Amazone Spreaders

[essexpete]

Hi use an ancient Amazone that we must have bought secondhand 30 years ago. Never been accurate and seemed to vary between products. It has however kept going for a tiny budget on our small areas of grassland. I would like to update to a machine that carries 1ton with hydraulic shut off.
Can someone explain the older models of Amazone, there seems to be a large number of models.
E.g. ZA-M 1000, ZA-X 1402, ZAM Novis 1500. I note the last looks a bit large for my use and has a fluted device to the side of left disc. (some kind of headland control perhaps?)
What other makes are simple hydraulic shut off, reliable, reasonably accurate and not total corrosion traps.
Thanks

 

[BuskhillFarm]

I bought a new tulip centerliner (were lely) very good for a grass land farm and I use mine on arable with no over lapping. Some of them are prone to rust but apart from that pretty reliable and accurate due to a double overlap.
GA Allen have a good video on YouTube showing how they work

 

[mpm1975]

Hi use an ancient Amazone that we must have bought secondhand 30 years ago. Never been accurate and seemed to vary between products. It has however kept going for a tiny budget on our small areas of grassland. I would like to update to a machine that carries 1ton with hydraulic shut off.
Can someone explain the older models of Amazone, there seems to be a large number of models.
E.g. ZA-M 1000, ZA-X 1402, ZAM Novis 1500. I note the last looks a bit large for my use and has a fluted device to the side of left disc. (some kind of headland control perhaps?)
What other makes are simple hydraulic shut off, reliable, reasonably accurate and not total corrosion traps.
Thanks

Amazone spreaders are quite simple, ZAX models have fixed discs upto 18m with most products, ZAM's have 3 different sets of interchangeable discs as options, which allow spreading from 10-15, 15-24 & 24-36m. The numbers 1000, 1200, 1500 are just the litre capacity of the hopper (though extensions may have been added) They are all accurate as long as the product is bucket tested, as each product flows very differently. Otherwise just put a small known amount in, choose a realistic gate position from the book, do a spread rate check, adjust and crack on. Check the spread rate though the day as temp & humidity can affect product flow rates, the same for any spreader. An in-cab controller helps you do this much better.
Border disc's are much more accurate for border spreading while the hydraulic drop down border control systems are OK, but are designed/built for convenience.

 

[essexpete]

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[2wheels]

avoid the older ones that alter the spread pattern by changing the length of the top link. otherwise if set up properly they are ok.

 

[essexpete]

Yes that is what I have now. The only impressive thing is how well it was built and lasted. I won't get such a long use out of another one, although someone else might!

 

[2wheels]

Yes that is what I have now. The only impressive thing is how well it was built and lasted. I won't get such a long use out of another one, although someone else might!

the last one we had (zam) circa 2000 was quite tough. as well as covering 500+ acres of cereals and grass numerous times a year it did approx 400 acres/annum on quite often rough ploughing for veg. no cracks and the paintwork was good although we did look after it. tray tested every year so no stripes.

 

[Robt]

old sulky DPX would suit. There are lots about. easy to use. I'll keep my ear to the gorund. Guess you are looking around £500-800 ish mark?

 

[essexpete]

the last one we had (zam) circa 2000 was quite tough. as well as covering 500+ acres of cereals and grass numerous times a year it did approx 400 acres/annum on quite often rough ploughing for veg. no cracks and the paintwork was good although we did look after it. tray tested every year so no stripes.

TBH the most I cover is about 70 acres in about 20 paddocks but would like to be able to get 1 ton in the hopper. My current Z something was bought out of Cambs machinery sales when they were still in Cambridge. Does not owe much, 1 UJ and new vanes. Hit and miss and found I had to carry high on the tilt to get urea to spread to just 12m.

 

[snarling bee]

I'm not sure an Amazone spreader is the best for your situation. If you were going to tray test it for every product, then that is a different matter. For varying products on grass etc then there are other makes about that are not as fussy.

 

[essexpete]

I'm not sure an Amazone spreader is the best for your situation. If you were going to tray test it for every product, then that is a different matter. For varying products on grass etc then there are other makes about that are not as fussy.

I guess that is Robt's suggestion above. Only looked at Amazone as they seem well built and we have had 2 ancient ones over the last 40 odd years!

 

[freelancer]

The ZA-X is crap, the agitator has same speed as the discs.... ZAM 1000 we have had was ok for 12m tramlines. ZAM Novis is with some parts made from stainless steel, if I remember correct.

 

[essexpete]

The ZA-X is crap, the agitator has same speed as the discs.... ZAM 1000 we have had was ok for 12m tramlines. ZAM Novis is with some parts made from stainless steel, if I remember correct.

I had actually seen a very tidy ZA-X , I assume Amazone's budget model? Is there a problem with the agitator on the same shaft as disc? I guess all the basic disc spreaders will be like that?

 

[Robt]

I guess that is Robt's suggestion above. Only looked at Amazone as they seem well built and we have had 2 ancient ones over the last 40 odd years!

No I wasn’t knocking the amazone. Just suggesting our old basic machines are bullet proof!

 

[Richard98]

we had 2 amazone ZAMs, one after the other from the early 1990s and they were great, simple and reliable. 2 years ago we bought a new ZAM and it was a disaster so after a season it was swapped for a bogballe which so far has been great

 

[David.]

No I wasn’t knocking the amazone. Just suggesting our old basic machines are bullet proof!

Provided you keep changing the agitator arm bush fairly regularly...

 

[Jim B]

Can't go wrong with a ZA-X or ZA-M. Main difference is the ZA-X is on 10-18 metre discs only and will spread no wider. Good entry level machine, suitable for grassland, independent hydraulic shutters left and right. Headland spreading is done via a headland disc, you swap the disc on the one side.

Otherwise consider a good basic spec ZA-M, should be plenty of choice about. As long as its not a Control or Profis spec it will be hydraulic shutters left and right. Discs are 10-16 metre, and 18-24 metre. Headland disc also an option but most used machines will have a hydraulic fold down border limiter device.

Both easy to setup and accurate, I'd recommend the phone app for the latest information and settings which is continually being updated by Amazone with the latest batches of fertiliser.

 

[essexpete]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[wdah/him]

Sorry to trail up old thread. Have just bought a amazone 1000 oldish sower. Disc has 20-28 on it but no book. Horizontal agitor chain driven. Gearboxes seem tight can't fault it but seem to have a lot of adjustments. Where would I download any seting info.

 

[oakleaf]

Sorry to trail up old thread. Have just bought a amazone 1000 oldish sower. Disc has 20-28 on it but no book. Horizontal agitor chain driven. Gearboxes seem tight can't fault it but seem to have a lot of adjustments. Where would I download any seting info.

AFAIK you can download the manual from the Amazone website for any model. Certainly could a few years ago anyway.