Manure spreader rebuild

Busflyer · Aug 14, 2020

Looks like we may be horse free for a couple months starting September. Need to do some repairs to my New Idea spreader. Wondering if anyone had rebuilt one what kind of wood you were able to find to use.

Alvin 41 · Aug 14, 2020

Try and find tongue and groove similar to original. For floor I would patch in as necessary and cover with a sheet of 1/8-1/4" plastic attaching it only at the front .

jal-SD · Aug 14, 2020

I used composite deck material to replace the wood on my IH model 230 several years ago. I used 5/4 (full 1") thick material. (I didn't think it needed to be toung & groved.) Replaced both sides & the floor, was less expensive than the cedar(?) that was original. Used all the same material except for the very top side board because it had to fit into the top metal flange. The old material was 3/4" stock so I ripped a 1X6 pine to to fit (fill) the top space on each side. Has worked good no rot yet!

Bruce from Can. · Aug 15, 2020

I rebuilt a AC wooden spreader years ago using
pressure treated lumber, worked good. Lumber can
be bought tongue grove.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 15, 2020

Farmer I know did the floor in his spreader with composite boards in his spreader it seems to work great, guess it won't ever rot.

Northvale PA · Aug 15, 2020

I have replaced the boards in 2 manure spreaders, one just 2 years ago. I used 5/4” treated lumber
which I air dried for several months first as the stuff is very wet from the retailer. I also try to select the
straightest boards with few knots, to avoid cupping or twisting. I want the boards to fit fairly tight but they
do shrink more with time. No bigge because I don’t want the bottom to hold water either, although I don’t
let them sit out. You need to pay special attention to the exact length and bevel both ends so the web
slides over them without catching. You will need to drill up thru the old frame holes. The new boards will
probably not be as wide as the old boards so not all old holes line up. Clean off the rust, repair and
repaint the frame while the boards are off. That will double the time. On my newer NI spreader it has a
stupid upside down U shaped box axle that collects dirt and rusts out. I cleaned that up and covered it
with sheet metal.

jacksun65 · Aug 15, 2020

The Amish have been using plastic wood similar to decking in their spreaders.

miangus · Aug 15, 2020

I did a NH a few years back, just the bottom. It was narrower
at the front. I used treated tongue and groove. I also welded a cover over that u axel. Cut a couple of drain holes too.

DoubleO7 · Aug 15, 2020

(quoted from post at 23:44:44 08/14/20) Try and find tongue and groove similar to original. For floor I would patch in as necessary and cover with a sheet of 1/8-1/4" plastic attaching it only at the front .

I think the sheet of plastic would promote rot due to never drying out.

Busflyer · Aug 15, 2020

Thanks for all the ideas. Gotta figure out how far I want to go with this. Its not a restoration because we still use it so I need to decide just how much needs to be replaced while were horseless.

Manure spreader rebuild

Busflyer

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Alvin 41

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jal-SD

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Bruce from Can.

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Traditional Farmer

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Northvale PA

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jacksun65

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miangus

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DoubleO7

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Busflyer

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