Spreader rebuild

[Sberry]

Here is a project of and on for the last couple weeks.

[Sberry]

We took the undercarriage out.

[Sberry]

Some steel that was clad plated over rusted frame.

[Sberry]

Some steel replaced in the rear.

[Sberry]

Walking beam and axel assembly set up so the mechanic can pack wheel brgs and fix some plugged grease fittings in walking beam.

[Sberry]

Last one, tires stacked up so they are not in the way.

[Sberry]

This is a plate I added where water got in and rusted the apex of the hitch out. I gusseted top and bottom then closed it in with this plate to transfer the stresses from the rusted area and seal it up.

[theonlybull]

looks like the overhaul i reciently did on a boat trailer for a long time customer of ours...

gotta love working on something different every week eh sberry. i'd go nuts working on an assembly line.

[Scott S]

Was that City/Town equiment or private? Nice job.

[Farmer]

Spreader

That fertilizer spreader looks to be darn near brand new compared to the ones I rent from the local Ag Supply dealer. It always seems that I get the worst one. Bent PTO 's bad chains, belts etc. The 1 you have pictured is the 1st one I have ever seen with a walking beam axle.

[Sberry]

Scott. the spreader is mine. The reason for the re-work was because several bearings were failing as well as a bearing in the spinner gearbox. We bought this from a fert dealer that went out of biz about 15 yrs ago and overhauled it once. A lot of our equipment we do complete as we can or need to so its back to full service life and problems are not continious. Here is another one for the farmer. This is a 383 chrysler runs on LP.

[Scott S]

Very nice, What do you grow & or raise on your farm?

[Sberry]

I am a partner in a family farm with my parents and we grow strawberries and some cukes for Vlassic. We also have a satalite berry farm about 45 mins north near a larger city which adds to the equipment and trucking demands. We are very shop top heavy for a farm our size and much of the equipment is older so it gets remanned and customized which is on going. We have so many pieces that it would be almost impossible to farm out the upkeep and keep an eye on the quality and condition. I am also sensitive to utilities such as the water, air and electric and if we need it we install. Such as self draining plumbing for migrant housing and underground everything here. Customizing reduces the maint and convenience. I run 3 pickups in the summer and have a complete service truck with welding and air power plus stock on it. One major focus is on hand tools, crecent wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers etc and most equipment carries that stuff enough for use or crisis. (must own a thousand sockets and wrenches) Complete sandblasing and paint ability too. The only jobs we farm out are diesel inj pumps and have a bud help wth some refrigeration. Even have 4 golf carts we run ragged.

[mozark6]

nice to see a top flight,family run operration. i agree with the farmer most the spreaders we get around here are rust buckets and there is alaways a problem with them. nice to have your own that is well maintained.

[Scott S]

Sounds like a great life! My uncle used to have a farm in Guelph, Canada. I used to spend my summers there driving the tractors and combines. I miss that. I am lucky that I live all around farms here in CT. But I am sure that they are nothing like yours. Thanks for sharing....Scott