AUSTRALIA'S largest self-propelled sprayer, the Predator, was demonstrated in NSW recently, reports MARK SAUNDERS
With a tank capacity of 7000 litres and a speed of 75km/h when empty, the Sonic 7036 SP is one large, fast, self-propelled sprayer.
Despite the sprayer's speed, The Weekly Times recently managed to catch up with the 7036 SP, also known as the Predator, when it was demonstrated on a property at Barellen, NSW, by Stoll Spraying Equipment, at Wagga Wagga, which has just been appointed the distributor of the Sonic range for the eastern states.
Stoll principal Jarrod Stoll said the new Sonic impressed the farmers who attended the demonstration day, which was held last month.
"It certainly is one heck of a machine," Jarrod said.
"It's built like a tank but handles smoothly and its ability to do 75km/h empty or 40km/h full really is breathtaking.
"It rides and handles incredibly well for such a large machine."
Made in Western Australia by Sonic Boom Sprays, at Narembeen, the Predator has a 36.5m boom and the tank can be filled with a variety of chemical solutions as well as liquid fertiliser.
Sonic Boom Spray's owner Max Hebbermann said he was pleased the large-scale Predator and Sonic's other boom sprays would now be available in the eastern states.
"It's great to have Stolls on board," Max said.
Powered by an 8.3-litre Cummins diesel engine, which is Tier three emission compliant, the 7036 SP is a very capable sprayer, he said.
"It's clearly made for large-scale operations and you can really cover some ground quickly without losing accuracy of the spray," Max said.
There's 700mm of clearance under the Predator's frame, which rides on four narrow, large-diameter wheels on three-metre wheel centres.
A six-speed automatic transmission drives the Predator via a hand throttle in the cabin and there's a two-speed transfer case which gives the operator the choice of 12 gears.
A differential lock on the rear axle provides the choice of two or four-wheel-drive and there is an option to move to a wider tyre.
The standard tyres are 380/85 R46 specification for a wheel diameter of 46 inches.
Smoothing out the ride of the massive sprayer is an airbag suspension with individual units mounted on each wheel.
Max said the air bags had automatic delayed ride height adjusters which helped keep the sprayer level and smoothed out bumps and ruts.
"The suspension does a great job of keeping the ride smooth," Max said.
"Even though you might have 6000 litres of liquid fertiliser in the tank, the sprayer rides well over paddock undulations."
Two jockey wheels on each of the boom's left and right-hand wings ensure the boom remains steady during spraying.
"The outer wheels prevent the tips of the spray boom hitting the ground and the last section of the boom has a breakaway capability if an object is struck," Max said.
Boom lines are stainless steel.
"We have used high-grade stainless steel extensively on the boom and its components to ensure it can handle liquid fertiliser, which can be quite corrosive," Max said.
"Even the paint on the boom is two-pack enamel, so it's made to last."
Jarrod said the boom frame is a simple design and comes with a two-year warranty.
"The boom is very strong and if there is a breakage, it is very simple to repair," Jarrod said.
"Each 7036 SP can be set up with a variety of global positioning brands, so it's fully ready for auto steering and variable-rate application," Max said.
Another feature of the 7036 SP is the area used to control the suction and pressure functions of the Hypro hydraulic pump.
Max said only blue hoses and fittings are used for plumbing on the suction side of the pump and only yellow hosing is used on the pressure side.
"We have taken extra care to ensure the plumbing is uncluttered and easy to follow and can all be accessed from the one place on the sprayer," Max said.
