It's very simple. It's NOT the spreader, it's the fertilizer quality. If you are using cheap, clumpy all mineral fert, you will have issues spreading it. Buy a quality coated slow release, should solve the problem.

 

I'm using Lesco 19-0-5 with Dimension and 13-2-5 Dimension. I believe these are slow release products...???

 

Get the rain cover.
But seriously, it should work fine in all but the most humid conditions. Calibrate carefully--a bigger opening may help. You do dump it out for overnight storage, right? Is the product lumpy? Sticky? Does a lot of it end up on the screen? Can you cover the screen with a finer screen (like 1/4 inch hardware cloth). Or in my case like a plastic mesh laundry basket. Also be sure to wash then wax your spread with a top quality car wax. Everything slides right off. Wax around the holes. (Learned that on this site). Maybe your dealer will exchange the fert for a good batch. But not likely two types are bad. Hmmm...
If nothing else helps. Close off the left hole and put duct tape over the right hole. Then open the lone center hole up to about 3/4 of an inch. Almost anything will go through, LOL!
Good luck Lasko. Tell us what happens.

 

Yeah, I actually hose it out at the end of the day and let it dry overnight....the waxing sounds like a great idea...I was thinking of putting a more smaller mesh screen over it as well....I will definitely report back after trying these ideas...I did notice that it seems like the powdery residue seems to cake up right near the holes...I should probably calibrate it to make sure I've got them opened up enough anyway. Since the machine was brand new (and so am I) I figured it was probably pretty close.

Thanks for the tips!

 

Be careful how and where you store your material, never on the ground. Try to pick a cool dry building or shed.

It really does sound like the fert is picking up moisture, not a spreader problem

 

I don't know anyone that hoses their spreader out every night and if you do make sure you are drying it with an air compressor nozzle. A lot of the moisture will stay in the slider that closes the holes enough to cause problems, and don't overload the thing. If it's humid or your clumpy all that extra fert weight will just complicate matters. When blow drying open and close the chute and make sure the slides are dry.

Just load what you need.

 

Don't touch that spreader with water, at all. Never use water on anything that it used for spreading granule. Don't leave product in your spreader when storing it. This way you don't have to clean the holes with a screw driver and you can visually inspect you spread from the top.. Your holes should not be clogging up mid day unless you hosing out your spreader is causing the problem.

 

1.Use the whole bag..don't refill untill your empty. Sometimes you even have to tip the spreader forward (with the cover on) to move some of the dust buildup to the side.
2.Humidity...cleaning a spreader frequently is the NORM. I sometimes clean every 2 bags when really humid. Buildup on the spinner greatly affects throw distance. Any narrowing of the holes=a dramtic reduction in application rate.
3. Wash it out at night. Buildup leads to more buildup and it will only happen faster.

 

1.Use the whole bag..don't refill untill your empty. Sometimes you even have to tip the spreader forward (with the cover on) to move some of the dust buildup to the side.
2.Humidity...cleaning a spreader frequently is the NORM. I sometimes clean every 2 bags when really humid. Buildup on the spinner greatly affects throw distance. Any narrowing of the holes=a dramtic reduction in application rate.
3. Wash it out at night. Buildup leads to more buildup and it will only happen faster.

sounds about right.. that's what I do mdlwn..:clapping:

 

you are having problems with the dimension, cool damp weather and the dust particles will stick inside holes, we rinse out daily and tip over and let dry overnite, also use wd-40 on 3rd hole parts and side deflector, as some one else posted above,

one of the most important things is to keep your impellar clean with a putty knife, you may have to do it every 3-4 lawns on a humid day with any product you use, all pre-emegents have dust

 

combo products tend to be more dusty than straight fert. you will have to scrap the impellar several times daily. we always washed off at the last cust. job(just dust no problem of burning). we also waxed.
another thing i have tried was to buy two screens(jdl) and used viynl tie downs in alternate holes this made the the screen alittle bigger and kept bigger pcs from falling past the edges. i think the newer spreaders have a fitted screen to stop this

 

Well upon closer inspection, my agitator is broken. After getting this fixed, I'll be sure to use all your tips. I'll be starting my round two very shortly and wanted to get this problem taken care of quickly. Man talk about frustrating. I think getting that part fixed, waxing, scraping the impellar, hosing it out, using only what i need, and drying it completely will all help. Look at all the new stuff I learned. I knew this year would be a learning experience for me, but man, this site and all you helpful folks really speed up the process. Thanks!

 

Your material has moisture in it hence the plugging