25
Basic Spinner Adjustments
If the spread pattern is heavy in the middle, adjust three of
the six blades (every other one) on each spinner disk two
notches in the hold direction; then test the spread pattern. If
necessary, move the same blades two more notches in the
hold position. If additional adjustments are desired, move the
remaining three blades (that haven’t been adjusted) two notches
in the hold direction.
If the spread pattern is heavy on the outside, adjust three
of the six blades (every other one) on each spinner disk two
notches in the release direction; then test the spread pattern. If
necessary, move the same blades two more notches in the
release position. If additional adjustments are desired, move
the remaining three blades (that haven’t been adjusted) two
notches in the release direction.
The following photo illustrates the hold and release angles
for a right spinner disk which rotates counterclockwise.
Collection Methods
STANDARD PAN COLLECTION METHOD
The typical method of testing the spread pattern is to place
collection pans in a row going across the direction of travel.
Make one or more passes across the pans and measure the
amount of material in each. This doesn’t work with large
broadcast spreaders.
The amount of material collected in each pan can be graphed
to reveal the type of spread pattern you are producing. A perfect
rectangular pattern is very hard to achieve and, in some cases
such as fertilizer application, not desirable because you would
have to drive impossibly precise to avoid skips or double
application. The inherent limitation of this testing method is
that particles coming out of a broadcast spreader have a very
low trajectory angle with high velocity and usually skip across
the surface. Most test runs will have sand sliding across the
pan and launching out the opposite side. We have even tried
using square “egg crate” inserts of varying sizes to provide
better capture of material but we still had material skipping
across the top. Therefore, the industry-standard pan collection
method does not accurately reflect the true distribution of
material.
E. The hopper wipers must be adjusted tightly down onto
the conveyor belt. Failure to properly adjust the hopper
wipers results in an adverse spread pattern and application
rate. Adjust the hopper wipers by pushing the belt fully
downward; then adjust the wipers tightly down to the
belt and secure the adjustment.
F. Set the metering gate opening to the approximate material
flow rate. Do not open the gate too far. Instead travel
slower over the area to get a higher application rate.
Opening the gate too high affects the controllability of
the pattern. For most materials, 3-4 inches (7.6-10 cm)
seems to be the point at which pattern controllability
problems arise. Available hydraulic power from the tractor
may also be a limiting factor in your gate setting.
G. Calibrate spinner speed to 325-350 RPM. Extensive
testing has shown that excessive spinner speed results in
uncontrollable patterns, material hitting the spinner shield
and heavy material deposits in the center. Furthermore,
increasing the spinner speed to 500 RPM, increases your
spread pattern width by only 10-15 feet (3-5 m) and results
in segregation of particulates such that fine ones only go
a few feet and the larger ones travel to the outer region of
the pattern. This causes detrimental results with precision
topdressing and fertilizer application.
H. Calibrate conveyor speed to approximately 70 RPM. This
will result in material just “skimming” the back wall of
the vertical spinner chute. The placement location of
material on the spinners has proven to be a critical variable
in the adjustment and control of the spread pattern.
I.
Take note of the material type, condition, and supplier.
Material, which has varying moisture and/or clay content
from one week to the next, may behave differently each
time you spread it. Wet sand, with high clay content, is
among the hardest materials to spread. For these reasons,
try to maintain uniform material conditions. Sometimes
it’s as simple as talking with your supplier to arrange for
uniform material to be supplied and covering the material
pile with a tarp so it is not exposed to the elements. In
direct contrast, dry graded silica sand (hour glass sand) is
probably the easiest material to spread.
The establishment of these preliminary setup steps was
developed through extensive testing and experience. For example,
the conveyor belt’s rear roller distance of 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
from the back wall of the vertical spinner chute was found to
give the best control of spread pattern distribution with all of the
various spinner blades. This applies to all models.
OPERATION
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