I recently picked up a used three-point sprayer at a farm auction, which I was pleasantly surprised to find was in pretty good condition. I did have to replace a few parts, though.
While doing that, though, I realized that, for a fairly simple piece of equipment, a sprayer does include a handful of moving parts. And knowing what those parts are can make both maintenance and use a whole lot easier.
In the video above, we take a look at the following parts to a sprayer.
Tank
This is the most obvious part, of course, because it’s the bulk of a sprayer. In the tank, you put whatever material you plan to apply. This could be fertilizer, herbicide, a natural product or even just water.
Read more: Check out this video to learn how to calibrate a sprayer.
Carriage
I call this “the bones of the operation.” It’s the structure upon which the tank is carried. On my sprayer, the carriage actually hooks to the three-point hitch, though you can find other models.
Pump
You’ll see a few different kinds of sprayer pumps, including an electric one that runs off your vehicle. In the video, we look at a roller pump, which works off the tractor’s PTO. The pump serves to pump liquid from the bottom of your tank to the system.
T
The sprayer pump moves liquid up to the T, which is essentially collection of parts. Attached to the T, you’ll see:
- pressure gauge
- pressure regulator
- bypass hose
- on/off valve
- diverter valve
Check out the video for a discussion of how this closed-loop system works, as well as a demonstration.
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Boom
You can find booms in a variety of designs for different agricultural demands. The boom on my sprayer will do about 10 feet width, which is right for my needs. It’s a few hoses, constructed in a T shape, that lead to fittings equipped with a nozzle and strainer. (Note: Various nozzles exist for different uses.)
