J.D. SDI 160 Spray Tank Degradation Cancel The title field is required!

1. Charles Aubry

   

   0 posts
   
   11/30/2016 3:11 PM

   We use an older SDI 160 mounted onto a Pro Gator to spray our greens. The SDI tank is fiberglass and about 7-8 years old. We use it a lot (3-5 times a week in season) and over the years chemicals have bound themselves to the tank walls. We follow proper cleaning procedures, but the years of use has still resulted in a film. The issue is the film/crust will breakdown in a chemical solution and begin to disperse itself in our spray tank. These pieces seem to bypass the screen filter and end up constantly clogging our nozzles. We have tried using heavy degreaser on the inside of the tank and power washing. We are still having the problem. For whatever reason, Signature seems to break the film down more than other products and results in more clogging issues. Any suggestions on a product that may clean the inside of the tank to relieve this issue?

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   11/30/2016 5:11 PM

   Flowables and WDG seemed to be the worst. We spray at a pretty concentrated rate, .4 g/m. But, we rinse the tank after use and really flush the boom well. No buildup on the walls, just a little on the bottom of the tank if we don't get it flushed enough. The better we rinse after a spray ap the less the problem.
   
   Our problem was always worse in the spring until we began running several tanks of water through at the end of the season. We also run several tanks of pure water through at the beginning of the season.
   
   We also had some certain manufacturer batches that we had problems with. When we switched to a different manufacturer of the same product the problem went away.
   
   I haven't used Signature for several years but aren't there some compatibility issues with a number of other products? It could be something you are mixing with Signature.
   
   Our sprayers are 25 years old.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
3. Donald Smith

   

   10 posts
   
   12/1/2016 5:12 AM

   Charles Aubry said: We use an older SDI 160 mounted onto a Pro Gator to spray our greens. The SDI tank is fiberglass and about 7-8 years old. We use it a lot (3-5 times a week in season) and over the years chemicals have bound themselves to the tank walls. We follow proper cleaning procedures, but the years of use has still resulted in a film. The issue is the film/crust will breakdown in a chemical solution and begin to disperse itself in our spray tank. These pieces seem to bypass the screen filter and end up constantly clogging our nozzles. We have tried using heavy degreaser on the inside of the tank and power washing. We are still having the problem. For whatever reason, Signature seems to break the film down more than other products and results in more clogging issues. Any suggestions on a product that may clean the inside of the tank to relieve this issue?

   
   
   Charles,
   
   I'd suggest upgrading your strainer with a finer mesh. Most sprayers come with 50 mesh screens and maybe an 80 would solve your problem.

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   12/1/2016 7:12 AM

   Two things:
   
   1) Pressure wash the inside of the tank to release all the built up material.
   
   2) Install this: http://hypro.pentair.com/en/products/3500-series-polypropylene-self-cleaning-line-strainers
   
   Our Deere sprayers have these installed and a clogged nozzle has been a thing of the past.

   
   
   
   
5. Charles Aubry

   

   0 posts
   
   12/3/2016 7:12 AM

   Thank you for all of the input. We are looking into the self flushing screens to install. Outside of that, we have replaced all the hoses past the screen on the boom. Turns out there was a massive amount of sediment that had built up on the inside of the hoses over the years that was causing the problem. We also disassembled every housing and thoroughly cleaned them. Hopefully this resolves the issue for good!

   
   
   
   
6. Anderson Chad D

   
   12/18/2016 7:12 PM

   We bought a sprayer with this exact same problem. Salesman had told me that's exactly why the previous owner had traded it in. There was a heavy film all over the insides of the tank so I used a heated pressure washer and sprayed the inside of the tank for about an hr. Added a second filter with a finer mesh and after a couple flushes, works like a dream.