Field King Max 190348 Backpack Sprayer for Professionals Applying Herbicides

This unit, Model 190348, is a replacement / upgrade for the Model 190328 which has a pump handle that is not as pictured, i.e., it stays in a horizontal, not vertical, position for storage. The Model 190348 was received on schedule with no issues. The packing box had a single layer of tape indicating that the unit was new and not a used/refurbished unit. Assembly was quick and required no special tools, just 2 half inch wrenches. I tried the unit out after assembly and it worked fine, better than anticipated in fact. Additionally, the harness is an improvement over the Model 190328, but unless you’re going to spend long periods of time with the sprayer I’m not sure this would be the extra money for the improved harness. When I went to put the unit away, I noticed that the pump handle would not move to the vertical position. After a quick look I noticed that the pump handle has 2 holes set at 90 degrees. The solution is simple, remove the nut and bolt, move the handle 90 degrees upward and reinstall the nut and bolt. Simple, but time consuming. But there is a solution, a very simple solution to this issue. First, remove the nut and bolt, now store them somewhere out of the way, you’re not going to need them. Second, get a clevis pin, example in the second photo, and put it through the hole in the handle and pump shaft mechanism. Third, secure the clevis pin in place and you’re done. Want the handle down, remove the pin, move the handle down 90 degrees, put the pin back in and secure. Ready to put the sprayer away, remove the pin, move the handle up 90 degrees, put the pin back in and secure. This takes way, way less time than getting 2 wrenches to loosen the nut from the bolt and then un thread the bolt from the handle/pump shaft. I should note that in my case, the diameter of the clevis pin was perfect for the hole through the handle but a little large for the treaded hole in the pump shaft. As I had a pin and it fit the large of the two holes the solution to the problem was to drill out the threads in the pump shaft. The increase in diameter necessary to accommodate my pin was 0.050 inches. Not enough to decrease the integrity of the pump shaft. In fact a portion of the threads was still observable in the pump shaft hole. If you don’t want to drill out the pump shaft just buy a clevis pin of the appropriate diameter. I would not suggest significantly increasing the diameter of the holes through the pump handle. No point in potentially reducing its integrity. So, in recap, this is a great sprayer and can be made even easier to use by replacing the bolt and nut securing the pump handle in place with a clevis pin.

I bought this for spraying weeds on my 14 acres. So far I've used it on four different applications. 1. Roundup on the gravel driveway to kill the grass that grows in low traffic areas. The Backpack sprayer allows me to easily move around and apply to individual patches. Compared to the ready to use products with built in sprayers, or a large pump sprayer on wheels, this is much better -- faster, more thorough, more efficient. 2. Trimec on the vines and poison ivy. There's really no alternative for this work, because a tractor or ATV mounted unit wouldn't reach the areas that need spraying. 3. Trimec on the Siberian elm saplings growing everywhere. This has worked well, but I have so many that it would probably be more efficient to use an electric sprayer with a boom and douse the whole area, then go back and individually treat plants that survive. 4. 2,4-D on the lawn. Again, after I got into this I realized I had so many weeds in my lawn I would have been better off to start by spraying the whole lawn, and could have done that with the containers that come set up for hose end spraying. The backpack sprayer would be appropriate for follow up on stubborn areas. As far as the particulars of the Field King unit, my biggest gripe is the upper yoke on the front of the carry straps tends to ride high enough to want to choke me. Otherwise the unit is remarkably effective. The padded hip belt takes a lot of weight off your shoulders, and the ability to pump the handle continuously means you can keep the unit pressurized for a forceful spray, reaching some distance as needed. The pumping also continuously agitates the solution in the tank to keep it fully mixed. I have only used the unit for maybe 4-6 hours of spraying. I don't know how it will hold up, nor do I have any experience with manufacturer support. But I researched the alternatives extensively and this unit seemed to have a good reputation for quality and design. It comes with multiple nozzles but I have only tried the standard brass one. You can now buy herbicides and insecticides in ready to use containers that feature built in electric disposable spray mechanisms that are surprisingly effective. If you have a small job or don't expect to be repeating applications that would probably make more sense than spending $70 for this unit. If you already have an ATV you might want to think about an electric boom or spot sprayer that will fit on that. Also a caution that handling this thing when it's filled with 4 gallons of liquid is a little awkward and might be too heavy for some people.

Sadly it's rare to get products from an unknown manufacturer on Amazon and have them arrive only to meet and/or exceed your expectations, but this sprayer is definitely one of the exceptions. Everything feels high quality. The tank is a sturdy and strong plastic that doesn't flex like some of the backpack sprayers from a big box store. All of the movable components are sturdy metal and don't have the fitment slop that I've found in backpack sprayers from big name brands. Straps are high quality and actually padded! Fill top includes a custom fit, removable particulate filter to stop clumps from DG or powder products from getting into the tank where they could clog the system. The metal stand connects to the tank securely and runs well up the back of the sprayer to provide a very stable carrying foundation. Overall it reminds me of a high-quality external frame expedition pack from the mid-2000s in the layout and materials. That is to say, it's ergonomic and quality but doesn't sacrifice durability to shave a couple of oz of weight with the frame. Though I should note it is by no means unnecessarily heavy (that is, no heavier than 5 gallons on your back would otherwise be haha). I've used this 3 times now to spray "Docs Super Juice" and a couple of weed killers. Handled the dissolvable Super Juice with no problems at all, even though I mixed it in the tank against all recommendations and the weed killers had great atomization from the spray to really maximize their effectiveness. The more I think about it the more astounded I am that this was so inexpensive. I'm really glad I paid a little more to get a product that will undoubtedly last me for years, and that offers replacement parts should I ever need them. LAWN FORUM members, and other lawn enthusiasts, this is a tremendous tool to help get everything down right where and how you want it so you can enjoy the reel low mow. - As a quick nod to the professional nature of this product: I got stopped and asked for a business card to take over a neighbor's yard while I was giving my bermuda a little wake-me-up spray when this first came in! Haha

A difficult review to write. This is a five star product in terms of quality and execution. It is well built, comes with the accessories you need, doesn't leak, etc., etc. If I were to give it a tiny demerit from a product standpoint, I'd say it could use better instructions for people like me who have never used one of these things. It takes a little time to figure out how to optimize the experience. So I have very little to say that is negative, relative to the product itself. It is a two star product in terms of user experience. And to be clear, I don't really blame the product, which does what it does well. If you're used to carrying a one gallon sprayer, two things stand out. First, it is very difficult to carry three or four gallons of liquid on your back. I can kind of get away with three; four would probably send me to the chiropractor. For heavier weight, it is imperative to figure out the strap system, and properly adjust it to your body. If you can't deal with that kind of weight, there is no point in having this. The second issue is that, unlike one gallon sprayers, it requires virtually constant pumping to maintain pressure. This is the dealbreaker for me. It's not at all clear that the convenience of fewer refills is worth the hassle of hauling that kind of weight while also needing to pump the pressure arm every 3-6 seconds. It's very awkward and uncomfortable, and you can injure yourself. Again, it is important to learn how to wear it and use it properly. Comfort and strain improve a little as you get to know it. But it's still a bear to use, regardless. Unless you have very large areas to spray, a very strong back, and a willingness to pump constantly, I can't really recommend this. But if your needs fit the device, it is a quality product and does the job.

Works great

I bought this sprayer under duress while I awaited warranty replacement of a FUFU (failed upon first use) Chinese pump made in Mexico for a US company to fix my tow-behind sprayer. Now I am questioning whether it's worth it to rebuild the towable and deal with gas, and the need to dismount the tractor and pull a long hose to reach all my 4-6 foot deep flower beds. The build quality is excellent. The manual pump needs only five to six cycles to achieve pressure when tank has 2-3 gallons in it. While spraying, an occasional up and down handle stroke maintains constant continuous pressure. And pumping is almost effortless. The wand is spectacular. The stainless steel tube looks to be about 5/8" OD and the included "spray optimizer" gives a tight cone with the brass tip for spraying around sensitive shrubs. I don't know how the gadget works but the spray seems to have laminar flow. Just for giggles I sprayed the stalk and leaves of a tall broadleaf weed without any overspray. It also makes your herbicide solution go further, although I mix mine in a dead 14 gallon tow behind tank LOL. 4 gallons of herbicide solution weighs over 30 pounds, so at 75 years old I only fill it to the 3 gallon mark. I am coming off four-years disability that culminated in bilateral knee replacement 60 days apart and one year of physical therapy and rehabilitation. I'm pretty certain certain anyone in reasonable physical shape can manage this unit. Compared to the many other backpack units on Amazon with obvious flaws like cheap Solo wands, side-mounted outflow barbs, flat bottom tanks and crummy harnesses (basically all the reasons I passed on on a battery powered model) I would value this manual $111 option at $250 to $300. It's the one you want; the one you need.

the sprayer works fine, no complaints there. My complaint is the thread size on the nozzles. What are they? They won't tell you? I want to add a drift nozzle to the sprayer but can't buy one because the threads don't match any existing threads at the big box stores. There are no bolts, nuts, nothing that is metric or standard that fits on this machines threads. It would be nice if the sprayer came with a drift/overspray funnel and at the very least if they sold one. I own property and use bigger sprayers for most, this is just another scam for the little property owner to force you to spend more. Whatever happened to making your customer happy with the product you sell.

My wife and I had a custom home built on a 1/2 acre lot, so the yard is pretty large. Spraying weeds with a 2-gallon pump sprayer was a ton of work - too many refills, and stopping frequently to pump it up meant that I was working way too hard! Plus, carrying it in one hand made my back hurt. I'm 6/2 and have a large frame - this sprayer is very comfortable to wear, and the weight disappears because it's on my back and braced well - no more back pain! The pump was easy to use with just a few pumps needed to maintain pressure, and having 4 gallons to spray meant that I could go for a long time before needing to stop and refill. This is an excellent product!

Works good, just as described

Works well and is of solid construction. Hopefully get many years of use from it.

Does what I purchased it for

Easy to use. Allows me to spray my whole yard refilling once. Not too heavy.

Vaporisateur idéal facile à utiliser pour arrosage contrôlé des arbres fruitiers nains et semi-nains. Mon micro verger en compte 36.