Anyone run a Househam Spirit?

[FarmerBruce]

As above. Are they any good? Been to see one today and the hydro handle seemed quite stiff? Is this normal or will it just need a new cable!? Is there any major issues to look out for? Thanks

 

[Matt77]

Nearly 2000 hours with mine, handle still stiff, just got used to it, but it's not hard to move, just firm maybe. What age did you look at, pre ad blue? There's some weak points on the frame that they sorted on mine, it's a 2016.

 

[FarmerBruce]

This is a 2014. No ad blue

 

[Lowland1]

We got an ex demo one from Househam in 2019 I think it had 400 hours it was ex Ukraine so has the Cat engine also it has 5 section auto shutoff not individual nozzles which I thought was a bit too complicated for us. The handle is not stiff. They are very good machines a bit basic compared to the air ride we’ve had to do a bit of welding on the tank frame we are up to 1600 hours in 14 months.

 

[Matt77]

This is a 2014. No ad blue

I’m no expert but I think that would be the age with the chassis modification needed, but we had a letter, so I expect everyone did. I’ve got individual nozzle control, it’s what sold it to me, had a demo Bateman RB17 to compare it too, more money obviously for the Bateman and less stuff on it. Had the odd problem here and there, one that really stopped me was the fuel rail snapped off while I was driving through town, couldn’t have happened in a worse place, but helpful neighbours, a JCB with a long tow bar and a low loader, and we got home, new rail in post by 8am next day, can’t ask for more than that. I’d have another one that’s for sure, always impresses me how little impression it leaves in the wet, wouldn’t have taken the Knight it replaced out where this goes!

 

[FarmerBruce]

I’m no expert but I think that would be the age with the chassis modification needed, but we had a letter, so I expect everyone did. I’ve got individual nozzle control, it’s what sold it to me, had a demo Bateman RB17 to compare it too, more money obviously for the Bateman and less stuff on it. Had the odd problem here and there, one that really stopped me was the fuel rail snapped off while I was driving through town, couldn’t have happened in a worse place, but helpful neighbours, a JCB with a long tow bar and a low loader, and we got home, new rail in post by 8am next day, can’t ask for more than that. I’d have another one that’s for sure, always impresses me how little impression it leaves in the wet, wouldn’t have taken the Knight it replaced out where this goes!

What was the modification they needed? Will I be able to tell if it’s had it or not? Thanks for your help

 

[KB6930]

Yes we got one last year .

I'd look elsewhere if I was you

 

[snarling bee]

Personally I would go Bateman or Sands with older stuff.

 

[Matt77]

What was the modification they needed? Will I be able to tell if it’s had it or not? Thanks for your help

Couple of bit's of steel plate welded in some corners, nothing major. But I'm not sure how you'd tell if done or not unless you'd seen where they are on another machine

 

[FarmerBruce]

Yes we got one last year .

I'd look elsewhere if I was you

What’s been the issues

 

[KB6930]

What’s been the issues

A little bit of everything. Just stupid little things that annoy you

It's been behaving a little bit better this backend tho .

Biggest issue is from brand new it wouldn't climb at all until they played with pressures for the drives . It's better now but absolutely nothing like our agribuggy was on a hill .it's heavy and just long enough that it doesn't take much of a sidling to make it crab along a hill .

 

[Brains]

Have any of you changed up from a Agribuggy? How do they compair?

 

[KB6930]

Have any of you changed up from a Agribuggy? How do they compair?

Yes from a 2010 buggy. I'd have to buggy back anytime. We nearly got a new one but couldn't get on with it.

The spirit is ok but I think I just got a real sickner with it first day out when it wouldn't pull. It was so bad I got the back wheels into a plough furrow in the corner of a flat field and just barely got out .
After they fiddled with the pressures it's a lot better but there's still places we can't get up with a full load on 3000l .

The buggy went everywhere never had an issue at all . I've lost contract spraying on grass as I know the spirit wont go up some bits and no way would I want to come down them with no brakes.

I don't use it much the boss does most of the spraying and he seems happy enough with it but says he should have hot a Bateman for comfort.

Reliability wise it's just a lot of little things that add up to annoy you on a new machine we've seen they're fitters more in 1.5 seasons than the previous machine did in 10yrs but the old buggy was a very simple sprayer I very much doubt the new McConnell would be reliable at all

 

[FarmerD89]

From the amount of mc Connell I saw parked in Alvitis shed in Ludlow I’d be inclined to say that they’re a problem child machine.

these mazotti sprayers parked in dealers look intruiging, personally I like the bargam with the muller control box it doesn’t lie and they were built for Italian hills so the buggers will climb a wall. Very agile sprayers, just don’t get too keen on row crops going round roundabouts they will cock a leg as they’re very sharp and quick. Househams seem to have weak frames and very iffy electrics. Bateman’s backup I’d say is good but you pay for the privilege to begin with, big wait times too as the volume they export is getting greater.

 

[Lowland1]

From the amount of mc Connell I saw parked in Alvitis shed in Ludlow I’d be inclined to say that they’re a problem child machine.

these mazotti sprayers parked in dealers look intruiging, personally I like the bargam with the muller control box it doesn’t lie and they were built for Italian hills so the buggers will climb a wall. Very agile sprayers, just don’t get too keen on row crops going round roundabouts they will cock a leg as they’re very sharp and quick. Househams seem to have weak frames and very iffy electrics. Bateman’s backup I’d say is good but you pay for the privilege to begin with, big wait times too as the volume they export is getting greater.

I have a 13000 hour Sprint a 10,000 hour Airride and the Spirit. They have their problems but electrics haven’t been one of them although axles are. Househam are good to deal with and local to us in UK so we go with them.

 

[D14]

Personally I would go Bateman or Sands with older stuff.

I’ll second that. For longevity with reliability Househam isn’t the machine. We had one and quickly swapped to a Bateman and my neighbour has had issues with 2 used Househams as well so he’s now swapped to Sands. I think Househam are ok new but as soon as there’s a few hours on them then you could be looking at multiple issues. It just the build quality.

 

[Andrew K]

Our old agribuggy 2000 was a much cheaper machine to run than our current AR 3000 is, but more importantly was lighter underfoot,safer and quicker on the road. On the other hand backup from Househam is better than from Mcconnell now apparently, although it was excellent when Agribuggies were looked after from Birdlip in Gloucs.

 

[Lowland1]

I’ll second that. For longevity with reliability Househam isn’t the machine. We had one and quickly swapped to a Bateman and my neighbour has had issues with 2 used Househams as well so he’s now swapped to Sands. I think Househam are ok new but as soon as there’s a few hours on them then you could be looking at multiple issues. It just the built quality.

Don’t know anything about Batemans or Sands but I am a long way from a dealer, cannot afford downtime and up until last year have had some pretty poor operators and it’s unusual for us to have to stop. If we struggle to break them in Africa what are folks doing to them in the UK

 

[FarmerBruce]

Do those of you that run the spirit all have the 540 tyres on? If so are they enough to travel in the wet, or does it really need 600s on. Thanks

 

[KB6930]

540 28 here and they're ok

It doesn't travel as well as the buggy did on 540 24 but it's near 2t heavier so no surprise.

Beware that you cannot get wide wheels in to 72 inch only the row crops can get in narrow