Thoughts on this 3-point hitch sprayer?

[King_s_Ransom]

I’m looking for a sprayer to attach to the 3-point hitch on my compact tractor (JD 2305 with Cat 1 hitch).

Needing to spray about 5-acre sections at a time – 3 fields of about 5 acres (m/l) each. Some of the terrain is pretty rough, by Kansas standards, but not wooded.

I was attracted to this one because there are no booms to deal with and the price seems right. Could I get some feedback from others about why I might love or hate this one?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578552_200578552

Thanks!

[hosspuller]

If you are spraying pasture weed control , be sure the neighbor’s flower beds are not close. like… less than a 1/4 mile away if a windy day. The boom less sprayers are not known for their accuracy. or drift control.

[King_s_Ransom]

I am spraying for pasture weed control. No worries about neighboring flower beds here. Thanks.

[hosspuller]

I was not being factious about flower beds. Be very aware of Drift. Grape vines are very sensitive to 2,4, D as an example. Tobacco is also sensitive to broad leaf herbicides. There’s a bunch growing close around my fields.

[King_s_Ransom]

Thanks for the heads-up. We are in cattle country and honest, if my weed spray “drifts” my neighbors will say thank you.

But it’s good to know, for sure. No one around me crop farms, it’s all pasture.

Other than the drift issue, does this look like a good choice? I’m seeing others that are $1,000 or more higher, so of course I’m concerned as this seems very affordable for our needs.

[Bluey]

Have you checked that you can buy some of those herbicides?
Many any more are restricted, you need an applicator license to buy them.

When you get your license, you learn what kinds of applicator you need, which nozzles for each herbicide, the rates and speed to apply, the laws that apply to each, etc.

Here, we can’t spray some herbicides during certain months, even if there is only one grower in the whole county and it is on the other end, miles away.
Yes, drift with some herbicides is a real and serious problem.

You may already have checked all this out, but if not, you ought to start there, before deciding what you may use as a sprayer.

[King_s_Ransom]

No permit required for 2,4-D in Kansas.

[Jim_in_PA]

The only functional thing that crosses my mind is that going “boomless” means making a lot of passes through those 5 acre sections to get the job done. Factor in both time and fuel in that respect.

[vineyridge]

Tractor Supply sells a small PTO mounted FIMCO sprayer which I bought this spring. It has a gun as well as a 12 boom. Holds 40 gallons and cost only $350.

I haven’t used it yet, since my pastures are surrounded by crops. I’ll use it soon, however, once the cotton is picked. I do recognize that I’ll be making lots of passes, but I intend to use dye in the mix.

I’ve just discovered that there is a pre-emerge for pastures called Direx 4L. I’m planning to get an applicators license just for that.

It works on Teaweed!

This is interesting.
http://www.powershow.com/view/22bdf-ZmIwY/Forage_Weed_Control_Update_powerpoint_ppt_presentation

[gumtree]

Go with the one Vinery has. I have the next size up 55 gallons which just about covers around 5 acres with out having to refill at the application rate I generally use when spraying 2-4-D. The booms fold down and it is reasonably well made. The extra $$ will be well spent over a boom less trust me. The gun only sprayers are really meant for spraying trees, bushes,etc… The PTO roller pump is far better then electric pump for continuous spraying.

A little tip for those who may buy one of these and live in areas with sub freezing weather. Winteriize it, remove the spray nozzles and let water drain out. If you have a compressor remove the main “feed” hose and blow air through. REMOVE the plastic filter cup, on mine it is under the “platform” so it is easy to over look. This is always filled even if the tank is run dry. Forget to do this and you will have to buy a new one come spring. After you have filled it and find the filter cup is cracked and the expensive herbicide is running on to the ground. I installed a PVC shut off valve on the intake line

[King_s_Ransom]

The sprayer I was looking at does have a gun, but it also has a broadcast nozzle (not a boom) with a 14-foot spread…so not just a spot sprayer.

Question about PTO roller pump vs electric pump – I read the manual for the PTO-pump version of the Fimco sprayer. I couldn’t figure out whether the PTO has to be running all the time you’re spraying? If so, I should think that would really eat up the diesel?

[Guilherme]

I don’t like the “boomless” sprayers for most purposes. They are convenient when passing through gates but are very subject to winds and controlling application rates is more difficult. You can also use a “boom” sprayer effectively as a fence line sprayer by using “blanks” to block all the spray nozzles but the end one and use a directional nozzle for that one. Works very nicely for applying herbicides along fence lines.

A 55 gal. sprayer would be quite adequate for 5 acre piece.

Get one with a “gun” for “spot applications.” It makes life a lot simpler!

G.

[Tom_King]

I have one quite similar that is permanently mounted on my 7’ bushog. I bought a narrow “boom” that was designed for an ATV that covers a 30’ swath that’s welded onto the back end of the cutter deck. It doesn’t come close to either side of the cutter. The wand has a place up beside the seat, and I have a switch that turns the pump on or off on the panel. I do have to get off the tractor and change a couple of valves to use the boom.
12v pump works just fine

http://www.agrisupply.com/boomless-atv-boom-kit/p/55968/

here’s the tank and pump that is welded in place on the cutter deck
http://www.agrisupply.com/skid-mounted-spot-sprayer/p/60442/

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=King’s Ransom;7815084]
The sprayer I was looking at does have a gun, but it also has a broadcast nozzle (not a boom) with a 14-foot spread…so not just a spot sprayer.

Question about PTO roller pump vs electric pump – I read the manual for the PTO-pump version of the Fimco sprayer. I couldn’t figure out whether the PTO has to be running all the time you’re spraying? If so, I should think that would really eat up the diesel?[/QUOTE]

Look at this way, diesel cost around $3.50 a gallon, 2-4-D around $30 a gallon. It’s about the efficient use of the herbicide and 2-4-D is the cheapest of the lot. You can,t “meter” in other words control the amount being applied with a with a spot spay gun. With a boom sprayer you basically set the desired pressure, set the booms at the correct height, set the tractors ground speed according to the delivery rate of the spray nozzles being used and the amount needed for the weeds you are going after. Put on some music head phones and enjoy the ride. It’s not like mowing the ground speed once figured out is on the slow side of things by and large. It takes a bit of practice to get the “spacing dialed in” so you don’t overlap anymore then necessary.
If you try and do serval acres with a hand held gun you will be wasting a lot of herbicide and you arm will get plenty tired. And it will be time consuming.
If you just need to spot spray from time to time buy a 15 gallon deal, Harbor Freight they can be hadt on sale for around $80 or Tractor Supply around $120. The same sprayer with a different name. 12 volt pump that has alligator clips attached to the battery of what ever you are using. I use my "ATV jacked up"gas golf cart that has a plateform on the rear.
My farm is how I make my living it’s not my hobby or past time. Profit margins are slim for horse farms and lots of work. It’s all about efficient use of ones time and money. I’ve got a lot of T-shits that say “wasted a lot time and money” on them.

[King_s_Ransom]

gumtree – this is not a hand-held spot spray gun unit. It’s a broadcast sprayer that also has a hand-held spot spray gun attachment. It just does not have fold-out booms, but it does have a nozzle to deliver a 14-ft. wide swatch as you drive along. Oh, and you can stop and spot spray something if you need to.

[Tom_King]

it’s nice having the sprayer mounted on the bushog. That bushog is a two tailwheel model, and I fabricated a door on it that I can open and sharpen the blades with a 9" side grinder really quickly. Some people let their bushog blades turn into nubs, but with sharp blades and the dual tailwheels, it will cut almost as good as a finishing mower. It stays on the tractor most of the time from early Spring to late Fall. When I’m clipping somewhere, and see something I want to spray like a young Poke, all I have to do is flip the switch, and aim the wand.

the 30 foot spread of the rig makes quick work of spraying a pasture and it’s right there ready to go when the time is right.

[King_s_Ransom]

Really a great idea, Tom!