Vicon spout (wagtail) calibration

[Yonnups]

Have a reliable Vicon wagtail but often want to calibrate it with different fertiliser types. I have seen a plastic calibration box fitting which goes over spout, but never in Uk and they look to be a fortune. Any ideas where I could get one or any other suggestions apart from trying to knock something similar up out of ply.

 

[goldtop]

Have a reliable Vicon wagtail but often want to calibrate it with different fertiliser types. I have seen a plastic calibration box fitting which goes over spout, but never in Uk and they look to be a fortune. Any ideas where I could get one or any other suggestions apart from trying to knock something similar up out of ply.

I cut a long slot in the side of a 200 litre plastic drum, sat it on a bale of straw over the spout of the vicon, it was fairly effective for calibration.

 

[spin cycle]

take the wagtail off...only 2 bolts IIRC....god they were easy to calibrate and accurate....i miss my vicon

 

[multi power]

I always calibrated ours in a two acre field that always got sowed first

 

[Mouser]

I always calibrated ours in a two acre field that always got sowed first

I have 2 2 acre fields incase it's way off in the 1st one!

 

[Kidds]

take the wagtail off...only 2 bolts IIRC....god they were easy to calibrate and accurate....i miss my vicon

That is the book way to do it IIRC but inside a slot in a drum or IBC is just as good (and does assume the bolts will actually undo which is rare)

 

[7610 super q]

I spent 30 years trying to calibrate mine.
It had 2 settings.....
(1) Way too much,
(2) f**k all.

 

[Tarw Coch]

I spent 30 years trying to calibrate mine.
It had 2 settings.....
(1) Way too much,
(2) fudge all.

Used to sow grass seeds with ours, very simple, fully closed was spot on.

 

[1594mac]

How do you calibrate it then?

 

[Red Fred]

What is this "calibrate" of which you speak!?

 

[multi power]

How do you calibrate it then?

Run it for a given time, say one minute, weigh the fertiliser from that minute, then work out how much ground you cover in a minute, you obviously need to know your forward speed and spread width

 

[1594mac]

Did I spell calibrate wrong lol Multi power thanks for that

 

[Red Fred]

Have you got the destruction book? I'll have a look for our PS953 book if its any help and scan it. Didn't they come with a little calibration dial gizmo when they were new?

 

[Kidds]

 

[Selectamatic]

Fill Hopper

Find Field

Wind the plastic winder along, then give it a turn or two more for good measure

Spread some fert on field

Too Much? = Wind plastic winder a few turns

Too Little? = Wind Plastic winder a few turns, go again on the same field, concentrating on the poor looking patches...

 

[multi power]

Fill Hopper

Find Field

Wind the plastic winder along, then give it a turn or two more for good measure

Spread some fert on field

Too Much? = Wind plastic winder a few turns

Too Little? = Wind Plastic winder a few turns, go again on the same field, concentrating on the poor looking patches...

And if that puts on too much just go up a gear

 

[Red Fred]

Fill Hopper

Find Field

Wind the plastic winder along, then give it a turn or two more for good measure

Spread some fert on field

Too Much? = Wind plastic winder a few turns

Too Little? = Wind Plastic winder a few turns, go again on the same field, concentrating on the poor looking patches...

Once you've done that and got it fairly accurate rolleyes, then come over all efficient and write down the figure on a fag packet from the tool box. Then the paper gets soggy and have to do it all again next year. (Next year, you'll actually remember it correctly- "I'm sure 2 bags was 28"- but it won't look right so you'll end up giving it a bit extra, then running out again and shutting it down to "8".)

 

[Selectamatic]

Once you've done that and got it fairly accurate rolleyes, then come over all efficient and write down the figure on a fag packet from the tool box. Then the paper gets soggy and have to do it all again next year. (Next year, you'll actually remember it correctly- "I'm sure 2 bags was 28"- but it won't look right so you'll end up giving it a bit extra, then running out again and shutting it down to "8".)

Exactly this.

Never mind, it's not like fertiliser is expensive...

 

[Red Fred]

And always remember that

Exactly this.

Never mind, it's not like fertiliser is expensive...

And even better, once you've perfected the technique, you can also use it on the sprayer. Proficiency in vari-spreader setting counts as a 75%pass on PA2
Edited to add: I've just discovered the same principle also applies in making carrot cakes, as described on the "Too many eggs" thread.

 

[7610 super q]

Go round the headland of a 5 acre field once, find you've used 10 T
Wind it down a bit. Sheepishly order another 10 T.
Cover another 100 acres, and find you've only used 1 T
Go over the same ground again another 9 times.
I an no stranger to the ways of the Vicon.