Chafer Connect - Issue 10, Spring 2015

Spring 2015

WINTER SPRAYERMAINTENANCE

P18

Follow our step by step guideto ensure your booms areriding their best.

BETTER THAN JUSTBIGGER

P6

AWest Yorkshire arablefarmer benefits fromMultidrive FC features.

CUTTING POTATOPLANTING COSTS

P12

A switch from broadcast to a bedapplication cuts fertiliser costsand improves accuracy.

CONNECTThe latest news from the Chafer Machinery Group

2015 Spring chafer new newsletter:Layout 1 9/1/15 11:52 Page 1


Welcome to our latest edition ofConnect, in this issue we’ll becovering a wide variety of subjects

from the three sectors that make up ChaferMachinery and I hope that our customers andreaders find something of interest. For Chafersprayer operators I would draw your attentionto the technical section which contains a stepby step guide to maintaining high quality boomride, a vital area for optimal spraying efficiency.

It is very good to be able to report that 2014ended in much the same way as it started withstrong sales across both the Chafer andHorstine ranges. We have good order books forboth and despite the obvious effects of weakcommodity prices sales continue to grow. It wasinteresting to read that one of the globalmachinery producers was forecasting a 20% fallin worldwide machine sales in the coming year.I hope that we continue to be able to buckthe trend!

We are particularly looking forward to 2015 witha number of new product launches planned. Ican tell you that we will be introducingsignificant new developments but not at thisstage what they will be. The first press day isplanned for April and is aimed at raising

awareness prior to the trade launch at Cereals2015. Already announced is the availability ofthe new Horstine 24m Avadex applicator. Incommon with it’s smaller relatives, the machinefeatures individual metering to each outlet, anessential in avoiding uneven application acrossthe bout width.

In closing I must mention NerG Ltd, ourassociate company which specialises in theinstallation of Biomass Boilers and theproduction of dried wood fuels. Such has beenthe uptake of the Renewable Heat Incentive thatwe have seen some reductions in the level ofsubsidy. Having said this, with fully guaranteedindex linked payments over a full 20 yearperiod, biomass boilers still represent aninvestment opportunity which is nearimpossible to beat. The message here is that ifyou have an interest in becoming involved getin touch with us quickly. NerG’s order book is atlevels that we haven’t experienced before andthe first 3 months of 2015 are fully booked. ThisI believe rather proves the point that biomass isa very interesting opportunity.

T: 01427 838341 | www.cropsprayers.com

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Contents

connectSummer 2014

Chris Allen - Managing Director

CHAFER

Telephone - 01427 838341Fax - 01427 838507Web - www.cropsprayers.comEmail - [email protected]

Sales - Nick Byrne / Rob NichollsService - Kevin Slade / Steve King / Dale HowardParts - Dave Johnson

HORSTINE

Telephone - 01427 838383Fax - 01427 838507Web - www.horstine.comEmail - [email protected]

Sales - Nick Byrne / Rob NichollsService - Kevin Slade / Steve King / Dale HowardParts - Terry Webb

NerG

Telephone - 01427 838020Fax - 01427 838507Web - www.NerG.co.ukEmail - [email protected]

Sales - Chris Allen / Rob StarkeyTechnical - Stuart Robertson/Ben Covell

Facebook www.facebook.com/chafermachinery | www.facebook.com/HorstineFarmery

Twitter @chafermachinery

Instagram _chafermachinery

Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/chafermachinery

NEWSROUND .................................................................................................................................... 4

BETTER THAN JUST BIGGER ............................................................................................................ 6

AVADEX RETURNS .......................................................................................................................... 10

DAN KING - NERG BOILER INSTALL Q&A ...................................................................................... 14

TWO TRAILED SPRAYERS MAKE SHORT WORK OF LARGE ACREAGE. .................................. 16

TECHNICAL / BOOM RIDE .............................................................................................................. 18


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Newsround

Over the last three years the use of Avadex inthe UK has doubled on a yearly basis, with vastareas now having the product applied eachyear in the United Kingdom. Avadex hasreturned to the limelight as a weapon in thefight against growing blackgrass pressures, aswell as combating wild oats and a range ofother grass weeds.

Obviously this demand for application hasbrought about a demand for machinery toapply the granular product. With granularchemicals being replaced by liquids in recenthistory, there has been a shortage of suitableequipment available to get the product applied.Back in 2012, this led to Gowan (themanufacturers of Avadex) issuing pressreleases calling for all available contractors tomake themselves known, so demand forapplication could be met.

A year later in 2014 Horstine rereleased ourboomed Avadex applicator the TMA4, a productthat has been used by hundreds of farmers andcontractors over the years. The 12 metreapplicator was updated with automatic ratecontrol and a revamped pneumatic system toimprove usability and ensure accuracy.Demand outstripped supply, with customerskeen to get their hands on an applicator thatcould guarantee accuracy across the full boomwidth, thanks to Horstine’s individual meteringprinciples.

During recent years Horstine have suppliedapplicators for retrofitting to existingimplements, most commonly fitting our TwinAir applicators to spray booms. Contractorsand farmers alike have used these kits withgreat affect, allowing Avadex application atwidths of over 30 metres.

These applicators will be joined in the summerof this year by a wider boomed, higher capacitymounted applicator. This all new machine willbe available in widths of 15, 18 and 24 metresfor the 2015 season, with hopper capacities ofup to 1200 litres. As with all Horstineapplicators, a single rotor to feed eachdistribution outlet will be utilised, ensuringapplication accuracy. This new applicator willbe shown for the first time at Cereals 2015, withfirst deliveries planned for August.

If you would like more information on the newapplicator or any other Avadex equipment,please give us a call on 01427 838383.

connectSping 2015

EXPANDING AVADEX RANGE


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To keep up with what we’re up to at Chafer Machinery and Horstine, make sure youfollow us on Facebook and Twitter. To find us on Facebook search for “ChaferMachinery” or “Horstine” and on Twitter just go to @chafermachinery. If you’readding pictures of your Chafer or Horstine equipment, make sure to tag us in thepicture and we’ll share it on our pages!

SPRAYER WIDTHS INCREASING


FOLLOW CHAFER MACHINERY ONTWITTER & FACEBOOK

For the second year in succession, sprayers wider than 24meters have outsold those of 24 meters and under. A move towider widths offers growers obvious benefits, with increasesin output and an opportunity to reduce trafficked area in thefield. The operation of wider booms has become easier aswell, with auto section control managing liquid applicationand Chafer’s Contour system controlling the position of theboom in relation to the crop, improving application accuracyand reducing operator fatigue.

Chafer’s new business venture; NerG Ltd has spent the autumn monthscutting, splitting and kiln drying hardwood logs ready for the impendingwinter. With weather conditions wet and warm up until the start of December,deliveries started off slow, but both residential and trade sales have nowpicked up pace through Christmas and the New Year.

NerG’s Kiln Dried logs are dried down to an average moisture content ofaround 15%, using our biomass boilers to provide the heat. By drying the logsthis way we can provide clean burning, logs with the highest possible heatoutput, available at any time of the year.

For more information on our logs call NerG on 01427 838020.

KILN DRIED LOG DELIVERIES BEGIN


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BETTER THAJUST BIGG


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ANGER

Purchasing a new triple purpose 40m ChaferMultidrive FC with centrally positioned spray tank,air suspension and a wider boom has paiddividends for a Yorkshire arable farmer.

Full article on next page...


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With at least 50,000 hectares expected to pass under its boomsover a period of six years or so, applying chemicals, clearfertilisers and suspension fertilisers, choosing the right sprayer

is paramount for J E Hartley Ltd, Birkin Farm, Knottingley. The buildquality of the machine, design and control functionality, along withconsideration for operator comfort and safety, helped farmmanager PaulSaxon make the decision to buy a Chafer Multidrive FC.

The 1,200 hectare arable enterprise supports winter wheat, barley andoilseed rape, as well as spring crops such as spring barley. The farm alsosupports about 200 hectares of vining peas grown on owned and rentedland, as well as renting out land for potatoes.

“Our previous sprayer was a Multidrive 6195 with 32m Knight spraypack, which was five years old and was getting a bit tired, especially theboom system,” he says. “We decided to shop it in while it still had somevalue. We also needed to be able to cover more land in a day to makebetter use of the available spray days, hence the increase to 40m, butKnight could not provide the extra boom width.”

“The old machine was back-end heavy, which made it quite unstable aswell as an uncomfortable ride,” says Mr Saxon. “Weight distribution isnow closer to 50:50 over the axles, helping to reduce compaction andhas made driving a more pleasurable experience.”

The tank size has also increased from 4000 to 5000 litres, althoughbecause of potential weight issues when applying Omex suspensionfertiliser, he has agreed with Chafer only to put a maximum of 4000 litresin the tank during suspension applications.

To aid output efficiency Mr Saxon runs two following bowsers - a 10,000litre water bowser with a secure compartment for the chemical boxesand a 20,000 litre nitrogen fertiliser bowser. When applying suspensionfertiliser, Omex arranges for road tankers to be dropped off on or near tofield boundaries.

“We need the sprayer to be able to spray whenever it’s required,” says MrSaxon. “Downtime waiting for deliveries of suspension fertiliser orchasing supplies of pesticides or making repairs is unacceptable.”

In his opinion Chafer and Kellands have a good synergy both in terms ofmachinery compatibility and working relationship. Chafer has built theboom system exactly to the farm’s specification, preferring the straightup and down rather than parallelogram lifting system. And the directdrive axle rather than hydrostatic drive is also preferable because it ismuch safer, especially when driving on the public highway roadat 50kph.

BETTER THAN JUST BIGGER


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The new sprayer is powered by the same and well proven195hp sixcylinder 6.8 litre PowerTech John Deere engine, so it is not short of power.This has obvious advantages when on hilly land, he says, especially witha full tank. It is efficient too, only using between 18-20 litres of dieselper hour depending on ground conditions.

“The Multidrive cab is similar to the Agribuggy which is spacious andoffers excellent visibility,” says Mr Saxon. “We also have the Mullercontrol box on our Multidrive so everything is managed from the joystickwith one hand. And another nice touch is the reversible fan on the grillto keep the radiator free of dust and obstacles such as insects andOSR petals.

The new sprayer runs on row crop tyres – Michelin 380/90 R46 SprayBibor 650/75 R30 AxioBib floatation tyres – that are slightly wider than theold tyres to compensate for a larger tank.

“Chafer’s spray pack is very simple and uses only one spray line for allapplications,” he says. “Our old machine had two lines which made itmuch heavier and more expensive to repair. An electronic controlterminal attached to the outside of the machine gives us control of allplumbing functions.” Control of spray and rinse functions has also beenadded via the in-cab terminal, removing the need to exit the machinein the field.

The Chafer Multidrive arrived in March 2014 with 32m booms but it hassince been returned to the factory to be fitted with extensions to make it40m for the start of the autumn work.

“The Chafer boom is recognised for its robustness and build quality,”says Mr Saxon. “I also like its headland lift feature, auto shut-off and theChafer Contour Automatic boom levelling system. Our new sprayer isnot the cheapest machine on the market, but nor is it the mostexpensive,” he says. “However, it has been built to our specification andits every bit as good as any other set up on the market. We aim to keepit for at least six years.”

Keeping the sprayer in tip top condition falls to the service departmentsof both Chafer and Multidrive’s manufacturer’s Kellands.

“Back up is critical,” says Mr Saxon. “we can go direct to Chafer if wehave to, and we use Chafer for servicing the spray pack although theyare happy to carry out general servicing on the skid unit too if needed.The main service is carried out by Kellands.”

connectSping 2015


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The Autumn of 2014 saw Avadex return with a vengeance tohelp in the battle against blackgrass. To coincide with thisdemand Horstine reintroduced the TMA4, this will be joinedin 2015 by a new 24 metre mounted applicator, ready forviewing at Cereals this year.

AVADEXRETURNS


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T: 01427 838383 | www.horstine.com


For Whitewater Potatoes based at Hook,Hampshire, assessing acreage costs is seen as anessential part of the company’s management. Theinvestment it makes in growing 2000 acres ofpotatoes each year is clearly enormous and acareful eye needs to be kept on costs and waysfound to reduce them when the opportunity arises.

“As those involved in potato production will know,growing potatoes can be a risky business,” saysGavin Janaway who runs Whitewater Potatoes inpartnership with his two brothers and father. “Andwhile there are some things – like the weather –which is beyond your control, you need tomaximise the efficiency and cost effectiveness ofthe details you can control – seed selection,machinery, fertiliser application, blight control andso on.”

The vast majority of the 2000 acres, of which 300acres are for seed production, is rented on anannual basis – the home farm at Hook runs to 3000acres and is used for combinable crops. With theaim of providing a year round supply of potatoesfor the crisp market using varieties such Hermes,

Lady Rosetta and Lady Claire. Planting starts in thesouth of the county in the last week of Februaryand a gradual move northwards sees thecompletion of planting by the end of April.

“We plough all the land and give it a dressing ofthe required amount of phosphate and potash priorto bed forming,” he explains. “The soil type ispredominantly Hampshire downland and, as such,is reasonably easy to work down.”

The bedformers are followed by the bedtillers andit is at this time the soil receives a dressing ofgranular nitrogen using a front mounted HorstineAirstream system which delivers measuredamounts of fertiliser to each of the three beds. Thefertiliser is then incorporated into moist soil and isin the best position for the potatoes.

“This is a relatively new system for us,” he says.“In the past we have broadcast nitrogen fertiliseronto the surface of the planted beds which didn’tensure it was being correctly placed and, in a drytime, the granules tended to stay on the surfaceand were unavailable to the crop as a result.”

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ACCURATE FERTILISER PLAT PLANTING HELPS CUTIt’s all a matter of scale –reduce costs/acre by asmall amount over just afew acres and the savingwill be relatively low butachieve the samereductions over a largeacreage and it becomesa whole new ball game.


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T: 01427 838383 | www.horstine.com

Mr Janaway adds that by using the Airstream to place fertiliser where itis needed to be he was able to reduce application rates by about 8%which was a major saving on the overall cost of fertiliser required for2000 acres of potatoes. Application rates are between 90kg and120kg/acre depending on variety.

The Horstine Airstream uses hydraulically driven metering for the threeoutlets, with fertiliser delivered from a 2200 litre stainless steel hopper.Once the required rate has been set, the unit’s Wizard automaticcontroller ensures it remains constant irrespective of changes in groundspeed. Metered fertiliser is then conveyed pneumatically to the boom-mounted outlets positioned over the top of each of the three beds.

“It’s a very accurate machine which works well in our planting systemand, by using it in combination with the bedtiller we have also reducedthe number of passes required.”

The scale of the planting operation is equally impressive with the line-up of machinery including three bedformers, three bedtillers each withan Airstream, five Grimme de-stoners, and two six-row cup-feedplanters. At lifting time there are no less than five Grimme two-rowtrailed harvesters brought into action.

“As we said at the start, it’s all a matter of scale,” says Mr Janaway. “Withthe area of potatoes we grow we need the output these machines cangive us – but that is not at the expense of accuracy and good qualitywork. The Airstream is a good case in point; without its accurateapplication and placement ability our operating costs could increase andyields and quality fall.”

PLACEMENTT COSTS

connectSping 2015

Fertiliser applied to bed top

Incorporated by bedtiller

Large scale planting operation


DAN KINGNERG BOILER INSTALL Q&AFarm Info:

Business Name - DS & JE King

Address - Pasture Hill Farm, Bourne, Lincs

Cropping - Wheat, oilseed rape, barley and beans

Farm Size - 400 hectares

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2014 has been the first year of trading for ournew business venture NerG. We’ve beeninstalling biomass boilers for farming andindustrial customers, as well as supplyingkiln dried hardwood log and chip this winter.Dan King, of DS & JE King in Lincolnshire is acurrent Chafer customer, so was keen to workwith a team he knows and trusts when itcame to his boiler install. With the installcompleted in June of last year, we thought itwas a good time to pop down and find outhow things were going, and discover whathad attracted Mr King to purchase a biomassboiler in the first place.

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T: 01427 838020 | www.NerG.co.uk

NerG: When did you first hear ofbiomass heating?

Dan King: I first heard about biomassheating through my plumber, our existingoil boiler was on its way out, so we werediscussing options when he mentioned thepossibility of a biomass boiler. It wasinstantly an idea that attracted me as thefarmhouse uses a lot of heat, so there wasan opportunity to cut costs quitedramatically.

N: What appealed to you about it?

D: The more I investigated, the morepositives I could find from making theswitch. What started out as somethingthat could reduce my heating bills soonescalated when I found out about thegovernments Renewable Heat Incentive(RHI). With the RHI I could get payback onthe system relatively quickly, and continueto receive payments for using the heat forthe full 20 year term. Another benefit Icould foresee was no longer having an oiltank on the farm. Despite the relatively lowprice of fuel, oil thefts have been rife in thelocal area recently, so a switch to wood fuelremoved this threat.

N: What made you decide to use NerG todo the install?

D: We have dealt with Chafer for manyyears as a sprayer supplier, so whenI found out from Rob (Starkey) that theywere starting biomass boiler installations,I stopped talking to other suppliers anddealt solely with NerG. The main reasonsbeing I wanted to deal with a company thatunderstood the agricultural market and ithad to be someone I could trust. The RHIpays for 20 years so you have to deal with acompany that will be there throughout thefull period and one that will supplyequipment that will last.

N: What is the heat used for on the farm?

D: When we first looked at the system itwas just going to heat the house andpossibly the workshop, but after talking toNerG it became apparent we could makeuse of the heat in other areas of thebusiness, so grain drying and woodchipdrying was added to the list.

N: What specification system didyou go for?

D: We have a Froling TX199 woodchipboiler, which is manufactured in Austria,they have an excellent reputation for buildand reliability, which is required if thesystem is going to last the 20 years.

N: How was the install?

D: Ours was one of the first installs thatNerG completed so you would expect someheadaches, but actually the whole installwent seamlessly. We built the chip storeand added the insulated underground pipework as requested by NerG, then theycame and got the boiler in andcommissioned.

N: Was the RHI application successful?

D: Yes the application went through fine,NerG completed the whole process, I justhad to check the details at the end toensure everything was correct and sign therelevant RHI documentation.

N: What’s the system like to use?

D: Very simple, there’s very little to doapart from keeping it topped up with woodchip. The boiler is so efficient that you onlyneed to empty the ash box once everycouple of months, so it’s not difficult tolook after.

N: Where do you get your fuel from?

D: We use Peter Lord Forestry for wood chipsupply. We can get both pre dried or wetchip, as we can use the boiler to dry thewet fuel. This gives us the ability to buychip at the best possible price, as we cantake fuel at all moisture contents.

N: What have others thought about yourswitch to biomass heating?

D: When they hear of the fuel savings andpossible returns available, the level ofinterest certainly jumps! A good few havesince gone on to place orders with NerG,so I would say they are certainly impressedwith the system.

N: Are you glad you made the switch?

D: It’s the best thing I’ve done for a longwhile! We have a new income in the form ofthe RHI repayments and we make largesavings in other areas, for example wedried about 800 tons of wheat from 18%down to 15% this year. This would normallycost us somewhere in the region of £3000-£4000 in electricity, by using wood chip,fuel costs were cut by over 70% before theRHI repayments had even been considered.It’s certainly been a good move forthe farm.

N: What advice do you have for otherslooking to get involved in biomass heating.

D: Make sure you look into all the ways youcan use the heat in your business as thiswill provide you with the best returnthrough RHI. Secondly, when it comes tospecifying a boiler pick a good one, as itwill have to last a minimum of 20 years toensure you get the full RHI. The final bit ofadvice would be to get involved quickly, asthe sooner you get signed up to the RHIscheme the higher the level of repaymentsyou will be tied into. That said, even if rateswere to fall significantly, it still represents avery attractive investment.


Tasked with organising the sprayingactivities on Philip Benzies’ Gairnieston Farmbased at Turriff, Aberdeenshire is EddieGauld who points out that it is not just thesheer volume of spraying required, it is alsothe distances that have to be travelled toreach the fields.

“Like most other potato and carrot growerswe need to rent clean land on an annualbasis,” he explains. “And to achieve ourrequired acreages means taking on landwhich can be as far away as Elgin in the westand Ellon in the east – a distance of 40 milesfrom the farm in one direction and onlyslightly less in the other.”

The potato crop is aimed at the pre-packmarket and includes 190 acres of organicallygrown potatoes which need special attentionin the spray department, particularly whenblight conditions are present. There is also ahigh degree of specialisation in the cerealsgrown - the bulk of the acreage is used formalting barley production which can call forsome accurate timing of fungicideapplication to control yield sapping foliardiseases and, as most will know, attention todetail is always required for successful carrotcrops to be produced.

Until three years ago, the whole sprayingoperation was performed by contractors but acouple of years ago a decision was taken toreduce the dependence on them bypurchasing a self-propelled sprayer andhiring in a second one.

“Having chosen to bring all the spraying in-house, the initial plan was to purchase asecond self-propelled but we decided itwould be better and a more sensibleinvestment to buy two trailed sprayers – notleast because two of our tractor drivers saidthey would prefer to be in their tractors rather

than in the cab of a self-propelled sprayer,”says Mr Gauld.

As a result, two Chafer Sentry sprayers weredelivered to the farm – their key role is to helpout with the control of blight when it isessential for potato crops to receive regularprotection, although they are also keptworking pretty much daily throughout thespring and autumn months.

The new Sentrys are fitted with twin-fold 30mbooms and have 5000 litre tanks – cleanwater is provided by bowsers which can berapidly refilled from strategically placedlarge volume water storage tanks.

Mr Gauld pays particular tribute to thedesign of the steel boom which, he says, hasa suspension system that despite the widthof the boom, manages to dampen anytendency for it to yaw, bounce or tilt.

“We also have Chafer’s Contour automaticboom levelling system that uses ultrasonicsensors to allow a set boom height to bemaintained, but I have to say the suspensionsystem is such that it seems to achieve thison its own.”

He adds that when making headland turnsthe boom remains stable and does not tilt,preventing the end nozzles diving into thecrop – a feature which he recognises isenhanced through having a chassis with aload compensating air suspension system,and a steering axle rather than a steeringdrawbar, an arrangement that ensures thecentre of balance is retained in the middle ofthe machine and not out to one side.

While being a simple, user-friendly sprayerto use – the controls are straight forwardand logical, he says – there is also the highdegree of sophistication present nowexpected of modern sprayers.

“I particularly like the automatic boomsection cut off system which usesinformation provided by the towing tractor’sGPS guidance system to avoid over sprayingon headlands and also occasionally in thefield when there are overlaps,” he says. “Andthe way the entire spray line is purged withchemical solution so that the whole boomstarts spraying at the same time isimpressive – not to forget that this system isalso used to rinse the spray lines with cleanwater.”

In the control department, ISOBUSconnectivity between the sprayer and tractorrelays ample information to the in-cabdisplay screen – target and actual applicationrate, forward speed, pressure, area covered,auto-section control and much more.

“We used to think we had the world whenthere was a pressure gauge, an on/off leverand a couple of boom section taps,” he says.“But the Sentry provides the operator with acomprehensive, on-going visual commentaryof what the sprayer is doing at all times.

“I would estimate that we would be sprayingupwards of about 40,000 acres each year andthe Chafer Sentry trailed sprayers clearlymake a big contribution in allowing the cropsto be treated at the right time so that ourinvestment in pesticides is fully utilised,” heconcludes.

TWO TRAILED SPRAYERS MAKE SHORTWORK OF LARGE ACREAGE.With 1500 acres of potatoes, 360 acres of carrots and 1700 acres of cereals to look after, there is abig reliance on the sprayer to treat a large number of acres in the minimum amount of time.

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John Deere 6210R5000L, 30m Chafer Sentry

ISOBUS Joystick Tips fold back to 28m


Not only will poor maintenance lead to the wastage of valuablechemicals, it can also damage other areas of the machine. Chafersprayers have suspension systems built in for bounce, tilt and yaw (eachable to act independently of each other), as well as the axles loadcompensating air suspension. If any one of these systems is notoperating correctly, damage can result. For example if the bouncesuspension is not working, shock loadings from the weight of the boomare transferred through the centre frame and chassis. If the tiltsuspension system is damaged then the chance of contact with theground or crop is increased. These risks apply to all areas of themachine, so it is important to have a proactive approach to reduce thelikelihood of damage.

The following checks should ensure your sprayer goes into the spring inthe best possible condition.

Wash the machine down before you get started, concentrating on themast and centre frame at the rear of the machine. This will allow youto look closely at all the relevant parts to check for wear/damage.

A The first area to check is the sliding frame rollers. Check the boomraises and lowers smoothly with the boom both open and closed. Anyresistance in movement is likely caused by wear on the rollers and/orstainless roller pins. Remove the rollers and pins to assess for wear,flat spots or damage, replace where necessary. When greasing therollers, ensure grease does not get onto the face of the mast, as thisattracts dirt, causing premature wear.

B A badly adjusted sliding frame can cause one of two issues. If it’s tootight then the boom will not be able to move freely, too slack andadditional un-damped movement will be caused, resulting in anunstable boom. Set the adjuster with the boom in the middle of themast, tighten each adjuster until the sliding frame is centralised andsquare on the mast, with each adjuster roller touching the mast’ssurface, then back off each adjuster one full turn remembering totighten the locknut.

C With the sliding frame correctly adjusted and moving freely, thesuspension system must now be checked. Inspect the lift ram(s),hydraulic hoses and the accumulator(s) for damage and leaks. Totest the system, open the boom and drive the machine over abump/dip, the boom should move up and down on the mast, if thereis no movement, it’s likely there is an issue with the accumulator. Ifthis is the case get your local dealer to check the nitrogen charge.

D At this point it also makes sense to carry out some essentialmaintenance on the lift chain and roller. Lift chains should belubricated with chain oil, preventing corrosion and reducing internalwear. The roller at the top of the lift ram should also be closelyinspected and lubricated, as this roller takes the full weight of theboom and centre frame.

E With the sliding frame checked, it’s time to look into the yawassembly and the first parts to check are the two vertical pivot pinsand bearings. Visually assess the bearings and pins, both with theboom in a stationary position and with someone pushing the boombackwards and forwards. If any play can be seen parts requirereplacement.

F Providing the spring in the yaw system, two single convolution rubberbuffers are mounted on each side of the yaw frame. Over time thesebuffers go “spongy” allowing the boom to yaw more easily than isdesirable. We recommend these buffers are changed every twoseasons at least, with harder working machines this should be uppedto an annual change.

G To damp the rubber buffers, four dampers are used, two per side. Totest these dampers they must be removed from the machine, takecare not to lose the rubber bushes from each end. A correctlyworking damper should be very difficult to compress but will slowlyextend on its own. If there is not a high level of resistance or there isany sign of leaks/damage, the damper should be replaced.

H Moving to the rear of the centre frame, assess both the main centrepivot bearing and the tilt bearing for any signs of damage. Ensurethe retaining bolts are secured on the centre pivot bearing, clean anyold grease away and regrease. The tilt bearing also requires regulargreasing, with the grease nipple located underneath the centre of thetilt bar.

I Like the yaw system, the tilt system uses rubber buffers, this time adouble convolution version. As with the yaw buffers we recommendthese are changed every two seasons, with harder working machinesand machines fitted with Contour this should be upped to an annualchange. Leaving substandard buffers in the tilt system means theboom can move unchecked, with a negative effect on stability.

J Much like tilt buffers, tilt dampers require close scrutiny. Any loss ofperformance in these dampers will result in a big loss of stability,problems which will be amplified by the use of Contour. Check thebuffers thoroughly as in check 8, noting these buffers use nylonbushes rather than the rubber used on the yaw system. Check thebushes and mounting bolts for wear, replacing where necessary.

K The next area to check is the tilt systems wear pad. If any wear isfound on the plastic or steel wear pads, replace the parts. Any wearin this part of the centre frame allows the boom to yaw slightly, sostainless shims can be fitted behind the wear pads. Apply Loctite tothe wear pad’s countersunk bolts when refitting. These pads shouldbe greased daily to ensure the best boom ride, always remove oldcontaminated grease from the area to prevent a grinding pasteforming.

Checking these areas of the centre frame will get your boom ride backto its best, but it’s important to also check the boom frames themselves,ensuring excessive play isn’t present. If you require any advice on anypart of your Chafer sprayer, please call Kevin Slade on 01427 838341.

TECHNICAL /

BOOM RIDETo achieve the maximum efficacy of spray applications, maintaining the correct boom height is vital. Keeping thecentre frame and boom suspension system in tip top condition will result in a boom that can ride correctly, easilydealing with rough field conditions whilst keeping the boom in its intended position. A poorly maintainedsuspension system will often result in the operator raising the boom to make up for the systems shortcomings,leaving spray droplets susceptible to drift and therefore reducing efficacy.

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A

D

G

KJI

HF

E

B C

Grease

Grease

Grease

Grease

Grease

Grease

Lubricate



Documents

Chafer Connect - Issue 10, Spring 2015