I picked this up from a friend. It has no brand label on it and no chart. it is really heavy duty. I found one online that looked just like it but it is sold in Australia and has a different number of settings on it. Just looks the same. I can't find one online that would match it. it is heavy, all steel. There are 10 settings on the dial. Any idea what the settings would indicate? I planted a field yesterday and needed 25lbs per acre. there is no way this thing distributed that correctly, especially when I was guessing on the setting.

Friend had no info on it?

He got it from someone else when they sold their farm. so he doesn't know either. it was priced right at free.

Would guess that numbers correlate to the diameter opening either directly or through some algebraic formula.

You could try it with a sack or two of corn (or something cheaper) and figure out what your "about 25lbs/per acre" setting is.

Also, post up what you've found about it and more pictures of the unit. There is probably some stamped metal painted over that's hard to see at first glance.

I have a large 500 lb three point hopper spreader that's the same way. The gauge setting numbers is basically useless as seed size also changes your dispersal amount. So if you set for a large seed and then put a small seed you are going to be putting down way too much.
I usually set it where the seeds are coming out minimally. Put in a half a sack and see what coverage I get and adjust accordingly.
Basically a wild ass guess.
The tow behinds are even harder to set because coverage is also dependent on consistent pulling speed.

Damn, thought this thread was about dragging Rachel Maddow behind your favorite farm tractor.

Spread/disbursement pattern?

Look up Lely spreaders

TMfrisco said:

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Look up Lely spreaders

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Doens't look like a match.

Field Tuff Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader, 350-Lb. Capacity, Model# FTF-350TST | Northern Tool

Todd 02 said:

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Field Tuff Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader, 350-Lb. Capacity, Model# FTF-350TST | Northern Tool

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Nice!! Thx. I will find the manual on it.

42806.pdf

Page 25 of 28 has the info you seek...

Gunny456 said:

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I have a large 500 lb three point hopper spreader that's the same way. The gauge setting numbers is basically useless as seed size also changes your dispersal amount. So if you set for a large seed and then put a small seed you are going to be putting down way too much.
I usually set it where the seeds are coming out minimally. Put in a half a sack and see what coverage I get and adjust accordingly.
Basically a wild ass guess.
The tow behinds are even harder to set because coverage is also dependent on consistent pulling speed.

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Somehow I knew you would answer, and with a solid answer, at that.

This will be trial and error, and write down EVERYTHING as a comparison of seed size and opening. Use cheap seed like grain sorghum as a starter. I flows well, is reasonably consistent, and should give you a concept before sliding a bunch of $5/lb clover through it. Remember: you can always go over something twice.

shalackin said:

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TMfrisco said:

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Look up Lely spreaders

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Doens't look like a match.

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Sorry, missed the question. There will be few companies that will post any kind of chart like what you are looking for - probably liability issues. Seed, prill size and bulk densities make it nearly impossible to put an accurate setting down without knowing exactly(or close to) what you are spreading.

I have not found the charts to be valuable. I spread with high end very heavy duty John Deere tow behind. It has a robust chart that I have not found useful. I had a cheaper plastic before that with the similar experience as far as usefulness of the charts.

Set it to obviously too little.... then cover the ground you want at the normal speed you would be and make your adjustments accordingly.

You should be able to do a test strip with the seed you're using to get a good estimate of you don't want to just guess.
Put a small amount in, and do a strip of a known area.

The formula is (pounds of seed per 1000 sq ft) x 43.56 = lbs/acre

Have to know the broadcast width to determine the length of your test strip, and have to either be able to collect the seed thrown with a bag or bucket under it, or could weigh what's left. There may be calibration instructions for the spreader, where you jack it off the ground and count tire rotations , which is easier to collect the seed (that's how they calibrated the grass drill I used to reseed a pasture in January)

Or, put in a pound of seed, pull it until that runs out. Measure the length, and can do some basic calculations to get there as well. For example, if you're doing 10' strips, and that pound runs out at 150 feet, that means 0.67# covered 1000 sq ft, and you're at 29.2 lbs/acre.