Aerator for BX

teachdocs · Feb 27, 2006

I am considering the Aeravator with seedhopper from FirstProducts. They have a 40 inch pull behind PTO driven unit. Anyone with experience on these devices?

Here are two links for the unit I am looking at:
Aeravator specs
Aeravator overview

Will it fit a BX23 and have sufficient lift capacity from the 3PTH? The specs show it will weigh over 800 pounds loaded with seed (24 in. Behind Lift Point). That seems to be pretty close to capacity of my BX from what I can determine.

Thanks for the advice. I have learned a lot from this Forum and have found it very helpful.

jim_wilson · Mar 1, 2006

One of the pictures on their website shows the aerator (without the seed hopper) hooked up to what I believe is a Kubota B6000. You might try looking up the 3pt specs on the B6000 to see what it's lift rating is and then compare those to the BX.

Maybe the aerator Co. has an idea of what type of tractor will handle the aerator also. They might have somebody out there who already uses one on a BX.

If you don't mind me asking - what is the going price for one of these? and why did you choose this Mfr. and model? I ask because I may be in the market for an aerator down the road and have been trying to keep up with all the choices out there.

Garrabo · Mar 1, 2006

I'm sure you have your reasons for the purchase of that unit but have you considered a 3pt hitch core aerator and a good drop seeder. If that thing uses spike type aeration that just compacts the soil. Just my thoughts.

teachdocs · Mar 1, 2006

Thanks for the advice to look up specs for the B6000. Will see what I can find.

I "hear" the retail price for one of these is about 4K. "ouch" I was looking for a product that will not leave cores on the yard, disturb the surface turf the least, and provide for variable subsoil fracture depending on PTO speed. In addition, this is the only unit I have found that is small enough in weight for my BX but also provides a central pivot to the 3PTH to allow usage around turns.

My experience with tractor size aerators in the past is that they had to be huge and heavy to be effective, and would tear up more than they helped if you did not travel in a straightline direction without lifting the implement first.

The small pull-type core aerators are lucky to penetrate more than an inch or so into the soil and do not have seedhopper attachments.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Garrabo · Mar 2, 2006

check out the Jacobsen 548-100 seeder, weighs 400 pounds. might work for you.

WALT · Mar 2, 2006

I have a Woods 48" core aerator that I use with my BX2200. It is their PL 48 & weighs 320 lbs. I add 400 lbs. of weight to it.

3 years ago, I bought it, but unsure of the price right now.

I reccomend that you use a 3 point hitch type, unless you have plenty of room to turn it around. The 3 pt. type allows you to back into tight areas that you won't reach with the pull type.
You will also need to have front counter weights to balance the aerator, or you'll be pulling wheelies when you lift it.

Besides the price, you'll probably need a larger machine to use a seeder/aerator unit, as they are heavy for the BX series.

I have also found that soil type & moisture determine your depth of penetration, along with the weight you can put directly over the core pluggers. In damp topsoil, I have removed 3" cores with my set-up, in dry clay sometimes 1-1.5".

I hope this info is of use to you.

WALT

teachdocs · Mar 3, 2006

Thanks a lot for the additional ideas on aerators.!
Hopefully, one of these options will do the job for less money. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Any recommendations on a good 3 point fertilizer spreader for the BX?

Chad

WALT · Mar 3, 2006

I have a Landpride FS-500 spreader which I use for sanding my driveway. I believe that it has either 350 or 500 lb. material capacity. If you have a Tractor Supply Co. store near you, the same spreader is sold, but painted red. It appears that an Italian Mfg. makes them for numerous US vendors.
I paid $500.00 for mine last year from my Kubota dealer, TSC has the red model cheaper.

I did have to shorten the PTO shaft to use it on the BX. I also reversed the lift pins to the inside.

I'll attach some pictures, as it stays on the BX all winter.

WALT · Mar 3, 2006

Picture #2

For sanding the driveway, I made up a wood "shutter" to control the spread width of the sand. Prior to using this, I was sanding the woods more than the driveway. It is adjustable, and as set up spreads the sand in a 10'-12' pattern.

The bottom piece is the castered dolly that holds the spreader when off the tractor.

WALT

teachdocs · Mar 13, 2006

I just purchased a similar spreader from TSC. The 500 lb capacity model.
I have a question about the PTO shaft: If you install the unit according to instruction manual, you are supposed to set the spinner plate approximately 80cm off the ground (the rear tires and lift capacity will not go that far). The spreader will fit with the 3PTH fully raised, but creates a problem with PTO shaft length.
In order to have the necessary 2 inch PTO sleave clearance when raised, you will pull apart the PTO assembly when the unit is lowered to the ground as the PTO shaft extends.
What did you do with your unit?
My current compromise is to raise the unit to where the PTO shaft is level with the PTO takeoff. This is several inches below maximum lift. At this point, I have about 1 inch of clearance in the PTO as it's short length. When you drop the spreader to touch the ground, the PTO remains assembled, but barely....just enough to raise it again.
Would adding length to the 3PTH trailing arms make a difference? Such as adding a quick change type of device?
Any way to limit how far the 3PTH raises for this setup?