Spreader Newbie and the Manure Spreader Question(s)

[rmonio]

[no funnies here - I do not plan to stand behind the product ]

Seriously though... I'm interested in some tips on using the unit. It is a Frontier MS1112 (PTO-driven) unit (pulled by a JD4600) and I already have it filled with horse manure (frozen - so I'm waiting to the warm temperatures this weekend for spreading). Since this is my first shot out with it, any thoughts or tips to share?

Thank you for your help!

-Bob

 

[gf5205]

Don't try to spread the load if it is one solid frozen mass. It will break the spreader. How long has the manure been in the spreader? How wet is it? If you can't easily break it up with a pitchfork - don't spread it till April. It will still be frozen long after the snow has melted. If you're lucky only the chain will break. You may also bend the beater bars.
Greg

 

[rmonio]

Don't try to spread the load if it is one solid frozen mass. It will break the spreader. How long has the manure been in the spreader? How wet is it? If you can't easily break it up with a pitchfork - don't spread it till April. It will still be frozen long after the snow has melted. If you're lucky only the chain will break. You may also bend the beater bars.
Greg

Greg -

I just loaded it in there yesterday evening as I scooped it up from the pasture area and from what we've removed from the stalls. I can take some of it out and reduce the load if that would make it any easier or better. Do people not spread manure in the winter and leave that to the spring-summer-fall months only?

Thanks for your feedback!

-Bob

 

[Rusty]

Do people not spread manure in the winter and leave that to the spring-summer-fall months only?

rmonio - I almost never use my spreader in the winter, and I never put manure in it, if freezing temperatures are expected before I can empty it. In fact, I do not put manure in the spreader, unless I am going to spread the same day. Whenever I am not spreading manure, it goes from the barn or paddocks to the manure pile.

 

[rmonio]

rmonio - I almost never use my spreader in the winter, and I never put manure in it, if freezing temperatures are expected before I can empty it. In fact, I do not put manure in the spreader, unless I am going to spread the same day. Whenever I am not spreading manure, it goes from the barn or paddocks to the manure pile.

Hmm. Then I guess I better take it back out and put it in a pile until Spring.

Oh well.

-Bob

 

[rmonio]

Interesting. I talked to the Deere dealer this afternoon and he said it shouldn't be a problem due to the weather changes (warm) and the fact that it's not really wet (all of it is dry).

I'm going to take it slow, but give it a whirl this weekend and see how things go.

-Bob

 

[WayneB]

The problem could be freezing the track and then something has to give when you engage the pto. Again it depends upon the temperature, but I would suggest you try to get it out of there as soon as possible.

 

[claykin22]

Spread it ASAP! If it was all dry/already frozen when you put it in, it should be just fine to spread (so long as you weren't loading large frozen chunks with a loader or anything). You just don't want to give it the chance to thaw and then freeze again in one large mass.

Go for it this weekend! When spreading, head into the wind to keep it from "raining" on you. You want the beater to really fling it to get a good even spread.

 

[bota7800]

Even if the outer layers thaw the lower stuff may be a frozen mass as it is well insulated. Just make sure you don't have a block or that nice new spreader may be damaged.

Let us know how it goes. I am hoping to spread in the winter if I can load and spread without delay.

 

[rmonio]

Even if the outer layers thaw the lower stuff may be a frozen mass as it is well insulated. Just make sure you don't have a block or that nice new spreader may be damaged.

Let us know how it goes. I am hoping to spread in the winter if I can load and spread without delay.

Well, I hooked up the spreader this weekend and flipped her on. Starting out slow, the unit ripped into the pile and within 5 minutes had it all ground up and spread. The temperature was reasonable - about 30 degrees with a soft breeze - so it wasn't overly warm... but it did the job and if I didn't have to unload 90 bales of hay I probably would have scooped up a few more piles and spread them too.

Net/net, I agree that you need to spread when the temperatures are right, you haven't allowed it to pile for too long, and the moisture content doesn't have it completely frozen over. The manure does still generate heat and if you take your time, it seems to work fine. I'm glad I got the bigger, PTO-driven, unit though... I don't think the smaller, wheel-driven, units would do the same job.

Thanks for the feedback and support, folks!

-Bob