Well,
The lime deal just didn't work out. We took the spreader to the field, loaded 8 ton, went 20 feet, and the chain broke. Shovel time! It is good that I spent a brief stint coal mining, I learned the easiest ways to shovel, as though that would make my back feel any better. I got the durned thing empty, then took it to my shop and pulled the conveyor chain out, at least 14 broken links, and a dozen or so cross bars bent. It seems the fellow who owns the spreader rented it out last summer. We figure from the damage done the guy that rented it got rocks in it, busted it up, then brought it back and dropped it off. He should have told someone, we could have gotten a new conveyor chain, and I wouldn't had been shoveling. The factory has a new chain, or parts to build one, this one is special as it has 50% extra cross bars, so, they will need to install them. It will be in Lima, OH around mid January, at the dealership. Since I can be in route passing thru Lima, I'll stop and get it when it comes in, then maybe, just maybe the weather will cooperate long enough to get this lime spread. I could better understand all this if I was working with rusty old junk, well at least there would be an excuse, but this spreader is just over a year old. We should have gotten rusty old junk, it wouldn't have changed things much, but I would feel better about it! I am starting to consider using pellet lime to get thru the first year. I can see already this is becoming some real pricey hay!!!!
Have a great day!!!
Andy