Dos And Donts Of Ride On Equipment

Presented by:

Greg Pavlovcic Branch Manager, Columbus

Ron RadosBranch Manager, Cleveland

December 10, 2009

Do’sLearn The Equipment

Don’tsRely on Manual

Load & SafetyGuessing Game

CalibrationNo Calibration

Maintenance Neglect

Winter Maintenance Just Throw on Trailer

Familiarity with Property

Use Where You Shouldn’t

Why use Mechanized Equipment ?ProductivityConsistencyAccuracyUniformitySafety

Why Use Mechanized Equipment…

Walking with a Spreader18 to 26 Stops a dayAbout 135 to 200 M a day$750.00 to $1000.00 a day in revenueNeed to go over the lawn twice to complete the lawn. Once to fertilize and once to spray weedsNeed to carry 200 – 400 gallons of water mixed with chemical

Using a Ride On Spreader25 to 46 stops a dayAbout 225 to 850 M a day$1300.00 to $3000.00 a day in revenueOnly need to go over the lawn onceNo need to pull hose over the lawn to spray weedsCarry multiple products

We Still Need to Walk Some Areas

Consistency, Accuracy, & Uniformity Factor

Same speed all day longEven spray patternSame rate from start to finishA lot less applicator fatigueCan calibrate all equipment to Spray and fertilize at the same rate

Why Ride On Equipment is SaferKeeps the applicator out of

the fertilizerKeeps the applicator out of

the spray patternLess applicator fatigueFill up less oftenYou need to pull hose all

over lawn then reel it up with chemical on it

Fertilizer and spray pattern are out front and easy to see when operating

Employee TrainingRead company employee manualBasic fertilizer knowledgeTraining on all equipment (At Shop)Ride along trainingSecond ride along Two

weeks laterGet Pesticide License

Why Use Mechanized Equipment

Why Calibration is ImportantProduct PerformanceLabel RatesProduct FailureTurf DamageStaying within BudgetCompliance with Ohio

Department of Agriculture

When Calibration Goes Wrong

Why Calibration is Important…

The Calibration Difference…

Staying Within Budget

Bag Coverage

Round Requirement

Bags Needed

Price per Bag

Price for Round

10,500 sq. ft.

20 mill sq.

1905 bags

$17.00

$32,385

Estimated

Correctly

Estimated

Incorrectly

12,000 sq. ft.

20 mill sq ft

1667 bags

$17.00

$28,339

Difference of $4,046

Example #1

Staying Within Budget

Bag Coverage

Round Requirement

Bags Needed

Price per Bag

Price for Round

10,500 sq. ft.

20 mill sq.

1905 bags

$38.00

$72,390

Estimated

Correctly

Estimated

Incorrectly

12,000 sq. ft.

20 mill sq ft

1667 bags

$38.00

$63,346

Difference of $9,044

Example #2

A Beautiful Lawn Doesn’t Happen by Itself

Granular Calibration

Two Types of CalibrationLiquid Calibration

Granular Calibration

How to Begin Calibration ProcessSelect FertilizerKnow Rate Per 1000

Square FeetSelect Speed for

ApplicationSelect Spreader Width

for FertilizerEnsure Fertilizer / Spray

Width Cover Same Area

Granular and Liquid Calibration Process

Things Needed To Start

Do The Math & Verify Speed

Verify Spread Width

Equipment Maintenance

Granular & Liquid Calibration Process…

Things Needed to Start

Bring:MachineApplicatorMarking flagsStop watchScaleBucketProductEquipment folder

Do the Math

What we know:5,280 feet in 1 mile60 minutes in 1 hour

What we want:Travel 5 miles per hourSpread Width is 5 feet wide

from center to centerWe want to apply 5 pounds

of fertilizer per 1000 square feet

5,280 feet per mile ÷ 60 minutes per hour =88 feet traveled in one minute

Do the Math1. Find how far you will travel

in 1 minute at 1 mile per hour

5 mph × 88 feet =440 feet traveled in 1 minute

Do the Math2. We want to travel 5 mph

and find out how far we will travel in 1 minute:

220 feet in thirty seconds × 5 feet spreader width = 1,100 square feet

Do the Math 3. To make things easier,

break it down to thirty seconds:

220 feet

Verify Speed Measure out 220 feet Set stops for handles Set RPM with throttle Start timing when machine

passes flags Check time when machine

reaches 220 feet Adjust throttle and repeat

until 30 seconds is reached Record RPM’s

220 feet

6 mph × 88 feet = 528 feettraveled in 1 minute

Do the Math2. If you wanted to travel 6

mph and find out how far we will travel in 1 minute:

264 feet in thirty seconds × 5 feet spreader width = 1,320 square feet

Do the Math3. To make things easier,

break it down to thirty seconds:

220 feet264 feet

1,100 square feet ÷ 1000 square feet = 1.1 M’s

Do the Math4. Change 1,100 square feet

to number of M’s.

1,320 square feet ÷ 1000 square feet = 1.32 M’s

Do the Math4. Change 1,320 square feet

to # of M’s.

5 lbs. product x 1.1 thousand square feet = 5.5 lbs. needed to cover 1,100 square feet

Do the Math

6. We know we will cover 1,320 square feet:

5 lbs. product x 1.32 thousand square feet = 6.6 lbs. needed to cover 1,320 square feet

5. We know we will cover 1,100 square feet:

Verify Spread Width

Flagging Distance & Spreader Width

5 feet

Fertilizer Pattern

1. Make sure to measure from center of both passes

2. Make sure the fertilizer pattern width allows spray pattern to overlap properly

Rate Dial and Fertilizer

The Calibration Run Put the 5.5 lbs. of fertilizer in the

empty hopper and drive to 220 feet marker

If you run out you will need to lower your rate dial and try again

If you have some left you will need to increase your rate dial and try again

Always move over five feet before making another pass to avoid over fertilizing

Always record fertilizer type, tachometer reading, and number on the rate dial for future reference

220 feet

When To CalibrateProduct changes When you change fertilizer

companiesIf fertilizer bag count and

weed control do not match square footage done at end of day

If problems occur such as: StripingProduct failureTurf damage

Two Types of CalibrationGranular Calibration Liquid Calibration

Liquid CalibrationLiquid Calibration

How to Begin Calibration ProcessSelect nozzle typeKnow Rate Per 1000

Square FeetSelect Speed for

ApplicationKnow Spray Width and

amount of nozzles usedEnsure Fertilizer / Spray

Width Cover Same Area

Do the Math

What we know:Nozzle typeNumber of nozzlesNozzle spacingWhere to set the tachometer

What we want:Travel 5 miles per hourSpread Width is 5 feet wide

from center to centerWe want to spray a half gallon

of water per 1000 square feetSpray at 40 psi

Finding the Nozzle Find the nozzle type you are

using on chart find 5 mph and gallons per 1000

square feet Find PSI Then find nozzle color

Finding the Nozzle

Check the Chart Collect water from each

nozzle for 30 seconds Should equal half a

gallon If it does not check

nozzles and strainers and adjust psi

Why some nozzles might put out more water

Show Tank and Valves

Calibrating Hand Sprayer Collect water from the nozzle

for 30 seconds We want half a gallon per 30

seconds If it does not equal half a

gallon, adjust PSI and try again

Write down PSI Always adjust to the proper

psi when using hand sprayer

Spray Pattern

Stay 2 feet away from bed

Herbicide Damage to Trees and Shrubs

Spraying By Hand and Near Beds

Verify Spread Width

Equipment Maintenance

Machine Maintenance Important For Calibration

Nozzle Strainer Impeller Keep machine and frame

clean Clean Hopper Engine Tire pressure

Got Calibration ????

Dirty Filter & Nozzle Can Lead to Chemical Burn in Turf

Dirty Impeller Can Lead to Striped Lawn

Clean Impeller, Rate Dial and FrameClean hopper, rate dial and

machine after every couple of stops

Build up of fertilizer may fall off and cause burn spots in the lawn

Dirty and clogged hopper will lead to stripping

Check Nozzles Every Day

Winter Equipment Maintenance Engine Work Tires and Spindles checked

and replaced Frame is checked Spray system checked Nozzles changed Equipment cleaned Hoses checked and

replaced

Works on all Types of Equipment

Why Calibration is ImportantProduct PerformanceProduct FailureLabel RatesTurf DamageStaying within BudgetCompliance with Ohio

Department Agriculture

You are Ready to Fertilize

Presented by:

Greg Pavlovcic Branch Manager, Columbus

Ron RadosBranch Manager, Cleveland

December 10, 2009

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