How is your macerator

Grueller

I am over 150kgs/N/ha lads so I am in compulsory LESS territory as of last Sunday.

I have been shopping around and most dribble bars are similar enough with the macerator and mounting method being the main difference I can see. I am definitely going with a chassis mounted option but am confused in the different options on macerator. As far as I can see the options are bomech already (highly regarded), mastek (also highly regarded) and vogelsang (seems less highly regarded but takes €1200 off the price).

Any strong opinions?

GrasstoMilk

Vogelslang here on a major trailing shoe

have it a year now and only had to open it once for a stone, might be able to tell you more if I was doing slurry for hire but it’s only doing our own, we do our best to keep all netting and plastic away from the slats which is a big help

Grueller

How big a job is it to open that one GrasstoMilk?

Donald Trump

Not all tankers would have the brackets or space for chassis mounted for a retrofit

Will there be a grace period for the new TAMS? Under the old one, I think you had a year to buy a LESS setup if it became mandatory for you. Normally things that are already mandatory aren't eligible for grants.............

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063136#Comment_120063136

Four nuts and a plate. A plate in front and a plate behind. But the one plate usually should get your problem sorted.

And lots aren't told this. There's a grease nipple hidden away behind. I've been told of someone seizing for no grease.

I've had to open the plate once in the few years I've had it. But then not a contractor like usage.

Grueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120064785#Comment_120064785

And probably careful about your net and plastic too. . . .

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120064804#Comment_120064804

Well I don't purposely dump it in the tank. 😂

Coolcormack1979

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120064785#Comment_120064785

Have mine just about 2 yrs and didn’t know about that grease nipple point at all until it started acting up.do it the whole time now and also increased the flow of oil to have it spinning as fast as possible.haven’t had to go near it since to clear little blockages

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063136#Comment_120063136

15 spanner i think

open it fairly quick

I find if you turn the macerator the opposite direction when the box flashes up with macerator blockage it’ll clear it out

K.G.

Have a mastek a few months,no prolems.the biggest learning curb coming off using splash plate was the slurry has too be a good bit more watery

westlander

Have a slurryquip here. Blocks a lot on me but I do feed round bales of silage and I do have lumps in the tank. Anyone that owns one is very happy with theirs from the ppl I have asked. I think my issue could be the open centre pump on my tractor doesn’t spin it fast enough .

but be sure you checkout this one that’s on the market he is over 4K cheaper and it can be chassis mounted:

https://www.donedeal.ie/manurespreaders-for-sale/retrofit-dribblebars-dealer-enquiries-welcome/29943672

1373

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071081#Comment_120071081

I've given up listening to other people's reviews of machinery they've bought, most of them will tell you how great their purchase is no matter how badly its performing unfortunately

straight

All the contractors around here are using mastek for years with no issues. So that's what I bought. Never blocked since I got it and I never put on the splash plate since. It's hanging off the back door of my tank which I don't have an issue with.

My macerator did seize once after being parked up for a few months and not clearing the stone trap. Bit of WD-40 and it worked away the next morning.

Good loser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071600#Comment_120071600

Does your feeding include silage bales or hay? My contractor gets blocked a fair bit and on two occasions had to revert to splash plate to finish job.

Do you dilute a lot?

straight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072109#Comment_120072109

Ya, I dilute usually with parlour washings and rain water. Stretch the slurry as far as I can. I have stopped spreading due to the slurry getting too thick but that is not the same as getting blocked imo.

westlander

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071281#Comment_120071281

True. Would be great to try before you buy. I’m not convinced on the use of these dbs either going by my own experience. Splash plate is so simple and easy to unblock if needed. Then again these dbs are only fit for what passes through the animal. I’d love to try a Mastek out just out of pure curiosity. Too late now anyways 😂

Reggie.

Slurryquip here too. She doest block the odd time but that's from bits of pallets and stuff like that. No cure for that sort of stuff.

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071081#Comment_120071081

Only thing about that system is that the arms have no break back on them I don't think