Tuesday, March 16, 2021

maintenance, replacement parts and adjustments on 100 pound broadcast spreader

OK so I took the gear box cover off - although it is still attached to the bushing. So it just slides open a bit - enough for me to spray in Silicone lubrication - and sure enough it runs much better now! Smoother and easier to push. So if you read below - I read reviews that complained of the left wheel (the gear axle) not turning. So I figured the factory assembled them but expects the owner to actually do the greasing of the gears! 

Well the OEM Earthway gearbox actually looks the same as the Chinese stolen design model. So if I need to then I can try replacing the gearbox. 

Wow - I got lucky! https://www.johnnyseeds.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-JSSSharedLibrary/default/dw5fe699b2/assets/information/ev-n-spred-seeder-spreader-instruction-sheet.pdf

Spraying a dry lubricant, such as silicone, on all the bearings on the under side will extent the life of your spreader. Do not use oil or grease; these will cause gum-up and prevent your spreader from operating easily.

 

 So I'm reading some other brands - it's the same 100 pound design or model. So obviously someone stole the design - probably from Earthway originally.

I just had to spray the bushings with lithium grease after every season

 

 

 https://www.earthway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/F80-Series-Manual-1-30-2018-F52157.pdf

This looks the SAME as what I got.

So their 100 pound capacity is over $300.

Also does NOT have deflectors!

So I got deflectors for $100 less.

 

 https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/cb/cb635cbd-d61c-4e5c-b9fd-a0a240d729b7.pdf

 

 https://manualzz.com/doc/25037794/model-2130

 


 This is literally the SAME spreader only without a "side control" - and it's lacking the deflectors - but it's $100 more.

The gearbox is the same. Wheels the same. Hopper is the same. Gear Lever "control rod" is the same.

https://www.howtowithdoc.com/large-lawn-spreader/

 Also you have to Fully Assembly this one - which is a huge pain - !!!

https://www.amazon.com/Earthway-Commercial-100-Pound-Broadcast-Spreader/dp/B00004RB0E#customerReviews

 https://www.agrisupply.com/earthway-push-broadcast-spreader-100-lb-capacity/p/38503/

OH I get it - so I got the China rip-off version of it.

Or maybe this is also "made in China" but marketed and designed in the U.S.

EarthWay has engineered precision lawn tools in the USA

Yeah they are probably made in China but "designed" in the US aka "made"

https://www.earthway.com/about-us/ 

Nope - says parts are from the US and assembled in the US. 

Impressive!

 https://www.propartsdirect.net/2170-earthway-spreader-parts.aspx

 And here is the stolen design made in China - this is what I got.

https://rubberwheel-hzt.en.made-in-china.com/product/tXEmaPCgIvrp/China-Salt-Spreader-for-EU-and-USA.html

So they are bought in bulk for $70 each.

 https://www.amazon.com/Buyers-Products-3039632R-Grounds-Spreader/dp/B081XHFKR8/ref=pd_lpo_86_t_2/138-9980518-1821459?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B081XHFKR8&pd_rd_r=9dfbaf2b-4493-46b6-a3e3-55d34f88df1d&pd_rd_w=xy20K&pd_rd_wg=kREnN&pf_rd_p=2eae1586-a44a-4b21-997a-1dfc1740e496&pf_rd_r=2YD7AXXBTC3HRS3RBEGS&psc=1&refRID=2YD7AXXBTC3HRS3RBEGS#customerReviews

This the SAME spreader from Qingdao China - under a different brand name - with lots of Amazon reviews!

 The there was a lot of resistance coming from the left wheel such that it was skidding along the driveway and was barely turning the spinner. I inspected the gear box closely assuming to find something obvious that was not right but I found nothing out of the ordinary. I am assuming there is a design flaw with the gear box either in the ratio of the turns or some type of interference causing the excess friction and wheel not to spin freely. I placed all of the components back into the box and returned the unit.

Fascinating! I wonder if I have this problem. I didn't notice it yet. 

the left drive train wheel is crocked and wobbles making the unit hard to push and steer.

hmm. Maybe it was a bad batch at the factory?

 So the tires are PU foam filled - not air tires. Fascinating! Or I guess they are pneumatic tires?

My spreader was made in 2019 - according to the label - it seems fine for the wheels.

http://www.huazhitai.cn/

 is the manufacturer website for the spreader.

Oh wow - they do not have the Gear box covered!!!! Hilarious. That must be their old design.

And it's not in their current catalog. So they must change it up a bit.

There is a similar product in the catalog.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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