Section 7: Operating Procedures
PFS4000, PFS5060 & PFS8010 Pendulum Spreaders 309-124M
11/20/20
37
Unhook the Pendulum Spreader
Unhook Pendulum Spreader from the tractor as follows:
1. Empty hopper of product and thoroughly clean
spreader before unhooking spreader from tractor.
2. Park spreader on a level solid hard surface.
3. Lower spreader to level ground or onto blocks
supporting the spreader just above ground level.
4. Engage tractor park brake, shut tractor engine off
and remove key before dismounting from tractor.
5. Disconnect driveline from tractor power take-off shaft
6. Unhook 3-point hitch from tractor. Reinstall hitch
pins, linchpins and hairpin cotters in the spreader
hitch.
7.
Support driveline off the ground to keep dirt out of the
u-joints.
General Operating Instructions
By now you should have properly hitched your Land
Pride Pendulum Spreader to your tractor. Based on the
type of material and pounds per acre or kilograms per
hectare you intend to broadcast, you should have
on page 41 or
on page 45 to determine the
proper tractor ground speed, distribution gate opening,
and spread pattern setting for your spreader. This
process of taking prescribed fertilizer or seed label rates
and making the necessary spreader adjustments is
called “initial calibration”.
When setting your spreader up for initial calibration,
following the chemical or seed supplier’s label directions
and using the manufacturer’s application rate setting
charts is highly encouraged. Once you have achieved
your initial calibration, it is time to make “final calibration”
adjustments.
Travel to the area with tractor and hopper where
chemicals or seed are to be applied. Measure off a test
area. An acre is preferred. Measure out exactly enough
product to cover an acre at the manufacturer’s prescribed
rate and put it in the hopper. You should have already
determined the appropriate ground speed that will allow
you to meet the application rate. Start tractor and open
distribution gate just as you move onto the plot traveling
at proper ground and engine speed. Look back often to
observe your distribution width and pattern density.
Typically the pattern won’t be as dense on the outer
edges. As you make your turn for an adjacent pass,
adjust your travel path to achieve uniform overlap and
pattern density. (See “Effective Spread Width” on
page 36.) You may need to close and open the
distribution gate at the beginning and ending of each
pass. Your hopper should empty out just as you complete
coverage of your one-acre plot. If not, make the
necessary adjustments until you are absolutely confident
that you have achieved the proper final calibration.
Once you have achieved final calibration, load the
spreader hopper with the appropriate amount of material
to be spread. Do not overload hopper with more weight
than is specified for your individual model. If the tractor
front end becomes too light for proper steering, add
tractor weights to the front end. Proceed with spreading
operations looking back often to ensure a uniform
distribution pattern and to make sure there are no
interruptions to hopper flow.
With a little practice you should become a very good
applicator. Once you are done spreading, park the
tractor, set the brake, shut off the tractor, and remove the
keys. When finished, always clean out the spreader to
prevent rust and corrosion.
