How to Calibrate a Toro Sprayer

Toro sprayers are very valuable and effective pieces of equipment for any turf or landscape management company. In order to use your Toro sprayer most efficiently and effectively, it is important that it be properly calibrated. However, we understand that many of our customers looking for Toro turf equipment might have questions about how to properly calibrate their sprayers. 

In the latest blog post from Kenney Machinery, we’ll review how to calibrate a Toro sprayer to help answer any questions that you might have. Although the exact procedure will vary depending on the model of Toro sprayer that you have, the outline below should give you a good idea of how the process works.

Preparation For Toro Sprayer Calibration

Before you begin the calibration process or perform any other work on a sprayer that has been used with chemicals, make sure that the chemicals have been neutralized and that the sprayer has been rinsed thoroughly. This is important for your overall safety.

Fill the sprayer with water, and don any safety gear that you feel is necessary, such as gloves, eye goggles, masks, and/or Tyvek suits. Be sure to grab a catch test jug and a stopwatch for the calibration procedure.

Toro Sprayer Calibration Step 1: Perform A Catch Test

The first step in the calibration process for your Toro sprayer is to perform a 15-second catch test to verify the output of the sprayer. Consult the chart in your sprayer operations manual to determine how much water should spray out in a 15-second test. If you do not catch the proper amount, you can simply adjust the spray pressure accordingly and perform the catch test again. 

Once you’ve verified the output of the sprayer, you’re ready to spray out a known volume of water to calibrate the flow meter.

Toro Sprayer Calibration Step 2: Flow Meter Calibration

The second step of the calibration process is to run the sprayer for five minutes to calibrate the flow meter. First, consult the chart in your sprayer manual to determine how much water should be sprayed out in a 5-minute period. Then, in the calibration menu of your sprayer’s info center, enter this number in the appropriate field after selecting the flow meter calibration process.

Start the spray-out process at the same time you start your stopwatch, and let it continue for exactly 5 minutes. At the end of the process, the volume of water sprayed out should closely match the number you entered from the chart in the sprayer manual.

Toro Sprayer Calibration Step 3: Speed Calibration

Once the flow meter calibration is complete, the next step is to calibrate the speed of the sprayer. To do this, select a test track that is as level and straight as possible.  Enter the distance of your test track in the speed calibration menu of your sprayer’s info center, and then drive the test track in first gear at wide-open throttle.  

Be sure to follow any instructions regarding how much water should be in the sprayer’s tanks during this test, as that will affect the speed. At the end of the test, compare the actual distance traveled with the number displayed on the screen of the info center—they should be as close as possible.

Toro Sprayer Calibration Step 4: Boom Valve Bypass Tests

The last step of the Toro sprayer calibration process is to test the boom valve bypass. To do this, you’ll need to run the sprayer and monitor the application rate while shutting off various boom sections. If everything is working correctly, the application rate should remain fairly constant even when a boom section is turned off. If an adjustment is required, you can make the adjustment by turning the bypass knob while monitoring the flow rate. After each boom section has been tested, the boom valve bypass test is complete.

Once you have completed all four steps, your Toro sprayer should be properly calibrated and ready for service.

Contact Kenney Machinery for Toro Sprayers

Kenney Machinery is proud to carry products from the very best manufacturers, and that includes Toro products. For Toro sprayers, or answer any questions you might have about how to calibrate a Toro sprayer, you can connect with us for assistance.