if we ever had a problem it was to the left. but pretty darm even fromt he get go

 

Larry, I was just thinking about making a thread about this but you obviously beat me to it. It'll be interesting to see if anybody has had the same problems we have...

 

if we ever had a problem it was to the left. but pretty darm even fromt he get go

same here...

 

I have a problem to the left but I guess I correct it with the accuway. What were your problem with accuway and how did you fix it?

 

most of my pscu spreads heavy to the right, so a little pull back on the accuway will take care of it some of the time. If it is really bad, there is not enough travel in the accuway to fix the problem so I glued a flat piece of plastic to the stainless in the bottom of the hopper to skinny up the right side. Its been there for 2 years and hasn't fallen out even with powerwashing 2 times a week. I covered maybe 1/4" of the opening.

 

When I first got my machine I had that problem...but it was easily fixed with pattern adjuster.

I fought it for a couple days before I figured it out though!

Best way to check is go on bare ground or calibrate.

 

When I first got my machine I had that problem...but it was easily fixed with pattern adjuster.

I fought it for a couple days before I figured it out though!

Best way to check is go on bare ground or calibrate.

Well if that was fixed by the accuway how come you took the cable off? Just wondering..

 

Well if that was fixed by the accuway how come you took the cable off? Just wondering..

Once it was adjusted...I never had to use it again.

You can put it back on!

 

Listen to the Grand Rapids people. Use a piece of plastic or duct tape to cover a part of the opening. Best to attach it with a screw so you can rotate it to make the adjustments you need. Arrange the shield so that the fert drops closer to the center of the spinner, or farther out from the center. That is the critical adjustment.

And by the way--does the Spyker spin to the right or left? Counter clockwise? Or...

 

Spyker spins clockwize with a left side trim. The accuwave will adjust the pattern to an equal left, center, right spread. We did much testing on this with a Turf Agronomist and pan testing. The accuwave is very sensitive and the setting will vary with different brands, prill size, flow setting and etc. Every time you change something the flow and spread will change. Your left to right spread pattern should be checked after each change. Product, amount applied, prill size, even fert vendor. A poor mans pan test is easy. Take 30 feet of black plastic and nail it 4 foot up on a wall. Take it out onto the floor and tape it to a long piece of pvc tubing. Pull up the ends by putting boards and hooking the plastic to them, this will keep the prills from flying off the end.. Roll the plastic 4 to 5 feet out onto the floor, the side that is taped to the pvc. Set the spreader in the middle and turn it on. Put out a full bag of fert. Take 3 people and lift the pvc / plastic from both ends and middle all at the same time. This will take the fert to a trough in the middle. Usually you can see the difference or you can measure the depth with a ruler. Anyway it is a poor mans pan test and once se up it just takes minutes. Also when you are spreading the prills onto the black plastic you can really see the flow. Just a little tip of the day from an old guy..

Turfcobob

 

Great advice turfcobob - easy way to check the pattern. :usflag: (BTW all, Bob already knows what we did to correct the 'heavy right spread pattern' so we seldom have to rely on the Spyker accuaway). Mow Right also made the same change as us - he runs a Z, and we run T3000's. He & I use Spyker spreaders on our ride-ons. (I guess T's & Z's are brothers on this thread) :waving:

Prob we have with accuway is the cable corroding as well as fert buildup on the accuway itself. It only takes a month or so before the cable corrodes & freezes up (not LT Rich's or TURFCO's fault). Then you're having to "babysit" the cable frequently to make sure she is freed up. Then replace it often. IMO it's a bad design by Spyker cuz they well know we run corrosivive fertlizer through them, but there's a very easy fix.

Mow Right & we have chosen a permanent solution that still allows one to use the accuaway whenever you want (if the cable ain't corroded or the accuway is clean of fert dust buildup).

For guys who see a heavy pattern to the left....I've never seen that. My guess is the impeller speed is too slow not allowing for maximum spread width & overlap.

Dr Parish (LSU) did extensive research regarding impellers & granular fert patterns. These include impeller speed, size of impeller, prill size, amount of prills, types of impeller fins, etc. -- (don't need no Phd to figure it out). 15 years ago when we bought a Spyker 220, we saw the heavy right spread, and we fixed it right away by using common sense.

I'll step out of the way & leave it up to Mow Right to tell folks what we both did to solve the uneven spread problem if he wants. It's up to you Mow Right if you want to tell folks how we solved the spread prob. I won't cuz I have already bragged too much on this site. Thanks buddy. :waving:

 

I'll step out of the way & leave it up to Mow Right to tell folks what we both did to solve the uneven spread problem if he wants. It's up to you Mow Right if you want to tell folks how we solved the spread prob. I won't cuz I have already bragged too much on this site. Thanks buddy. :waving:

Lol Larry....

Well how we fixed the problem was by putting a Lesco impeller on the Spyker spreader.

The Spyker impeller has 2 curved fins and 2 straight, which is fine for when it is spinning at slower speeds (push spreader) but in my case (and Larry's) it would throw the fert off the impeller too quickly.... throwing fertilizer heavy to the right. After switching to the Lesco impeller (which has 4 straight fins) the problem was immediately solved w/o using the accuway system.

The only modification to make the Lesco impeller fit on the Spyker spreader was to enlarge the hole that the pin goes through.

 

Thanks Josh -- You are a true friend (even though you run Z-Sprays):laugh::laugh::laugh:. Very nice of you to share our secret with others, cuz we know it works. I also hope others benefit from your advice -- nomatter what Spyker says.

Impeller speed makes a huge difference -- nomatter what spreader one uses. Fin design is equally important (Spyker vs LESCO). Other variables too - including .......... welp, I won't go into that cuz I don't want to sound like a "know-it-all".

Bottom line, Josh - you nailed it on the head. Thanks.

 

Hello fellas, I keep running into the same guys on the threads I research.

Regarding this thread, I am currently using a PG Ultra that I have dialed in pretty good but am looking into a machine upgrade. I am looking into either a Z or a T both of which use the Spyker spreader system which appears to be a quality . In your opinion who makes the best spreader hopper for the ride on's?

 

Hello fellas, I keep running into the same guys on the threads I research.

Regarding this thread, I am currently using a PG Ultra that I have dialed in pretty good but am looking into a machine upgrade. I am looking into either a Z or a T both of which use the Spyker spreader system which appears to be a quality . In your opinion who makes the best spreader hopper for the ride on's?

I am an idiot, I typed this post too quickly and didn't catch the my typos. The edit button wasn't available either.

What I meant to ask is what other problems have you had with the Spykers other than spreading heavy to one side. What spreader would you buy or install if you could drop any one on your machines?

 

Anderson spreader with the helical cone for pattern adjustment. Just cover the two side holes with duct tape and open the center hole up wide. Adjust cone to suit.

 

I never could get a good and even spread pattern out of any single holed spreader - even the Spyker. If I ever upgrade to a Z-Spray, I will have them custom build one with a Lesco hopper on it. The 11 to 3 o'clock pattern never fails me for a perfect spread each and every time when traveled in a counter clockwise direction.

 

Do you change to the #80 lb. lesco walk behind spreader impeller??

 

I believe so. We use the same LESCO impeller that the LESCO push spreaders use. We replace the impellers 2 or 3 times a year. Even spread everytime. No need to monkey with the Spyker 'accuway' unless you're spreading fine particals. Hope this helps.

Do you change to the #80 lb. lesco walk behind spreader impeller??

 

Great. Thanks. Going to stick one on asap.

 

i have never really had too much freeze up with my cables and only lube them once or twice a year so far. i think however you all put more hours a year on your ride ons than us as we mow more per week than spray.

 

After nearly two seasons using LESCO impellers on our Spyker ride-ons, we have yet to streak a lawn. Please let all know how it works. Thanks. :waving:

Great. Thanks. Going to stick one on asap.

 

Why do you replace the impellers 2 to 3 times a year?

 

Why do you replace the impellers 2 to 3 times a year?

wondering the same thing, i have spreaders that have been 10 years and never replaced a single thing!

 

We have run a Spyker 220 (electric motor w/variable impeller speed) spreader on a 3-point hitch on a John Deere 445 tractor for almost 15 years now. When we first used this Spyker (15 years ago), we immediately saw a "heavy to the right pattern". So we installed a LESCO impeller (no right curve fins - all straight). This IMMEDIATELY solved our spread pattern.

The past two years we have also run TURFCO T3000's (w/Spyker spreaders). All these units have the same thing in common -- the impeller speed is faster than push spreaders.....this is why the "heavy to the right pattern". Plus --- we switched to XCU fertilizer almost two years ago. XCU has a harder shell. The harder prill coating provides long-term benefits, but it wears down the plastic impeller fins more quickly than conventional SCU fert's.