Sprayer

[MikePA]

I couldn't believe it...My wife wants me to buy an attachment. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif She wants me to buy a sprayer. We have an outdoor riding ring and my wife spends a lot of time spraying the weeds, both in the ring, around the barn and fencerow. She has been using a garden sprayer, the kind you fill, pump up and spray. She would like to graduate to a sprayer that she could either (1) Tow behind our garden tractor or TC25D or (2) Three point hitch attachment. The sprayer would have to be able to spray the ring as well as be able to hit the weeds around the barn and fence. So, I imagine the sprayer would have to have booms (for the ring) and a wand (fence and barn).

Can any of you recommend a sprayer or offer any advice?

 

[MReeter]

Mike,we have a Sprayer that is made by Fimco.You can buy one at about any Farm Supply Store.It has a 55 gal. tank,foldable 10' boom,total spray width is 140". Flow control valve and hoses.

I had to buy the Pump and P.T.O. adapter,and other fittings to hook up a hand held wand.

I use this thing a lot,spray weed control on the lawn,apply bug control on the lawn,treat weeds along the drive with Roundup.I use the wand to spray trees and shrubs,around foundation and shop.I teed a valve into the main feed line that I hook up a garden hose to,I mix up liquid fertilizer in the tank and let it gravity feed onto trees and plants.

Very handy to have around....

 

[MReeter]

Heres a shot of the side,I teed into the pressure line to feed a hand held wand.I used 3/8" Gas Fitting shut offs and 3/8" quick couplers,seems to work fine,plenty of pressure...

 

[cstocks]

Mike,

If you don't mind me asking, what is the total price for a setup like yours?

Thanks!

 

[MReeter]

Chris,I bought the Sprayer and 6-roller Hypro pump at a close out sale at a TSC store this past Spring.I think I gave $325.00 for the pair.This was about $100-$125 off of normal retail.
The hand held wand,30' of hose and fittings was around $50.

With the spraying season about over,you might be able to find a deal out there somewhere.

 

[Casimir]

Mike -
I have the same problem (wife who rides and wants the ring and surrounding areas kept groomed). I have been looking at a couple of sprayers that are available at Tractor Supply. They have a 15 gallon one and a 25 gallon that are on small trailers with a clevis hitch, so they can be pulled behind the lawn tractor or the "big" tractor. They are priced about $249 and $277 respectively here in VA. Both have 12 volt pumps (hook up to your battery in the tractor) and hand wands as well as some boom capability. TSC also has other larger ones for 3-pt hookup like the one described above. You might check them out. Nice when the wife wants you to buy an attachment, isn't it? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[professor]

I have been using a 25 gal. sprayer with a Flojet electric pump for years. When I bought it in 1984 it was a trailer type. A few years ago I adapted it to 3pt. hitch. I have both the wand and spray nozzle. I do not think the electrics give as many problems as the pto pumps.

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>Nice when the wife wants you to buy an attachment, isn't it?</font color=blue>

Yep, really had to twist my arm /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif!

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone. I had checked Carver's site (they have 2 sprayers designed for compact tractors) and will stop by TSC as well.

 

[cstocks]

Thanks Mike. Looks like something else to put on ever growing my wish list./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[OkieNCognito]

Mike,
I purchased a 25 gal. sprayer from Atwoods Farm & Supply that uses a 12 volt pump and hand wand for a little over $100. There is a small dual wheel trailor available that includes a short boom but I was concerned the tires were too small to give me adequate ground clearance.

I set the tank in the FEL bucket, clip the leads to the tractor battery which is in front of the radiator, and drape the hose for the hand wand up the arm of the FEL to the tractor seat. Takes only a few minutes to attach and works great for riding along and spot spraying.

I have plans to build a cradle for the sprayer that will attach to the 3ph so I can plumb it for a boom.

 

[alco141]

i have one of the 14 gal. sprayers that run by electric pump, i use it to spray the orchard, and for weed control. it works well, is very easy to place on a carryall and just spray from the seat of the tractor. have had this for about 8 years, no problems. dont know how much spray you use for your jobs, but theiy also come in a 25 gal tank size. bought mine from northern tool.

alex

 

[ClayG]

You might also want to check Northern Tool http://www.northerntool.com/

They have a large selection of ATV mounted, pickup mounted, and tow-behind sprayers. They used to carry at least one 3-point sprayer, but it doesn't show up on their site now.

 

[MReeter]

I like that holster,I use our BX to spray with,put the FEL to offset the weight and it handles it just fine.Doubt if the weight would be a problem for Mike either.

You're right about the pump,keep them clean and lubed,and they will last for many years.

 

[MikePA]

Any opinions as to the pros and cons of PTO powered versus electric? I realize if we choose PTO, then the garden tractor can not use the sprayer. Any others?

 

[JRP]

My 15 gallon sprayer has electric pump. The pump broke and was a "replace the whole thing" repair for about $60. For the TSC grade electric pump I think the pumps are sort of like "consumer quality." Not really robust and made to be rebuilt.

The Hy-pro pump on my 50 gallon sprayer is sort of the opposite. The pump must be stored properly, but the castings are tough and there is not too much to go wrong. They are roller type pumps, and a kit to rebuild the pump is available at many farm stores. If you don't want to clean the pump then get the Siler Cast pump. It is like Stainless Steel. I have a standard pump and wish I had spent the cash for Stainless.

If you are spraying weeds in the driveway cracks the electric will be fine. I spray a bad weed called rosehedge on a 5000 acre ranch and wish I could carry 200 gallons instead of 50.

The decision is like buying a tractor. Kubota costs five times more than a Wal Mart riding mower. It is much better. The 50 gallon PTO sprayer may cost 5X the electric, but it probably will be working when the electric is in some landfill or ash pile. If the electric will satisfy your needs it might be fine, but you get what you pay for.

 

[JRP]

I read your needs again. The electric probably will do fine. It will be easy for your wife to hook up. Consider making a 3pt attachment like a carry all (very useful) or putting it inside your FEL bucket, if equipped. A tow behind sprayer is not as maneuverable and will be like backing up a trailer every time you back up. You also will have two more tires to keep from getting flats. Also, the shorter the trailer, the harder it is to back up.

Consider some kind of funnel with a screen. Grass will mess up the little electric pump parts.


Hope this is more help.

 

[kevincook]

I have this same sprayer and am very happy with it so far. I paid about $420 for the sprayer and pump and TSC this past spring. I use it for spraying weed killer on my lawn. It is much less expensive for me to apply this way. It will pay for itself in the first year.

MReeter...My booms are rotated 90 degrees from the position yours are in. i.e. the booms fold backwards. This allows them to fold up if I drive too close to something or if I have uneven terrain and one of the booms hits the ground. I think the way I have them is "correct". Is there a reason you have yours so they fold "up"?

Thanks.

 

[MReeter]

Kevin,I set mine up this way as I am soo cramped for room in our building.To fold the booms rearward would take up twice the space.I have some roadbanks that I spray,I just raise up one side of the boom to whatever angle...

Your right about the savings,I can treat our 3 acre lawn for broadleaf weeds for about $15.