new "Black Pearl" sprayer/spreader

[americanlawn]

http://www.eandlcp.com/black_pearl.htm

Anybody have experience with these?

Andy of LT Rich told me about these.........just by the looks of these, I'm wondering how heavy duty they are??

rscvp Thanks:usflag:

[gregory]

yeah andy is a nice very helpful ...

the black pearl looks okay i would like to see it in person before i bought one...there was a dealer for the z jr i got here in twon so i stopped by and looked at it and then went to lesco to look at the pg......good luck let us know what you get.....

[americanlawn]

yeah andy is a nice very helpful ...

the black pearl looks okay i would like to see it in person before i bought one...there was a dealer for the z jr i got here in twon so i stopped by and looked at it and then went to lesco to look at the pg......good luck let us know what you get.....

Thanks gregory -- I trust Andy (LT Rich Z-Spray), and I figure he will not steer me wrong, cuz I've talked to people that dealt with him. Sure....I could go with more Permagreen units, but they have concerns that I'm not happy with.....poor turning radius, lack of hydrostatic drive, fixed speed, fixed spray width, poor weed control. Seems the PG units are "fixed" (limited). This is why I'm probably gunna switch away from Permagreen (they have had years to improve their units, but so far, nothing's happened??).

We have tweaked our PG units as far as we could, yet I wonder why their factory did not do what we did with them??? Same o same o doesn't cut it with me. I'm tired of the same old technology that Permagreen shovels out.

Anybody else feel this same way??? rscvp thanks

[RigglePLC]

I did a weed control test last week. Compared Permagreen Ultra using Eliminate, with high volume spray of Triester II. Toughest weed was oxalis.
Both worked, but I thought the PG with Eliminate was a little better.

[rcreech]

I did a weed control test last week. Compared Permagreen Ultra using Eliminate, with high volume spray of Triester II. Toughest weed was oxalis.
Both worked, but I thought the PG with Eliminate was a little better.

I have yet to see any weed control problems with my Magnum.

American,

What PG models are you running?

[scweedman]

I am very pleased with my magnum the changes over the ultra have been
for the better. Other than the position of the spray tips. One thing is
the gas mileage is night and day to the ultra. The black pearl
looks just like a centri/ultra If I had 8000 to spend i would
by a z spray not some new machine

[Runner]

So this Black Pearl is built by LT Rich?

[americanlawn]

I have yet to see any weed control problems with my Magnum.

American,

What PG models are you running?

Hi rcreech -- we run two 2004 Ultra units. We revamped their spray units so we can finally get efficient weed kill. Replaced the tires and many many other parts over the years. Both of them have been in the shop for impeller gear problems too. Seems I'm spending $700 per unit per year now.........they are on their last leg, and I don't like "n-----rigging equipment.

I wish PG units would last as long as other equipment & trucks we use, but that ain't gunna happen. This is why I'm looking toward Z-Spray units. Just don't know what size to get.

Take care buddy, americanlawn :usflag:

[americanlawn]

So this Black Pearl is built by LT Rich?

I doubt it very much. It doesn't look like it has the "industrial strength" that Z-Sprays have........plus, it's made in Connecticut. If I could try it out, I might be interested though???:usflag:

[Runner]

Yeah, it's weird that it has no website. All there is is the site of the mower shop and service center or whatever it is.

[mkroher]

http://www.eandlcp.com/black_pearl.htm

Anybody have experience with these?

Andy of LT Rich told me about these.........just by the looks of these, I'm wondering how heavy duty they are??

rscvp Thanks:usflag:

That's their website.

[Runner]

If I would have looked a little more, I would have read the "about us" section, and not been so quick to flap off at the jaw. LOL :hammerhead: :rolleyes:

[jbturf]

looks like a overgrown , modified permagreen to me.
not that thats a bad thing.
ill have to think about taking a drive down there, maybe at
the end of the year to check out these BP's
im in mass, so not to far.

i would like to see some more close up photos,
like of the spreader mechanism , inside the hopper,
underneath, etc..

J

[mkroher]

Those tires do look awesome though :cool2:

[scweedman]

I like the side tank i have thought about that for my pg. And it also has lights and
back up alarm. That alarm would be the first thing to go.

[scweedman]

Had to work on my magnum for the first time yesterday the roll pin that
holds the spinner plate to the shaft rusted and sheared. Called pg have a
new plate,shaft,roll pin coming $23.

[Runner]

Why are you having to change the whole shaft? I know sometimes the plates get whopped out, or like mine - cracked. My friend drilled additional holes and put in more roll pins on all his Magnums. I always keep a batch of roll pins around, because they sometimes get mushroomed out when I punch them out. I always drop the plate when I disassemble the hopper plate slider assembly for cleaning and re-lubing.

[scweedman]

The hole in the shaft and the plate are stopped up i can't get them clear. I could try and drill out the shaft hole and just replace the plate it is
cracked. The hard part is going to be getting to the four screws that hold
the gear box together to replace the shaft.

[sclawndr]

Had to work on my magnum for the first time yesterday the roll pin that
holds the spinner plate to the shaft rusted and sheared. Called pg have a
new plate,shaft,roll pin coming $23.


Roll pins are a complete waste. I use 4 inch pieces of coat hangar - push it thru and bend it on both sides. Lasts up to 4 weeks but the nice part is when it breaks, there's nothing to drill out as it doesn't fit too tight to begin with.

[scweedman]

It want go back the way it was thats fur sure

[sclawndr]

I talked to the guy who builds the Black Pearl for a while. He seems pretty knowledgable and it's clear he's put a lot of thought into the machine. I'm just not sure I want to be the guinea pig who finds all the little problems. BTW - the price is 6400 for a while, not 8000. That's a big difference - 6400 makes it much more competitive with PG. So if any of you are feeling adventurous, the rest of us would like to hear how it performs.

[americanlawn]

Ditto. BTW nails last much longer than roll pins, and they're cheap cheap cheap.

If the Black Pearl guys allow me to demo their unit, I'd be interested, but they are in the northeast corner of the Country.........I'm in the middle of the Country (I-80 + I-35).

[rob1325]

I saw the BP at the show this past winter. From what I remembered it look bulky IMO. Was alot longer than PG and seemed like it would be harder to control. The length kinda bothered visual of lawn in front. The guy was very nice and knowledgeable. Though like others said I would not like to be first, like when I bought PG Calvary. I just purchased another PG Magnum, because they finally offer the Bromley (spelling?) hopper mechanism. I never liked the Lesco three holes and that is why I never bought a PG Magnum until now. It spreads nice and even like my Centris do. Only draw back is the mechanism is backwards as to where pushing lever forward turns off fert and towards you is on. I wish I could remember more about BP to describe it to you all.

[americanlawn]

Thanks --- both Andy (LT Rich) & I cannot figure out why 3 holes are better than one. Haven't bought a Z-Spray yet, but we run some new Spyker Super 88's -- they don't clog up, and they spread farther and more evenly than our LESCO spreaders. Plus -- the Spyker spreaders seldom get fertilizer buildup on the impeller (unlike the LESCO spreaders).

[scweedman]

rob im confused my magnum has 3 holes have they changed

[Runner]

The 3 hole design is all we will ever use from now on. The idea behind it is the evenness of the spread. With the one hole type of hoppers, there is ALWAYS a degree of streaking. With the 3 hole design - like the Lesco, it is all a matter of how it is used. If you were to go to Warwick Hills (home of the Buick Open) and ask them, they would tell you the same thing. It is all they use. As a matter of fact, that is who taught me how to use the spreaders properly was the guy who used to be the assistant superintendent there (before taking on a super job elsewhere, and later going out on his own). Anyway, this is what they still use. With a Lesco hopper, with the right technique, the spread of material comes out PERFECTLY even - each and every time.

[rob1325]

rob im confused my magnum has 3 holes have they changed


NO, they now offer two styles, Lesco three hole or one hole style. I prefer the one hole style.

[RigglePLC]

On my Scotts (Anderson) hand spreader I use duct tape over the two side holes--just use one big hole in the center. Lumps and bumps go right through. It seldom plugs up. I use the helical cone (Patented), to adjust the pattern perfectly. I wish it could be adjusted on the fly with a lever on the handle bar.

On my Permagreen Ultra, one hole also works, but I felt it narrowed the pattern, and it wasn't as even without the helical cone pattern adjustment. Still not sure which is best on the PG. In humid weather--I found it absolutely necessary to clean out the hopper every night.

Glad Permagreen changed the Magnum if that is correct. Anybody else seen a new version?

[Shades of Green LService]

I saw the BP at the show this past winter. From what I remembered it look bulky IMO. Was alot longer than PG and seemed like it would be harder to control. The length kinda bothered visual of lawn in front. The guy was very nice and knowledgeable. Though like others said I would not like to be first, like when I bought PG Calvary. I just purchased another PG Magnum, because they finally offer the Bromley (spelling?) hopper mechanism. I never liked the Lesco three holes and that is why I never bought a PG Magnum until now. It spreads nice and even like my Centris do. Only draw back is the mechanism is backwards as to where pushing lever forward turns off fert and towards you is on. I wish I could remember more about BP to describe it to you all.

Heres the specs according to each co. website:

Permagreen-
55" L
35.5 " W
41" H

Black pearl-
55” L,
35” W
53” H
43” high with handle bars folded down.

This machine looks like the way PG should have built theirs. I'd sell my Magnum in a heartbeat for one of these!

[lawn king]

The 3 hole design is all we will ever use from now on. The idea behind it is the evenness of the spread. With the one hole type of hoppers, there is ALWAYS a degree of streaking. With the 3 hole design - like the Lesco, it is all a matter of how it is used. If you were to go to Warwick Hills (home of the Buick Open) and ask them, they would tell you the same thing. It is all they use. As a matter of fact, that is who taught me how to use the spreaders properly was the guy who used to be the assistant superintendent there (before taking on a super job elsewhere, and later going out on his own). Anyway, this is what they still use. With a Lesco hopper, with the right technique, the spread of material comes out PERFECTLY even - each and every time.

Well said. Going back to my early days in the 1970's, before the lesco spreaders came out, we used cyclone spreaders with 1 rectangular drop door. If you were not dead on with spacing and ground speed you would streak to some degree. My pto spreader (sitrex) has 2 drop doors and never streaks when operated properly.

[EA Quinn]

I stopped in to check out the black pearl the other day. I really liked how it is fully hydrostatic. It does feel more bulky than my permagreen and not as easy to maneuver. The spray tank design is nice, but Im not in love with how you lower the handles for when you are on hills. You cant really do it on the fly. I also have my concerns about the stainless steel hopper. He said theres a newer model coming out in January or February that will have some new bells and whistles, and its going to have a big change in price along with it. I too dont want to be the guinea pig with them. It seems they put a lot of thought into it, but it still seems it needs some more tweaking.

[Shades of Green LService]

I stopped in to check out the black pearl the other day. I really liked how it is fully hydrostatic. It does feel more bulky than my permagreen and not as easy to maneuver. The spray tank design is nice, but Im not in love with how you lower the handles for when you are on hills. You cant really do it on the fly. I also have my concerns about the stainless steel hopper. He said theres a newer model coming out in January or February that will have some new bells and whistles, and its going to have a big change in price along with it. I too dont want to be the guinea pig with them. It seems they put a lot of thought into it, but it still seems it needs some more tweaking.

Big change in price going up or lower?

[rob1325]

Heres the specs according to each co. website:

Permagreen-
55" L
35.5 " W
41" H

Black pearl-
55” L,
35” W
53” H
43” high with handle bars folded down.

This machine looks like the way PG should have built theirs. I'd sell my Magnum in a heartbeat for one of these!

Like Ea quinn said, feels bulky. It may be same length, but visual of out front is blocked by hopper setup from what I remember. Please let us know how this works out for you when you get one. For know I am staying with the Perma Greens, but would consider when there is feedback from them.

[EA Quinn]

the unit goes up in price. I think it was around $6,500 now, and it will be close or more than 8,000 after changes. Dont quote me on those prices though, but it was a good sized jump.

[NattyLawn]

NO, they now offer two styles, Lesco three hole or one hole style. I prefer the one hole style.

Went down to Lesco to pick up Renovator blades and the rep mentioned that PG does offer a Magnum with the Spyker spreader in all black (I'd like to see a pic). He said they run about 7500 direct from PG, cheaper at Lesco. I had no clue that Lesco and PG are the only places you can buy them anymore.

Also, they now have a kit to add the 25 ft wand to the Magnum. I guess the newer Magnums have pressure always on the fill/overflow and the older Magnums don't. Sucks for me.

It sounds like PG is REALLY sweating the new Spyker spreader model coming out.

[americanlawn]

Went down to Lesco to pick up Renovator blades and the rep mentioned that PG does offer a Magnum with the Spyker spreader in all black (I'd like to see a pic). He said they run about 7500 direct from PG, cheaper at Lesco. I had no clue that Lesco and PG are the only places you can buy them anymore.

Also, they now have a kit to add the 25 ft wand to the Magnum. I guess the newer Magnums have pressure always on the fill/overflow and the older Magnums don't. Sucks for me.

It sounds like PG is REALLY sweating the new Spyker spreader model coming out.

Yep, and I hope to share news about a new prototype sprayer/spreader that also prefers Spyker spreaders on October 18.

There was a poll here a while back asking which spreader is the best. I said Spyker super 288, and boy did I get my a$$ chewed by LESCO spreader member users. Z-Spray prefers Spyker, and now PG is jumping on the Spyker bandwagon. This new prototype's manufacturer also features Spyker. hmmm