Toro Sidewinder bolt on snipper holder

The super wanted me to mount a snipper to this machine so that the operator can get the areas around the traps that the machine couldn't get . Being short staffed we have to double up on the work this time of the year . Worked out very well , didn't have to strap it down . Also installed some lights . We're still mowing in the dark for the first 2 holes . Course time change after the long week-end .

Update on Towing

Had it out  twice now . Super really liked the set up . It only took and extra 40 minutes to do both jobs  Verses 2.5 for approaches and 1.5 for aprons . Our aprons are only one pgm pass double cut around the green . The old Greens Kink didn't even know it was there . I'm thinking of attaching a different tow bar of both side of rear wheel supports this winter . So total would be 2.5 and 40 minutes .

GK IV Tow Hitch

Made a hitch from scrap metal pile . Going to mow approaches this fall because where very short staffed when the students go back . I'm going to try to mow the aprons in the same haul . I figure it will save me an hour of drive time if it works out and get 2 jobs done in one go . I like to put lock washers between nuts in some thing like this . Very seldom do they ever back off .

End of season coming near

Our student will be going back to school soon (next 4-5 days )I'll be helping out with some of the mowing till the grass starts to slow down . Next 3 to 4 weeks I'll be just trying to keep up with adjustments and greasing as I can . we will most likely be triplexing greens once the students are done and I'll try to start some winter maintenance on the greens walkers ( PGM's ).

August picks of course

Things are starting to wind down . Course look as good as it's going to for the wet summer . Things are slowly winding down . Students heading back to school . My season gauge ( liloc tree in my yard ) is almost ready to bloom .

Toro 1250 transmission mounts

Check this area for cracking or bending on both sides 

Clean off paint to weld home made brackets in . 

Easy to do with the tank off 

If you ever have your tank of your older style (2001) sprayer you might want to beef up your mounts like I did . The tech at the other course had a lot of damage from them letting go a few year ago . I would advise to check these tabs often if you don't beef them up , especially if your course has rough terrain and hills . There is a bulletin out on this problem and there is a kit available for repair if it fails . Failing is not an option the other course had to replace shifting cables and  few more parts that are not  provided in the kit .

CC President cable kit replacement

Cut all the cables with bolt cutters 

leaving enough sheathing to grab a hold of.

Slide the homemade tool to compress the catches

Quick tug and off it comes . Frustration level zero.

With my homemade tool I can get a brake cable kit installed in 20 minutes , The lift defiantly speeds things up . For our fleet rentals we always install them in pairs as a kit . 

Tool is just 1/2" copper pipe with a T soldered to it for a handle .

Travels With Terry

Made the cut twice . check out some past and current issues to see some of the great ideas the fellow tech's ha
ve come up with .


 http://golfcourseindustry.texterity.com/golfcourseindustry/200903/#pg87

 http://golfcourseindustry.texterity.com/golfcourseindustry/201103/#pg72




 

Tarp Trailer

Laying it out

Lots of welding on this one 

Pinch the top and bottom of tubes to make welding a bit easier . 

Doubled up on tow bar to make it stronger.

Plywood base .

My goal was to make a trailer from stuff laying around the shop and outside . We haul tarps to greens in the fall to help protect them from the elements . The tarps can be heavy and hard to maneuver  . I made this low profile trailer out of fence posts . Very easy for 2 guys to drag a tarp on . They love to use it and find it quicker and easier to get them out there now .

My Gator Wire latch upgrade

Just needed a cut off wheel and a drill . Pictures are self explanatory . The staff love them . I love them because the rotary or fairway units don't find them ( old style wire latch ) anymore + I'm not stopping a few times a day to put them back on cause the staff no matter how many times I show them  can't seem to figure out how to get them back on .

Toro 5410 Lift Arm Kit

When we received our first model (2008) the left front reel arm mounting bolts would loosen off . It got to a point that I lost a bolt and the hole was stripped out . Toro  repaired it under warranty and it would still loosen off . The original mounting system would allow it to pivot causing the bolts to back off . After about 6 months the dealer called and said there was a kit available to correct this issue . Kit was fairly easy to put on and it has not loosened off again . I;m assuming the newer models have all the extra brackets .

Tow behind blower

I don't miss the beasts ( 3810 jac ) They cut well but during those times where the fertilizer kicks in and the grass takes a jump I rigged this guy up to the blower . Worked great , The old girl had no problem hauling it around and made the finish cut look fantastic . We're running new 5410 Toro with brush kits which do an excellent job for us . No more towing but was/is a fantastic idea . A few neighboring golf course  haul them behind their rough units to spread the clipping clumps they leave in the wet grass in the mornings .

Sand pro battery mod .

It's not pretty but very.....very effective . In our colder climate ( spring and fall ) the lawn and garden battery just doesn't have the cranking amps to turn them over resulting in over heated and burnt out starters from staff trying to get them going . We mostly hand rake traps and start this unit up a couple off times a year for projects . One hit of the key and to comes to back life every time .