyard I can start spreading potash.

Robert, Tarver Sales Corporation/1-800-848-9303 in Folsom, LA is where my dealer gets my parts when I need them. They've always been good on delivery and have depended on them for a few parts over the years. You might want to talk to them and they may have some answers that'll help.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert, Tarver Sales Corporation/1-800-848-9303 in Folsom, LA is where my dealer gets my parts when I need them. They've always been good on delivery and have depended on them for a few parts over the years. You might want to talk to them and they may have some answers that'll help.

Thank you, I will try to make time to call them tomorrow. I need to get something figured out with this in the next month.

 

[Wautier]

Do you want the system to be changed from manual to hydraulic, and if so why? If the cylinder is already on, then cant you repair it? Like some members said, 4k is a lot of cilinder. It is not quite clear what piston it is.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Do you want the system to be changed from manual to hydraulic, and if so why? If the cylinder is already on, then cant you repair it? Like some members said, 4k is a lot of cilinder. It is not quite clear what piston it is.

Yes, change from manual to hydraulic. As to why, my vicon is cart mounted and is hard to reach from an open station and even harder from a cab.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

My parts guys talked to the Vicon salesman and made sure they had the proper part I needed. The cylinder will cost around $950 plus the cost of the hoses. Still seems high for what your getting but much better then $4k+ and my back will be a lot happier at the end of the day.

This cylinder is going on my big Vicon (has a 1 ton capacity) and I will be spreading almost 5 ton of potash through it this spring in the vineyard. There are around 250 rows and I am banding under the rows so I would have to turn around and manually start and stop this thing 250 times.

 

[Charolais]

Robert I think you made a good decision with the set up you have. I'm sure it'll be a lot easier on the body once you get it all hooked up. Should save you some time also.

The first year I used my Vicon on a cab tractor I got fertilizer and nitrogen dust in the cab because I had to open the rear window to push and pull the lever. I knew then I was going to make a change in that system. If I hadn't been able to find what I used I'd have bought the cylinder you're getting even though I thought it was to high. I spread on pasture and hay fields and some changes I make is just change speed to put down more or less. I recorded changes the first year and knew what was going out per acre at different setting on the spreader and different speeds on the tractor. I know what you're doing is more complex.

I think once you use the new cylinder you'll be happy with it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Here is everything that comes with the kit.

 

[Charolais]

Appears to be an accumulator on the cylinder. Guessing that's for the return stroke so it only has to use one hydraulic hose. Perhaps charged so it doesn't damage the linkage also. Or could just be used as a bladder/cushion. Can't see the top to tell if it's chargeable with nitrogen.

With the picture I can see some of the cost now. Only picture I've seen was one on the spreader and couldn't see much. Now you can work in some comfort. It'll be a nice setup.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I still haven't mounted this to the spreader yet. It didn't come with any directions as far as how it was suppose to go together so I managed to get a parts diagram from my dealer and have started putting the valve and hose together and hooked to the cylinder. Now I still need to drill a hole on the spreader for a second bolt but it should go together fast after that. If anyone is interested I will take some pics of it as I am putting it together for anyone else who may be thinking of adding this option to their Vicon.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well its mounted finally. I had to drill one hole in the plastic shroud over the actual spreader parts and I also had to reuse the angled pivot bar as the new one had the shaft welded on the wrong side and won't work. Not a big deal since the current bar was in good shape. All thats left is to get it hooked to a tractor and make sure it actually works now. I may try that tomorrow just because I want to know before I need to use it.

I am going to post some pics since I can't find any decent pics of this option anywhere online and in my search to find some I did run across quite a few TBN threads including pictures I had posted on here before so hopefully it will help someone out.