Broadcast spreader

 

My $40 Scotts broadcast spreader is going to the trash heap, never
again will buy a Scotts product.  This spreader is literally falling
apart and I have kept good care of it.  I'm looking for a new walk
behind spreader that will last a few years and better quality.  The
Lowes and Home Depot sell cheap spreaders (I guess that is what
sells), but we have a new Tracter Supply Co. store.   My local choices
are limited as I am in a small town, anyone have comments on this one
for use on one acre of fescue lawn?

Pro Broadcast Spreader with rain cover 100# capacity  4404303 (sale
$118)

http://tinyurl.com/lwd3r7  

I think this brand is "Harvest" but not sure.  Any comments?

 



How many years did your $40 spreader last?

If it gave good service for two years it cost you $20/year, not
unreasonable.

There are commercial spreaders that _may_ last like 20 years (and still need
maintenence/parts) but can easily cost $400 and up... will still cost
minimally $20/year... Lesco comes to mind.

Were it me, with this type of product I would accept that a $40 spreader
will serve me so long and then I'd rather replace that with the same than
lay out $400 for a spreader that is supposed to last long but may not... or
may outlast me, or how long I live where I can care for an acre of lawn.
That's the kind of logic I employ when replacing expendable tools, calculate
price per year and estimate the number of years of service... and I never
expect such products to last beyond the manufactureres warranty, any extra
is a gift.  That said I still have my old walk behind Scotts rotary spreader
that I used for like 10 years but haven't for the  last seven years except
once when I spread a 100 pound bag of grass seed.  The neighbor where I
lived last bought the same spreader when I did but his lasted only two
years, he rarely cleaned his, if ever, I washed mine very throughly right
after each use; lawn fertilizer is very caustic.  And no matter which
spreader, if you leave chemical in the hopper between uses all you'll get is
like two years service, hardly justifiable for a $400 investment.  I think
Scotts sellss a pretty decent homeowner product for the price.

Scotts sells various spreaders, which did you have?
http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productCategorySubSelf.jsp;jsessionidu329DCEAB1F484116876E9CB86F0BA2?navAction=jump&itemId=cat70012&id=cat50016

 

On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:17:53 GMT, "brooklyn1"


I used it 4 or 5 times.

 



Should have lasted a lot longer than that with no care... what specifically
became damaged.

 

On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:27:55 GMT, "brooklyn1"


The plastic parts failed, feed locking mechanism, cracks around the
hopper rivets.  More importantly, it is not broadcasting product
evenly (drop spreaders are worse on sloped lawn).  Not damaged, but
the wheels are just too small, the spreader itself has trouble holding
a single 40# bag of pellitized lime.  Turns a 30 minute job into an
hour.  A larger swath would be better.  Have not found other spreaders
as shown in the link, and would appreciate feedback on that one.