SGN & HARDNESS TEST KIT

GUIDELINES & INSTRUCTIONS

EFFECTIVE 10/2013 REVISION C

1330 76TH AVE SW CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52404-7052 PHONE (319) 363-8281 | FAX (319) 286-3350 www.highwayequipment.com

Copyright 2011 Highway Equipment Company, Inc.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

The following information will guide you through using the SGN & Hardness Test Kit for your New Leader G4 Spreader. Refer to operators manual for details on unit safety, operation and maintenance. PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION 308907 Kit - SGN & Hardness Test Kit 308908 Tester - Hardness 308909 Scale - SGN QUANTITY 1 1 1

WARNING

Use great caution while working around the spreader. Contact with spinners and other moving parts is very dangerous. Do not adjust while machinery is moving, wear eye protection and avoid discharge from spinners. Do not ride on moving spreader.

GUIDELINES &INSTRUCTIONS

It is highly recommended to do a Hardness Test and SGN Scale Test prior to each season and before using a new product. Testing will define granular characteristics and help determine proper spinner settings for optimal product spread. Conduct a G4 Spread Pattern test to check settings based on test results. Refer to G4 Spreader Installation Instructions and G4 Spread Pattern Manual for installation and adjustment instructions.

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CRUSHING STRENGTH HEADER

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

CRUSHING STRENGTH Crushing strength is the minimum pressure needed to crush individual particles. Determining the crushing strength, or hardness, will help determine handling and storage requirements of a chosen granular product.1 Measure crushing strength by applying pressure to individual granules. A simple finger test can be used in the field. Granule crushed between thumb and forefinger is soft. Granule crushed between forefinger and hard surface is medium hard. Granule not crushed between forefinger and hard surface is hard.

Crushing Strengths of Typical Fertilizers2

GUIDELINES &INSTRUCTIONS

Fertilizer Type Prilled Urea Granule Urea Granule Ammonium Sulfate Prilled Ammonium Nitrate Granule Diammonium Phosphate Granule Monoammonium Phosphate Granule Triple Superphosphate Prilled Potassium nitrate Granule Potassium Chloride Granule Potassium Sulfate

Grade 46-0-0 46-0-0 21-0-0 34-0-0 18-46-0 11-55-0 0-46-0 13-0-44 0-0-60 0-0-50

Crush Strength 0.8-1.2 1.5-3.5 1.5-2.5 1.2-1.7 3.0-5.0 2.0-3.0 4.5-8.0 1.5-2.0 3.0-5.0 3.0-4.0

Any granule with a less than three (< 3) crush strength should not be broadcast with spinner speeds over 700 RPM. Verify granules are not pulverized before increasing speed.

1. T. P. Hignett. Fertilizer Manual. (Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers and Springer Science+Business, 1998), p. 478-479 with kind permission from Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2. Hignett, Fertilizer Manual , p. 481, table 18.6.

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HARDNESS TEST INSTRUCTIONS HEADER

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

HARDNESS TEST
IMPORTANT! determined by SGN scale. Crushing strength can significantly

Select granules of the most typical size and uniform shape as increase with particle size.

1. Figure 1 - Place individual granule on solid, smooth surface. 2. Place New Leader hardness tester over granule, open end flush with surface.

GUIDELINES &INSTRUCTIONS

Ensure marker is next to handle. Figure 1

3. Figure 2 - With one hand on handle, press tester down until granule breaks.

Figure 2

4. Figure 3 - Release handle and note where marker rests on number scale. This is granule crushing strength. For example, the marker in Figure 3 is between 3 and 4 on the scale. Thus, crushing strength is 3.5. 5. Repeat 10 times and average the values Figure 3
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SGN SGN & HARDNESS HEADER TESTS

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

SGN SGN (size grade number) is the measurement of granule size in millimeters multiplied by 100. As a rule, every 100 RPM of spinner speed equals 10 feet (3 m) spread width when spinner height from ground is 52 inches (132 cm). This is typical of floater chassis application. Spinner Height 52 RPM 600 700 800 900 Spread Width ft (m) 60 (18) 70 (21) 80 (24) 90 (27)

GUIDELINES &INSTRUCTIONS

For post machines with spinner height of 72 inches (182 cm) from ground, spread widths increase 10 to 15 feet (3.5-4 m). Spinner Height 72 Spread Width ft (m) 72 (21-22) 82 (24-25) 92 (27-28) 105 (30-32)

RPM 600 700 800 900

A products SGN will affect spread width. Knowing the SGN will help determine correct spinner speed for a chosen product.

IMPORTANT! Always check hardness prior to selecting spinner speed.

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SGN SCALE INSTRUCTIONS

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

SGN SCALE The SGN scale is an instrument designed for simple screen test of fertilizer samples. A small box fitted with five sieves, it directly produces a size histogram of the test sample. From this, the SGN can be estimated. 1. Figure 4 - To determine SGN, place scale on flat surface and open lid. 2. Fill end column with selected product to fill line.

GUIDELINES &INSTRUCTIONS

3. Close lid secure. Figure 4 4. Figure 5 - Rotate scale vertical and shake to separate material, usually less than two minutes. 5. When material finishes dispersing, turn scale to starting position.

Figure 5 6. Figure 6 - View level of material in each compartment and determine SGN level based on markings.

EXAMPLE: A=120 B=170 C=240 D=340 E=400>

Figure 6
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SGN SCALE INSTRUCTIONS CONT.

SGN & HARDNESS TEST

Size Grade Number View each column for percentage Column A = 0 material Column B = 0 material Column C = 5% of 240 which equals 12 as average Column D = 90% of 340 which equals 306 as average Column E = 5% of 400 which equals 20 as average Total = 338 as average SGN

SGN

Figure 7 7. Figure 7 - Based on column heading and percent in each field, calculate overall SGN of the sample.

I N S TA L L AT I O N

NOTE

Materials with poor uniformity (a significant percentage in 3 or more columns of scale device) may be difficult to spread accurately. Pan testing should ALWAYS be performed on any new or different material.

SGN Starting Points Granule Mesh 140-200 220-300 320-400 Spread Width ft (m) 70 (21) 80 (24) 90 (27)

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