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Precision Multipurpose Scale

Instructions
 
How To Get The Most From Your Scale
 
    We know that you will find your 4 in 1 Scale to be a really handy tool if you follow these few suggestions for the proper care and handling of your scale. 

    Your scale is a valuable tool and will suffer if mistreated, left in the rain, or tossed about carelessly.  You cannot expect the same accuracy to be available unless it is properly looked after.  When traveling, keep it on the seat in the front of the truck, or if there is room, in the glove box. 

Calibration 

    The scale comes with three washers on the calibrating eyebolt.  If you can't get the scale to calibrate properly with the three washers, then it is all right to remove one, two, or all of them.  The important thing is to get the scale to level with the empty sample container in place, and the slider weight exactly at the zero mark. 

Filling The Sample Container For lb/ft^3 + lb/bu readings. 
  
    To fill the Sample Container, pour your sample in from no more than 1.5 - 2 inches from the top edge of the container.  You should be careful not to settle the sample while filling, as this will make your reading heavier than it should be. 

Level The Sample For lb/ft^3 + lb/bu readings. 

    When leveling the sample in your scale, use the handle as shown.  Be careful not to slope the handle for this will pack the sample and thereby give a false reading.  You should make sure that the container is screwed in completely and not cross threaded. 

 
 
Density Readings
 
 
 
Liquid Densities
 
Density up to 150 lbs/ft^3  --  Fill the container to the top line and multiply the pounds per cubic foot reading by two. 
Density over 150 lbs/ft^3   --  Fill the container to the bottom line and multiply the pounds per cubic foot reading by four. 
Pounds per U.S. gallon      --  Divide your pounds per cubic foot reading by 7.48 and you will have pounds per U.S. gallon.
 
 
    We have found that some people like to have the bubble in the level vial touching one of the lines for greater accuracy. This is easily done by adjusting the calibration eyebolt until the bubble touches the line.  Two things to remember; you should remember which line the bubble touches, and the bubble must JUST touch the line as illustrated. 
 
 
Pounds Per Acre Reading 

    Make sure that the sample is lying even in the sample cup.  If it is lying more on one side that the other, the reading will be affected.  You should test more than one run to assure that the machine is working evenly. 

 
 
Distance To Travel 

    Direction number 6 on the container says to travel further for lighter amounts of seed or fertilizer.  This is so you have a more accurate reading under field conditions.  You may, however, catch a sample from 2 spouts or 4 spouts and travel the distance that is stated for one run.  REMEMBER to DIVIDE your reading by the number of spouts that you have caught. 

Distance Spacing 

    For spacing other than those provided on the container, use the formula: 145.2 divided by (spacing in inches, divided by 12) equals travel distance. 

Example
145.2 / (16 inches / 12) equals distance to travel. 
145.2 / 1.333 equals distance to travel. 
108.93 feet equals distance to travel. 
 
To Set The Light Rates For Grass Seed And Rapeseed, Etc, Using The Application Rate Scale.
 
    Take a rag and rip it into ten small pieces.  Stuff the pieces into the ends of 10 down spouts on your drill.  Drive the required distance as stated on the scale container (e.g.. 6" row spacing, travel 290 feet).  At the end of the distance, hold the container under a down spout and pull the rag out, catching all the seed from that run in the container.  Do this for all the other nine runs.  When you have collected all ten runs into the container, screw it into the scale arm and weigh the sample.  Whatever weight you get, you DIVIDE by ten to find the rate that you are applying.  On the fluffy seed, it is all right to pack it into the container to get lbs./acre. 
Example
    The rags are in the bottom of the down spout hoses, and you have driven the distance set out on the container for your row spacing.  Carefully pull out the rags and catch what was in the down spout.  You might want to give the spout a shake to make sure it is all out, then on to the rest of the runs.  The final weight that you get might be 185 lbs./acre.  This you divide by ten to equal 18.5 lbs./acre.   The drill is putting out 18.5 lbs./acre, as long as all the spouts are operating the same. 

    You will probably want to test each section of the drill, to assure that the right amount is being put on by each separate section. 

    ON AIR SEEDERS - You cannot put a rag into the outlets of your equipment.  We suggest that you make some small bags from nylon window screen and tie them to the ten outlets. 

Discers 

    To find the spacing of you discer, measure the total width of the cut in inches and divide by the number of spouts. 
 

 
 
Fan Spreader 

    For a fan spreader, you disconnect the fan drive and drive the distance that you get by dividing 145.2 by the width spread by the fan throw. 

Example
    145.2 divided by 40 ft. equals 3.63 feet.  You then take the decimal (.63) and multiply by 12, (this gives the inches) .63 x 12 equals 7.56 inches.  Therefore, the entire distance to be traveled equals 3 feet 7.5 inches, for a 40 foot fan spreader. 

Dump Spreader 

    For dump spreaders with less than a 5 inch spacing, take the spacing that your machine has and multiply by two.  This will give you a spacing that appears on the scale chart.  Drive that distance and whatever reading you get multiply by two. 
 

Example
     3 inch spacing x 2 equals 6 inches.  6 inches on the scale chart equals 290 ft. to travel.  A reading of 50 lbs./acre x 2 equals 100 lbs./acre.  Your machine is putting on 100 lbs./acre. 

Fine Tuning Your Drill 

    Plug all the down spouts of your drill and drive the distance set out for the row spacing that you are using (we suggest driving the distance because the vibrations of the drill as it is pulled through the field, will effect the way that the seed enters the flutes on the seed cup rollers).  Weigh each spout to see what it is putting out, and write this umber down on a piece of paper.  When you have done all the spouts, add them together and divide by the number of spouts to get the average amount of weight that the drill is putting out.  One or more of your spouts will have this number as its output.  Mark that spout and use it for all the drill calibrations; for it represents the average that your drill is putting on the field. 

Weight Of Small Quantities 

    In order to find the weight of small quantities of grain or other objects, use the POUNDS PER CUBIC FOOT (lbs./ft.^3) reading and multiply by 9.1026 to get grams, then divide this reading by 28.4 to get ounces. 
 

Example
    37 lbs./ft.^3 x 9.1026 equals 336.8 grams divided by 28.4 equals 11.9 ounces. 

To Get The Yield Of A Test Plot 

    Carefully measure a 3 foot by 3 foot square and collect the grain from within that area.  Use a Simpler Sample or thrash the sample by hand.  Clean the chaff out and weigh the cleaned sample in the scale using the pounds per acre reading.  Multiply your reading by 16.133, then divide your answer by the standard bushel weight of that kind of grain.  This tells you the bushels per acre represented by that plot. 

Example
- 150 lbs./acre on the scale x 16.133 equals 2419.95 divided by 47 lbs./bu. equals 51.48 bushels per acre of barley. 
- 200 lbs./acre on the scale x 16.133 equals 3226.60 divided by 60 lbs./bu. equals 53.77 bushels per acre of wheat. 

    Because yields vary throughout a field, the total output of your field will vary from the small sample plot.  Samples from more plots will give you a better idea of the field's yield. 

Moisture Test (bake test) 

    Fill the cup with grain and get the test weight.  Dry the grain in a microwave oven.  (When the grain starts to turn brown, no more moisture exists).  Weigh the grain after drying and get the dry weight.  Use the example below to calculate % moisture. 
 

Example
Wet test weight = 64 lbs./bu.
Dry test weight  = 52 lbs./bu.
Net change       = 12 lbs./bu.
64 - 52 = 12 (net change)
12 divided by 64 = 18.15% moisture 
Storage 

    When not in use, your scale should have the sample cup screwed in place and be hung on o hook or nail.  This will keep your scale safely out of harm's way and ready when needed.  You could also keep the scale in the box provided and use it like a protective case while in the field. 

Parts 

Calibration Eyebolt - 3/16 x 2 1/2" 
Support Ring - 1 1/2" binder ring available from a stationary store. 
Calibration Nut - Thread size is 10 
 
    So that you do not need specialized parts that are hard to find, we use standard pieces that are available pretty well anywhere. 
 
To Determine Seeds Per Acre 

    Find out the number of seeds per pound by asking your seed seller of from label on the seed bag.  Once you know the seeds per pound, you divide the desired seeds per acre by this amount, which will give you the pounds per acre that is represented by your seed per acre population. 

Example
    You want to put 65,000 seeds per acre.  Your seed weight is 12,000 seeds per pound.  65,000 / 12,000 = 5.42 pounds per acre of seed required. 
 
Field Seed Count by Grams, Ounces, Pounds
Species Seeds/Gram Seeds/Ounce Seeds/Pound
Alfalfa 500 14,175 226,800
Barley 30 850 13,600
Beans, Field 4 115 1,840
Beans, Mung 24 680 10,880
Beets, Sugar & Field 55 1,530 24,480
Bermuda grass, Hulled 4,565 129,445 2,071,120
Bluegrass, Annual 2,635 74,730 1,195,680
Bluegrass, Kentucky 2,250 - 3,875 63,845 - 109,885 1,021,520 - 1,758,160
Brome, Field 465 13,210 211,360
Brome, Smooth 300 - 330 8,475 - 9,385 135,600 - 150,160
Buckwheat 45 1,275 20,400
Chickpea 2 55 880
Clover, Alsike 1,500 42,525 680,400
Clover, Calif. Bur. 375 10,659 170,400
Clover, Ladino & White 1,500 - 2,000 42,000 - 55,000 672,000 - 880,000
Clover, Hop, Large 5,435 154,330 2,469,280
Clover, Hop, Small 1,950 55,225 883,600
Clover, Persian 1,415 40,145 642,320
Clover, Red 600 17,010 272,160
Clover, Strawberry 635 18,000 288,000
Clover, Sweet 570 16,160 258,560
Fescue, Chewing & Red 805 - 990 22,820 - 28,040 365,120 - 448,640
Fescue, Hair 3,200 90,720 1,451,520
Fescue, Meadow 495 14,090 99,440
Fescue, Tall 390 - 515 11,115 - 14600 117,840 - 233,600
Grama Grass, Blue 1,595 45,275 724,400
Lentil 14 - 23 395 - 650 6,320 - 10,400
Lespedeza, Common 750 21,265 340,240
Lespedeza, Korean 525 14,885 238,160
Lespedeza, Serica 820 23,250 372,000
Lupine, Blue & White 7 200 3,200
Millet, Proso & Pearl 180 5,145 82,320
Oats 35 - 50 1,000 - 1,425 16,000 - 22,800
Orchard grass 840 - 1,050 23,615 - 29,825 377,840 - 477,200
Rescue grass 113 3,230 51,680
Rice 65 1,870 29,920
Rye 40 1,135 18,160
Rye grass, Annual 395 - 445 11,225 - 12,560 179,600 - 200,960
Rye grass, Perennial 465 - 595 13,155 - 16,895 210,480 - 270,320
Safflower 30 825 13,200
Sorghum 30 - 80 850 - 2,270 13,600 - 36,320
Soybeans, Med. Small 6 - 13 175 - 435 2,800 - 6,960
Soybeans, Large 4 - 79 137 2,192
Sudan grass 85 - 100 2,355 - 3,175 37,680 - 50,800
Timothy 2,405 - 2,725 68,150 - 77,250 1,090,400 - 1,236,000
Tobacco 15,625 442,970 7,087,520
Trefoil, Big 1,945 55,210 883,360
Trefoil, Birds foot 815 23,115 369,840
Wheat 35 710 11,360
 
(Most weights are approximate averages as taken from the Association of Official Seed Analysts Rulebook, McKoy 1100).
 
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If you have questions or comments, email us at info@acugrain.com
 1-877-648-8007               Fax: 406-761-8151