Why are 3-point PTO driven sprayers so expensive?

[McMXi]

This afternoon I placed an order for three quarts of Milestone, a gallon of Liquid Harvest Lazer Blue dye and a gallon of Liquid Harvest surfactant.

I see that FIMCO sells the wet boom for the broadcast version of my sprayer so that's tempting and it looks like it's an easy retrofit.

Wet Boom for LG-3025

The FIMCO Wet Boom for LG-3025 distributes 36 feet of total spray coverage with Hypro Boom X Tender end tips and center spray tip offers large area li...

www.fimcoindustries.com

I need to get serious about knapweed control and put an end to the depressing sight of seeing grass being overcome by that noxious weed. When I first bought the property (before I bought the BX) I hired a guy to come in and spray Milestone on 12 acres. He charged me $500 and did a crappy job which was very obvious the following year when I had alternating strips of grass and knapweed. I despise being beholden to anyone and much prefer to take care of my own work whether it's automotive, building, plumbing, electrical or whatever. Some are happy to hire out the work but I'd rather spend money on tools or equipment and do the job myself.

After thinking it over I decided that a 200 gallon tank and a 20ft boom is what I need to take control of the situation. Once I get the 55 gallon FIMCO boom sprayer converted to a broadcast sprayer I should be well set up to win the war against all manner of weeds, and the deer and elk will appreciate it.

 

[bird dogger]

@McMXi is your loader on the tractor while spraying? If it is... and empty... you might consider strapping in an extra water tank for more capacity. A cheap 12vdc pump might xfer the mix as you spray or you could simply lift the bucket and let gravity do the work with a short hose? There's lots of front mounted water tanks on tractors for spray duties around here, although they are mounted on framework extended to the front of the tractors.

 

[McMXi]

@McMXi is your loader on the tractor while spraying? If it is... and empty... you might consider strapping in an extra water tank for more capacity. A cheap 12vdc pump might xfer the mix as you spray or you could simply lift the bucket and let gravity do the work with a short hose? There's lots of front mounted water tanks on tractors for spray duties around here, although they are mounted on framework extended to the front of the tractors.

Thanks for your suggestion and your earlier post re TeeJet. It's a done deal now and I should have the FIMCO 200 gallon sprayer within a few weeks, in time for spring spraying I hope. I like clean, elegant solutions to problems, and running around with a tank in the bucket bouncing around on my bumpy property doesn't appeal to me. However, a good sized tank on the 3-point should be fine.

I think the system is well suited to the M6060 which has a lift capacity of 3,307 lb 24" behind the lower lift arm pins. 200 gallons of chemical will weigh around 1,668 lb plus the weight of the QH (120 lb) and the weight of the sprayer system. FIMCO says that the sprayer system filled with water is around 2,070 lb, so with the QH that's around 2,200 lb.

 

[D2Cat]

Has anyone ordered from these folks? They have parts, pumps, nozzles from Fimco, but the prices seem too low to be honest. A selection of 12V pumps, etc. all Fimco (at least they say).

That same wet boom #3025, they have at $43.45

25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer 4.5 GPM (LG-25-HV) - Quality Tool Parts

Fimco Industries LG-25-HV. 25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer is most widely used for weed and pest control. The UV resistant, molded polymer tank has a 5 inch tethered lid for easy access and is completely drainable. This model lawn and garden sprayer features the best in class High Flo High...

www.toolequipmentd.com

 

[bird dogger]

Thanks for your suggestion and your earlier post re TeeJet. It's a done deal now and I should have the FIMCO 200 gallon sprayer within a few weeks, in time for spring spraying I hope. I like clean, elegant solutions to problems, and running around with a tank in the bucket bouncing around on my bumpy property doesn't appeal to me. However, a good sized tank on the 3-point should be fine.

I think the system is well suited to the M6060 which has a lift capacity of 3,307 lb 24" behind the lower lift arm pins. 200 gallons of chemical will way around 1,668 lb plus the weight of the QH (120 lb) and the weight of the sprayer system. FIMCO says that the sprayer system filled with water is around 2,070 lb, so with the QH that's around 2,200 lb.

QUOTE]

Nice rig! You'll be smilin' while out spraying!!

Earlier you mentioned concerns over droplet size and amount of water being too little per acre for spraying. It's worth considering that aerial crop sprayers are only putting on 1 to 5 gallons per acre depending on the application. Again, its all a balancing act between speed, pressure, nozzle pattern, and proper coverage.

If you're applying herbicide to the leaves for a kill, then any excess spray (from large droplets) that just runs off the leaves after wetting them is just wasted. That's not so much a concern when applying cheap 2-4-d to a small lawn. But with an expensive chemical spread over a large acreage that waste can amount to some serious $$. Kind of like shooting prairie dogs: Do you use a .17HMR when that will work fine..... or a .50BMG just to be sure!!

I was always going to make some wind drift shields from some plastic 55 gallon drums split in half lengthwise and mounted under the boom. For some reason, that's still on the to-do list.

 

[bird dogger]

Has anyone ordered from these folks? They have parts, pumps, nozzles from Fimco, but the prices seem too low to be honest. A selection of 12V pumps, etc. all Fimco (at least they say).

That same wet boom #3025, they have at $43.45

25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer 4.5 GPM (LG-25-HV) - Quality Tool Parts

Fimco Industries LG-25-HV. 25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer is most widely used for weed and pest control. The UV resistant, molded polymer tank has a 5 inch tethered lid for easy access and is completely drainable. This model lawn and garden sprayer features the best in class High Flo High...

www.toolequipmentd.com

How can they sell that for such a reasonable price? Thinking they must make it up on shipping, I added it to a cart and found the shipping to only be $16. That's a bargain!!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Odds are 100% of it is Made in China, that's how.

 

[McMXi]

Has anyone ordered from these folks? They have parts, pumps, nozzles from Fimco, but the prices seem too low to be honest. A selection of 12V pumps, etc. all Fimco (at least they say).

That same wet boom #3025, they have at $43.45

25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer 4.5 GPM (LG-25-HV) - Quality Tool Parts

Fimco Industries LG-25-HV. 25 Gallon Super Deluxe Spot Sprayer is most widely used for weed and pest control. The UV resistant, molded polymer tank has a 5 inch tethered lid for easy access and is completely drainable. This model lawn and garden sprayer features the best in class High Flo High...

www.toolequipmentd.com

Looking around their website many of the prices are 10% of MSRP. Something very fishy about them if you ask me. Why is there a D at the end of the name i.e. TOOL EQUIPMENTD.

The only contact information is a gmail account .... menesesi1981@gmail.com

Nothing suspicious about that right?

Why don't you order something and let us all know how it turns out.

 

[McMXi]

Nice rig! You'll be smilin' while out spraying!!

Earlier you mentioned concerns over droplet size and amount of water being too little per acre for spraying. It's worth considering that aerial crop sprayers are only putting on 1 to 5 gallons per acre depending on the application. Again, its all a balancing act between speed, pressure, nozzle pattern, and proper coverage.

If you're applying herbicide to the leaves for a kill, then any excess spray (from large droplets) that just runs off the leaves after wetting them is just wasted. That's not so much a concern when applying cheap 2-4-d to a small lawn. But with an expensive chemical spread over a large acreage that waste can amount to some serious $$. Kind of like shooting prairie dogs: Do you use a .17HMR when that will work fine..... or a .50BMG just to be sure!!

I was always going to make some wind drift shields from some plastic 55 gallon drums split in half lengthwise and mounted under the boom. For some reason, that's still on the to-do list.

I don't think I mentioned any concerns, just made the point that given my ground speed and current boom size with the FIMCO 55 gallon system, I need to put a lot of water down in order to achieve 3 to 7 oz per acre. I still need to put a lot of water down with a 20 ft boom but I'll cut the time to spray in half or better since I won't be stopping to fill up as often and I'll cover more ground in one pass.

 

[McMXi]

@D2Cat, lots of information out there about Toolequipmentd.com .... very suspicious. Proceed with caution.

Toolequipmentd.com – High-Risk Store (12/100 Trust Score)

Toolequipmentd.com has a 12/100 trust score. High-risk shopping signals and a young domain (17 months) raise concerns. Avoid sharing personal or payment data.

gridinsoft.com

 

[McMXi]

The FIMCO 200 gallon sprayer shipped today. Ordered on 3/15 so hopefully it'll be here in a week or less. I was starting to worry that the knapweed would be flowering before I got the sprayer. The weather has been way too nice and everything is starting to green up so it's just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose!

Has anyone ever run or seen a PTO driven sprayer pump driven by a PTO shaft? The 55 gallon FIMCO I have as well as the one I ordered require the pump to slip onto the PTO output shaft, and then be chained to something on the tractor to prevent the pump housing from rotating. In some ways there's built in shock absorption with that approach but was just curious if a PTO shaft driven pump would have any advantages.

 

[TheOldHokie]

The FIMCO 200 gallon sprayer shipped today. Ordered on 3/15 so hopefully it'll be here in a week or less. I was starting to worry that the knapweed would be flowering before I got the sprayer. The weather has been way too nice and everything is starting to green up so it's just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose!

Has anyone ever run or seen a PTO driven sprayer pump driven by a PTO shaft? The 55 gallon FIMCO I have as well as the one I ordered require the pump to slip onto the PTO output shaft, and then be chained to something on the tractor to prevent the pump housing from rotating. In some ways there's built in shock absorption with that approach but was just curious if a PTO shaft driven pump would have any advantages.

Your pump is already PTO shaft driven. There is no benefit to mounting it elsewhere - just more hassle.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

Your pump is already PTO shaft driven. There is no benefit to mounting it elsewhere - just more hassle.

Dan

I was more curious than anything. No doubt it's all about cost vs. function and it's a lot cheaper to chain a roller pump to the PTO output shaft than figure out a way to secure the pump to the sprayer and add a driveshaft. Good enough is good enough right, but I would prefer the latter for a number of reasons. Not a deal breaker but something I'd thought about.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I was more curious than anything. No doubt it's all about cost vs. function and it's a lot cheaper to chain a roller pump to the PTO output shaft than figure out a way to secure the pump to the sprayer and add a driveshaft. Good enough is good enough right, but I would prefer the latter for a number of reasons. Not a deal breaker but something I'd thought about.

I am not a fan of the chained torque arm. I replaced mine with a soiid arm bolted to the bottom of the pump and formed to engage the pin hole in the drawbar bracket. Slides right on and more effective than that chain. Of course it only fits the old B7200 thats been sold and needs to be replaced with one that matches the new tractor.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

I am not a fan of the chained torque arm. I replaced mine with a soiid arm bolted to the bottom of the pump and formed to engage the pin hole in the drawbar bracket. Slides right on and more effective than that chain. Of course it only fits the old B7200 thats been sold and needs to be replaced with one that matches the new tractor.

Dan

I had considered doing the same thing to the 6-roller pump that came with the 55 gallon FIMCO sprayer but I noticed that the pump housing "wobbled" on the PTO shaft i.e. there was significant runout, and figured that a rigid connection might cause issues. Perhaps that's an incorrect assumption, but I'll definitely look into doing something similar to what you've done with the 8-roller pump that comes with the 200 gallon sprayer. I'm not a fan of the chain either.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I had considered doing the same thing to the 6-roller pump that came with the 55 gallon FIMCO sprayer but I noticed that the pump housing "wobbled" on the PTO shaft i.e. there was significant runout, and figured that a rigid connection might cause issues. Perhaps that's an incorrect assumption, but I'll definitely look into doing something similar to what you've done with the 8-roller pump that comes with the 200 gallon sprayer. I'm not a fan of the chain either.

Its not rigid - just pinned rather than chained. I thought I had pics but cant find them - the arm is trivial to make. The only downside is its not a universal fit without resorting to the chain.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

Its not rigid - just pinned rather than chained. I thought I had pics but cant find them - the arm is trivial to make. The only downside is its not a universal fit without resorting to the chain.

Dan

Good to know. I don't need universal, just a way to avoid using a chain on the M6060. So a semi-rigid link that allows for pump housing runout (if present) but prevents the housing from spinning with the PTO output shaft. Got it. I can imagine a slotted hole for a pin that allows for full range of motion (runout).

If you are able to find a photo of what you made I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Good to know. I don't need universal, just a way to avoid using a chain on the M6060. So a semi-rigid link that allows for pump housing runout (if present) but prevents the housing from spinning with the PTO output shaft. Got it. I can imagine a slotted hole for a pin that allows for full range of motion (runout).

You are way over thinking this. An L shaped arm bolted to the pump and a drilled clearance hole in the other leg for the drawbar pin. A 20 minute fab job.

Dan

 

[McMXi]

You are way over thinking this. An L shaped arm bolted to the pump and a drilled clearance hole in the other leg for the drawbar pin. A 20 minute fab job.

Dan

Over thinking is better than under thinking. The reason why I stayed with the chain system on the 6-roller was that I was concerned with bearing wear. If the outer housing is constrained i.e. the runout is limited mechanically, I figured that the bearings would be subjected to more wear.

I do see that Delavan lists torque arm kits for the 6900 series pump that came with the sprayer I have. Anyway, I'll know more once the new sprayer gets here. Delivery is tomorrow supposedly, so I'd better get the snow blower and hydraulic angle blade off the MX this afternoon and the pallet forks on.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Over thinking is better than under thinking. The reason why I stayed with the chain system on the 6-roller was that I was concerned with bearing wear. If the outer housing is constrained i.e. the runout is limited mechanically, I figured that the bearings would be subjected to more wear.

I do see that Delavan lists torque arm kits for the 6900 series pump that came with the sprayer I have. Anyway, I'll know more once the new sprayer gets here. Delivery is tomorrow supposedly, so I'd better get the snow blower and hydraulic angle blade off the MX this afternoon and the pallet forks on.

Not only are you over thinking it you are misanalysing it. There is no runout in either shaft. If they were rogidly coupled they would be just fine.

The pump is designed to be mounted as a full and substantuial overhanging load on a misaligned looae fitting shaft coupling. And its allowed to flop around creating additional inertial forces to boot. It has a pair of $5 easy to replace ball bearings on the ends of the drive shaft Anything short of locking it down at full misalignment or adding overhanging weight is an improvement.

Dan