Homemade loader bucket level gauge

Gone are the days where the supers or mechanic load staff up here . I used the same system that was on our old Massey that we use to have . I used a piece of rod and drilled out the center of a nut and welded to the rod end . I attached it to the bucket bracket in a way that it wouldn't be affected by the movement . On the top end i welded a piece of tubing and ran the rod through it . I then leveled the bucket and cut off the rod at the point where they meet . Now everyone looks like a pro scooping full loads .

PGM Transmission Casing

Got my parts in last Friday and spent an hour an a bit replacing transmission casing drum bushings , seal , spring washers etc. PGM was already torn down and waiting for parts for a few weeks . I'll finish it off tomorrow , I like waiting for the silicon to dry for 24 hrs. before I put the gear oil to it . It's already squared up ,I put the bedbar/ against the reel and placed a 1/4 piece of flat stock under the bedknife , and tapped it till I couldn't see light between bar . I removed drums from right side ( as if mowing ) . 1 note is that when you take the gears out from the case .....To get the part off that holds the 3 gears you have to use an allen key through the fill hole to get the set screw out and after you get that one out there is another one to get out . Yes 2 set screw stacked on top of each other . Other than that not to bad a job . I should have took more pic's but my hands where a little to greasy . I'll add to it later on I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a few more .

Box rails and Tailgates

Did this a few years back . The frame rails where done at the other course to protect the box from the guys loading them up with the loader . I use that Idea where I can quite often . The tailgate I cut the side latch rails off and welded angle iron to them and used 2x6 woolminized lumber . Worked out great . No more bent up tailgates . Occasionally you may have to replace they top board when the back hoe takes a bite out of it .

Cushman body frame repair

We have a lot of problem with rusting on the East coast of Canada . Cushman's for some reason rust really quick . I cut the old metal out with a reciprocating saw and cut off wheel , then make templates up for rusted out pieces and weld them back in . We just received a one year old cushman from the  sister course and now that I know about the rusting issue I have rust checked it and will do so every off season . That was the only down fall of these machines . Great heavy haulers and very few problems .

Locking out Hydro caps on Toro Equipment

This a great Idea from one the guys on the tech sites . I use it often on my Toro equipment where the gas/ fuel cap is in the same general area .You just drill a hole in the top lip of cap and use a zip tie to secure it , keeping staff from twisting it off to fuel up the hydro system .

Fertilizer Spreader mount for square hitches .

Made a couple of these for the guys last winter . I was surprised on how well it worked and they enjoyed using them . I had made one to fit a spreader the previous year But they ordered a different model . This time I made it adjustable .

Foley Pump moved

I hated the fact that the water stayed in the grinder while it was not being used . I moved the pump to a container under the the grinder . Now I have the pump suspended in a piece of Styrofoam to float the pump in the liquid . This latest plan came from our gardener .

In 2014 I'm going to this set up 

Every course I'm sure can get these buckets from the kitchen . The pump is sitting on a brick inside bucket .

Also covered up the old location

Best thing ever .No more tray of water . Liquid just circulates by going down the hose attached in the drain location into bucket .The bucket is easily removed for cleaning or replacing . If you have a problem on first start up for the season ..remove hose on grinder and let it run under the water level . it will pick up the flow almost right away . 

Mechanics Best Friend

Coming in on a tilt load trailer 

Sorting of parts

Installers getting things ready

Running all the hardware before

the Lift.

WOW freaken awesome !!!

Checking it out . Eventually I wound up backing in from the bay door your looking at and reversing the plates .

Best Christmas Present ever . Took about 3 hrs. for them to set up . I'm using it daily and I couldn't do with out one now. Really speeds things up in daily adjustment . I now come in early and put my wide area rotaries on and change out blades Daily , also frees up so much time that I can adjust and grease the big machinery directly as they come of the wash rack . All those crappy jobs that you try to get away with delaying it for winter work is done right away now with the lift . Took a little getting use to it and also walking under it . Always wear my hard hat now , and a good thing to . Makes adjustments on the tri-plex machines a dream .I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt .Lol

Want to speed up production / repairs and give a reely big smile on your tech's face .Get him a lift .

  

Especially if you have the ceiling height . I think we need 13' 6" for this one . So much cheaper for you guys in the states .

Found It

Back in February 2010 we had a tractor stolen from our sister course and was missing for sometime . We found it and I helped them out getting the tractor out of the swamp . At first look ,it didn't look hopeful?? The tech from the other course got some heavy duty chain and we wrapped them around a group of trees and used a cum-along to wrench it out . The new course guys chain sawed the ice away from the tractor . Eventually  we managed to wedge some boards around the rear wheels and it started to pull free. After it was out we put a tarp on it and put a salamander under to thaw it out . I had to leave for hockey but they managed to start it and drive it back to the course . Just in time too , the next day we had over 20 cm. of snow . That was an exciting and different day .

A good half mile back in the woods .

Any deeper in the swamp and the engine would have been toast.

Was feeling hopeless.

Then it broke free

Once we got the back wheels up it was smooth sailing from there 

A good hour of a propane heater going thawed the controls out enough to start . 

Sod Cutter Trailer

  

Material list

I started out by laying out the frame on the shop floor to figure out what angles to cut of the rough stock cuts . 

I slide the axle under the rear to see where the rear section of framing will go . 

Next I tacted in the box frame sections . 

The rear I used the U stock for better axle support plus in this business the wheel/hub may get ripped off by a tree or bridge . Makes for and easy change of axle if needed .You could just weld it to the frame if you wanted . Also this is my first one . I would use large C clamps to hold the uprights in place and pre try it on sod cutter before drilling the holes . Also if your using taller tires it will change where the uprights will be . Keeping it closer to the ground will make it more stable and easier to pull sod cutter onto trailer . 

The uprights If I make another one would use 1/4" flat stock next time . 

A little paint and done for around $500 .

 Close up of how it attaches to sod cutter . These are the actual factory pick up area for this sod cutter . The U channel below was to keep the wheels in place so it doesn't rock . Some times the depth of cut may keep it from fully loading so you may have to unadjusted .



I made one of these from pic's posted from fellow tech's . With a little practice and basic welding skills this turned out to be a great project . All the staff were amazed how easy it was to use . The biggest trick was to find the right balance with the uprights by moving them closer to the front or back  to be able to pull it down .

http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/article/golf-0311-travels-terry-knife-racks-greens-trailer-sod-cutter