MASCHIO GASPARDO TEMPO Mounted Sprayers: Design and Technical Capabilities

The effectiveness of chemical crop protection depends on more than selecting the right product. Maintaining the target application rate, distributing the spray solution evenly, switching boom sections accurately and cleaning the system thoroughly after treatment are equally important. These factors become especially critical during short application windows, when a farm must cover a substantial area within a limited time.

The MASCHIO GASPARDO TEMPO mounted sprayer range was developed as a professional solution for farms and contractors requiring productivity, manoeuvrability and relatively compact transport dimensions. It includes machines with nominal main-tank capacities from 800 to 1,200 litres, hydraulic booms up to 18 metres wide and different levels of automation—from the BRAVO 180 controller to the fully digital TEMPO ISOTRONIC version.

MASCHIO GASPARDO TEMPO Model Range

MASCHIO GASPARDO offers three principal models: TEMPO 800, TEMPO 1000 and TEMPO 1200. The number in each model designation corresponds to the nominal capacity of the main tank, while its actual internal capacity is slightly higher.

The available working width depends on the type of boom fitted. The START boom is offered in 12- and 15-metre versions, while the more advanced WORK U boom is available with working widths of 15 and 18 metres. The 12- and 15-metre booms have five spray sections, whereas the 18-metre WORK U boom may be divided into five or seven sections, depending on the selected configuration.

For all principal versions, the manufacturer specifies a minimum tractor power of 66 kW, equivalent to approximately 90 hp. The sprayers are mounted on a Category II N three-point linkage and equipped with a Comet BP 171 pump. These specifications are confirmed by both the current product page and the official MASCHIO GASPARDO mounted sprayer brochure.

Machine weight varies according to tank size, boom type and control system. The official brochure gives indicative weights of 1,100 kg for the TEMPO 800, 1,125 kg for the TEMPO 1000 and 1,180 kg for the TEMPO 1200. Tractor selection must therefore consider not only engine power but also rear-linkage capacity and permissible axle loads. For example, 1,298 litres of spray solution with a density close to that of water add almost 1.3 tonnes to the unladen weight of a TEMPO 1200.

Tanks and Spray-Liquid Preparation

The TEMPO’s main tank is manufactured from polyethylene and shaped to allow complete emptying. Its smooth internal surfaces simplify washing and reduce the likelihood of residues from a previous treatment remaining inside. A separate clean-water tank and an internal rotating rinsing nozzle are provided for cleaning. The machine also has a 15-litre hand-washing tank.

The spray mixture is kept homogeneous by a dual hydraulic agitation system comprising a perforated pipe and pressurised agitators. This is particularly important when using concentrated, powdered or granular crop-protection products that might otherwise settle inside the tank.

A GreenMix T30 induction bowl is included in the standard specification. It allows the operator to prepare products at a convenient working height, introduce them gradually into the main tank and rinse containers using a dedicated nozzle. This reduces direct operator contact with crop-protection chemicals and helps transfer the remaining product from its original container into the sprayer.

Centralised Liquid-System Control

The M-PANEL is located on the left-hand side of the sprayer and brings together the principal filling, spraying, agitation and cleaning valves. Arranging these controls according to their function reduces the number of times the operator must move around the machine and shortens preparation time.

The liquid circuit incorporates an externally accessible suction filter and a self-cleaning pressure filter. These components protect the pump and help ensure reliable nozzle operation, as even small particles can obstruct a spray tip’s metering orifice and affect application uniformity.

The Deviokit system provides another practical advantage. It allows the spray circuit and nozzles to be rinsed with clean water even when spray liquid remains in the main tank. The operator can therefore clean the lines without first emptying the entire prepared mixture.

Flowback is another standard TEMPO feature. When spraying stops, this system releases residual pressure from the delivery lines. It reduces nozzle dripping, creates more accurate boundaries between treated and untreated areas and lowers the risk of localised overapplication.

START Boom: A Straightforward Configuration Up to 15 Metres

The hydraulic START boom is available with a working width of 12 or 15 metres. Its left and right arms can be folded and unfolded independently in sequence, simplifying work close to field boundaries, electricity pylons and other obstacles.

The hydraulic lift has 1,000 mm of vertical travel. Dual hydropneumatic damping helps control boom movement while the sprayer is travelling, while the self-levelling system with automatic locking maintains the boom’s position relative to the field surface. Three-position nozzle holders are fitted, although the spray tips themselves must be selected according to the required application rate, working speed and type of treatment.

The hydraulic functions are managed through the OILDRIVE 4 system. Only one pair of hydraulic quick couplers is required on the tractor to supply the machine’s hydraulic circuit.

WORK U: Greater Control Over Boom Movements

The WORK U boom is designed for working widths of 15 or 18 metres. Its construction allows the main arms and outer sections to be controlled independently. This provides greater flexibility on irregularly shaped fields and when manoeuvring around localised obstacles.

Like the START boom, WORK U offers 1,000 mm of hydraulic lifting travel and dual hydropneumatic damping. Sliding guards protect the structure if it comes into accidental contact with the ground or crop. In the OILDRIVE configuration, hydraulic locking, boom-tilt adjustment and centralised management of seven boom functions are available. The system still requires only one pair of tractor hydraulic couplers.

A five-section layout has a relatively straightforward design, while dividing the 18-metre boom into seven sections allows greater accuracy on field wedges and headlands. The shorter each controlled section is, the smaller the area exposed to duplicate application when the sprayer enters an overlap.

BRAVO 180 and Automatic Application-Rate Control

The standard TEMPO is equipped with DPAE electronic regulation and a BRAVO 180 controller. The system adjusts spray-liquid delivery according to the tractor’s actual working speed. If the machine accelerates or slows down, the flow rate changes to maintain the target application rate in litres per hectare.

The control package includes a wheel-speed sensor, flow meter and pressure gauge. BRAVO 180 can manage both the spray sections and the boom’s hydraulic functions, allowing most principal operations to be performed from the tractor cab.

Speed-related rate control is particularly important on uneven fields. A system operating at constant pressure without accounting for travel speed would increase the effective application rate when the tractor slows and reduce it when the tractor accelerates.

TEMPO ISOTRONIC and Precision Farming

The TEMPO ISOTRONIC version is intended for farms using satellite guidance and digital field mapping. Its electronic control unit complies with the ISO 11783 standard and can connect to a compatible tractor ISOBUS terminal or a separate universal terminal.

With the required equipment, GPS signal and software packages, the sprayer can support automatic Section Control. The system recognises previously treated areas and switches off the relevant sections on headlands, field wedges or around obstacles. This reduces overlaps and unnecessary consumption of crop-protection products.

Variable-rate application based on prescription maps is another available function. In this mode, the system changes the application rate according to the machine’s geographical position. Precision-farming functionality nevertheless depends on the terminal specification, GPS receiver and activated software options.

Optional Front Tank

TEMPO can be combined with a 1,100- or 1,500-litre FRONT TANK to increase operating autonomy. The additional capacity reduces the number of refilling stops and can increase the area treated during a working shift.

Placing the additional tank at the front also helps distribute weight between the tractor’s axles. Before using this combination, however, the operator must verify the permitted front- and rear-axle loads, the total permissible weight of the tractor–sprayer combination and any ballasting requirements.

Choosing the Appropriate TEMPO Configuration

The TEMPO 800 with a 12- or 15-metre boom can be a practical choice for farms with smaller or irregularly shaped fields. A smaller tank requires more frequent refilling but reduces the load on the rear linkage and makes the combination easier to manoeuvre.

The TEMPO 1000 provides a middle ground between compact dimensions and spray-liquid capacity. The TEMPO 1200 with an 18-metre WORK U boom is better suited to applications where higher output and fewer refilling stops are priorities. At an application rate of 200 litres per hectare, the nominal 1,200-litre volume is sufficient for approximately six hectares, excluding any technical residual volume.

The choice between the conventional TEMPO and TEMPO ISOTRONIC depends largely on the farm’s digital equipment. If the tractor already has an ISOBUS terminal and GPS guidance, automatic section control may deliver meaningful savings on irregularly shaped fields. For conventional spraying, BRAVO 180 provides the necessary functionality to maintain the target rate as travel speed changes.

TEMPO and TEMPO ULTRA ISOTRONIC Are Different Machines

TEMPO and TEMPO ULTRA ISOTRONIC belong to different performance classes. The TEMPO series covered in this article has nominal tank capacities of 800–1,200 litres and boom widths of up to 18 metres. The TEMPO ULTRA ISOTRONIC is a higher-capacity range comprising the 1300, 1600 and 2000 models. When fitted with the ALA 400 boom, its working width can reach 30 metres. This distinction must be considered when searching for technical documentation or spare parts.

Sprayer Spare Parts in Ukraine

Even a well-equipped precision sprayer requires regular inspection of its spray tips, filters, seals, valves, pumps, pressure gauges and distribution-system components. Customers can buy sprayer spare parts from the BAS-Agro Group online store. The catalogue includes nozzles and spray tips, bayonet caps and seals, filters, pressure distributors, pumps, UAN application components and other parts, with delivery throughout Ukraine. When ordering a component for a particular TEMPO sprayer, its part number, machine version, boom type and year of manufacture should be checked carefully.

The MASCHIO GASPARDO TEMPO occupies the space between basic mounted machines and more complex high-output sprayers. Tanks with nominal capacities up to 1,200 litres, START and WORK U booms, automatic rate control, a separate rinsing circuit, GreenMix T30, Deviokit and Flowback create a comprehensively equipped professional platform.

TEMPO’s principal strength does not lie in one isolated specification but in the coordinated operation of its systems. Liquid preparation, spraying, boom control and cleaning form a single integrated process. In the ISOTRONIC version, precision-farming tools are added to the machine’s mechanical and hydraulic capabilities, helping to reduce overlaps and improve control over the use of crop-protection products.