I am thinking of buying a second hand self propelled low ground pressure sprayer

[PSQ]

What about a Chaviot? seem highly rated by those that have them.

They punched well above their (light) weight and were a *very* good machine in their day.
Sadly, that day was a long time ago, and the last one off the line is now 21 years old.
I’ve driven mine for 25 seasons, and been looking hard for it’s replacement for the last 3. There’s lot of choice between more modern machine’s, but I’m horrified by the horrendous complexity and eye watering cost.
- Bit the bullet last week and it turned up today - another Chaviot, a year younger and in poorer condition, but a full ‘kit of parts’ to hopefully keep my old nail going for another 25 years.
They will both be torn to bits in the workshop later this month, and hopefully a shot blasted, repainted and fully refurbished sprayer will emerge from the workshop by 15th Feb for N1..

As for modern ‘McConnell’ era Agribuggy reliability, from what I see of them in the local dealers workshop, you want to punt them on just before the end of their warranty. For the rugby players on here, ask yourself which end of a ‘hospital pass’ you’d rather be on...

 

[neilo]

It’s a 4 cylinder Bateman, RB15 It’s the predecessor to the Hi Lo, there two newer models RB16 and and RB17.

I have an RB15, as @neilo says they are a hydro machine and wheel motors can fail, however mine is on its original motors and 9k hours (probably jinxed myself now ). Bateman may be out your budget though as they do tend to demand a premium for some reason.

I run 520 tyres at 16psi and always manage to travel, haven’t been stuck other than with the row crops on some of our very soft ground.
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I only mentioned wheel motors as I know of someone that bought an elderly Bateman, then had two wheel motors go in a few months. Probably bad luck, but I seem to remember £2k each being mentioned.

 

[Phil P]

I only mentioned wheel motors as I know of someone that bought an elderly Bateman, then had two wheel motors go in a few months. Probably bad luck, but I seem to remember £2k each being mentioned.

Think as with most things it can be luck of the draw, probably a bit in how the machine has been looked after as well. Constantly running up to the axles in mud won’t do any machine much good, I see plenty of tractors with axel seals and bearings failed as they never get cleaned round the hubs etc.
I have heard the motors are expensive but what do you get for under a grand these days!

 

[Stuart J]

I've got a Gem Emerald here.

It's still about 20 year old too, but wasn't expensive. Maybe similar weight to a hi-lo, possibly a big lighter.
But less money than a Bateman.

 

[puma power]

I'm doing the opposite and I've just bought a trailed Knight. I've drilled on 24M but the knight will spray 24 and 36 so will go 36 soon. My reason being tend to mark fields on headlands so moving tramline 6m further into field may help.

What I've found with my self propelled (6T dry weight and on wide Michlein VF's) is in average conditions it great. But if it is wet oil goes to wheel that starts to spin and it slides all over the place. It looks awful in the Autumn but it will roll out easy in spring. I think a tractor with true 4wd and another axle following will prob make deeper ruts but they will be in the tramlines if that makes sense!!

The jury is out here so I'm keeping my SP for now and see how I get on and then decide which to sell end of April/May. On that note its a mint '06 machine with all the toys and 4250hrs, only just up the road from you!!! Come and have a look!

 

[puma power]

Oh and why on earth would anyone buy an agri buggy?????? Honest you need your head looking at!!!!!

 

[Hard Graft]

I recon a small hydro sp on 600 vf will go just about Any were our problem is the hills

ps looking for a new to me Sp sprayer as Mine got written off this year.

 

[Riley]

It’s a 4 cylinder Bateman, RB15 It’s the predecessor to the Hi Lo, there two newer models RB16 and and RB17.

I have an RB15, as @neilo says they are a hydro machine and wheel motors can fail, however mine is on its original motors and 9k hours (probably jinxed myself now [emoji23]). Bateman may be out your budget though as they do tend to demand a premium for some reason.

I run 520 tyres at 16psi and always manage to travel, haven’t been stuck other than with the row crops on some of our very soft ground.
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What I nice looking machine can’t me the new what age is she? What she like on hills?

 

[Phil P]

What I nice looking machine can’t me the new what age is she? What she like on hills?

It’s a 1996
I’ve never found it to bad on hills, makes it work and it’s a bit steady on the road but much quicker than a HiLo! We don’t do massive road work though as most of our land is in ring fenced blocks mostly within 5 miles of the yard.

 

[Vernon]

It’s a 4 cylinder Bateman, RB15 It’s the predecessor to the Hi Lo, there two newer models RB16 and and RB17.

I have an RB15, as @neilo says they are a hydro machine and wheel motors can fail, however mine is on its original motors and 9k hours (probably jinxed myself now ). Bateman may be out your budget though as they do tend to demand a premium for some reason.

I run 520 tyres at 16psi and always manage to travel, haven’t been stuck other than with the row crops on some of our very soft ground.
View attachment 913864

similar setup here. Bit heavier as have a few hills to climb so run a 25. Will go places you wouldn’t even consider with a tractor. Nice looking machine you have there.

 

[Phil P]

View attachment 914071
similar setup here. Bit heavier as have a few hills to climb so run a 25. Will go places you wouldn’t even consider with a tractor. Nice looking machine you have there.

Thanks, yours looks pretty tidy too , if you keep on top of any little bits and keep them clean they’re a very reliable machine. I try and go right though the whole machine at least once a year, full service and sort any little oil leeks or worn joints etc.

 

[snarling bee]

Another vote for a small Bateman. In 15years I never got my RB25 stuck on poor treaded flotations.
People who have never had a hydrostatic machine always talk about wheel motors, They forget all about the gearbox and axles in their mechanical drive sprayers.

 

[Drillman]

Forget the ford engined agribuggies there hopeless. Terrible under powered.
the landrover engined Agri buggies I would think be ok.

but you all forget there is another option.

if you can find one.

The Sprayranger 120D.

Landrover TDi engine and gearbox, Melo axles same as later agribuggies so parts are easy to get

simple and if my 20 year old one is anything to go by very reliable.

 

[traineefarmer]

We run an early HiLo 2001. Bought it 3 years ago in a sorry state. It's been thoroughly done-up in our workshop and is a bloody good machine. Had one wheel motor fail early on, but given the treatment it had had by the previous owner, it was to be expected. Bateman supplied a new one on a service exchange and the cost was well under £2k.

We farm 300ac and can get over the whole farm in 2 days without trying too hard. On terras with 1200l on board it doesn't break the clods on cultivated land.

The lack of suspension is bearable until you hit a furrow at 14k and it tries to catapult you through the roof.

 

[Lowland1]

I have a Ford engined agribuggy sitting in the back of my shed their day is long passed. I would look for a Househam Sprint on terratyres cheaper than a Bateman and easier to get spares for than a Gem.

 

[Cobblers]

Bought a mint Gem Sapphire from a regular forum user a few years ago , probably my best machine investment ever ,she weighs 4000 kg and carries 3000 lt .Again avoid machines that had been run in deep mud ,other than that all spares are readily available

 

[Classichay]

 

[Lowland1]

View attachment 914340

As someone who has three I presume the switches are labeled from the top.

 

[bumkin]

Oh and why on earth would anyone buy an agri buggy?????? Honest you need your head looking at!!!!!

they are simple even an old tosser like me can fix it it will be inexpensive to purchase, to be honest, I am sick of hi-tech stuff when you call the agent out he can't find what's wrong even with a laptop I am tired of common rail bollox when the machine stops and there is nothing wrong with it only the sensor tells you there is a chap comes out and plugs the laptop in and changes the sensor buggers off then half an hour later it goes wrong again because it was the wrong sensor that was diagnosed and we don't grow a large acreage 300 400 or so so want to keep overheads down, of course, i will probably make the wrong decision but there we are

 

[puma power]

Simple answer stop buying John Queers with their shite engines!!!
There are loads of simple sprayers out there that are good an Agri buggy is just horrid!! Don’t rush keep yours open and you can find some nice machines and sensible money. If the trailed you have is good keep it? Run 1 on rape 1 on wheat? Use light machine in wet and comfy tractor on front of trailer rest of year???