Ground driven manure spreader issue

[SusanO]

For some reason all of the sudden the ground drive will not stay engaged when I go to spread a load. It starts off OK for maybe a hundred feet but then the lever kicks back up into the lock position and the spreader won’t spread. Then it gets worse and worse. I get back off the tractor, pull the lever and it works for 30 seconds and cuts back off. It does not appear to be a problem with the paddle in the back. Even when there is no manure going out the back of the spreader it still cuts off. AND sometimes when I hit a bump in the pasture it cuts back on for a minute or two and then cuts back off.

I have taken the panels off on the sides and do not see anything that looks broken and everything is pretty well lubricated. The only clue I have is that it was louder than normal spreading before this started. The chain is old but I don’t see any problem with it.

This is an old spreader in really good condition that I had to replace the bearings a few years ago. I have not greased the bearings since that time but it is not acting like it did when they broke. I will do that tonight but I don’t think that is the problem. It is too damn hot to be there with a shovel spending an hour trying to get it emptied!!! I can’t find ANYTHING that looks like it is broken on it. Any ideas or has anybody had this problem before?

[Hej]

It’s possible that the chain has stretched just enough that it’s jumping/slipping off one of the cog wheels. Just a guess!

[SusanO]

Hmmmm. I didn’t think of that. I will look for that. It isn’t working at the moment so I should see the chain not on the cog wheels perhaps? I think you are on to something. The chain is old and I didn’t think about that aspect. Since I have eliminated other ideas this one seems reasonable.

[goodhors]

Have you tried tying the lever/handle down, in the engaged position? I have seen your problem happen, never figured out why, but tying handle down worked in that case. This was a Millcreek, chain drive, after several years of use.

Can anyone come watch what happens on the spreader from beside it? There is the chance of breaking something if the handle can’t release when “whatever” rolls around during spreading. Ground person might see chain and bars snagging, then letting go and moving handle. Chain on cogs might not be feeding straight, then self-correcting. Stuff driver would not see.

That has to be so aggravating!

[SusanO]

I don’t know what would happen if I prevented the lever from coming up and disengaging. Probably break something with my luck. I do feel something is going on besides the lever coming up and causing it because it started to make a louder noise when it spread than it had done in the past. I think you all have hit on something with the chain. I didn’t think about that. The chain is pretty old.

I am getting somebody to come out and look at it but the guy that fixed it before is not available to fix it I am afraid. If I can get some ideas about what is causing this then we will have a start in figuring out what is wrong. I may call Millcreek tomorrow and get ideas from them, I am now wondering from Hej’s post if I should order a new chain. This is an OLD spreader but it spent decades in a barn and is in great shape except for this problem. I hate to throw it away if it can be fixed.

And yes - it was in the 90’s today, I hadn’t emptied it for days and the load was steaming as I tried to push the load out the back, engage the lever, drive two feet, stop, push the load out the back, engage the lever…

[JBCool]

Agree to get the chain checked. Also be sure it isn’t over-loaded. When my trainer bought her farm, a spreader came with it that we used for a while. But, is wasn’t big enough for the job, so was constantly over-loaded and started to act similar to yours as the chain and a cable (I think that engaged the chain) stretched and wore. The teeth on the drive gear for the chain had also worn down and some did not hold as well as others.

[Hej]

Definitely get someone to watch and see if they can tell what’s going on.

You might be able to take a link or two out of the chan and see if that fixes it before you buy a new one.
Don’t shorten it too much, the hot weather you mentioned may be expanding the chain just a bit and you don’t want it too tight when it cools off again.

[SusanO]

Woo hoo it is fixed! I could only see that something was kicking up the lever as I drove it to unload it. The chains did not look loose and were not coming off the track. I could only tell what was NOT wrong with it. So when my farrier came we took the panels off again and he saw it right off. I had a worn out sprocket! Once he pointed it out I could see that the “thing” was shaped funny and the chain was being pulled in an angle and that was what was popping it out of “gear”. So Millcreek sent me parts and he fixed it this afternoon. It works great now! At least until another sprocket goes and the rest of them are old too. But now i know what to look for.

BUT - he wouldn’t let me pay him anything :(. So what is a good present or even a good Christmas present??? He doesn’t drink so liquor won’t work. Family oriented would be best.

[HPFarmette]

@SusanO

Woo hoo it is fixed! I could only see that something was kicking up the lever as I drove it to unload it. The chains did not look loose and were not coming off the track. I could only tell what was NOT wrong with it. So when my farrier came we took the panels off again and he saw it right off. I had a worn out sprocket! Once he pointed it out I could see that the “thing” was shaped funny and the chain was being pulled in an angle and that was what was popping it out of “gear”. So Millcreek sent me parts and he fixed it this afternoon. It works great now! At least until another sprocket goes and the rest of them are old too. But now i know what to look for.

BUT - he wouldn’t let me pay him anything :(. So what is a good present or even a good Christmas present??? He doesn’t drink so liquor won’t work. Family oriented would be best.

I would do a restaurant gift card.

[fancy.pants]

Lots of people aren’t eating in restaurants. How about a big box/basket of produce, cheeses, goodies, etc.?