The Differences Between a Cheap Sprayer and an Expensive One

There can be a pretty big difference in price when you're shopping for sprayers and it's important to know what you're paying for. In this video we look at a sprayer with all the bells and whistles.

The bargain sprayers generally have a cast iron pump. If you're really diligent at maintenance and keep the pump cleaned out of material (especially Roundup) then you can probably live with a cast pump. I personally don't recommend it.

A better option is a ni-cast pump, or nickel-plated pump. They're a lot more forgiving if there's material left in them. The best option is a silver cast pump, they'll last the longest, as long as you maintain them. That includes flushing the system at the end of the year and running some RV antifreeze through if you live in a colder climate.

The second option the deluxe sprayer has is agitation, or a system that pumps the material around to get the water mixed up with the pesticide. A better mix will mean the spray is more effective, so it's a worthwhile option to consider.

The better sprayers have a really nice hand gun and a lot of hose. Cheaper handguns tend to leak and fall apart, so, depending on how much you spot spray, it's an investment to consider.

Finally, the sprayer in the video has a nice set up on the back of it. It's equipped with both folding booms and boomless nozzles. So, on a calm day you can use the boomless option and not have to worry about hanging the booms up in brush, if it's a little windy and bad bugs are eating your crops, the booms can take care of business.

A few extra dollars spent at the time of purchase, especially on a better pump, can greatly extend the life of your investment, in a good sprayer.

Copyright 2017 Tractor Mike, LLC

[crslyrn]

Excellent advice on sprayers. I enjoyed this series of videos. Thanks for posting them. Stay safe.

[havebikewilltravel]

Just found your videos, Mike, and they’re all excellent! I’ve subscribed.
I’ve acquired a used 3-pt. boom sprayer with a roller pump. The pump is ‘loose’ (i.e. not mounted on the sprayer frame), same as the one you show between 0:35 and 0:50 in this video; really good close-up of a loose roller pump with a mounting arm. I would LOVE to see detailed instruction on how to mount this properly. Mine does not include the lever arm; only a length of chain attached to the pump. (Somehow the previous owner must have made this work.) But I believe the lever arm is to anchor the pump and keep it from spinning with the PTO, and I think it’s supposed to mount on the draw bar (mine’s a Kub B-3300SU; so similar draw bar as in your “The Drawbar” video). I need to know the correct way to install the pump so that it isn’t damaged in use. Thank you for any help you can provide. And once again, excellent videos!!

[Robert]

Mark is a good dude.. talked to him a few times. Deal with S&h probably every two weeks . Good video

[adventurerhoades]

Congrats mike on going over 40k. You share so much great knowledge. Im working on my first 1k on my channel. I look at your stuff often. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week

[urbanothepopeofdeath]

Hey Mike. Just a note to say thanks for all your videos. I am hopefully going to be the new owner of a property in upstate NY (still need the final inspection of the farm house and then to close after that. fingers crossed!). And to say I am a "newbie" is an understatement. (like when the guy who I bought the property from told me that "a bush hog comes with the 8N", not only didn't I know what a bush hog was, I wasn't sure what an 8N was. lol!!!). Anyhow, I just wanted to say that I appreciate that you take the time to show us everything related in the video no matter how simple it may seem to some. From safety (who knew a bush hog could throw debris so far??!!) to not just simply showing how and where to put grease, but also showing how to load the darn thing. If you've never done it, you just don't know! So with all that, just A BIG THANK YOU. ....the property is a 300 acre piece of land with a 2 acre spring-fed pond, a farm house, an 8 stall horse stable, a beautiful huge barn, streams, cliffs that border a 6 mile Adirondack glacier lake and all the work that goes with it! your videos have been priceless to me!! and again, crossing my fingers that I close on it in the next few weeks.

[bearytailfarm]

Wow. I didn't know roller pumps covered the only three options! Glad I didn't watch this before I bought my PTO driven diaphragm pump... ;)

[tilmangreenjr]

That was very informative. I'm saving to buy a 3 Pt Sprayer. Now I know what to ask for in a pump how to get it ready.

[juliusapril]

Hello mike just curious about the pump rotation. I have kubota B6000 with counterclockwise PTO rotation. Would that pump works with CCW PTO? Thank you...

[kw]

What gpm is the recommended pump for one this size

[mrtundranutz]

Can you do another one on ATV sprayers ? Both tow behind and on the machine .

[johntexan]

Clean the inside of a new tank… I’m assuming there is a drain plug?

[KrazyKajun]

Mike, I have a general question. Does it hurt the pto shaft with the weight of the pump being it a sprayer, hydraulic, or other type of pump onto the pto shaft? There is talk out there that the weight of a pump can lead to premature seal failure at the housing due to the weight of a pump onto the shaft without support. Any thoughts.

[johnnymossville]

I've got a 3pt mounted 50 Gallon Sprayer tank with no boom or pump on it. I bought it for just watering the garden but often thought of adding a pump and boom. I wonder if it would be cost effective to build it up or just buy a new sprayer.

[stanman]

What Make, Model, Price, and how many gallon tank was the Sprayer in the Video?

[leeroyexcavator]

Yeah price and Technical info would have been nice. I watched this video cause I have never owned a sprayer except for a atv sprayer.

[BIGALTX]

Why RV antifreeze instead of regular antifreeze?
I usually just put oil in mine (cast iron).