Toro Flex 2100 engine bracket change (upgrade )

Our models are 2012 with the new changes and Subaru engines . We have noticed that certain times of year the grass will jamb in between the drum and engine bracket like in the picture below . Makes the machine hard to track straight and turn . Also a real pain to clean out . 

 In 2014 an upgrade bracket came out to help with this issue . 

This is the new bracket..Base-engine (mach) 127-1535 part # 75 $ Canadian. 

Some pretty minor  changes . The new bracket needs stove bolts and you may want to get stainless . I used the regular ones with anti seize .

 They should provide enough clearance to stop the grass from collecting . 

Made a little engine hoist using tripods . I left the flex on the trailer so I could use the lift . 

Worked pretty well and didn't need to disconnect wires . cables , coupler etc. 

the clearance before changing it out .

 

Here it is after ...gain about 1/4" +  - .In the front the rear wasn't really any issue .  Doesn't seem like much but is the same clearance as the housing beside it that doesn't collect clippings . 

Looking at the old bracket and see that it may be able to be modified to get the same result . 

I'll put this one on the #2 mower and leave the third with the stock piece . Now I'll wait till the next time # 3 jambs with grass and see how the modified and upgrade ones made out . 

Took the old stock plate and ground it down a bit .

Installed it on #2 mower a you can see a bigger space where the front mounts where close to the drum

like in this picture . Gained a good 1/4 " just like the upgrade

Custom bracket . see the space near center of pick

Anm improvement over this stock one . Now I'll have to wait till the grass clogs on # 3 mower to check and see how #1 upgrade and #2 custom brackets do.

Toro groundmaster 3500 Sidewinder tip overs

This is the second time this machine flipped over ., The first time the back wheel slipped over an embankment in the dew causing it to do a barrel roll down the hill . This time the new trainee flipped it upside down in the trap . Partially his fault and the bank gave away where it was recently rebuild before he started here . As a reminder the on board angle gauge is there for a reason .if you getting into the orange and red your in danger Both time the operators did not wear their seat belts and very lucky to escape serious injuries .

Not a good seen in front of club house . The new operator should not have mowed this steep of a slope . Had he worn his seat belt he would have been OK . He was extremely lucky that the roll bar didn't break his back . 

Always at lunch time for something like this to happen . Just ready to eat and log in my repairs and adjustments for the day . 

After an engine especially a diesel sits sideways or upside down the oil will run into the cylinder and head.... hydraulically locking the engine.The engine will not start in this state and will have to be towed in to the shop for repairs . Be sure to disengage the hydraulic pump from the system and tow in at the recommended speed . 2 to 3 MPH . If you have to go a long ways use a trailer . Engine picture shows everything removed to get the oil out of the head . Injectors and glow plugs . When rotating the engine the oil will fly up out  of the cylinders quite a ways . cover the openings with a rag . 

Went pretty smooth for my first time in this situation . After turning the engine over with the top covered in rags I replaced the parts in reverse order . Notes . The injector closest to the rear you may have to take the head bolt out if you don't have a thin walled socket , the head bolt is threaded to mount the air filter bracket . Marked where the injectors came out of.... to replace them in the same location later .When turning engine over don't have eyes ,face or hands near the openings the oil does shoot out very fast . Head bolt and injectors torque at 50 lbs. glow plugs 10 lbs. install a new air filter and wipe out and or clean rubber hoses and air filter housing . I also did an oil change . When  removing the injector tubing I did the outside ones first then the middle .Reverse it to install .Turn the hydraulic tow lever/stud back to in-gauge system. Turn the key to on so you can hear the fuel pump going and crack the bleeder for injectors till the air is out then close . Pump the lever beside it a good 20-30 times . Now your ready to start the engine . It's going to smoke really bad for a few minutes then tapper of to near nothing after 15 minutes .I'd run it at idle till the smoke clears . If its running rough check the injector tubes for a leak .I missed one  ,after tightening it up it smoothed the engine out .
Over all not to bad just a little time consuming and messy.

Small arrangement of standard and metric tools for the job.

Toro 4300D rear deck bumper stop problem

Recently I noticed the rear decks didn't seem to sit very level in transport some times the front rollers would even touch the ground . 

Looking a little closer and noticed the inner deck bumpers where bending inward . The right side was touching the steel lines .

The left side just grazing the hydraulic hose .

You can get access fairly easy from under the seat . I'm using an old trick by increasing leverage in a tight space with another wrench and saving my knuckles .

Both side where fairly easy to get out . 

Straightening them out the best I could with the press.

Not much point putting them back in unless you reinforce them a bit . 

You can see how badly bent they where . I had some same thickness metal in my metal scrap pile to weld in place . This should prevent future bending . 

The right side looking forward 

and the left . I'll do the same thing to the other unit when it comes in next . 

Extending Rear Roller on DPA Toro cutting units

Our sister course has had them for a season . I didn't know theses where available. The reason they purchased them is to extend the space between the bed bar and roller . Grass clippings collect on the roller and dropping off making a mess on the greens . Pretty expensive kit as most golf course items are for what it is but will pay for it's self in a season when you won't need a  guy blowing off greens after they are mowed .  

 Came as a kit for 3150 Q Greensmaster

Loosen hardware on machine . After removing discard everything but the top shim .If cutting under 1/4 " shim goes on top like in picture .

I assembled the brackets together first .Loosen of the pinch bolt to ( silver threaded bolt in center of picture . Nuts are all the same size 10 mm . Long bolt is also 10 mm socket head . Short bolt is a metric Allan head bolt . Why I don't know ? Pet peeve ....why the different bolts .  Long bolts and set screw are a little to long maybe it works for other applications may be the reason . I geared up a few different 3/8 ratchets with all the sockets you will need to speed things up .  

No need for old spacer the new kit has it built in . Here you can see how it off sets the roller .I installed one side then slid the roller in and put the other side on . 

Tighten down the hardware and snug the set screw to pinch the roller before locking the nut down . 

You can see how close it was before 

Lots of room now 

A picture of were it use to build up and drop off clippings .

I may put them on the flexes this winter and the other the other set 3150 reels that we use for approaches .

Nova Scotia Open

It's been a crazy week so far. Al the technician at the New Ashburn and I have been busy keeping the machines adjusted for tournament conditions . We start our day at 4:30 and have a coffee together discussing the tournament and gear and planning the day out . First job on hand is to swish the dew off the fairways and then start adjusting the evening mowing gear for their next mow . Nothings leaving the shop unless it's cutting news print clear across the reel . Hoc are checked and adjusted as needed and checked daily . then we double team and leave the New to work at my shop for a few hours to check over my gear for their next mow and any repairs need to be done will get at that time . Then back to adjust the morning Mowers at the New course . Taking a little break in the afternoon to be available for the evening shift in case we are needed for repairs and or adjustments . Going great so far just hoping the weather will stay good. A few random pic's  of the course .

Knocking down the dew on fairways

One of the young guns doing a great job on the loaner from Veseys.

# 9 fairway ...looken good 

The 3 covered  bridges give the place a rustic look .

# 10 and # 9 fairway looking from 9 tee area 

Another great shot of #10 fairway

Everything's cutting great .

The old course crew will be helping out soon and on stand by in case we get the rain event on Saturday 

.Lots of excitement at the course and surrounding areas . We are all ecstatic and can't wait to see the course on TV .

Every ones calm ...cool and collected at jobs and tasks at hand . Great Job New Course guys .