Trailer and muckspreader maker Richard Western has trimmed the size and spec of its Delilah vertical beater models to produce slimmer and “more affordable” versions for farms that do not have the workload to justify the fancier DV-series machines.

The Delilah D bodies are 1,500mm wide, versus 1,550mm on equivalent DVs, reducing the overall width from 3m to 2.8m, which in conjunction with high-strength steels, results in a 10% reduction in unladen weight.

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Spreading rotor diameter is pared back accordingly from 890mm to 800mm without detriment, says the manufacturer, to the shredding performance or overlapping so muck is still evenly distributed across the spread pattern.

Spiral flights

Western’s established vertical rotor design, comprising five spiral flights manufactured from 10mm heat-treated boron steel welded around a 200mm tube, is also retained for the Delilah D series spreaders, with a rubber cushion coupling reducing shock loads to the auger drive gearboxes.

Each spiral rotor carries 30 heat-treated boron steel tips, either straight or twisted for extra fling, and arranged in a staggered formation for constant rotor load and uniform distribution of shredded material.

The spreader also features a 30-spline shaft connection to the bed conveyor drive gearbox, a design said to be unique to Richard Western that provides a larger contact area than a typical keyway connection.

And because the six-tooth chain sprockets are attached by a keyway, they can be replaced when worn without having to remove the shaft.

The new spreader is available as a 12cu m level fill, 15.2cu m heaped D12 initially, with 10cu m and 15cu m versions to follow.

With standard equipment, including a rigid drawbar, hydraulic slurry door and 50/70 R38 tyres, it is priced at £39,000, while the equivalent DV145 Compact 12 is £44,100 and a long chassis DV150 comes in at £45,600.