Vicon Varispreader 400/500

[Loftyrules]

I have 25 acres of grassland to fertilise this spring with Prilled Lime (don't start the debate again) and some N&K

I have found a decent looking Vicon Varispreader 400/500 locally and am wondering whether it is worth doing my own spreading or getting someone local to come and nip round.

1) How much do these hold
2) How easy are they to calibrate
3) How long would it take someone with a larger spreader to get around 25 acres on 2 passes?

 

[Goweresque]

Its probably going to cost you £125/pass (25 acres @ £5/acre) for someone to come and put it on with an all singing all dancing GPS controlled spreader, so for that price is it really worth buying an old wagtail, spending far longer doing the work and not getting as good a coverage?

 

[Loftyrules]

Its probably going to cost you £125/pass (25 acres @ £5/acre) for someone to come and put it on with an all singing all dancing GPS controlled spreader, so for that price is it really worth buying an old wagtail, spending far longer doing the work and not getting as good a coverage?

Probably not, plus i'd have to borrow a machine to load it too.

 

[Goweresque]

Probably not, plus i'd have to borrow a machine to load it too.

Well you're going to have to load the spreader regardless of whether its yours or not surely? A contractor isn't going to bring his own telehandler to load a couple of bags of fert, or at least if he did its going to cost.

 

[Mark Hatton]

This might be worth a watch as its already got 13 bids...

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[Loftyrules]

Well you're going to have to load the spreader regardless of whether its yours or not surely? A contractor isn't going to bring his own telehandler to load a couple of bags of fert, or at least if he did its going to cost.

Yes but I have a tractor and loader which would have been on the Varispreader if I used that, and I would have borrowed my neigbours tractor loader to load it...if I get a contractor I can use my own

 

[Classichay]

just do what people who dont have multiple tractors do and use a bucket your over complicating something relatively simple your only talking 2 bags max for each....5 mins to load a bag into a spreader with a bucket.... its a wag tailed spreader read the manual and calibrate it to that. if you cant drive straight or gauge 12m splits dont waste your time and ask someone who can to do it. and dont be the hero which everyone falls foul to by filling the spreader, get round the first time and youve lost half your load.

 

[john432]

Yes but I have a tractor and loader which would have been on the Varispreader if I used that, and I would have borrowed my neigbours tractor loader to load it...if I get a contractor I can use my own

Imagination, imagination, ladder and chain, you lift the bag up with the front loader ,and tie it up to a tree branch with the chain. Simple! Or get a bit of excercise and scoop it in from the bag with a tin bucket.

 

[Classichay]

Imagination, imagination, ladder and chain, you lift the bag up with the front loader ,and tie it up to a tree branch with the chain. Simple! Or get a bit of excercise and scoop it in from the bag with a tin bucket.

Quite possibly one of the best Darwin Award ideas for someone to remove themselves from the gene pool, never mind hse’s thought on it.

 

[Wellytrack]

I fupping hate wagtails but it will do your job fine. Plenty of people out there with a spreader for less acres and less work.

 

[Cowabunga]

Make sure that the bearings are all good. Dealers love wagtails, because once sold they are a regular source of income for the parts department. Bearings, spouts, spout bands, regulators, rams, hoppers, agitators, you name it and it is a fast moving part.

 

[balerman]

Make sure that the bearings are all good. Dealers love wagtails, because once sold they are a regular source of income for the parts department. Bearings, spouts, spout bands, regulators, rams, hoppers, agitators, you name it and it is a fast moving part.

Wash it out properly then grease it every time you use it,that will significantly extend bearing life.Nowt wrong with a wagtail,a 500 wont hold a 600kg bag you would need a 600 or preferably a 602/802.

 

[2wheels]

Make sure that the bearings are all good. Dealers love wagtails, because once sold they are a regular source of income for the parts department. Bearings, spouts, spout bands, regulators, rams, hoppers, agitators, you name it and it is a fast moving part.

i thought you were a vicon spreader fan.

 

[Cowabunga]

i thought you were a vicon spreader fan.

I've had three wagtails over the decades and they were basic and OK but not the most durable of things. The first had an alloy spout and held 350kgs or 7cwts as it was then. The second was a tin hopper which held a ton and the third had a high hopper extension but I can't remember how much it held. That one had a nylon spout. One of them, I can't remember which, didn't have greasable yolk bearings. Bands wore out regularly and so did nylon spouts.

I am a fan of the twin disc Rotaflow spreaders Vicon/Kverneland/Kubota produce, for their superb accuracy, especially on steep ground. They are a bit delicate though.

 

[2wheels]

I've had three wagtails over the decades and they were basic and OK but not the most durable of things. The first had an alloy spout and held 350kgs or 7cwts as it was then. The second was a tin hopper which held a ton and the third had a high hopper extension but I can't remember how much it held. That one had a nylon spout. One of them, I can't remember which, didn't have greasable yolk bearings. Bands wore out regularly and so did nylon spouts.

I am a fan of the twin disc Rotaflow spreaders Vicon/Kverneland/Kubota produce, for their superb accuracy, especially on steep ground. They are a bit delicate though.

we had a wagtail too, wore out it;s bearings and spout. changed to amazone and apart from the model that altered spread pattern by top link length they were all good. they were certainly tough enough as i used to spread up to 400acres a year on sometimes rough ploughing @ 6-7 cwt/acre. not the easiest to set up maybe but done properly made a damn good job with no striping.