[turfguru4u]

I wanted a machine that holds hills, has multiple tanks to hold multiple spray mixes and plenty of power. I'm still in plumbing and wiring phase.

This build has:

5 separate tanks totaling 56 gals with directional and full agitation control, along with an optional 25 gallon front mount yet to come.
3 separate pumping systems.
27 hp with a 65 amp charging system.
150lb hopper.
Dual nozzle electronic booms that spray two independent products separately.
Dual 100ft hose reels.
6, all electronic spray solenoids and hopper controls with fingertip actuation.
A leaf and prill blower mounted underneath actuated with an electric clutch.
A microprocessor installed that will be programed for WI/FI, GPS and cameras.

This thing will run a hill that no other machines can run. I will do a full video once the build is complete. Many parts being installed including the control panel. Total cost including the original Toro Grandstand as the traction unit.....6,500.00.

 

[turfguru4u]

#2 is coming this year. A bit smaller and cheaper.

 

[ArTurf]

I'm impressed. How much you have in it $$ ?
I'm guessing the big side tanks are from a Toro/Z Spray ?

 

[turfguru4u]

I'm impressed. How much you have in it $$ ?
I'm guessing the big side tanks are from a Toro/Z Spray ?

I'll have 6,500.00 total including buying the used Toro Grandstand. Those are the Toro tanks. They were about 370.00 a piece.

 

[MowDaddy]

When fully loaded what will be the weight on that beast ?
Be wary of soft ground.

 

[FLC2000]

Thats pretty damn impressive.

 

[turfguru4u]

When fully loaded what will be the weight on that beast ?
Be wary of soft ground.

Hard to say what the Grandstand weighed after I stripped all the mowing stuff off. Fully loaded, this will be very heavy. Caution will be observed in wet conditions when loading machine.

 

[The Green One]

Nicely Done! Steel is real (for today) and Stainless For your next one!

Get spreadin'

 

[turfguru4u]

Just for fun, we installed flashing led strobes on the booms to alert onlookers that a spray function is being carried out!

 

[turfguru4u]

Nicely Done! Steel is real (for today) and Stainless For your next one!

Get spreadin'

I'm going to keep this sprayed with an inhibitor developed by Boeing to help protect it. Very warry of corrosion.

 

[turfguru4u]

My asst is a hobby machinist. The shop is full of his metal working equipment. He's the brains behind the fabrication. I'm just the visionary. He loves metal fabrication!

 

[MiModernLawn]

Looks like a very unique build. Keep us updated on how it works out in the field. I'm sure you will end up making changes and adjustments once it gets some field time, it happens with any new build. I'm curious to see how it will perform on hills and hillsides. There have been massive changes to weight distribution and I'm sure it will have some affect on its hillside performance whether it be positive or negative.

The stainless plate below and just behind the hopper, is it supported by anything on the backside or possibly hinged with springs? From the pictures it looks like it may get hung up or damaged on things sorta easily.

Any thought to trying to mount the pumps lower on the machine, possibly below the outlets of the tanks? We found that pumps flowed more, lasted longer and primed way easier if the pumps were mounted below tank outlets. I know the old Zsprays and SteelGreen have the pumps mounted above the tanks and it's always gotten the job done.

Great looking machine overall.

 

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Wish I had that knack. Well done. Now, go into mfg

 

[Brucey]

Maybe some hub spacers to get the wheels further out?

 

[J. Baker]

Did you put on any variable rate controls that are based on speed? Like a T-Jet controller that reads ground speed? That's one area I find extremely lacking in these over priced manufactured units. They don't even have a speed indicator. Anyone realize how much product waste there is when output isn't governed by ground speed? It would blow your mind.

 

[turfguru4u]

Looks like a very unique build. Keep us updated on how it works out in the field. I'm sure you will end up making changes and adjustments once it gets some field time, it happens with any new build. I'm curious to see how it will perform on hills and hillsides. There have been massive changes to weight distribution and I'm sure it will have some affect on its hillside performance whether it be positive or negative.

The stainless plate below and just behind the hopper, is it supported by anything on the backside or possibly hinged with springs? From the pictures it looks like it may get hung up or damaged on things sorta easily.

Any thought to trying to mount the pumps lower on the machine, possibly below the outlets of the tanks? We found that pumps flowed more, lasted longer and primed way easier if the pumps were mounted below tank outlets. I know the old Zsprays and SteelGreen have the pumps mounted above the tanks and it's always gotten the job done.

Great looking machine overall.

Good idea on the pumps. I had tested a Grandstand on a very steep slope several years ago when I first had the vision of making this. Here's a slope right by the shop we ran right after getting the two 15 gallon tanks mounted and filled along with the hopper also filled. It's steeper than it looks closer to the camera. Held fine all on its own.

 

[turfguru4u]

Did you put on any variable rate controls that are based on speed? Like a T-Jet controller that reads ground speed? That's one area I find extremely lacking in these over priced manufactured units. They don't even have a speed indicator. Anyone realize how much product waste there is when output isn't governed by ground speed? It would blow your mind.

One of the reasons why I'm putting a microprocessor in is to be able to control the pump and gate opening via ground speed which utilizes GPS. The microprocessor will control pump voltage via pulse wave modulation. I have the codes to write that program, but we aren't anywhere near that stage. Very complicated stuff!

 

[turfguru4u]

Maybe some hub spacers to get the wheels further out?

The back wheels are 51 inches to the outside.

 

[turfguru4u]

Wish I had that knack. Well done. Now, go into mfg

All my friends are saying the same thing. I don't think so! Look at what Dave at Stinger goes through.

 

[J. Baker]

One of the reasons why I'm putting a microprocessor in is to be able to control the pump and gate opening via ground speed which utilizes GPS. The microprocessor will control pump voltage via pulse wave modulation. I have the codes to write that program, but we aren't anywhere near that stage. Very complicated stuff!

Hey, maybe you don't know, but that stuff already exists. You don't have to build your own. T-Jet, is just one example of a manufacturer that makes those systems, and they aren't really all that pricy. I have been thinking of building my own sprayer for the exact reasons you did. If you want more companies that make those systems, just say and I can point you to them. I had a long conversation at the Louisville farm show last year (I wasn't able to go this year) with T-Jet about their controller and how I wanted to use it in turf spraying. They had a model for around $1200 then that would work well. GPS is the way to go if you can handle the cost, but even just simply going with a system that monitors ground speed via radar or even a wheel speed sensor, that's a huge improvement.