The new BA Pumps and Sprayers LS Series linkage sprayers have been launched to keen interest at both the Henty and Elmore machinery field days.
Available in two sizes, the 1000-litre LS1000 and 1300-litre LS1300 include all of the proven features of their big brother, the 1900-litre Cropchief – which Technical Editor Tom Dickson reviewed favourably back in July 2015.
Standard features on the new LS Series include a PTO-driven Bertolini poly pump with 126L/min delivery, and a 12m or 15m BA Super-X heavy-duty galvanised hydraulic folding boom with dual air bag suspension.
A basic control box comes standard but can be upgraded at an extra cost of $3300 for a TeeJet 844E automatic rate controller – or $6125 will get you the top-of-the-range Hexagon AGTi5, which reduces cabin clutter by combining automatic spray rate control and GPS guidance all on one screen.
BA Group Australia regional manager Daniel Peacock says the new range was a year and a half in development.
“Some of the key improvements on the new LS series are a new hopper design, the grouping of all the operating functions into one central operator’s station, the addition of some storage points for the hydraulic hoses, and the installation of an easy-to-read tank-level sight tube,” he says. “As a result, the LS series is a much easier to operate sprayer delivered in a smaller package.”
The new hopper is fully integrated into the side of the machine. Previously, BA sprayers used an Italian-made, bolt-on induction hopper. Now the company manufactures its own from the same poly compound as the tank.
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It is hinged at the bottom, allowing it to pivot into a recessed cavity in the main spray tank when not in use. The obvious benefit of this style is that it can’t be knocked off on gateways or other obstacles.
The Rotor-Mix 30 chemical hopper folds out to a comfortable working height, is fitted with hopper and container rinsing nozzles, and is capable of handling liquid, powder, and granular products.
As Peacock says, the valves and taps have been mounted together on a central control station directly underneath the hopper. Without having to move around, the operator can switch from spray mode to induction mode, redirect flow from the main tank to the flush tank for cleaning the pump and nozzles, and drain the spray tank.
It is no coincidence that every function of the sprayer can be accessed from the clearly labelled control point on the left-hand side of the machine, which is the same side that the driver gets in and out of the tractor.
Fork pockets built into the base of the frame allow the unit to be transported on a front-end loader without the risk of slipping. They also act as a stable base on which the sprayer sits when it’s not attached to the tractor, and eliminate the use of unstable leg stands.
Hydraulic hose holders fitted to the front of the frame guarantee the end connections stay safely stored out of the dirt. The frame has been kept narrow to get as much of the sprayer’s weight as close as possible to the rear of the tractor, allowing smaller tractors to operate the machine safely.
BA Pumps and Sprayers LS1000/LS1300 price
Prices range from $27,930 for the LS1000 with a 12m Super-X boom, up to $30,480 for the LS1300 with a 15m boom.
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