Practical test of the Farmtech Megafex 1700 stable manure spreader PROFI (Issue 9-2008)

High performance for a small amount of money
Megafex is the official name of the universal stable manure spreaders made by the Slovenian manufacturer Farmtech. The Megafex stable manure spreaders are offered by different dealers in Germany. We have done some in-depth research and extensive practical tests to see how well it performed.

At a price of only 32,000 euros for a 17 ton machine with a spreading device, the Megafex is certainly a very attractive offer. There is only a question of what level of performance is provided for this amount of money.
Coupling the Megafex to a tractor has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. It includes a stable supporting foot (unfortunately without a second gear) as well as a wide-angle Walterscheid cardan shaft (unfortunately without a parking position). Apart from two brake hoses, another four oil hoses (well-marked) and two cables for control and lighting must be connected.

However, we didn't understand why the free rear axle was equipped with double-action cylinders and two oil hoses. The other two oil hoses with the easy to use ME control equipment (an additional 5.000 euros, plus VAT) are connected to the electromagnetic valve by free movement. For this considerable investment you can control all the functions such as the feeder doors in front of the spreading unit, (with a digital speed display), a protective cover for the spreading device and the capability of lifting the front axle (800 euros) by means of the 'Uni Control' terminal by Müller-Elektronik. In addition, it includes rev counter on the steering unit with an automatic shut down of the supply unit. Anyone, who invests another 2,500 euros, will also get a regulator for the volume of material being spread, which automatically regulates the spreading parameters according to the speed. However, we didn't miss this on the flat surface and with sufficiently powerful tractors.

A powerful tractor is required to achieve the best results with the Megafex. Farmtech indicates that a traction power of at least 100 kW/136 HP is required. According to our experience the spreader can be used with a 133 kW/180 HP powered tractor.
The loading area is 5.50m long, the conical box is 1.95m wide in the front and 2.00m in rear, and 1.38m high (including the 0.30m fittings). Hence the volume of exactly 15m³. The loading height can be reduced from 2.80m to 2.50m, as the side walls can be lowered.
It is recommended that the vehicle is not loaded too high with stable manure, since the permitted loading capacity of approx. 10 tons for driving on the road can soon be achieved. On the other hand, the opening of the spreading unit is only 1.35m. If the material is loaded much higher, it can get stuck in the front of the spreading unit and the floor scraper can’t reach it.

However, the floor scraper gets only the best assessments: four 14 x 50mm link chains run on large sprockets with recessed teeth and have a very easily accessible chain tensioner on the front wall. Even though the drive with the Sauer oil engine ran only from the right hand side, no problem occurred. The same applied for 65 x 30mm U-profiles screwed to the chains in 40cm intervals. These are not recessed in the 4mm steel bottom, but run along guides.
The horizontal spreading unit consists of a hydraulic hatch, two adjacent horizontal rollers and two ejection plates. The sheet metal is 8mm thick, with a diameter of 96cm, and each has four ejection shovels. The safeguard for the loading of the entire drive is carried out by a safety clutch with a cam. In addition, two free flowing clutches are between the distribution gear and both gears for plate drive. However, we had to replace these clutches once during the test.
The outside diameter of the rollers is 65cm. Screwed metal shovels from Hardox could be set in an incline position to scrap more effectively. The lower cylinder drive runs left through 1 inch Duplex chains. On top there is an simple 1¼ inch chain on the right hand side. There were no problems thanks to the spring loaded tensioner with a lubricant.

The universal spreader Megafex also passed the stable manure distribution quality test DLG-Fokus-test, without any problems. (test certificate No. 5604 F). According to the DLG evaluation scheme for the transverse distribution by variation coefficient of less than 20% in working width of 21m and below 15 & at 18m, the spreader received good or very good evaluations. Same applies for longitudinal distribution: By variation coefficient of 19.8%, everything is in order in this case as well.
As an alternative to the spreader plates you can also get the Megafex with a 4-roller spreader unit. This one has also passed the DLG-Fokus stable manure distribution quality test. By variation coefficient of 16.1% at 8m of working width or 11.9 % at 7m, the transverse distribution is good or very good. The longitudinal distribution by variation coefficient of 14.1% has been evaluated as “very good”.

Tandem aggregate with parabolic springs by ADR is equipped with Trelleborg Twin 404 of size 600/50-22.5. Free rear axle costs 2.100 euros, but it is indispensable at this size of tyres and especially on green surfaces. We recommend the person driving the spreader always with the same tractor to invest another 700 euros in a forced controlled steering rear axle.

For another 800 euros you get a lifting axle. The latter consists of two hydraulic cylinders that simply push the rear axle from the spring and lift the front axle so that more weight is put on the tractor. This worked fine, however, it is not completely safe: Since the rear free axle does not lock automatically when lifting it, the rudder can swing in any direction without control. However, Farmtech has already eliminated this deficiency and fixed automatic stop valves. In addition, Farmtech plans to cover the entire axle aggregate. In this way, the manure will no longer accumulate on the stop valves and elsewhere. As an alternative, the Slovenes could spare the sheet metal linings mounted on the sides under the loading surface. On the one hand, these linings probably serve only for a better look. But on the other hand, they prevent simple control and cleaning of the scrapping bottom. Mudguards are also well-intended, but they won’t last long in hard conditions. In contrast, the sides made from 3mm steel plate with a 5mm U-profile end with a massive tube on the upper edge, protects against damaging when loading.

In addition, we noticed the following:
- A filter with a congestion display is fixed in an oil pump within the comfort control equipment. However, this filter leaked too many times.
- Dosing doors have a clearly visible scale for displaying the height of their openness on the front wall. However, when opened they stand in a transverse front position, which can cause interferences when loading.
- As an alternative to the upper coupling there is also a lower coupling, if desired, also with a ball.
- Two-line air brakes have an ALB regulator.
Instead of linked chains there is an alternative of the scrapping bottom also with the Rubig flat chains (T 78.5). This costs another 3,200 euros.
- Central lubricating by Beka Max for 2,000 euros lubricates all lubrication points except the cardan shaft.
- The lighting in the lower part is not particularly well protected, however, it doesn't easily get dirty.
- The external width with wheels is 2.67m, length 8.55m.
- Alternatively to the Megafex 1700 with 17 tons of allowed total weight and 1.38m walls (15.1m³) you can choose the Megafex 1400 with 14 tons and 1.08m (11.8m³) as well as the Megafex 2000 with 20 tons. Its box is 17.5cm wider, 8cm longer and 1.55m high (18.3m³).

Let us summarize: a robust steel box, stable scrapping bottom, efficient spreading device – Farmtech’s Megafex 1700 doesn’t need to hide. That’s a fact, mainly because it isn't among the expensive stable manure spreaders at a price of 32,000 euros for a basic model, and 42,000 euros for a testing model. Undoubtedly, we can't evaluate the durability in the long-term, service with the supply of spare parts and the resale value of the machine in our test.
As regards the first point, you don't have to worry about the construction and built-in components.

PROFI (Issue 9-2008), Hubert Wilmer
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