Sprayer Booms

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The booms on my sprayer are shot. I have a Hardi 160 gal 3 pt mounted sprayer with 33' manual X-fold booms. They were made with 18 ga channel (open on the bottom to hold the plumbing) and over the past 8 years have bounced themselves to death. I have a design in mind to add suspension and shock absorbers to help with the bounce using small ATV parts. I'm also thinking about building the boom system out of 11 g square Al tubing. I'd also like to build the booms to 40'. I've contracted the rest of my spraying for this season as this is a winter project for me. Any thoughts or suggestions before I start pressing pencil to paper?
Reply:Pictures. We love pictures. Or at least more dimensions. You never mentioned the size of the channel only the thickness, and I've never heard of 18 ga. channel, are you sure about that?Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I guess I'd start here -http://en.calameo.com/read/000633029acdc1fb32170Read the specs and find out if your sub frame will handle the extended length booms.Lincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:My frame can handle the MB boom (40', but same 18 g construction). My dealer wants $4000 for a new boom, but I'm sure I can do it for a lot less. I've got all winter, so I will take my time and plan it right.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:I agree..... That's what I'm doing now.... Gathering up my winter projectsLincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:Personally, I'd go OEM.  Copy the "better" design from the next higher priced/better designed sprayer in the product line.  8yrs isn't too bad for booms actually.I have a smaller span pasture sprayer, trailer mounted.  It holds 250gal but has 20 foot booms to get around trees, etc.  It had a shock system (springs attached to the support chains), and I had to get rid of it.  The suspension, while supposedly saving the boom arms, let the booms flop around excessively.  I use straight chain now, and reinforced the support tower that holds the chains.Gotta be a PITA to always have to stop and refill such a small tank you got there    I don't like my 250gal tank for that exact reason."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:We salvaged old 20" bicycle frames and wheels and put wheels out toward the end of booms.  It made them run level and took the bounce out when crossing water ways.  Could it be that the booms them selves are ok and most of the wear is at the piviots and hinges.  Dan
Reply:DanD, pivots are all fine, the booms themselves are cracking and bending. Rain yesterday and coming tonight gave me some time to work on my booms. With soybean prices heading above $17, I can't leave any potential in the ground. I cut out all the the stressed cracked sections, replaced and reinforced the booms to make it through another hundred or so acres. Weed kill will have to be great on the corn silage as well (I have some double crop planted the end of June). Will be out field testing my repairs this weekend.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Farmersamm, I head out with a 550 gal nurse tank with a PTO pump. I can refill in less than 5 minutes, so it's not too bad. I like mounted sprayers, but I don't think my old JD 4010 would steer very will with a bigger tank.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:How about some triangulation to get some strength? Something as simple as a rope or steel wire stretched from a high point in the middle to somewhere near the end of the boom should lift up alot of weight and reduce bounce.
Reply:Quote: "Rain yesterday and coming tonight gave me some time to work on my booms."Rain?  What's that?  The corn in our area is firing already with little or no ears.  The beans are less than knee high.  You can still see the tractor and planter tracks in the rows like it was planted yesterday.Dan
Reply:Don't feel bad, we're into our second year of drought here in Oklahoma.Looks like another year of running down the highway hauling hay from God Knows Where  AND THE STINKIN' PRICE OF DIESEL IS CLIMBING AGAIN "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammDon't feel bad, we're into our second year of drought here in Oklahoma.Looks like another year of running down the highway hauling hay from God Knows Where  AND THE STINKIN' PRICE OF DIESEL IS CLIMBING AGAIN
Reply:You can start thinking about coming down here soon SSam.We are starting our third cutting and so prices are going to start dropping for us. Rain has been plentiful and the hay is really recovered well from last year.Most have just about got two years supply up by now and it looks like we're going to get a fourth cutting this year as well.Should be lots around both rounds and small squares so your diesel costs won't be quite as bad as last year as distance won't be as far.Cheers.Glenn.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:Speaking of drought - I have had ONE cutting on my coastal bermuda so far here in N. Texas - and that is all I am going to get this year I am afraid.  No rain either, but the grassohoppers have completely taken over and eaten everything.  They have started on the bark on the cedar fenceposts.  You guys in OK facing this at all or am I just lucky this year?Stampeder, it appears you are from East Texas - you guys always get more rain than we do over here.
Reply:Yeh, it's like a totally different environment. We have the tall pines etc.Speaking of rain the guys just south of I-20 are getting pounded right now. High winds (60 mph) and a lot of lightning.My wife just told me there is one on its way here so better go get the barn ready for the horses. Don't like to leave them out in the lightening. Had a friend lose two to lightning strikes.Cheers.GlennSign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...