New Fertiliser spreader time. KUHN, KRM, KVERNELAND or maybe SULKY

[Will 1594]

My kv will be coming up into its 5th season and the only electrical issue it’s had was a weigh cell that hadn’t been sealed properly from the factory. It was replaced under warranty so no cost to me.
I’m just waiting on a price to swap it for the bigger model in the new year, I can’t decide whether to stick with the kv screen or just use my jd screens on the iso bus though. It will probably come down to price to swap but after running through the jd screen for 50% of last season I’m starting to wonder whether the additional split screen is warranted, it is handy for saving spreader settings though.

Phil keep the big tellus screen ,and do you have a separate loom and dome ,or run through tractor piggy backing gps ,
we had issues with task controller taking over and fighting each other , till top kv man came and sorted it ,
find the tellus easier ,like you say for spreader settings ,and keep jd screen for guidance

 

[kevindb880]

I’ll get the popcorn

My answer KRM, now on my second of them. And in answer to the above post YES the paintwork on them is fantastic

How long do you keep a spreader?

 

[quattro]

We bought a kuhn last year. No weigh cells or section control. But vary forward speed.

Pleased with it, had a kuhn previously so wasn't a difficult choice what to buy next. Priced a kv but they don't do a non weigh cell machine with vari rate. Cost was a fair bit more.

Haven't been any days I wished I had weigh cells.

They do a medium sized model with vary forward speed

 

[Alistair Nelson]

I would say KRM had 2 and couldn’t fault them and decent company to deal with after that Kuhn and kv/coconut/ kubota

 

[Will Blackburn]

We bought a kuhn last year. No weigh cells or section control. But vary forward speed.

Pleased with it, had a kuhn previously so wasn't a difficult choice what to buy next. Priced a kv but they don't do a non weigh cell machine with vari rate. Cost was a fair bit more.

Haven't been any days I wished I had weigh cells.

I haven't had any days I wished I didn't have them. We don't finish with a bit left or a bit short, we finish we wash out. New fertiliser/different conditions same result.

 

[Phil P]

500, 3 or 4 times
May go wider one day but fertiliser spreaders it’s an easy option to change discs where as the sprayer would need a bigger tractor.

Just check the disc option is available for the width you want to go to, I got stung on a deal a number of years ago on a spreader. When the time came to go wider the machine wouldn’t do it accurately!

 

[Phil P]

Phil keep the big tellus screen ,and do you have a separate loom and dome ,or run through tractor piggy backing gps ,
we had issues with task controller taking over and fighting each other , till top kv man came and sorted it ,
find the tellus easier ,like you say for spreader settings ,and keep jd screen for guidance

Already have isobus on the tractor so no problem there, I’ve not had any issues running through the jd screen, get guidance and spreader on one screen same as tellus. Also have section control and vr activations on jd screens already.

 

[Will 1594]

Already have isobus on the tractor so no problem there, I’ve not had any issues running through the jd screen, get guidance and spreader on one screen same as tellus. Also have section control and vr activations on jd screens already.
View attachment 929635

If you have section and vr but had issues ,fighting each other ,do you run a separate screen for guidance

 

[Phil P]

If you have section and vr but had issues ,fighting each other ,do you run a separate screen for guidance

In the 6520 I run jd 4640 screen for guidance and the spreader through tellus on its own wiring loom, R series everything runs through the 4600 on the armrest as in the picture above.

 

[An Gof]

How long do you keep a spreader?

6-7 years

 

[kevindb880]

6-7 years

I think ours is 14 years old!

 

[Chae1]

Our kuhn we traded in was 14 years old. Farmer that bought it off dealer is pleased with it.

 

[Fish]

I'm just going through this as well, I've boiled the choice to either KV or KRM. The KV seems a very good machine, well thought out and looks easy to use and set up, but for me it's very difficult to walk past KRM as the present machine is an old red KRM weigh cell, which is, wait for it, 20 years old and in all that time the electronics have never failed once.

We have replaced the disc bearings once and the slip clutch and main drive shaft as well, but the electrics have been compleatly faultless.
As all the tractors here are full auto steer and iso we don't need a screen, but as we are all bulk fert here we need a wide hopper, and the KV leads in this respect.

Choices choices

 

[Spencer]

Sulky X50 here.. brilliant bit of kit and would highly recommended

 

[owen r]

KRM here on our 3rd. Use with GPS patchwork. Weight cells really good and auto calibration means easy to change product or batch of fertiliser as found they run different speeds. Double overlap gives very good spread.

 

[ConanPB]

We have just been through your dilemma and chose the KV after much deliberation. Like you wanted to go simple after lots of tech problems with our Amazone hydro profis, but wanted weighing, variable rate. As said before it wasn't much of a jump to go section control as well. Liked the multi vane idea on the kv, looking forward to spring to see how it goes !

 

[stevedave]

We have just been through the same thing and went from a Vicon to a KRM. While we didn't have any problems with the Vicon I liked the spread pattern of the KRM. The biggest issue with the Vicon was it's value fell off a cliff. If KV/Vicon /Kubota try to sell you the narrow disc machine don't go for it, it won't really do 24m it is absolutely at it's limit a 24m and will only do it on calm days and on nitram. In 4 years we replaced an actuator which was done under warranty. We didn't have any electrical or mechanical problems but it just wasn't up to what we were asking of it. I looked at Kuhn and Amazone as well and I liked the Amazone alot but felt both it and the Kuhn seemed quite complicated to get to the same place as the KRM.

 

[Farma Parma]

We have just been through your dilemma and chose the KV after much deliberation. Like you wanted to go simple after lots of tech problems with our Amazone hydro profis, but wanted weighing, variable rate. As said before it wasn't much of a jump to go section control as well. Liked the multi vane idea on the kv, looking forward to spring to see how it goes !

The last ages !!! all mine still original & will easily do another season

 

[Chae1]

Look back at spring 19 machinery threads and all the problems people are having with electronics on fancy spreaders

 

[redsloe]

We have just been through the same thing and went from a Vicon to a KRM. While we didn't have any problems with the Vicon I liked the spread pattern of the KRM. The biggest issue with the Vicon was it's value fell off a cliff. If KV/Vicon /Kubota try to sell you the narrow disc machine don't go for it, it won't really do 24m it is absolutely at it's limit a 24m and will only do it on calm days and on nitram. In 4 years we replaced an actuator which was done under warranty. We didn't have any electrical or mechanical problems but it just wasn't up to what we were asking of it. I looked at Kuhn and Amazone as well and I liked the Amazone alot but felt both it and the Kuhn seemed quite complicated to get to the same place as the KRM.

I've started looking too. Got a price for an amazone and it's not much more for a weigh cell one than a vari rate. Can use isobus screen or separate screen for same cost. Have been told they're dead easy(lol)
We have had an amazone spreader forever so am reluctant to change, why did you think they are complicated?