How To Fix A Scotts Broadcast Spreader Cable

In many lawns or farms, spreaders are one of the most commonly used tools to distribute products for plant maintenance. One of the most popular brands available on the market is the Scotts broadcast spreader, but a common issue with it is a broken spreader cable that needs fixing. We wanted to help you with this issue, so we researched this topic to find answers for you.

How to Fix a Scotts Broadcast Spreader Cable

  1. Remove the micrometer from the spreader mechanism by loosening the nut holding it in place on the hopper. Pull the cable out of the hopper mechanism.
  2. Loosen the housing of the on/off control handle by twisting it open.
  3. Remove the cable from the broadcast spreader and check if it is still in good working condition.
  4. Replace the cable if necessary.
  5. Put back the cable by doing the opposite when you removed them.
  6. Re-calibrate the broadcast spreader before using them.

Fixing your broken Scotts broadcast spreader can help lengthen the life of your garden tools. In this post, we'll discuss keeping your broadcast spreader in good working condition. We'll also discuss the differences between broadcast and drop spreaders, so keep reading and enjoy this post!

How To Fix A Scotts Broadcast Spreader Cable

Modern lawn spreader on the strewed with lawn seeds soil in the summer garden. - How To Fix A Scotts Broadcast Spreader Cable

If you have a large lawn or garden, you've probably experienced the pain of laying down fertilizer or other agricultural products in such a big space. For issues such as these, some products can help you be more efficient with your garden work. In this case, the best thing to have is a spreader.

There are many different kinds of spreaders available in the market today. Depending on the kind of product you will be distributing and the size of the area you are working on, you should be able to find a spreader that will benefit your work.

One of the most popular brands for garden tools and products is Scotts. This brand has nearly everything you'll need to start and maintain a lawn, and they are particularly popular with their spreaders. They have different spreaders available, depending on your needs.

The most popular of their products for homeowners with lawns are broadcast spreaders. Their sturdy and easy-to-use machine makes laying down seeds, fertilizer, or any other lawn care product easy. However, like any garden tool, there are times when the parts break down and need fixing. 

For Scotts spreaders, the common issues often lie with the wheel and the cables. Fortunately, these parts are easy to fix and can be remedied if you know what to do.

In this video, you will see how to strip down the Scotts broadcast spreader. Fixing the cable requires you to remove the cable from the mechanism, and you can check it out at the start of the video.

1. Remove the micrometer

The first step in fixing the cable of your Scotts broadcast spreader is by removing the micrometer from the mechanism on the hopper. You should be able to find it on the bottom of the hopper where the end of the cable is located. 

To remove the micrometer, you will see a nut holding the cable in place. Loosen it by turning it counter-clockwise until you feel the cable is not taut anymore. Pull the cable out of the mechanism to remove it from the hopper.

2. Loosen the housing of the handle

Next, you need to loosen the housing of the handle, which holds the cable in place. This housing is connected to the handle that you press to open the spreader's distribution chute. 

Since the cable is directly connected to this housing, you'll need to remove the entire thing from the handle. Loosen the housing by rotating it counter-clockwise until you can remove it entirely.

3. Remove the cable

Once you have removed the housing, you can now remove the cable from the spreader. Check your broadcast spreader cable and see if there is any damage on the exterior of the cable. If the cable is too stretched out or they are fraying in some parts, the cable must be replaced.

4. Replace the cable

If the cable of your broadcast spreader looks worn, look for a replacement cable. Replace the old cable with a new one, and don't try to fix the old one since it might break soon.

5. Put the cable back in its original place

Put the cable back in its original place by doing the stripping down in an opposite manner. First, replace the cable and tighten it on the handle of the spreader. Thread the cable through the holes that hold it in place and place it back on the mechanism on the hopper. Remember to tighten the nut to ensure that the cable is installed well on the mechanism.

6. Re-calibrate the spreader

Test the spreader to check if the cable is installed correctly. Press down on the handle and check if the chute is opening and closing properly. After checking the cable's installation, don't forget to re-calibrate the spreader before using them in your garden.

Where Can I Get Scotts Spreader Parts?

Man seeding and fertilizing residential backyard lawn with manual grass seed spreader.

One of the best things about getting Scotts spreaders for your garden is the ease of getting the necessary parts for your machine. Ideally, you can get replacement parts from Scotts' manufacturers if the model of the machine is still available.

You can contact their website for spare or replacement parts for your Scotts broadcast spreader. Their customer service representatives can help you diagnose and fix the most common problems of the spreader and even send out some parts that may need replacement. Make sure that you have the code of your spreader model ready so they know the parts you'll need.

Alternatively, if you have an older model of the Scotts broadcast spreader, you may find some parts on the internet. You can look through third-party websites that may offer these spare parts. However, if the spare or replacement parts are difficult to find, you may want to consider getting a new spreader for your lawn.

Do You Need To Calibrate A Broadcast Spreader?

Man fertilizing and seeding residential backyard lawn with manual grass fertilizer spreader.

Like most garden tools, spreaders also experience wear and tear, which is why they might not work as well as they used to. Constant use of these tools often loosens some mechanisms in the machine, so you'll need to re-calibrate them to get them back to their "original" setting.

Since there are different kinds of broadcast spreaders, there are different methods that you can do to calibrate them. Sometimes, you will also need to calibrate the broadcast spreader depending on the kind of material that you will be distributing.

This video will show you how to easily calibrate your broadcast spreader depending on the fertilizer that you will be using:

Which Is Better—A Broadcast Spreader Or A Drop Spreader?

Sowing lawn grass seeds with a drop lawn spreader in the summer garden

Deciding between a broadcast spreader and a drop spreader can be a little confusing for gardening beginners. While both equipments spread fertilizer and other products on the lawn, there are specific purposes for both spreaders.

Broadcast spreaders, as their name implies, it broadcasts the product by flinging it out into all directions as widely as they can. Ideally, a broadcast spreader is great to use if you are looking for equipment that can cover more ground in less time. This is great if you are simply laying down lawn food or grass seeds.

Drop spreaders, on the other hand, do as their name does—they drop the product as you walk with the equipment. Unlike broadcast spreaders, drop spreaders will distribute the material through the chute between the wheels. This spreader is better suited if you want more precision with the fertilizer you apply on the lawn.

Best Scotts Spreaders

As discussed earlier, Scotts have tons of garden equipment that is suitable to use in home gardens. They have everything you'll need for spreaders—from broadcast to hand spreaders. 

Check out this Scotts broadcast spreader on Amazon.

One of Scott's bestsellers is the Turf Builder broadcast spreader. It comes with an EdgeGuard, which will divert the material's broadcasting away from the edge of the lawn for more efficient use. 

Get this Scotts drop spreader on Amazon.

The Scotts drop spreader may be better for your lawn for a more precise application. This spreader provides precise and efficient fertilizer application, meaning there is less waste.

Grab this Scotts hand-powered spreader on Amazon.

A hand spreader is a good option if you want something more precise or your lawn is small. It does the same job as a broadcast spreader but in a more compact size for smaller gardens. 

Wrapping Things Up

Modern lawn spreader on the strewed with lawn seeds soil in the summer garden.

Distributing fertilizer or other agricultural products can be made easy by using a broadcast spreader. These machines are a definite godsend to any gardener because it makes it easier to lay down plant feed quicker and faster. Like many garden tools, always check your machines and ensure that nothing needs replacing before using them.

Are you looking for more information on how to use a spreader in your garden? We have a few articles that might help you:

Can You Use A Salt Spreader For Grass Seed?

When To Apply Scotts Step 4 [And How To]

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