JD TX Park brake adjustment

Park brake adjustment .

if your lever is all the way up and you can't get it to hold you may have to adjust on the caliper.

Back cable adjuster till it's completely loose .

 Go to the rear caliper (also check pads are in spec before proceeding )

remove nut and helper spring.

Turn the actuator in the direction that brakes are applied till it stops . Reinstall arm back to the closet position towards rear of machine . Reinstall nut and spring 

Go back to brake lever adjuster and adjust till it just contacts on first click . Wheels should lock up good by the 3rd click .

Back up ball picker

Part of our job is problem solving . Last season we had an issue with the ball picker (primary old fairway unit ) of course its during the time I'm off for a my 4 day long week end vacation with my kids and grandkids .
So
The cart staff have an MDX to transport range balls . Last winter during ball picker service I ordered extra mounts to install on machine . This way if I'm not round they can drop the wings on the 5 gang picker and use the MDX .

It was an older machine and came with a push bar already so install was quick and easy . We wanted it to be safe for the staff to use on the range so was asked to build a cage for it too . 

This way the range didn't have to close for picking .

Welding up some sturdy mounts to build on .  

Fair amount of work to get it to this point .

Now with a solid level base it was easy to weld the rest in place . 

Lots of pics at different stages . My answer to the tailgate falling open (bumpy ride) dumping a load of range ball issue .

Filling in with 3/4 mesh .

Left a large window opening .

Built a flip up cage for when its not needed . It makes your eye go pretty buggy if you don't .

Heavy duty straps hold it in easily

Made a bracket for front screen to flip onto to keep it from bouncing around .
Save a few dollars with a plywood roof and also keeps the sun off them .

Shown here almost done . Only a removable door left and filling in a few gaps . Turned out great . Staff really like it

5800 sprayer upgrade

Recently we had issues with clogged nozzle. Usually when doing fairways and pressure is up on the auto spray. Asked Bill at Vesey's to see if it possible to install a filter before the manifolds to keep debris out. I could have ordered nozzles screens but found in the past to be a tedious task to clean them all up. Figuring this location would make it a much easier. It was mentioned that a filter before manifold is on some of the new sprayers. 

Parts are in. Very reasonably priced. 

cut this section out of line 

Total install time < 10 minutes. New spray tech has sprayed all his areas in the past few weeks with no spray nozzle issues.

Shopping around Aftermarket

This is not about Toro but about the time spent looking for better deals for your club. 

Just using this example. In the past many items have come up from all colors that were I find ridiculously overpriced. Techs out there know what I mean. 

We are Toro /JD split course, and both have their ups and downs but, in our area, provide pretty good service and presentation .

 Here is an example of what you may come across. Spiral spring for a Subaru small engine found on most Toro walkers. (we have 11 of them)

Above on the left we have a Toro part at $66. Upon questioning the price, the dealer could get the exact product from Subaru for $35 dollars. I took a shot in the dark and ordered a rotary # for a Honda g20 engine spiral spring for $14 dollars. Worked prefect.

Not a fan of the carburetors or pull starters on these engines.  

Pulled the pull starter off the engine 

Righty loosie in this case. 

Installed new spring 

Re assembled with a smaller size string (suggestion on golftechs site)

Re string.

 actually, starts better than the OEM and the string fully retract now were before it would randomly stick down 4 to 5". Not just this one ALL 11 OF THEM.
$66 - $14 =$52 if I were to replace 10 more $520.! !!! it can add up. it's just a spring might not be OEM but for the price I'll take my chances. Mind you OEM is better in some cases but not this time.

Large area rotary deck wash

If your not on Twitter you are missing a lot of knowledge and helpful ideas .

Found this one day and is a great solution to getting decks clean . Simple and not expensive .

I used 1" Ipex and an elbow

I'm not going to use the valve in case the guys leave it on pressurizing hose . Find a connector to hook up to wash rack hose . 

Did a quick and easy job of them. Operators are happy and so am I. No more clippings falling on me from blowing under decks when they're on the lift. 

Twitter finds .... Nice and easy!!!

After grinding HOC set up table for Bernhard Grinder

Seen a few set ups on Twitter and forums that the techs made systems to adjust HOC on grinding or leveling tables . The idea is to have the cutting unit weight on the bearings for adjustment . Would make a difference on lower greens HOC (height of cut ) for sure . 

   

Mocking up the setup .

Using the leveling plate I was able to get it pretty accurate .

   

Getting it laid out and ready to tac weld before welding 

Checking it out with a reel on it .

Welded a couple of stoppers on top . Found it would be a little cumbersome to get the heavy reels on at first ,Then

by a fluke it fit perfectly on the grinders lift table . 

Now after grinding they can be rolled onto the table

and raised back up to a comfortable height for adjustment 

Nice little addition to the grinder .

Check and setting HOC with accue gauge

Really noticed the difference in reel to bed adjustment when flipping it back onto roller on stand . Had to readjust . With the weight on the reel bearings I had light contact we're on bench adjustment it was near no contact . 

On more pick with the solid reel mound Toro 1600 mower.

After a season, I really like it so decided to extend the legs so I wouldn't have to bend down much for adjustments .

great addition to the grinder .

Toro 5800 radiator access 2015

I noticed on our Toro 5800 sprayer has a panel that was originally spot welded in place where the radiator is . Not a real big problem for me to clean the rad from the under side on the lift . But made more sense to chisel out the spot welds and get a piano hinge from the hardware store . I welded one side on the flip up panel through the holes . the other end was pop riveted to seat panel . No our irrigation tech can blow it out easily after use .

Looks ok

Took a while to figure out a simple solution to keep panel in place

Ended up sliding a washer under this tab I made and used a nylock nut to give it a little tension .
Works great .