Earthway S15 Sprayer Review

[jason]

Gotcha. Let us know how it goes with Earthway.

Will do... just sent them a message.

What is your potential fix?

[Michael Wise]

I'll try to take some pics to explain what I'm thinking. Be back in a sec.....

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Michael Wise]

Ok. Now bear with me. I'm not talking about fixing this thing with drill bits and string. Just had to use what I had on hand to describe what I'm thinking.

You've got the big hole on the back of the pump. It feels sturdy enough to anchor to, IMO. I'm thinking some all thread long enough to be as wide as the frame, but fit between the tires. Possibly some jam nuts to hold the pump from any lateral slack. Then you would need some way to come back towards the back of the unit and clamp to the frame.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... 6744a7.jpg

Or find a way to brace the pump in this
manner: http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... 55dd28.jpg

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Michael Wise]

Or something like this without the bar attached to the pump being as wide as I said earlier. A combo of the other 2 thoughts.

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... 55e763.jpg

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp32 ... 498969.jpg

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[jason]

Thanks for posting those ideas! You have given me hope. I will give this a shot. Leaning towards your second picture. Also might need to use a second string to wrap it around the front so there is both forward and backword tension (and for that matter side to side).

[Michael Wise]

I'm gonna haunt the hardware store this week and try to weld something up this weekend.

I really think it will work. All that flimsy bracket does is keep the pump from spinning with the axle. It doesn't have to be a 100% solid and immobile, just stronger than the current design. I think that hole in the back fits the bill.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Michael Wise]

And I don't think you would need a brace going forward.

The stock used to make the portion the string is representing would be rigid. It would hold strong whether the pump was twisting AWAY from the user, or TOWARDS the user.

Side to side, maybe. Though there isn't a lot of side to side force involved, I don't think.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[jason]

Earthway quickly responded to my email and offered to ship me replacement parts and requested pictures of the damage. Before I had a chance to reply another message came in offering to ship a replacement and return label for the damaged unit so they can take a closer look. In my original message I included a link to Lawndog's post as another example of this issue for both his original unit and his replacement. Assuming the replacement unit has the same failure prone bracket I will probably try to reinforce it like Michael is doing.

[ Post made via Android ]

[MorpheusPA]

It sounds like they have a defect that they may already know about...my sprayer doesn't seem to.

I've promised to take photos of my bracket and post them, which I'll do as soon as I throw off the Black Death and have the energy to move.

[Michael Wise]

Great!

I appreciate the update. Good idea posting Lawndog's experiences, too. They need to know that there is an ever growing community here that uses their products a lot.

Hopefully they will whip up a fix for us!

[jason]

Looking at the s25 manual and pictures it looks like the gear box is secured via a cross brace though that hole. Much more appropriate.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Lawndog]

I returned my sprayer back to Amazon for a third replacement. This time, on the new sprayer, I used two zip ties holding the bracket to the frame and another longer zip tie to hold the pump onto the frame. This will hopefully keep the pump stationary without any forward movement.

I thought I was the only one with these issues but something's obviously going on with this design. I wouldnt care if the sprayer only cost 100 bucks but at $250, I shouldn't have to do anything to it to make sure it doesn't fail.

Earthway also sent out replacement parts for the sprayer. Nice to have a backup because it's just a matter of time it seems to fail again.

[Michael Wise]

How did you place your zip ties? Pics, please?

[Lawndog]

Michael, I like your idea better than what I have here. It appears your setup is better to keep movement to a minimum. I have also sent Earthway these photos. If anything else, Earthway should/will look into this problem

[Michael Wise]

Thanks, Lawndog!

Jason, I just looked at the S25 manual, and you're right. They ARE using that hole. Why in the heck would they not do the same for the S15.

At least I know I'm on the right track, now.

[jason]

To reiterate what lawndog said from their pictures of the S15 (see 15 of 15) there is a version that does use the hole with a long bolt that attaches to the frame.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Lawndog]

When I checked Earthway's website, it clearly showed a long bolt going through the frame and into the pump. After speaking with them, the rep stated they never made that style and it was only a prototype. The rep said he would remove the photo from their site.

http://www.earthway.com/products/liquid ... -spray-pro# check the last photo and zoom in.

[xxryu139xx]

I finally got around to opening up the replacement today. This time its complete with the nozzles and to my surprise, they even included the optional hand-held sprayer. WIN! The pump set-up is still the same as everyone else's.

Makes me wonder. I think Morpheus received a demo model from Earthway, am i right or am i right

[MorpheusPA]

I really do have to take those photos, and I will once the Black Death fades. At least I made work today...

[JeffK]

Hi, and thanks for all of your comments & reviews of our S15 SPRAY-PRO sprayer. I wanted to set the record straight regarding some of the information within this thread. My team developed the S15, and all of the new products since 1996 at Earthway, so I can give you some exact details on the what's & why's of the S15 or any of our products.
S15 and the S25 use a common gearbox which is why there is a hole in the outer ring on the gearbox. We use that in conjunction a cross brace to support the gearbox/pump assembly on the S25 units. I also used it on the S15 prototype as a "plug & bolt" as shown on a rear-view photo we had on the web site - it proved to be failure prone in testing which lead to the current design. Through the help of a number of customers experiences with tight pumps that caused gearbox brace failures, we are reinforcing the gearbox brace connection point to correct the issue. I assure you that if you have a problem in the future with this connection point, we will stand behind the product and correct the problem.

As to the recent inclusion of the Spray-gun - yes, now it is a standard feature on the S15. Send me a photo or video of you using the S15 (jkendall@earthway.com), and like us on facebook "earthwayproducts" and I'll send you the Spray Gun kit to make your S15 just like the ones.
Jeff Kendall
VP Sales & Marketing
Earthway Products, Inc.