Sprayer Nozzle Care

[Selectamatic]

Hello,

Did a bit of spraying tonight, and was thinking how happy I am with the sprayer, working very well.

What's the best way to keep the nozzles in good order, I remember when I worked on a farm as a student, that nozzles were kept in a pot of water (I assume?) when not in use, is this still good practice?

Advice anyone?

 

[Matt L]

All down to sprayer hygiene now days. Sprayers have better filters and cleaning systems than they used to. Make sure you keep on top of the cleanliness of filters and clean the sprayer regularly.

 

[Chae1]

Just run clean water through them after you've finished spraying.

 

[Dave W]

Put the nozzles in a pint pot at the side of your bed with your false in.

 

[davidroberts30]

Take them out when they are blocked up

 

[neilo]

Take them out when they are blocked up

All of them? Or just when you get two together?

 

[Matt L]

A really nice feature of the Horsch sprayers is the blow out function, it uses air to blow any liquid out of the lines from the centre out to the tips in sections. This means that there is no residue left in the spray line.

 

[Barleymow]

I only have single nozzle holders keep the out of use ones in al clear

 

[Flat 10]

Clean in dishwasher tablets with a toothbrush

 

[warksfarmer]

Hello,

Did a bit of spraying tonight, and was thinking how happy I am with the sprayer, working very well.

What's the best way to keep the nozzles in good order, I remember when I worked on a farm as a student, that nozzles were kept in a pot of water (I assume?) when not in use, is this still good practice?

Advice anyone?

Nothing worse than blocked nozzles when your full of a chemical mix as you get splashed and even with face shields etc it’s just a pain, so I’m in the routine of washing out every time it’s used. It adds 30 mins to the day but it’s very rare to get a blocked nozzle. When washing blast it through at 4-5 bar as well.

That said I do everything with red flat fans so not messing around with 25cm spacing which I think after time will be a nightmare due to the smaller nozzle openings.

 

[Bob lincs]

I’ve got one of these ultrasonic cleaners it holds 6.5L of water and I usually add a drop of all clear . My cleaner also has a water heater and and the ultrasonic bit as well. I find with most nozzles I can get 72 in it and if I leave them in for an hour they come out like new . Rinse them off in clean water and they are good to go . You can get these cleaners off eBay quite cheaply.

 

[Matt L]

Nothing worse than blocked nozzles when your full of a chemical mix as you get splashed and even with face shields etc it’s just a pain, so I’m in the routine of washing out every time it’s used. It adds 30 mins to the day but it’s very rare to get a blocked nozzle. When washing blast it through at 4-5 bar as well.

That said I do everything with red flat fans so not messing around with 25cm spacing which I think after time will be a nightmare due to the smaller nozzle openings.

The smaller nozzle actually blocks less as it produces less of an angle 80 degrees not 110 degrees. This means that the orifice in the nozzle is more round than elliptical and it’s the thin ends where the blockages occur.
30 mins to wash out seems quite a long time. The Horsch can do a full washout in sub 10mins

 

[warksfarmer]

The smaller nozzle actually blocks less as it produces less of an angle 80 degrees not 110 degrees. This means that the orifice in the nozzle is more round than elliptical and it’s the thin ends where the blockages occur.
30 mins to wash out seems quite a long time. The Horsch can do a full washout in sub 10mins

Irrelevant of the shape of the hole it’s smaller due to the 25cm spacing. Powders especially will be a pain and I’ve seen on one of the fb sprayer pages a couple of guys cursing them and eventually moving back to 50cm spacing.

 

[fudge]

If jets do need cleaning I find very hot water and fairy liquid works as well as anything.

 

[Matt L]

Irrelevant of the shape of the hole it’s smaller due to the 25cm spacing. Powders especially will be a pain and I’ve seen on one of the fb sprayer pages a couple of guys cursing them and eventually moving back to 50cm spacing.

Not irrelevant actually. A full circular hole is less likely to block than an epileptic hole It doesn’t take much to build up in the corners and that then spreads across the rest of the hole.
Yes it is less likely to block through a bigger nozzle as you use on 50cm but it’s not as simple as you will block at 25 and not at 50.

 

[warksfarmer]

Not irrelevant actually. A full circular hole is less likely to block than an epileptic hole It doesn’t take much to build up in the corners and that then spreads across the rest of the hole.
Yes it is less likely to block through a bigger nozzle as you use on 50cm but it’s not as simple as you will block at 25 and not at 50.

Only stating what I’m seeing from operators a couple of years in on 25cm spacing. Also agronomists don’t seem keen either on it.

 

[Chae1]

Nothing worse than blocked nozzles when your full of a chemical mix as you get splashed and even with face shields etc it’s just a pain, so I’m in the routine of washing out every time it’s used. It adds 30 mins to the day but it’s very rare to get a blocked nozzle. When washing blast it through at 4-5 bar as well.

That said I do everything with red flat fans so not messing around with 25cm spacing which I think after time will be a nightmare due to the smaller nozzle openings.

I thought everyone did this.

Diaphragms etc last longer too in my opinion due to not being left soaked in chemicals.

If i get a blocked nozzle generally just turn nozzle holder and use a different one. Run 04 flat fans and 04 lechler idks. So same output.

 

[Matt L]

Only stating what I’m seeing from operators a couple of years in on 25cm spacing. Also agronomists don’t seem keen either on it.

Think most of the issues as usual are down to sprayer hygiene rather than anything else.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

View attachment 786142 I’ve got one of these ultrasonic cleaners it holds 6.5L of water and I usually add a drop of all clear . My cleaner also has a water heater and and the ultrasonic bit as well. I find with most nozzles I can get 72 in it and if I leave them in for an hour they come out like new . Rinse them off in clean water and they are good to go . You can get these cleaners off eBay quite cheaply.

Bought one a few years ago from RS. They’re great aren’t they!

 

[Clive]

There are 576 nozzles on a 36m quad bodied 25cm spaced Horsch

Don’t think keeping them in a jug between applications is practical !

We flush with clean eater at end of each day and blow booms back to tank. Full wash with all clear between crops and products - few few problems with nozzles, they wear out before they cause trouble usually