Troubleshooting EarthWay Spreaders

Troubleshooting Broadcast Spreaders

• 1

  Test the spreader calibration before filling the hopper by turning the control dial to setting 30 and looking at the release aperture at the bottom on the hopper. Make sure that the hole or holes are fully open. Then you know that whatever setting you choose thereafter will be accurate. Loosen or tighten the control cable or rod running between the setting control and the hopper aperture if when the setting dial is turned to 30 and the aperture is not fully open and unobstructed.

• 2

  Prevent bare spots or uneven application of material by walking at a consistent pace over the entire area and slightly overlapping the feathered edges of each pass to that as uniform a layer of material is laid down as possible.

• 3

  Maximize uniformity of application, when it is critical to do so, by making two passes over the area in a crosshatching pattern with the spreader setting set at half of the recommended rate for the material being spread.

• 4

  Prevent material from being thrown too far afield of the spreader by lowering the spreader setting. This will prevent seed or fertilizer from being projected into adjacent planting beds or onto nearby sidewalks where it is not wanted. As a rule small particles from the spreader do not travel as far as larger size particles, but consult your spreader manual for the proper settings for the specific type, size and weight of material you are spreading.

Troubleshooting Drop Spreaders

• 5

  Allow the release of material out of spreader the hopper by While pushing spreader forward, push control lever forward to the stop bolt. To stop, pull lever back to close flow holes before you stop moving. Move stop bolt on rate gauge assembly to the proper setting

• 6

  Prevent heavy spots of material from being deposited unevenly over the lawn by walking at an even pace over the entire lawn while the hopper is engaged. Close the hopper release immediately as you come to a stop to prevent over-concentration of material in that spot.

• 7

  Correct uneven coverage with the spreader by cutting the amount of material in the spreader hopper by half and making two passes over the same area but with the second pass at 90 degrees to the first. This way you deliver the same amount of fertilizer or seed over the area, but the distribution is more precise and evenly spread.

• 8

  Open up clogged spreader holes by agitating the tip of an unbent paper clip or a nail into the release holes at the bottom of the spreader hopper. Using a spreader over wet grass can often create a paste with the material in the hopper and the holes needs to be cleared periodically so that the fertilizer or other material is released uniformly out of the hopper.