Beware of the Buyers SUV salter

[coolgreen]

The Buyers SUV salter sounded like a good idea at the time, but it jams more times during salting than it's worth.

I guess it's a little better than shoveling salt off the back of the truck, but not much.

I bought the Buyers SUV model, not the SUV PRO, which from what I've read on this site, actually works.

I think I'm going to have to find a bigger motor for mine. This morning it jammed about 15 times while I was out salting and I was ready to throw it on the road and run over it a few times.

Keep in mind, I bought this spreader to lay down salt at just ONE of my contracts. If I had more salting lined up I would have bought a better one, but I thought this would do the trick.

So if you're thinking of getting the SUV salter, make sure it's the PRO model. Do not buy the standard SUV model. You will be very dissapointed.

[coolgreen]

I just read a post on the Net, where someone had a Buyers salter that spun the wrong way from the factory.

I wonder if this could be the problem.

Mine spins clockwise. Anyone know if it's going in the right direction?

The auger would not work well going the wrong way.

[wyldman]

Do you have the baffle installed ? It will help prevent it from packing down,and jamming.

I would also upgrade the wiring,as the small 16 Ga wire probably isn't enough to get the motor started (lots of current) when it's packed with salt.

I do agree though,spend the extra $$$ and buy a bigger\stronger unit.

[coolgreen]

Yes, the baffle is installed. I'm actually on my second spreader. I took the other one back to Canadian Tire in disgust, but this one is no better.

Like I said, I'm not expecting miracles from this unit. I know it is not a commercial unit. I only purchased it to salt one property.

I did, however, expect it to work properly.

[wyldman]

It should spin clockwise.

You need to use clean,dry,free-flowing salt.Salt is hygroscopic,so it will absorb water,and get sticky.Try a different brand\supplier to see if it helps.

I know you probably don't want to put much more into it,but a cheap homemade vibrator will help it by freeing up the salt.You can make one from an old starter motor.Do a search,there were a few threads by BRL and snowjoker who made their own.

[coolgreen]

Maybe my auger is sticking up too far. My first salter had a problem with the bolt holding the spinner in place coming loose. I raised the auger up a little more on this one thinking it may solve the jamming problem, but maybe I put it too high up into the salt.

Do you know where the auger is supposed to be situated on these units?

[coolgreen]

I've been keeping the bagged salt in the back of my truck until it's time to use it. Maybe that's my problem. I'll try keeping it in the garage and see if that works.

Thanks for the help.

[Bugthug]

I have the same spreader. It was a good Idea at the time. Like Wyldman said The key is dry salt. I run 30 to 40 bags through it every storm. Now that I have it figured out its ok. I wouldent waste my money buying a small one again. I think I am gonna buy a spreader for my EZ dumper.

[coolgreen]

I just re-checked my salter, and it is spinning counter-clockwise?

Are you sure they are supposed to run clockwise?

If so, I think I've found my problem.

Now, how do I get it to run the other way?

[wyldman]

You just need to reverse the wires.I'm not sure if your using the cig lighter plug or not.IF you are ,just remove the plug,and rewire it by flipping the wires.If you have you own wiring setup,,it's the sme deal,just flip the wires over.

[coolgreen]

But are you sure it's supposed to be spinning clockwise?

Thanks for all your help by the way. I really appreciate it.

[Bugthug]

I Just checked mine ( buyers suv) and it spinning clockwise.

[wyldman]

Originally posted by coolgreen
But are you sure it's supposed to be spinning clockwise?

Thanks for all your help by the way. I really appreciate it.

I just check one I have here (motor anyways),and when connected correctly (red wire on the motor is positive),it turn clockwise.That would be clockwise looking down the hopper at the auger,or looking down at the top of the spinner.

[coolgreen]

Mine is definately spinning the wrong way.

What kind of idiots would let a machine leave the factory like this?

Like I said, I'm on my second salter. The other one spun counter-clockwise too. I guess they're going to get a lot of them returned in the near future.

Thanks again Wyldman.

[wyldman]

Well at least you found the problem.That's why I love this forum,we always seem to find the problem.

I have one here,that may have had the same problem.Customer bought it,and installed himself.He returned it as he was unhappy.He forgot to return the motor\auger\spinner assy,and they didn't notice,so he gave it to me.I wired my own control,and made sure it spun the right way.I used a 15 gallon steel drum for the hopper,and it works great.

Due to the lightweight,I use it on my Toyota Corolla winterbeater,as I can spot salt,and drop off all the kids in the morning all in one shot.No need to fire up the big trucks.Quite a sight to see. omg

[CAMERON SERVICES]

Originally posted by wyldman
Due to the lightweight,I use it on my Toyota Corolla winterbeater,as I can spot salt,and drop off all the kids in the morning all in one shot.No need to fire up the big trucks.Quite a sight to see.omg
I'll have to keep my eye out for that when I'm down that way Chris. Doesn't sound like it would be hard to spot. I'm sure it's one of a kind.:D

[BRL]

Again, why hasn't this pic been posted yet??!! :p

[coolgreen]

I contacted Buyers and the rep said the unit is supposed to spin counter-clockwise.

He said they would warranty the motor, but I'm sure it's just underpowered and the new one would do the same thing.

I'm trying to find a dealer near Toronto so I can price the SUV Pro. If I can find one I'll return this piece of junk to Canadian Tire for a refund and buy the Pro model.

[wyldman]

Depends on which way you look at it.Either way,flip the wires and try it.It that doesn't fix it,return it.

[coolgreen]

Bugthug:
Is it spinning counter-clockwise while looking down at the auger?

Also, is yours the SUV or the SUV Pro model?



Wyldman:
I'm going to take your advice and switch mine to clockwise. It can't hurt.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I posted a problem on my buyers a while back, no power, I found a bad ground IN the speed control box. Now the only time I get jammed is if I leave salt in there and plow for 4-5 hrs without using it, then I have to get out and hand spin it to loosen up the salt. Other than that it does not jam anymore.

[coolgreen]

Well, I switched the wires and it now runs clockwise. It seems to work a little better, but I still have to get out and hand spin it to get it going.

The spinner can be set to different heights. I wonder if mine is set too high or too low, which may be jamming the auger. I may take it apart and check that out.

While hand spinning it I find it takes a lot of muscle to get it freed up, like the hole isn't big enough or something.

This damn salter is really starting to get on my nerves.

[Bugthug]

Coolgreen
My spreader is the suvpro. I think the only difference is the control box. As of right now my salt spreader is off my truck and is in my garage. 2 u joints went yesterday.shortly after the a/c compressor puked. Now this am the bearings went in the alt. Good times. When I put it back on I will take a look. Another thing I never in 2 years with this spreader have I had to spin the spinner by hand.

[Joe92GT]

I have the SUV pro, and have to spin it by hand quite frequently. I also had trouble with the stock connectors at the rear, so I replaced them with a better, more standard connector.

I am going to work on a vibrator for it soon, I think that will help me out a lot.

My friend has the older 800lb buyers.. Same motor, same control box. However, on top of his auger, is a small metal rod, at around a 60 degree angle, that looks like it spins around and helps feed the salt to the auger.

How come the suv pro does not have one? Is the motor too weak to spin one? Can i find the bigger motor from the other units, and then fabricate this metal peice?

Or, should I buy the electric Air flow I saw down the street for 800 :cool:

[Chuck Smith]

My brother had a Buyers, and the first time he went to use it each season, we would spin the auger by hand, before we mounted it. From sitting, it would seize up. Not bad, but enough that it took a little help. Never had to spin it by hand after that.

Let me ask you this.... does the auger spin freely by hand with no salt in the unit?

And my brother's was the cheap old Buyers, and it had the piece of rod welded on top of the auger. The shaft was even a little bent (from tearing off a motor), so it scraped the side of the housing for a while until it wore a groove in it :D Worked fine for 8 years until he sold it.

~Chuck

And Chris, we definitely NEED a pic of the Corolla!

[Joe92GT]

Do you think that metal rod helped any?

[coolgreen]

Yes, the unit spins freely with no salt in it. If I didn't have to load it with salt, it would work fine.

It does not jam when I run it clockwise, but it took me about half an hour to empty half the hopper out, and it only holds 300 pounds. This can't be the answer.

I'm going to try moving the spinner up or down and see if it makes a difference. There has to be some way of getting this thing tow work.

I'd like to price the SUV Pro model, but it doesn't seem to exist in Canada. I can't find one anywhere.

There's one on E-Bay for $600, but I think that will be up over a thousand once taxes, shipping and duty are factored in.

Maybe I should get a SnowEx SP 325. Seems kind of pricey at $1,259 plus tax though.

[wyldman]

Something is definately wrong with it.It should empty that hopper in a few minutes.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Originally posted by wyldman
Something is definately wrong with it.It should empty that hopper in a few minutes.


I agree, I have the 600lb buyers and can run through that in about 5 min or so, less if I have it cranked full speed.

[coolgreen]

Sorry it took so long, but here's an update:

I backed my spreader into a snowbank and bent the motor shaft. Had that repaired, but the plate the motor is mounted on fell off - great repair, eh?


My brother and I drilled through the motor platform and through the steel mount on the unit and bolted it together. Then he drilled holes on both sides of the motor shaft and bolted it together, as the puny bolt that kept the spinner attached kept coming loose.

With it all back together, it now runs like a charm. I don't know what we did, but it no longer jams. It runs and spreads perfectly now. I can turn it off, then turn it on again and it will start spinning without me getting out of the truck and hand spinning it.

It's a great unit for the price as long as you're prepared to go through a lot of crap to get it working properly.

Buyers should really test these things at the factory to see if they actually work. Mine sure didn't.

Next year I'm going to buy a better unit. The Buyers will make a good back up though.

[snowgm]

If it's the Buyers SUV spreader that I'm thinking of, I guess the moral of the story is don't try to pretend like you can use anything that plugs into your cigarette lighter for professional use. That's like using a $30 Walmart drill for construction work.

Sometimes I wonder why companies make the cheapies, it just makes them look bad when users expect them to work like the real thing. I do the same thing sometimes and it always bites me in the a**.

[apgarconstruction]

for what it's worth, I got a basically brand new pro flo spreader from a guy off ebay, for 800 bucks. he only used it for 4 storms, several years ago. I wouldn't buy another buyers if I were you. upgrade to something bigger. i don't do a lot of salting either, but it's worth it to have a nice dependable unit. I have never had a problem with this pro flo spreader, holds about 13 50lb bags and has never clogged up on me once. i like that the motor is tucked up behind the spreader and not at the bottom, and exposed to be damaged.

[GMC Driver]

I have a couple of Buyers spreaders. Mine are the larger ones, hold about 800-1000 lbs, with the motor inside the unit. I haven't had the problems mentioned here, but my newer one on th '03 needs a hand spin when the salt has settled in there. Usually this is after plowing a site, so it's been in there a while. I have foung that for the money, these units have been a good value. I bought my first one 2 years old for $1000, the new one was $1650 two years ago. If I compare this to what some of the other brands are worth, I believe that they have given me a good value.

My biggest problems have arisen with the new one. I got the reciever hitch mount for this unit, and now regret it. The spinner asembly hangs quite low on the truck, below bumper height. Problem occurs when the operator backs into a low obstruction not visible from the truck, as it's below bumper height. I have had to re-man this assembly, and now have a quite rigid but ugly assembly. My older unit, I manufactured a mount system which incorporates some 2 1/4" square tube bolted into the bed of the truck. The salter is mounted on 2 - 1 3/4" square tubes, that slide into the larger tubes in the bed of the truck. This allows the salter to sit above bumper height, out of hamrs way. And I didn't have to drill unsightly holes into the body and bumper using the Buyers mounting kit.

[cutntrim]

When I sold my older trucks I kept one of my Buyers tailgate units. It's old-school, with the motor outside the hopper, and I had my plow dealer fab a guard for it.

The units are priced right and pretty straight forward. I had to replace the motor this season ($500) but I'd had it for several years and once water gets inside, it's only a matter of time before it goes.

I found that you definately need to spread dry, #1 rock salt to be sure it won't jam up. Around here that means buying the yellow bag "Safe-t-salt" in 20kg or 40kg bags. I get mine direct from Ontario Salt in Mississauga four skids at a time. It spreads nicely.

[GMC Driver]

You're right - the salt has to be dry. I buy bagged salt for the two tailgate spreaders. This year I have extra room to store salt with our move to the new yard. I am able to get it by the truckload - 24 skids at a time, from Sifto out of Goderich. This way I can get volume discount on the salt. This year we have used a little more than normal due to all the small snowfalls (under 4"). We have gone through 48 skids, and I just picked up eight last week that will hopefully get me through the rest of the season. We also run some bulk - by it picked up about 20 MT at a time. Again, keeping it dry and tarped is key.

[3311]

We don't even bother with Buyers spreaders anymore. Too many problems!!