Spreader looking for opinions on new idea ground driven manure spreaders.

[bsrfarms97]

Hey just wondering here. I'm looking at a manure spreader that's ground driven. Will the old new ideas really hold up. I've only got probably 15tons to spread from my winter heavy use area.

 

[tessiers]

Keep them greased, don't leave them with manure in them, Don't load them too heavy, you should be fine. Biggest issue to look for is the detachable link bed chains, if they are worn out they will break, if they break you get to shovel the bed out. Thats where not loading them too heavy comes into play. With mixed manure and bedding its not too heavy and you can load them right up, If its wet heavy stuff half a load is enough. I use a John Deere from the 40's, have for years. We had a New Idea model 12a for years but it didn't get used much and someone asked to buy it, they offered more than I thought it was worth. The JD is a little heavier and has more capacity thats why I prefer it. We spread 100 ton per year, 15 should be a breeze.

 

[RickB]

I'd say any left in working condition have held up prettty well.

tessiers has given good advise.
Any spreader worth dragging home is worth a new bed chain.

 

[Ted Summey]

+ 1 on tessiers advice. We have a New Idea and a David Bradley that are identical. They are at least 40 years old. Still working. They do break the chains and it is an awful chore to shovel them out.

 

[dlrfarms]

You can buy a brand new spreader called E-Z Spreader form Mose Erb in Ohio, Basically it is a brand new New Idea; poly lumber instead of wood,a really well built spreader and if taken care of it will last a lifetime and then some.