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Irish manufacturer Hispec still uses that original concept, with a few additions to bring the spreader bang up to date.
There can't be many rural people who aren't familiar with the Howard Rota spreader, which revolutionised manure and slurry handling back in the late 1950s.
An old saying that goes back even further says, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", which is probaby the reason that Irish manuacturer Hispec still uses that original concept, with a few additions to bring it up to date.
The Hispec Side Spreader is available in two models: the 800 SS and 1000 SS, offering capacities of 8 and 10 cubic yards (5.75 and 7.3 cubic metres), with a power requirement of 80 and 100hp respectively.
By design, the central barrel makes the machine multi-purpose, offering the ability to deal with liquid slurry, semi-solid or well-rotted manures.
It features a heavy-duty chassis that supports the 5mm thick, 1,525mm diameter body that in turn is capped off with a hydraulically actuated 3mm thick steel lid.
Through the centre of the body, a 168mm diameter rotor incorporates machined shafts at end, supported by 65mm diameter rotor bearings mounted externally to remove the risk of effluent contamination.
In turn, the central rotor carries 12mm case-hardened chains, each fitted with a single piece flail head for an extended service life.
The driveline features a simple step-down reduction with a twin sprocket layout transmitted by a heavy-duty chain, resulting in a rotor speed of 229 rpm, said to be capable of delivering an even spread over an 8-metre width.
Standard equipment includes large tyre equipment, a drawbar ring hitch and hydraulic brakes, while a central greasing system is fitted to the model 1000 SS. Both models are treated with an anti-corrosion primer and finished with a twin-pack enamel topcoat for an extended service life.
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