Calibrator

We've made rate calibrating simple with Spykers Patented 'Removable Spinner Blade' and 'Calibrator Tray' available for Models GolfStaff Pro-88, Mulch-n-More 296,297, 298, 299, and Mulch-n-More Electric 120 and 220 Spykers 'Calibrator Tray' hangs on the frame just below the out-flow of the spreader. Just remove the spinner blade and place the 'Calibrator Tray' on the frame and you are ready to calibrate. (For all other Spyker models see Calibrating your spreader with the Spinner Blade Attached. 'Spinner Blade Attached' ).

Calibrating your Spyker 296-299, Electric and GolfStaff Pro-88 ·

*Spyker Model 'GolfStaff Pro-88', or the Mulch-n-More models 298 and 299 and the Mulch-n-More Electric 120 and 220 all have an optional calibration trays available for calibrating.
*One 25 lb. scale (Less than 25 lb. is adequate if weighing low rate materials) -Scales can be purchased at most Office Supply Stores such as Office Depot or Office Max.
1. Determine your walking speed. (See section 1)
2. Determine the effective spread width. (See section 2)
3. Measure & Mark the distance based on Table A. (See section 3)
4. Determine the amount of material that should be in the catch tray at the end of the test. (Lbs. of material per thousand sq. ft.) (See section 4 for fertilizer calculations)
5. Determine your spreader setting either by the recommended setting on the bag or by trial and error when performing this calibration test. Start somewhere.
6. Zero your scale or weigh the Spyker 'Calibrator Catch Tray' for deduction when weighing your material.
7. Remove your spinner blade and place the Spyker 'Calibrator Catch Tray' under the outflow to catch the material as it comes out.
8. Load enough material into the hopper to travel the pre-determined distance without running out.
9. Open your spreader and walk the marked distance at your pre-determined walking speed. (Walking only needed for materials requiring vigorous agitation. See section 5.)
10. Weigh your Catch Tray at the end of the distance you traveled.
11. Your Spyker 'Calibrator Catch Tray' should contain the predetermined weight of material from step #4·
12. If the weight is more, cut back setting (close off) so you have less flow.
13. If the weight is less, increase setting (open more) so you have more flow. Repeat the above until correct weight is in the bucket.

Now you have your Spyker Spreader Setting. You're ready to go with the most accurate spreader setting of any spreader on the market today!

Walking speed has an effect on the width of your spread pattern thereby effecting the rate of material applied.

Walking 2 miles per hour· Effective spread width: Narrower· Spread rate of material: Heavier

Walking 3 miles per hour· Effective spread width: Wider· Spread rate of material: Lighter

Determine your walking speed·

Calculating your walking speed· [Enter corresponding numbers (*) (**) (***)]

Pushing your spreader, enter seconds to walk 100 feet. __________*seconds.

(5,280 ft. in 1 mile, divided by 100 ft. = 52.8 100 ft. segments in one mile)

52.8 segments x __________*seconds (to walk 100 ft.) =__________**seconds (to walk 1 mile)
_________** secondsdivided by 60 seconds (in 1 minute) = _________*** minutes·
60 minutes (in 1 hour)divided by __________*** =__________miles per hour.

Determine the effective spread width·

1. Load spreader with desired material. Push to walking speed and open spreader to pre-determined setting.

(Setting based on recommended spreader setting for the material being applied.

2. Using 2 pegs, mark and measure the width of spread at which points the material begins to "thin out". (Note... It is recomended that you use pattern catch trays to check patterns and spread width. 8 or more trays, 2-4 inches deep and 14x14 to 24x24 inches wide, placed side by side, that span at least the maximum width of your spread pattern, should be used to catch the material as it is spreads. This method gives you a more accurate spread width than the 'eye ball peg method'. If you don't have catch trays the next best method is the 'eye ball peg method')

3. This is your "effective spread width".Effective Spread Width _________ft.

(At the point where the material begins to "thin out" is the overlap point. When making your next pass spread your product to this point.

SECTION 3
Measure and Mark your walking distance based on your effective spread width*·

Effective spread width multiplied by distance walked equals 1,000 square feet of coverage. Mark your distance based on your effective spread width.

Calculate Walking Times
(These calculated times will be helpful for section 5)

All you need to know is how long it takes you to walk 100 ft. to calculate how long it takes you to walk the rest of the above distances. You have walked 100 ft in 23 seconds. Move the decimal point left 2 spaces on the other "Distance to walk" and multiply by 23 seconds. You have the answer. Examples·

23 seconds x 2.50 = 58 seconds (to walk 250')

23 seconds x .71 = 16 seconds (to walk 67')

*(All numbers rounded)

Section 3 Continued·(When limited walking distance is available to perform your calibration test)

Divide the walking distance in table A by whatever distances you're able to walk. Note this number. Walk this distance pushing your spreader. Multiply the number by the amount of material in the catch tray. This is your coverage per Th. sq. ft.

Your walking distance is only 50 ft. Table A says to walk 200'.
Divide 200' by 50' = 4
Walking 50 ft. you accumulate 1. 5 lbs. in the tray.
Multiply 1. 5 lbs. by 4 = 6 lbs. of material if you had walked 200 ft. or 6 lbs. per Th. sq. ft

Pace your walking speed for 3 miles per hour and calibrating the Mulch-n-More will be even easier. No pushing of the spreader is needed with most turf materials. Open the gate at your estimated setting and stop the flow of material into the calibration tray at the indicated number of seconds. Simply follow the chart below.

Weigh the material and you have your setting. Adjust the dial to restrict or increase the flow and repeat your test until you have the pre-determined amount of material needed in the Calibration Tray.

How much fertilizer do you want to apply per thousand square feet?

30-5-10 Analysis. You want to apply:(Move decimal point on Nitrogen number to the left, 2 spaces)

1 lb. N divided by .30 = 3.33 lbs. of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."
.75 lb. Ndivided by .30 =2.5 lbs. of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."
.5 lb. Ndivided by.30 =1.66 lbs.of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."

25-5-12 Analysis. You want to apply·

1 lb. N divided by .25 = 4.00 lbs. of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."
.75 lb. Ndivided by .25 =2.88 lbs.of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."
.5 lb. Ndivided by .25 =2.00 lbs. of "fertilizer per thousand square feet."

The "fertilizer per thousand sq. ft." is what you should have in the "calibration catch tray" at the end of your test.

Calibrate the Mulch-n-More without moving the spreader.

You have taken soil tests on 9 Greens. Many of the Greens require different products at different rates. Some can use the same product but the "Pounds of Active Ingredient" varies from Green to Green.

Now you can calibrate your spreader right at the Green or Tee without moving the spreader. Save time, material, reduce risk of spills and improve your results from your applications of fertilizers or pesticides. Example·

You're using 20-5-20... (Calculate lbs.of material needed per th. sq. ft. from section 4)

#1 Green needs· .75 lb. N .19 lb. P and .75 lb. K. Your catch tray should have 3.75 lbs. of material in it at the end of the calibration test.

#5 Green needs· .5 lb. N .125 lb. P and .5 lb. K. Your catch tray should have 2.5 lbs. of material in it at the end of the calibration test.

1. You have already determined the effective spread width of the material your using. (Example· 8 ft.) and you have already determined your walking speed from section 2. (Example· 2.96 miles per hr.)

2. According to section 3, you know how many feet that you need to walk to cover 1,000 square feet. (Example· 8' x 125')

3. You have determined from section 2 that it takes 23 seconds for you to walk 100 ft. You now need to calculate how long it will take you to walk 125' (Calculate walking times from Section 3 to determine how long it will take you to walk 125 ft.)

Calibration steps for this example·(You have determined from the "step 4 formula" that it takes you 29 seconds to walk 125')

Remove spinner blade and place catch tray on spreader.

Fill spreader hopper with desired material.

Ready your timing device. (Watch)

Dial spreader setting.

Open Spreader gate. (It is not necessary to walk the 125'. Just let the material flow in to the catch tray.) See "Easy Chart" at the bottom of section 3 for a simple way to time the flow.

Shut gate in 29 seconds. (Amount of time it would have taken to walk 125 ft. x 8 ft. spread width in order to cover 1,000 sq. ft.)

Weigh material.

Adjust spreader setting accordingly and repeat steps until you have the weight of material you need to cover 1,000 sq. ft.

Pour calibration tray contents back into the spreader using the special pouring spout area on the calibration tray.

Replace spinner blade and you're ready to spread.

Calibrating your Spyker Spreader 'with the Spinner Blade attached.

Many Spyker models do not have a removable spinner blade and can be calibrated using the following methods.

1. Follow instructions for "Determine you effective spread width" as described in Section Two.

2. Measure 1,000 square feet based on your effective spread width. (Preferably on a surface other than Turf such as concrete or asphalt.) (See 'Section 3' for the most common 1,000 square foot calculations.) Example... Effective Spread 'Width' by Length = 1,000 Square Feet 10 feet x 100 Ft. = 1,000 Square Feet

3. Select the closest setting possible by setting on bag, setting from web site, or a good educated guess. (There are a few options to go with at this point. Before opening your spreader pick the option you will use.)

Option 1 Spread the material over the 1,000 square foot area and sweep it up. Measure the weight of the material you have collected. The drawback to method of calibration is that you may pick up foreign materials with the material you are calibrating. Sand dirt and gravel may throw the calibration weight way off. This is the most accurate method of these 3 options provided you have a very clean easy to sweep surface to spread the material on. The reason is that you are not collecting overlap material that has fallen outside of your effective spread width area.

Option 2 Weigh the material that you are spreading prior spreading it. You should weigh the amount that you're supposed to apply to the 1,000 sq. ft area. Example... 3.33 lbs. of fertilizer per thousand sq. ft. (See section 4 "How much fertilizer...") Put the pre-weighed material in to the spreader. Spread the material in the pre-marked 1,000 sq. ft. area. Your spreader should be completely empty at the end of the 1,000 sq. ft area. Drawback to this method... You have measured your "effective spread width". There is a certain amount of material that throws beyond the 'effective spread width' area. This is the overlap area and it is difficult to determine how much fertilizer is going into this area. The effective area should contain 3.33 lbs. But you may actually need to spread 4.5 lbs. to have 3.33 lbs. in the 1,000 square foot area.

Option 3 Pour more material in to the spreader hopper than is needed to cover the 1,000 sq. ft. area. Weigh the entire spreader with the material in it. Spread the material over the pre-marked 1,000 square foot area. Weigh the entire spreader again and subtract from the previous weight. The weight should match the weight you are looking for in that 1,000 sq. ft. area. Example... Entire spreader (-)minus Weight after = Fertilizer applied weight spreading 39 lbs. - 35 lbs. = 4lbs. Per Th. Sq. Ft. Two drawbacks to this method are... the size of the scale needed to weigh the entire spreader and the overlap fertilizer that is weighed similar to Option 2's drawback.