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rough mower dilemma

14 posts
  1. Jeremy Hreben
    Jeremy Hreben avatar
    0 posts
    10/25/2016 12:10 PM
    I am located in NJ. A municipal course with not many undulations, some minor mounds here and there but nothing significant. Previously at my course, we used a pull behind Lastec 721 XR. It was a great mower other than replacing belts and castors often, both of which I feel are wear items. Excellent quality of cut. However it took 25-30 hours to mow rough once a week. I received a hand me down Toro 580. I've ben using that ever since. The quality of cut is obviously not as good but acceptable. However, I am willing to give up this little bit of quality for speed, it now takes 12-15 hours to mow once a week. Huge difference.

    I am in the market for a new mower. The Toro 580 is expensive. $80,000 approx. I was looking at the Lastec 4520, a 120" zero turn with individual rotary decks. Excellent quality of cut, not quite as fast as the 580 but not as slow as the old Lastec.

    Also on my radar is the Jacobsen HR800. 16' cut It is a decent mower, a little less $ than the Toro 580, or the new 5900. About as much time as what we currently use.

    And the Toro 5900 with a 16' cut or the 4000 with a 11' cut.

    Have you guys used any of these?



  2. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    10/25/2016 1:10 PM
    Have you looked into the Jacobsen HR700? 14' width of cut and much cheaper than the alternatives.



  3. Jeremy Hreben
    Jeremy Hreben avatar
    0 posts
    10/25/2016 2:10 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said: Have you looked into the Jacobsen HR700? 14' width of cut and much cheaper than the alternatives.


    I haven't looked at that yet. I see it has a 12.5 acre/hour cut rate. The HR800 has 14.5 acre/hour cut rate. Pretty good. I just realized the Toro 4000 has a 10.5 acre/hour cut rate and the large 5900 has only a 9.8 acre/hour cut rate.



  4. Max Lamas
    Max Lamas avatar
    0 posts
    10/26/2016 6:10 AM
    I use a progressive proflex 120. it is a pull behind rotary mower. I feel you can mow slightly faster with it than a lastec. how many arces are you mowing?



  5. Ryan Reimer
    Ryan Reimer avatar
    3 posts
    10/26/2016 9:10 AM
    Look into the Trimax Snake Mower. It is a pull behind PTO driven mower, but it uses solid rollers instead of the caster wheels. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of cut and ease of operation.



  6. Paul Double
    Paul Double avatar
    37 posts
    10/26/2016 1:10 PM
    I am currently running a Lastec 3600 with about 4,000 hours on it. This model has a 100" cut. When I first got this unit a few years ago used with about 2,300 hours on it, it ran great outside of fixing a few small things on it when we bought it. It occassionally broke a belt or bearing in caster wheels, but was good for the first couple years, but it does not like hill in the mornings with dew. Once this unit hit about 3,000 hours, it has been a nightmare. We have put way too much money in this unit over the last year as we have had to replace the entire deck drive assembly, both wheel motor, wiring harness troubles, replaced engine to pump drives assembly, and after all that you would think it it would run like new, nope new problems arise every day and we have decided we are getting rid of this unit this winter and probably going to a used Toro 4500D or Toro 4700D, or even a Jacobsen AR522. We ran Lastec 721XRs for years and liked them, but we are looking for a self contained unit as if we went back to the Lastec 721XR, we would also have to look at a tractor as well as ours is getting up there in age. The new Lastec 4520 may have been upgraded and improved since the 3600, but please talk to your sales rep about that.

    Good Luck

    Paul L Double
    GCS Sugar Valley Golf Club
    Bellbrook, Ohio



  7. Christopher Thuer
    Christopher Thuer avatar
    101 posts
    10/26/2016 8:10 PM
    If not much undulation what about something like this? http://www.woodsequipment.com/productDe ... spx?id=330

    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN

  8. Frank McQuiggan
    Frank McQuiggan avatar
    2 posts
    10/28/2016 7:10 AM
    Jeremy,

    We use the Progressive 120 also and other than belt very few problems. Ours is over 10 years old and going strong. This year over the winter will be all new bearings for the spindles. Do this every 3years and belt replacement has been the biggest repair during the season.



  9. Max Lamas
    Max Lamas avatar
    0 posts
    10/28/2016 7:10 AM
    Frank McQuiggan said: Jeremy,

    We use the Progressive 120 also and other than belt very few problems. Ours is over 10 years old and going strong. This year over the winter will be all new bearings for the spindles. Do this every 3years and belt replacement has been the biggest repair during the season.


    Our progressive is 3 years old. Biggest issue so far is cotter pins breaking on the rollers. Those should be replaced yearly with steel cotter pins. Grease fittings are a pain. You want to make sure you grease the PTO shaft every 80 hours. Unfortunately you have to remove the PTO shaft and slide it together in order to get at the fitting. If you don't grease it, you have the chance of breaking the support at the connection bearing for the PTO shaft. The newer models this support bolts on. The older models the plate is welded on. This plate is suppose to break if that shaft does not slide. Prevents serious issues by allowing it to break.



  10. Jeremy Hreben
    Jeremy Hreben avatar
    0 posts
    10/31/2016 7:10 AM
    thanks guys. I will let you know what I go with and my opinions



  11. Douglas Eggert
    Douglas Eggert avatar
    1 posts
    10/31/2016 7:10 AM
    I've had the 580 at a course prior to this one, excellent machine if maintained correctly. I'd bought another, but I have some areas it wouldn't fit into or negotiate.

    I currently have a Toro 4000 D, 4300 hours, 2008 model, runs good. It does need maintenance, fluids and filter on schedule. I'm buying another one next season. I cut 60 acres of rough 1 to 2 times per week, including green and tee surrounds.

    I have a 2003 Progressive 11' tri deck for back up, it has been out a few times this season. It's been pretty solid since owning it.

    I prefer the 4000 though.



  12. Holt Michael
    Holt Michael avatar
    11/17/2016 8:11 AM
    Look into the Trimax line. They are bullet proof. I have the 10.5 foot snake but they make a 16 and a 20 foot unit. They are a little pricey vs. the other pull behinds but they are well worth the extra $$. Maintenance, and the mowing speed while producing a great quality cut will save you the extra $$ over the life of the unit. Best mowers that I have ever used and I've used about all of them.



  13. Michael Hummel
    Michael Hummel avatar
    0 posts
    11/17/2016 10:11 AM
    I agree with Michael Holt.. I have done some research on the snake for one of our clients and the machine for the money is the best with a 3.2meter cut. For guys that have a descent tractor and do not have the budget for a bigger machine such as the new Jacobsen wide area mowers or a AR -522 . The Tri max line is something to consider



  14. Darren Graf
    Darren Graf avatar
    0 posts
    11/30/2016 9:11 PM
    Do you get state contract pricing? Have you considered a gang unit for rough around the fairways and a smaller unit like a toro 4300 or a Jacobsen AR that stripes for around the greens and tees?



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