Toro Edgemax blade review

 Toro Edgemax bedknives is fine product . I would recommend them to courses with smooth fairways that seldom topdress . For the period that we had them for I was very surprised on how well they kept an edge . They say they keep an edge 3 times as long and I believe they will in ideal conditions . As far as grinding them I personally didn't think it took that much more time and used the factory stone on  our foley grinder . There are better stones out there if your in a reel hurry to get the grind back .

 Sad to have had to switch over to HD bedknifes because they where taking a pounding on our fairways . We have some bedrock outcroppings and a few rocks ( some the size of old Buicks ) on the fairways . I noticed it first when we were losing chunks out of the bedknife then later on they where all separating .

There are guys on the tech sites that have over 800 hrs. and counting on their bedknifes . If I had different conditions I would gladly go back to them .

Toro 4300 D leaks

 Here are a few pic's I took at the first of the season when the new 4300 D started to leak . The rear steering cylinder was seeping at the shaft seal . Just because a machine is new doesn't mean you don't keep an eye on them . Toro replaced the cylinder promptly when I sent pic's to the head tech at the dealer .

 Also had an issue with a seal on the deck motor . replaced O ring behind jam nut but couldn't get the hose to stop leaking . After going back and forth with the dealer I decided to flip the hose ( fittings are the same on both ends ) and it solved the problem . I'm thinking maybe the hose had a twist in it and being on the left front deck it was loosening off .

Just a pic of the anti scalp plate with hydro fluid on it from hose leak . No problems for the rest of the season . The 4300D with the smaller decks are a perfect match for this course . We loved this machine so much we are getting another one for next season .

Greasing Weed Whacker Heads

 We are running stihl gear here . To speed things up I removed the bolt for grease access . I drilled and tapped out for a grease fitting . ( much like a zerk fitting )

 In mid season I just give them halve a squeeze with a grease gun .

This is one with a brush saw attachment . The best and fastest way I found to sharpen  was to use the cut of wheel . Does a great job .

Cushman tow hitch Fabrication .

We have a problem with cushman hitches sagging and eventually bending at the frame . My idea is to get more support using the dump box pins . Are they over loaded ? Very possible , this is a golf course and these are great work horses and are used to there maximum ability and then some just like most golf course machinery .  

I started of by hanging plates of the box pins . Drilled out so they can slide over the pin .

Then I cut some heavy wall square tube stock to align across hitch . My original intention was to weld it under the hitch . I did it this way for the other model . The tow tab was extended and bolted to original one .

Lining everything up and tack together .

Welded up .

 After hauling heavy items including the water trailer it has not budged at all .

Pricing out parts

 Rock stuck in vane and wore through center section .

This is what happens to a trash pump when you tell the staff to use the screen and they don't bother to .
   This is a pet peeve of mine .
My point of this post is to price out parts on small engine to determine whether to repair or replace . For some reason small engine parts are priced in such a way that it is sometimes  CHEAPER to throw it away than to repair . It's our job to repair and save money and I really hate to throw something out that could have been fixed but that's how this industry is at times . To my shocking surprise the parts alone to repair this one = to a new replacement . Next time I'll be shopping for a new replacement and putting the 4 hp Honda perfectly good engine on the shelf .

Sealed Bearing Tip

This is what a new sealed bearing looks like with the seal out . Notice how much grease is in it from the factory . I'm using a tip from one of the guys on a tech site . He removes the seal and works the swepco 103 grease into the bearing and wipes off the access then pops the seal back in . I'm trying this on our tru-turf roller which tends to go through these bearings fairly fast . One season on them so far and there is still a little drag on them , there not spinning as freely or sound dry .

Sprayer Hose Repair

On our 1250 toro sprayer we wind up replacing hoses a lot in the past from them chaffing on metal . I have been using the old hoses and cutting them up to pad the new ones .

Wrong Fuel !!!

 We have in the past have had a few issues with putting the wrong fuel in equipment . The last 3 seasons I have done this and it's 99% effective . I use zip ties for what fuel goes in which machine . Red for gas .

 Green ties for diesels .

 The machines that have similar hydro tanks nearby I also painted the caps and zip tied the hydro tanks.

 The mixed fuel is tag with a purple tag .

 We have 8 - 1 gallon fuel tanks for mixed fuel ONLY. I personally mix the gas for them . The one time I let my guard down A brand new saw was ruined . I managed to repair it with after market parts .

 Fuel pump handles also colored . GAS

 Diesel.

Also have signs up in cold storage , lunch room / gas shed .

Club Car Turf II winter work

 

Near the end of the season . I put gas treatment in all the equipment. Since I 'v done this for over 5 years I have had  no carburetor issues .

 

 Oil and filters changed . The fuel filters I'll change every other year , On the off year I just twist the filter 180 degrees .

 I use this product to clean brushes on the starter / generator . I'll check to see if the brushes need to be replaced , If the top of the brush is almost level to the slide it is time to change them . I keep some on hand . Fairly easy job to change .

 I have for the past 5 years been using dry graphite on buttons on secondary clutches . I have noticed very minimal wear. Have also  notice some of the newer machines recommending this now . Coincidence ...... maybe .  

 For working on individual wheels I have a heavy duty tripod . I adjust it to the bracket and drop the lift to the next click . 

 I'm checking the rear brakes . I'll use the 7 mm wrench and back off to get the drum off . Check the pads for wear , give them a little scuff if they are glazed over . Adjust the rear brakes this way first before adjusting any cables , I adjust it till drum doesn't turn then back it off 3 to 5 clicks. I have one CC with 4 wheel brakes , do the front first .

 When supporting a wheel ( one corner ) with a tripod adjust the lift fork to set under the side of the gear your working on .............just in case something happens .

 On this one there was a little play on the 2 bushings on the upper control arm .Replaced bushings bolts etc . and never seize .

Every season I tighten or check the 3/4 " fine thread nut . This one had bad bushings and thrust washer. Also check the brake pawl adjustment , clean / top up battery . Where we have fertilizer in the same building as the equipment . I have notice machinery parked near these areas to have more than usually corrosion on electrical connections . So I give the wiring connections an extra cleaning and lubed up with die electric grease .

PGM Grinding Spiders

Had my last PGM on the grinder today doing a relief grind . I noticed a little hop in the grind once in a while . On closer inspection I found the finger was hitting some welds , so I took care of them with the cut off wheel . Last relief grind for this one . I'm glad where getting new flexes this spring , other wise I'd have to replace the reels on a few of the pgm's to get them to cut at .120 ". Where taking the old greens mowers (pgm 2006) and bumping them up to tees . So this reel will be fine for another season at .500" HOC . With my past experience with these mowers I know I can spin grind them a while more before they are done .

Blowing Out Irrigation

Up here in Canada we blow out the irrigation lines with air in the fall to prevent lines from breaking during the freezing weather . I have lots of Irrigation knowledge and was asked by the assistant to give him a hand today. At this course we rent a couple of smaller compressors and hook them in locations at the top of the course to push the water out down the hills  . While we are waiting for delivery of the compressor we will go around key areas top & bottom of hills and pull foot valves out of sprinkler , this way gravity will take care of a lot of areas and speeds things up . Will also open the blow out valves . Our pumping station is near the top of the course . It takes a full day to blow out all the holes but we rent them for 2 days to give the greens and tee's and low areas an extra boost of air . Before we start up we shut off blow out valves and replace sprinkler foot valves . When we are all done the blow outs are left halve open same as the section valves . That way when the ground heats up in the spring it won't build up pressure and break things .

I was asked on Wednesday to help out at my old course to blow their irrigation . I'm a good choice since I spent a lot of time there running almost all the approach sprinklers and was pretty much in charge of irrigation and drainage there in the past . I did do up a nice flow manager program also . The Old super and his youngest son (Ben ) and I managed to get the remainder of the course blown out in a day . Went along very smoothly . We sent Ben  ahead of us and put in the blow out coupler we have at the greens,and opening section valves ,  then it was just a matter of hitting each head down the line getting tee's and greens as we went .  I was quit surprised on how well my old Super ( Brian ) knew his course irrigation wise . There are well over 500 heads and I bet you he knew where 98 % of them where . It was great to be in my old stomping grounds for the day .

TX Gator Bent Frame

 Left side bent in at least 2 inches .

 Also bent front frame and bumper in.

 Left front area also bent in .

Had to remove a lot of parts to straighten out . With a combination of heat , pry bars , hammers , bottle jacks I was able to get it back to < .5 inch .between dash and passenger seat . Notice the kink behind the passenger seat . What ever really happened it hit a tree really hard .
 As a new tech do not be surprised at damaged equipment being put away like this with no mention . It use to bother me a lot but now look at it as job security . I do a walk around equipment in the mornings and point out anything like this to the superintendent . It's up to the super to deal with staff, It is our job to get equipment repaired and put back out in service .
  This was a fairly new machine < 200 hrs. Apparently the new staff member panicked after sliding and loosing steering and hit the gas instead of the brake .

Club Car Towing System Repair

 We have had a few of the carts come in off the course like this . I think at our course it is from towing 3 carts to fast down the hill .

 The carts rock back and forth pretty hard if not towed properly and the mount on the spindle breaks off .

 Mounting bracket breaks of cleanly right on the weld .

No need to order a new one , with some basic welding skills you can repair it easily in the shop . They may not be pretty welds but they don't let go again after they have been re-welded .