Fertilizer Tender Built From Spinner-Spreader

Fertilizer Tender Built From Spinner-Spreader FERTILIZER APPLICATION Fertilizer Application (58f) 19-1-10 An old stainless steel fertilizer spreader works great as a fertilizer tender to load dry fertilizer into planters and drills, says Kent Keller, Kinderhook, N.Y. Keller, who farms with his father and two brothers, bought the spreader from a fertilizer company for $350. The metal frame was rusted out and some components, including the spinners, were worn out, but the box was still good. He cut off the spinners and mounted a plastic Rust Evader auger on back (Rust Evader, Gorton, Ohio). He removed the pto shaft that originally powered the apron chain and replaced it with a hydraulic motor that lets him control the flow of fertilizer to the auger. The motor is controlled by a flow control valve mounted on the end of the auger. The auger is driven by a separate hydraulic motor. "It works better than a gravity wagon because other than the frame it's made entirely from stainless steel and plastic. There's nothing to rust out," says Keller. "I can fill my planter in only about 10 minutes. I use the tractor's select control valve to control the apron motor. I can use a lever mounted on the side of the conveyor to further regulate apron speed. "I mounted a jack on back of the spreader so I can unhook the tractor with the cart partially-loaded." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kent Keller, Rt. 1, Box 446, Kinderhook, N.Y. 12106 (ph 518 758-7824).

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