Great idea but what good is it if you have to get off the mower to check the black marker setting you desire for the actuator? YOu could have done that with the arm setting straight from the factory. Am I missing something here but how do you get the actuator to stop at the correct setting without getting off the tractor and visually seeing the hand marked setting on the actuator rod?
Well the whole point is so you dont have to get off your mower you set it by sight with the hand switch. Auto stop would be great hope it works well for you.
I added a micro switch to handle control and used 1" actuator from amazon with actuator brackets. The micro switch was wired in series with actuator and push button switch with diode across micro switch contact (NC). When lever moved to the setting I set it opens and shuts actuator off. When you reverse the power at push-button switch the diode conducts letting you close lawn spreader gate. Diode is 1N5408G-T and micro switch is D2VW-5L1B-1HS (digikey). I made a small plate with square hole and mounted micro switch on it where adjustment screw is. Now I can set it anywhere from 0 to 7 on the scale with 1 inch actuator.
I bought the Chapin auto-stop farm model. It holds much more material and stops spreading when the mower stops. This really is a waste of time and money without being able to stop the actuator at the correct setting. Find a solution to the setting problem, not just guessing, then this will work. I am surprised one of the manufacturers haven’t already added this as an option though. Wondering how the actuator will hold up against the corrosive fertilizers after time.
Nice project. I used the 4in version for a garbage can lift on the front of my golf cart, 350ft gravel driveway is no longer a challenge taking out the trash. Clever use of the LB, you could've bought pvc plugs instead of the cap and really go pro by using a cord grip on the wire side. I will steal your idea though! 😜 Also, could you have connected to the original lever drilling multiple holes for different stroke settings? That way your actuator could travel to limits knowing the same drop position is consistent. Just a thought. Unfortunately by drop spreader, pulled by golf cart, has a cable instead of a lever arm. So my challenge is a bit tougher. Good job 👏
I agree but at the time I did not know how well it was going to work so i did not want to mess up the original lever. I bought another switch to mount on the mower but never got back around to that and the LB is still working so I just roll with it.
@@mtrunk8570 If you ever decide to redo---I'll totally buy this from you! I'm not inclined to be able to do these things for myself. Single Mom trying to make things easier and faster outdoors while my special needs daughter sleeps.
Great video. I’ve struggled with this problem for years on my mower. So did you connect the 12v male connector into the switch wire? Also what is the garden box housing you used for the switch? Where do you get one of those?
Nice video thanks! Have you figured out a way to dial in a flow rate? Meaning, it's obvious when it the gate is fully open or fully closed, but do you have to just guess if you want the flow rate somewhere in between. Currently when using my push broadcast spreader I have the gate adjusted for about half way open. If I ran fully open I would dump way to much product.
I just eye ball it but it would be easy to mark the linkage and the hitch so it would be closer a desire flow rate. This has been on my mind but low on the list lol. Have a good one.
Tony Anders Thanks for your comment, happy to help used it again this year still working great. If you use this actuator check out my video video on adjusting the stroke. I would recommend buying the 1"stroke actuator so you don't have to mess with it like I did.
Thanks for the heads up. Helps to keep me from misspending money on the wrong actuator. These types of projects are very fun for me.now, to find the 1" online.
So I am working on this very thing but with a feedback loop to see the position on an LED indicator and drive it with a potentiometer and a Linear Actuator Control Board.. I called Agrifab to get the spring rate / amount of force to open and close the manual gate and she was not helpful at all. In fact she stated that modifying the unit would void the warranty and refused to help with the information I requested. Me being me... I just laughed and said I'm going to modify it whether you like it or not. Otherwise I can't use it... I could hear her eyes rolling. So much for good customer support!
I had an Agri Fab for 4 years . Every time I used it , it broke. Ended up using my Scotts push spreader . After it broke this year, ( the entire gear box busted ) It went in the trash , I bought a Chapin .. Well see in a few weeks how that goes. And oh yeah . the Scotts spreader is 14 years old..Just saying..
Check the video description for items need for this project.
Wow, what a neat project. I found this video after researching spreaders. This looks like a great way to make the spreader even better!
It works great!
Great idea but what good is it if you have to get off the mower to check the black marker setting you desire for the actuator? YOu could have done that with the arm setting straight from the factory. Am I missing something here but how do you get the actuator to stop at the correct setting without getting off the tractor and visually seeing the hand marked setting on the actuator rod?
Well the whole point is so you dont have to get off your mower you set it by sight with the hand switch. Auto stop would be great hope it works well for you.
I added a micro switch to handle control and used 1" actuator from amazon with actuator brackets. The micro switch was wired in series with actuator and push button switch with diode across micro switch contact (NC). When lever moved to the setting I set it opens and shuts actuator off. When you reverse the power at push-button switch the diode conducts letting you close lawn spreader gate. Diode is 1N5408G-T and micro switch is D2VW-5L1B-1HS (digikey). I made a small plate with square hole and mounted micro switch on it where adjustment screw is. Now I can set it anywhere from 0 to 7 on the scale with 1 inch actuator.
I bought the Chapin auto-stop farm model. It holds much more material and stops spreading when the mower stops. This really is a waste of time and money without being able to stop the actuator at the correct setting. Find a solution to the setting problem, not just guessing, then this will work. I am surprised one of the manufacturers haven’t already added this as an option though. Wondering how the actuator will hold up against the corrosive fertilizers after time.
Does this seeder hold a 50# bag of grass seed?
I can definitely see a project like this in my future. Thanks for the video!
Sure makes life easier when spreading with a zero turn.
Nice project. I used the 4in version for a garbage can lift on the front of my golf cart, 350ft gravel driveway is no longer a challenge taking out the trash.
Clever use of the LB, you could've bought pvc plugs instead of the cap and really go pro by using a cord grip on the wire side. I will steal your idea though! 😜
Also, could you have connected to the original lever drilling multiple holes for different stroke settings? That way your actuator could travel to limits knowing the same drop position is consistent. Just a thought. Unfortunately by drop spreader, pulled by golf cart, has a cable instead of a lever arm. So my challenge is a bit tougher.
Good job 👏
I agree but at the time I did not know how well it was going to work so i did not want to mess up the original lever. I bought another switch to mount on the mower but never got back around to that and the LB is still working so I just roll with it.
I had the choice of buying this spreader and doing all sorts of mods, or buying the Chapin with autostop. $207 and I own the Chapin.
I would agree and have my Chapin coming today from Amazon.
I picked up the Polar 22 cubic foot towable cart. I will have a video about it down the road. Watching and Supporting!
That will be very big help when moving items around.
why not hook your actuator to a variable mount so when fully engaged the spreader opening is where you want it?
That's a good idea I need to do something so I can determine the opening of the gate!
@@mtrunk8570 If you ever decide to redo---I'll totally buy this from you! I'm not inclined to be able to do these things for myself. Single Mom trying to make things easier and faster outdoors while my special needs daughter sleeps.
Great video. I’ve struggled with this problem for years on my mower.
So did you connect the 12v male connector into the switch wire? Also what is the garden box housing you used for the switch? Where do you get one of those?
That is called an LB PVC conduit 90deg if I would do it again I would use the switch in the description and mount it to the mower but this works.
And yes I connected to the 12vdc plug.
Nice video thanks! Have you figured out a way to dial in a flow rate? Meaning, it's obvious when it the gate is fully open or fully closed, but do you have to just guess if you want the flow rate somewhere in between. Currently when using my push broadcast spreader I have the gate adjusted for about half way open. If I ran fully open I would dump way to much product.
I just eye ball it but it would be easy to mark the linkage and the hitch so it would be closer a desire flow rate. This has been on my mind but low on the list lol. Have a good one.
So, do you have an estimate of what the project cost, excluding the spreader?
I say around hundred dollars or less. I put link to the item if you want to get actual numbers.
great video! how much of a spread is it doing?
Gene Manning` It will broadcast out a good 10' of course it all depends on the speed you are moving.
Great backyard engineering. My piece of junk Scott's tow behind will be replaced by the Agri-Fab with your invention.
Tony Anders Thanks for your comment, happy to help used it again this year still working great. If you use this actuator check out my video video on adjusting the stroke. I would recommend buying the 1"stroke actuator so you don't have to mess with it like I did.
Thanks for the heads up. Helps to keep me from misspending money on the wrong actuator. These types of projects are very fun for me.now, to find the 1" online.
I have update the description with the parts if you are still looking
Yes I would. Appreciated very much!
This is great
Thanks
Great Idea
Great idea, great video.
Thanks so much for your comment.
@@mtrunk8570 Would not have had any idea how to do this without your great video. Found all the items you mentioned on Amazon, went with a 2 inch.
So I am working on this very thing but with a feedback loop to see the position on an LED indicator and drive it with a potentiometer and a Linear Actuator Control Board..
I called Agrifab to get the spring rate / amount of force to open and close the manual gate and she was not helpful at all. In fact she stated that modifying the unit would void the warranty and refused to help with the information I requested. Me being me... I just laughed and said I'm going to modify it whether you like it or not. Otherwise I can't use it... I could hear her eyes rolling.
So much for good customer support!
Yeah most people don't even have a clue. Sound like a good improvement.
By any chance would you make one and sell it?
I had an Agri Fab for 4 years . Every time I used it , it broke. Ended up using my Scotts push spreader . After it broke this year, ( the entire gear box busted ) It went in the trash , I bought a Chapin .. Well see in a few weeks how that goes. And oh yeah . the Scotts spreader is 14 years old..Just saying..
I don't use this but once or twice a year but so far so good.
Great video...
Thanks for your comment.
Liked, commented, added some watch mins.
Thank you very much.
I know this video is 5 year old. Anything you learned since?
Unit still works
Great Idea