Hydraulic-Operated Manure Spreader Dumps On-The-Go

Hydraulic-Operated Manure Spreader Dumps On-The-Go MANURE HANDLING Equipment 28-2-27 This new dump spreader has a totally different way of unloading its contents. The benefits are less maintenance and no leaking or spilling, says Westendorf Mfg., Onawa, Iowa. The company introduced its new 3-pt. mounted "Dump Spreader" at the recent National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. Unlike conventional spreaders, this one has no chains or aprons and is entirely hydraulic-driven. It doesn't have rear beaters or even a rear gate. Instead, the back side of the box is equipped with a pair of round expellers with fins bolted onto them. The box gradually raises on-the-go until it reaches a 90 degree tilt that allows all the material to be unloaded. A patented dump motion shifts the weight continuously so it's centered over the wheelbase and always maintains a low center of gravity. The hydraulics are activated by flipping a switch on an electronic flow control box in the tractor cab. The operator adjusts a dial to regulate the dump speed in relation to the speed of the expellers, which determines how aggressive the spreading pattern will be. The expellers hurl material about 20 ft. "As far as we know it's the first all-hydraulic spreader on the market. It's easy to operate and easy to clean, and it doesn't have a rear gate with seals that can leak or chains and aprons that can freeze up in cold climates," says the company. "The box is made from a super-slick industrial grade poly and works equally well for spreading both liquid and semi-liquid materials. Sand in the manure won't damage the interior components because there are none." According to the company, the dump motion of the spreader box keeps it balanced and steady at all heights. Unlike a dump truck, where the center of gravity moves out past the rear wheels, the dump motion of this spreader uses hydraulic arms and cylinders with a high pivot mount to maintain a low center of gravity. As a result, the spreader remains balanced and steady at all heights and also over rough terrain. The spreader hitch is equipped with a crossbar that pins onto the 3-pt.'s lower lift arms. A raised guard on front keeps manure off the tractor cab. There's no beater backlash because the raised box blocks any manure that's thrown forward. The box has an inside width of 5 ft. and an inside box depth of 56 1/2 in. Overall height is 87 in. and, when tilted up, 14 1/2 ft. Overall length is 18 1/2 ft. Capacity is 270 cu. ft. The unit requires an 80 hp tractor with minimum hydraulics of 10 gpm. Price starts at $13,500. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Westendorf Mfg. Co., Inc., P.O. Box 29, Onawa, Iowa 51040 (ph 712 423-2762; fax 712 423-1460; email: matt@westendorfmfg.com; website: www.loaders.com).

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