F.E. Myers Air Blast Orchard Sprayer Information

[r8f1k]

Does anyone know where to find parts, information, manuals, etc for an older F.E. Myers air blast sprayer? I’ve looked all over in a combination of searches and I can’t find anything solid. Just units for sale or formerly for sale. Looks to be a fiberglass tank, probably 70’s or 80’s model. Looks like it has been sitting outside for a couple years, but still looks solid. Nothing glaring, probably a good cleaning and lubrication would get it running. Any thoughts?

Tag says - Catalog: 7825 ********
Serial No. 450-B
Engineering No. 19110F10

 

[Seven Gables]

Myers was and still is a pump manufacturer that for a number of years made sprayers. I’ve got a 100gal 3pt mounted weed sprayer that I still use , think it was bought new in about 1981.Myers hasn’t made any sprayers since probably the late 80’s.
I’d suggest calling Phil Brown welding in Conklin, Michigan, they were a Myers dealer for sprayers way back when, they are now a Durand Weyland sprayer dealer I believe.. I have been able to get pump rebuild parts from them for my weed sprayer. I think they could at least tell you what you’re options are .

 

[masseyrider]

Myers was and still is a pump manufacturer that for a number of years made sprayers. I’ve got a 100gal 3pt mounted weed sprayer that I still use , think it was bought new in about 1981.Myers hasn’t made any sprayers since probably the late 80’s.

I grew up in the orchard sprayer world.
I was going to say the same thing.
There have been a lot of different makes that have come and gone from that era.
You might get lucky and find some old new stock somewhere or find something that is interchangeable.
Or like one of the sprayers I had you're just SOL.
I use the tank for watering the garden. 500 gal at a time.

 

[r8f1k]

I have a 100 gallon FMC 3 point, I like it, but a larger tank would be nice. This unit looks like 300 gallons, maybe 250. The price point is probably going to be pretty low since this area is not known for fruit growing operations in the area, so I am going to give it a shot and see what happens. I bet that most of the bearings, seals, etc are probably cross referenced with modern equivalents. (I am not overly intimidated by old machinery and finding old parts or getting old stuff to work.)

Let me be more direct in my questions:
1) Are these nice/reliable sprayers? I know there are many brands and models out there, but are Myers sprayers generally good units? Example: Honda - most run forever as long as they are maintained vs. any Yugo, ever.

2) If I were to acquire the unit for under $300, would it be worth it to put some sweat equity into it?

 

[Seven Gables]

I’ve never owned a Myers air blest but there were a few around back in the day. I think they were a decent enough sprayer, I believe they built a very good pump. What size trees do plan on spraying? That probably has about a 30-32” fan and would work on trees up to about 16 18’ tall . You’d have issues reaching 30’ trees, maybe if you crawled through at a 1-2mph it might tickle the tops.
You’re right a lot of the parts, bearings, belts , pulleys valves, hoses, nozzles can all be sourced aftermarket. Main concern would be pump condition and is the tank still good. I do think most likely you can still get pump parts. Wonder if it was as ever winterized before pastured?
I see it’s got the old cable valve controls or as we fondly referred to them, outboard motor controls. Those are likely froze up with corrosion. Could pretty easily replace the valves with electric operated valves if you wanted. One other important thing to check is the fan and fan housing condition, any of it rotted away? I think you may be hard pressed to find a correct fan for it. Let us know what you find out

 

[r8f1k]

My trees are only 10 feet tall at best. Almost everything we have is either dwarf or semi-dwarf, 1700 or so trees. Not a real big operation. I have 12 volt solenoids on my FMC from the old pull string valves. I made a simple control box that I can plug in and use the solenoids from the cab, way better especially when I am spraying on the ends so I can shut half of the sprayer off fast and back on fast.

My issue now is stopping to fill up 2-1/2 to 3 times to refill. It would be nice to be able to just keep spraying when I am doing it and get it all done at once. One other thing is that the 3 point sprayer gets a little heavy for my Mahindra 4510. Holds 100 gallons makes it least 1000lbs once you add in the weight of the sprayer itself. That makes it steer like hell until you get a fair amount onto the trees and we have some tight rows, so losing steering is not my favorite when it is March and there is slimy turf and still some light snow here and there. I would rather have the trailer behind me so that I have better steering but a larger footprint.

I should add that this unit is in an estate auction for an orchard I offered to buy years ago. They wouldn't sell and now it's all been let to go to pot and there isn't much to buy other than the property. It was an operating orchard up until around Covid. I'm betting around that time is the last time the sprayer was used and based on the green haze on the tires, it's been sitting since at least then. I doubt I am lucky enough to have it so the previous owner filled the pump with anti-freeze or oil, but maybe.... My other concern is that the lid looks to have been left slightly open. Could have been 5 years ago, could have been 10 days ago. If it has been open for a long time, I hope the tank drain is open too.

Right now the online bid is at $0.00 with a few days left. There are a lot of items in the auction that have bids, so it isn't from lack of exposure. Chances are, it isn't going to garner much attention. IF I AM LUCKY, it will go for $10 and it won't really matter after that what is wrong with it......if it is really bad, who cares. If it is working, even better.

 

[Seven Gables]

My trees are only 10 feet tall at best. Almost everything we have is either dwarf or semi-dwarf, 1700 or so trees. Not a real big operation. I have 12 volt solenoids on my FMC from the old pull string valves. I made a simple control box that I can plug in and use the solenoids from the cab, way better especially when I am spraying on the ends so I can shut half of the sprayer off fast and back on fast.

My issue now is stopping to fill up 2-1/2 to 3 times to refill. It would be nice to be able to just keep spraying when I am doing it and get it all done at once. One other thing is that the 3 point sprayer gets a little heavy for my Mahindra 4510. Holds 100 gallons makes it least 1000lbs once you add in the weight of the sprayer itself. That makes it steer like hell until you get a fair amount onto the trees and we have some tight rows, so losing steering is not my favorite when it is March and there is slimy turf and still some light snow here and there. I would rather have the trailer behind me so that I have better steering but a larger footprint.

I should add that this unit is in an estate auction for an orchard I offered to buy years ago. They wouldn't sell and now it's all been let to go to pot and there isn't much to buy other than the property. It was an operating orchard up until around Covid. I'm betting around that time is the last time the sprayer was used and based on the green haze on the tires, it's been sitting since at least then. I doubt I am lucky enough to have it so the previous owner filled the pump with anti-freeze or oil, but maybe.... My other concern is that the lid looks to have been left slightly open. Could have been 5 years ago, could have been 10 days ago. If it has been open for a long time, I hope the tank drain is open too.

Right now the online bid is at $0.00 with a few days left. There are a lot of items in the auction that have bids, so it isn't from lack of exposure. Chances are, it isn't going to garner much attention. IF I AM LUCKY, it will go for $10 and it won't really matter after that what is wrong with it......if it is really bad, who cares. If it is working, even better.

All good thoughts,no doubt that would be plenty of sprayer for your dwarf trees if it could be brought back to reliable operating condition without too much time and money invested. Big if though, buying it for next to nothing helps a lot and would be the only way It might be feasible. If you get it just have to make a assessment as to what all it’s going to need and the cost involved. Hard to tell until you dig into it but my gut feeling is you’d be better served by buying a decent newer used stainless steel constructed sprayer, definitely the best when dealing with corrosive materials.. I think with a little searching a 300 gallon SS pto sprayer in much better operating condition could be found for 6-10K. No idea if that fits with you’re budget for what you’re wanting to do though.
Another issue to consider is the pto hp of the tractor you plan to power whatever sprayer you buy. I don’t think a 45 hp tractor with maybe 35hp available at the pto is going to power a 30” or bigger fan without overheating issues. 45 engine hp tractor may be enough to power a 24” fan sprayer which would still be plenty of air for your dwarf trees I believe.Maybe you’ve considered this and a higher pto powered tractor is on your radar, IDK.
Just out of curiosity what state are you in ? and what kind of fruit are you growing? I’m guessing probably apples. Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[r8f1k]

As it sits right now, my FMC has a 30" fan and the tractor moves it right along. I am sure adding a lot more weight and a larger pump and larger rotating mass may change that. I do not have 6-10k. I am a bottom feeder. We have an 18 acres and a relatively small operation. I work full time as a teacher and the trees are only 7 years old. We are just getting marketable fruit and if it wasn't for 2 years of drought we would probably have opened to the public this last year.

I would love to get a decent machine that I can use for a couple years and pass it down the road to another young farmer who needs a cheap machine to get started.

We are in southern Wisconsin, 33 kinds of apples. We grow lots of heritage varieties, Ashmead Kernal, Harrison, Wolf River, Orleans, Arkansas Black, Macomb.... to name a few.

 

[masseyrider]

Bid low, $100/200.
If you get it and find it's not worth fixing you can strip it and you still get a nice low heavy trailer for your orchard.
Sometimes old junk is just that.
One of my old neighbors had an older offset orchard mower.
He insisted on fixing it.
I think it was an early 60s vintage. He spent a pile on it getting things welded and gear boxes rebuilt +++.
After all the work it still threw drive belts under certain conditions.
About the same time I bought a new 8' Bush-Hog semi-mount side shifting mower for not that much more money.
20 years later mine is still going strong and his went for scrap years ago.
Don't fall in love with old crap.

 

[r8f1k]

That's kinda what I am thinking. $250 is my cap. I figured the chassis and the PTO shafts are worth that. I hear you on the junk. I have tried save a number of machines over the years and I am less and less inclined to do so these days. This sprayer is right down the street and hopefully very cheap.