FIMCO 3pt 40 Gallon Sprayer - Review, Assembly

deathtoblackberries · Apr 14, 2018

Got the FIMCO 40 gallon sprayer assembled today, here's a quick review. Fully assembled, someone at FIMCO needs to practice their welding skills the left boom is angled up a bit. Its already annoying me I may ask FIMCO to send me a new one.

It folds up fairly compact, that Kreg table is 28x28 inches for scale.

Side view, they pitched the 3 point forward I guess so it sits more level on the tractor. UPGRADE the 2 piece square clamps that hold the spray nozzles on the boom, the screws were almost not long enough to get the nut started. Those clamps also don't smash completely flat so the serrated nut really wasn't going to lock that well. I upgrade to some slightly longer stainless 1/4 inch screws and nylon lock nuts I had on hand.

Here's the 3 point hitch SAFETY WARNING see those long steel straps that hold the plastic tank on, they were RAZOR sharp and will cut you. I spent about half an hour deburring them with a carbide deburring tool. Also the plastic tank is also bolted on from underneath, 5/16 bolts into plastic threaded inserts, the directions WARN not to over tighten I didn't and it was fine.

UPGRADE I purchased some pins with an angled shoulder vs the pins that came with it as on/off is a bit tight on the Land Pride quick hitch. I felt the angled shoulders would more easily slide into place.

Here's the factory pin vs the angled shoulder pin.

Here's the frame before installing the tank. Fit and finish was good, it bolted together without any issues or having to brute force things to line up, alignment was good.

I had read someone upgraded the black plastic dry gauge on the left to the stainless gauge on the right. UPGRADE on a whim I purchased the stainless liquid filled gauge at Coastal when I purchased the sprayer. This is an included upgrade if you buy the FIMCO PRO series sprayer, which I'm not sure its even released I didn't find it for sale anywhere just the product page on FIMCO's web site. Glad I upgraded the plastic gauge weighs nothing I felt like I could crush it in my hand without much effort.

Possibly the most UN-ergonomic spray grip ever designed its completely square. UPGRADE I purchased the much more ergonomic aluminum sprayer at Coastal (not pictured), again this gun is an upgrade with the PRO series sprayer.

deathtoblackberries · Apr 14, 2018

In the other thread I mentioned this red FIMCO 40 gallon sprayer is NOT exactly the same as the blue 40 gallon sprayer FIMCO manufactures for Wilco Farm Store.

This is the red FIMCO pump 2.1 gpm vs only 1.8 gpm for the Wilco. Also the red FIMCO pump and manifold are both quick connect, the Wilco below is not it has screw on/off fittings. I felt the red FIMCO was superior to the Wilco. Wilco $399 but I got the red FIMCO on sale at Coastal for $405, normal price $449.

Here's the Wilco

David_Kb7uns · Apr 15, 2018

Put a worm drive stainless steel clamp around the base the gauge is threaded into, first one I had on my Fimco 60 gallon, the spray boom valve had to be replaced from having a crack, also use the teflon tape lightly on the plastic fittings as they will split if tightened too much.

David

JohnMaldaner · Apr 15, 2018

Thank you for this review! I will soon be in the market for a sprayer. Looking forward to to any comments you have after using this sprayer a bit.

Ford850 · Apr 15, 2018

A couple tips for any Fimco sprayer:
- If its stored where it will be 32* or lower, winterize with RV antifreeze or you will ruin the pump and wand. Even with RV fluid, I've ruined 2 wands due to not getting enough fluid to the wand. I now remove the wand and drain it completely to store over winter.
- I thoroughly clean my tank after each use, but I had issues with the jets plugging after a couple months storage. Now I remove all spray jets, washers, and screens after each use. I toss them in a clear plastic peanut butter jar and add a small squirt of dish detergent and fill with water. Shake, rinse, drain, and store with a loose cap. Then before I use the sprayer I add a couple gallons of water to the tank and pump through to flush all lines. Then I add the clean spray heads and off I go. I haven't had an issue since I started this process a few years ago. There's nothing worse than a full tank of mixed chemicals after a pass or two and your jets are plugging.

deathtoblackberries · Apr 15, 2018

Ford850 - Good tips and I noticed the jets remove with just a 1/4 twist so flushing the system after use yeah probably a good idea.

David - I'm not quite following you, I think you are suggesting reinforcing the plastic manifold with a stainless hose clamp? I did only hand tighten the gauge. If that plastic manifold gives me any problems I'll replace it with a proper metal manifold.

All - guys what PSI are you running? Do you run different PSI for different chems or spray nozzles vs spray gun?

deathtoblackberries · Apr 15, 2018

IMPORTANT - I forgot an assembly step, pick up the tank and shake all the white plastic shavings into a corner and vacuum out with a shop vac. Not sure how those shavings, looked like shavings from drilling or trimming got inside the tank but I found about a tablespoon in both the Wilco and FIMCO tanks, easily enough to clog something up.

MHarryE · Apr 15, 2018

My Fimco pump gets removed and stored inside along with the wand after failing both with RV anti freeze.

deathtoblackberries · Apr 16, 2018

MHarryE said:
My Fimco pump gets removed and stored inside along with the wand after failing both with RV anti freeze.

With the quick connects its just 4 screws to remove the pump so good idea. I'd blow the rest of the system out with air for winter storage. I did pick up some Fimco conditioner/cleaner yesterday.