Ag Lime Spreader

[Phred]

Mark,

Actually empty those buggys are pretty light sense they are mostly aluminum. With my pickup I hardly even notice it is attached when its empty. You could easily get it home empty with any 1/2 ton pickup or large SUV.

But a tractor is the best tool for spreading the lime with one. Traction might be a problem with a truck, but maybe a 4x4 would be ok on firm ground.
If you loaded it light a large CUT might get the job done on level ground.
You may have a problem with loader height. The side walls are very tall.

On hills with a full load my 70hp utility tractor is not really enough to do the job right.
I get by with partial loads on the hilly areas

One thing that I did find had some potential is a 3 point spreader like the cosmo. Its a pain to load by hand, and the ag lime needs to be dry, but for small areas it can be done.
It must be very dry and not setup hard from exposure to weather. Even then it will still stick to the sides some.
I have used the three point to lift to shake the spreader, by moving it up and down, and break it free. Even then keep a shovel handy.
Again not a lot of fun, but it's possible.
This job is easier on rough pastures sense all the bumps will shake the lime off the side walls.

I think you will break that manure spreader unless you load it very light. Those lime buggys are very robust since lime is heavy stuff.

Fred

 

[stephan]

Check out page 40 in this link. I'm not suggesting that this spreader speads anything other than granulated lime but it does spread lime and it is cheap, well AUD$600 is not much in your money.

Would 9 bags be bulk (is that a metric bulk or imperial)?

 

[dixiedrifter]

Actually they make a special agitator bar with a wheel on the end for conical spreader for about $25.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jareds/bar.jpg

Its pretty wild to watch it run because it actually spins along the side of the spreader.

Still doesn't work worth a hoot, but it makes it where it won't completely clog up. Ya just gotta drive with one hand, and poke a broom handle in the spreader.

Really for such an agitator to be effective it needs to be about a foot or so longer.

I have a working prototype of something similar in principle to the agitator above but much more effective.

I'd post it on here but the patent is pending.

 

[R_Gator]

If you're looking for ideas... visit www.highwayequipment.com , as they've been building commercial spinner boxes for years... Just an thought, but you may want to check with your local box/hoist manufacturing facility. I know the guys we have local do alot of work outfitting the county and state salt trucks... All the old stuff (trades) are put on auction once a year, and you might be able to find one you could retrofit to your application. Most likely its going to have a good deal of corrosion, but the bones of the project would be there..