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Bowie 500

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Brian:
Hello to all - I have been watching you guys for about a year and have learned a ton of information from the members here. The archives of this forum have some really great content. I have been looking for a used jet machine in Arkansas for several months and could find nothing. I happened upon a mid-70s Bowie 500 that has been mechanically taken care of but needs a little TLC (ie removing some rust from the outside, paint, tank has some rust, etc.) I am not a full time (or even part time) lawn person. However, my idea is to put a little money in the machine and let my 16 year old son, with my help of course, give the small seeding jobs a try. I know that most of you guys are full time seeders/landscapers and might not care for the part timers, but from what I can see here in central Arkansas (there is only 1 professional hydroseeder i can find online) and at this forum, there could be a use for a small operator like a teenager working for extra summer money. My question and request for input is that if I invest in the equipment (about $3,000 without tow vehicle) and the teenager decides he doesnt want to work it, could i get my money back fairly easy? Also, is this rig too big for small jobs? (My thinking was that if he liked it, he could gradually get in to larger jobs or do sub work for actual landscaping contractors with work that would require the mechanical machine.) The way I see it, a TT300 would still require a trailer and the Bowie is mounted/built on its trailer. He could fill it halfway (is this possible) to do repair work, backyards, etc.
Any input on this is greatly appreciated... we will be making the decision this weekend. He likes money, just not working too much! That's what we're trying to fix this summer. ----BF

HydroBootCamp:
Hi Brian,
I think a 500gall machine is perfect for starting out. You are right in the middle range where its still easy enough to do small jobs and medium to large jobs can be tackled as well. I would try and get a mechanic familiar with pumps to take a good look at it first. It being about 30 yrs old, the repair cost could be significant. Bowie makes a great machine as does Turboturf but 30 yrs is still worth checking over thoroughly to avoid buying a money pit.

As for resale, You can probably recover 70%-80% of what you paid for it. If you did a few jobs yourself, that $3k could be recovered very quickly. Ebay is pretty stocked with used machines.

I know what you mean about your son "not liking work but liking money"....It seems like the rule with todays youth. I wanna be rich, I just dont want to sweat too much getting there! Make no mistake Brian, Hydroseeding is a dirty, muddy job. Youre dealing with dirt and water...Need I say more! Not just dirty but it can be heavy. Dragging a muddy hose around in the arkansas heat is not for everyone I'm sure.

I'd say go for it Brian. I have a 2 1/2yr old boy and Im hoping someday I get to leave all of my mean and nasty customers to him!!

Best of Luck and keep us posted.

Steve

Brian:
Thanks for the reply, Steve. It will take a little more research to find someone to check out the pump. The seller said it works fine, but I will check it all out first. If the pump is the biggest problem, any idea how much it would cost to get it rebuilt? I'm also getting a little concerned about the weight of this whole thing when loaded down. From reading here, alot of you guys go to a site loaded and let the machine mix while en route. This rig would be about 7500# loaded as best I can tell. That might put a little strain on his tahoe. Anyway, I think we will do it. Like you said, if we can get a few jobs, it can pay for the machine and maybe some repairs/maintenance (assuming pump works out okay) and have it pay for itself by end of summer. Again, thanks for the input. Once we get it going, we'll be back - and join IAHP. Any other input on this from the others around would be nice. ---BF

HydroBootCamp:
Brian,
7500# sounds a bit much for the Tahoe. Im sure its rated for that but realistically the rear end is not built for that type of pulling.
A 3/4 ton or even 1/2 ton pickup would be better suited to handle that machine.

I know of a guy with a similar problem around the Boston area. He actually rents an F250 for the day when he gets a job and he uses that to pull his Turfmaker 400. I think he said it costs him like $29/day. Not a bad option if you dont own a truck.

muddstopper:
On a 30 yearold bowie, make sure the clutch parts are still available before you buy the machine. Some of those older bowies used a dodge clutch and bowie doesnt sell those parts anymore. My old bowie was a 69 model and clutch parts where hard to come by a couple of years ago, and maybe impossible today. If you do purchase the machine, here is a number you had better keep up with for when you need parts, 919 583 3060. If anybody has clutch parts, these guys will.

The Bowie pump will be the same pump found on todays machines, if its a gear pump. Their centrifical pumps will have been upgraded and I am not sure if they still use the Deming brand or something else. The gear pump can be rebuilt fairly easy as long as the pump houseing isnt worn out, in which case you will have to purchase a complete new pump. If its a old Deming centrifical pump, not sure whats available. A good machine shop might be your best option. the old Demings used a rope seal which will leak when new, and are hard to change. I think, but am not sure, you can change out the old rope seal to a newer neoprene type seal, but it will require a complete dismanteling of the pump to do so, and a patient parts guy to match up and find the right seal.

Shaft seals are another sore spot, they leak, pure and simple. As long as the bearing are good, just pump them full of grease and continue seeding. The old models used a rope type seal, you can replace the rope with Keflar/gortex rope, if you can find it. Plumbers rope will work just fine as long as you get the correct size, it just wont last as long as some of the newer stuff. Some of the newer, yet still older machines, used a split neoprene shaft seal.

Your best bet would be to get the serial number off the machine, usually stamped on the right top of the tank and give bowie a call, and see what parts are still availabe for that machine. They can give yout the exact model year of the machine and tell you what parts are availabe and whats not. 

And forget pulling a 500gal machine around with a Tahoe, yea you can do it, but its not worth the risk. 4000lbs of sloshing water in an unbaffleled tank can be awfully hard to stop, even with trailer brakes.

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