Anyone use a Salt Spreader on their 3 pt ?

[tsafa]

I am considering buying a Fertilizer Spreader for spreading Rock Salt / Cinders in the parking lot of my business. Does anyone have experience using one of these.

This is the one I had in mind:

http://www.everythingattachments.co...er-XA500-p/lba-fertilizer-spread-xa5003pt.htm

or maybe this one:

http://www.everythingattachments.co...er-XL500-p/lba-fertilizer-spread-xl5003pt.htm

Does anyone have any experience as to how well they hold up when your run rock salt and Cinder (anti-skid) through them?

I will probably use a mix of 10 % salt and 90% cinder, since salt is so expensive.

The one from Tractor Supply does have a larger capacity for the same money... so that would be preferable if it will work.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...tal-cone-for-grass-or-fertilizer?cm_vc=-10005

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Everyone uses those up here, They work great for that.
We use Magnesium Chloride and sand or fine crushed stone.

One reason to use (if available in your area) Magnesium Chloride over salt is it's easier on cars, environment, animals, and water sheds.

 

[skeets]

IM looking for one my self, though a used one, and every dealer I have spoken to says the same thing if you can get the Polly hopper, from what Im told they don't clog up as much and wont rust away if you leave salt in them,,

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Without a doubt get a poly hopper. We ALL know how paint and steel hates salt.

 

[mike paulson]

Me personally, I wouldn't put one of those things within 100ft of my tractors....

 

[tsafa]

Me personally, I wouldn't put one of those things within 100ft of my tractors....

Why? Details Please. Thanks

 

[skeets]

Yes yes Mike please explain ??

 

[Eric McCarthy]

My guess is he doesn't want the salt to eat the paint and rust out his equipment. The equipment applying the salt does take a beating too. Ever seen the ass end of a salt truck the road department uses? Its UGLY.

 

[Kubota_Man]

I was just thinking today how I could hang one of the rear of my rear blade. It would add extra weight, add another tool to the arsenal & to do a total job without hooking up another item later. Any ideas how I can do that safely?

 

[slgrafton]

Not a very good pic but here is my salt spreader. Took a 12V spreader from some company that uses green color paint and mounted it on an old 3pt spreader frame. Works Good!

 

[Benhameen]

Here is the 12v spreader that I modified. I changed it up a bit from the pic, put an on/off switch on it and used the work lamp accessory plug to power it. Works great too, but I can see where the salt would end up getting on the tractor. When I used it to spread grass seed I got it all over the place. You could probably rig up a piece of cardboard or something to block it from flinging all over the tractor.

 

[BAP]

Does anybody use one to spread road sand? Or only straight salt? Around here we use salted sand on driveways for traction and right now I do it by hand, but would like to find a 3pt spreader capably of spreading it.

 

[Minotbob]

I bought a Herd 5.5 this fall and use it on our paved road. I get a 10% Salt/sand mix at the local gravel products. I bought it from a dealer in WI who said it was new but had been used as a Demo. It wasn't in very good shape when I got it and had to take it partially apart and clean up some rusted parts. But now it works really well. It has quite the agitator in the hopper. It's a 1" square bar with paddles welded to it and it's on a U joint. So when the sand starts to run out it bangs the side of the hopper. Makes a hell of a racket. But I can see why it's necessary as the salt/sand might not fall if it wasn't agitated aggressively. I have a BX24 and it handles a full hopper of sand just fine.

 

[mike paulson]

Salt destroys everything, Being a mechanic for 30yrs has clearly shown me this.

 

[BAP]

Salt will rust metal out if not taken care of. As long as you keep it washed off well after each use and and coat exposed metal with oil or new paint, there isn't much to worry about. The problem is when salt is left on for a long time.

 

[rparkinson]

I was planning on buying a Herd 5.5 too. I have a brand new L3200. I would not think that much salt would get on the machine, I mean it broadcasts it away from the machine... what do you think? do you get a lot of salt on your BX? If you had to do it over would you buy the Herd again, or a different brand? I would really like to hear your input!

 

[mike paulson]

Salt will rust metal out if not taken care of. As long as you keep it washed off well after each use and and coat exposed metal with oil or new paint, there isn't much to worry about. The problem is when salt is left on for a long time.

I wont even do salt on my private road in any form, And Im not one for hosing off my tractors or cars in -5 degree NY temps. Im forced to drive on it all winter and just hate to see what it does every time I have one of my vehicles on a lift. Salt is probably the most destructive thing a motor veh has to contend with up here in the northeast. Ive seen way too many good running vehicles, including equipment that were doomed to salt corrosion that otherwise would have lasted much longer. True there is nothing as effective as salt for ice but I prefer sand for anything my tractor will be driving over, but that's just me, I get alittle crazy when I see things on my tractor corroding.

 

[rparkinson]

Oh I understand that, I am a mechanic here in mid coast Maine. I see it every day. We prob do a few sets of brake lines a week. Last week I had a 2006 chevy half ton on the lift that needed spring shackles and hangers. I hate to do that to my tractor. I do live up the side of a mountain so its a tough situation. The ice storm we had 2 weeks ago made is so you could not get in or out. You could not even walk down the road with out snow shoes with spikes on the bottom. that is the only reason I am considering it. I am having it sanded now, but it is 140 bucks a wack to have it done. this year it is adding up fast...

 

[BAP]

Well your choices are straight sand plus some dynamite to break it apart after it freezes solid or enough salt mixed in the sand to keep it freezing. Undercoating will help keep vehicles of any kind from rusting out as fast. I live in New Hampshire and that is what people do to preserve their vehicles.

 

[Minotbob]

I don't get any sand/salt on my BX. The position on the rotation that the sand drops broadcasts it so none is left on the broadcast fins as it completes a rotation.

I think the Herd's, at least mine, is built very well. I have heard that there are some quality problems with the newer ones. You should do some customer satisfaction survey before you buy. While mine was "new" it had been used and the dump gate was rusted and wouldn't move. It was no problem to take it apart and clean up. I have thought about taking it somewhere and have it media blasted and powder coated.