Switch
out the old and bring in the new. With grass growth fast and furious make sure
you and your machines are ready for high season with Toro’s rotary blades.
Too
often, we talk about how important it is to have a good quality mower and
forget that, just as important as the mower, are the parts you put in it.
Now, with
grass growth fast and furious, is the time to be vigilant and ensure rotary
blades are sharp and ready to deliver the best cut possible.
Reesink Turfcare’s parts manager Michael Hampton says: “Spring sees groundsmen tackle
large areas of grass much more frequently than other times of the year;
activity that can quickly dull rotary blades. Here we look at how to prevent
unnecessary downtime and out-of-action machines, with proper maintenance and
parts stock planning.”
Maintenance
best practice includes checking all blades to ensure they are not twisted or
bent as they require more horsepower to operate, damage the turf, create
vibration and noise, and shorten spindle life.
Michael
comments: “To stay on top of maintenance while mowers are being used more
regularly, I highly recommend Toro customers stock up on replacement rotary
blades now, rather than waiting until there is an issue. In order to prevent
damage to your machine and ensure operator safety, when signs of wear are
identified, the blade must be replaced immediately – making on-hand spares
extremely useful.”
If
councils or landscape contractors don’t have sufficient stock or aren’t
visually inspecting their blades frequently, the situation can quickly lead to
serious issues during spring and summer, when footfall and the use of grounds
increases.
Choosing blades produced by the manufacturer of your
machine is recommended, as is “choosing blades with a toughened steel
microstructure to improve wear resistance”, says Michael.
“Choosing a generic blade that is not precisely
manufactured for the mower may result in poor quality of cut due to incorrect
blade angle and height.”
There’s a
precisely engineered blade carefully crafted for specific turf needs. Best
suited to a grounds environment are the ‘No Sail’ (flat) blade as its
particularly effective for areas that are not mowed as regularly making quick
work of cutting down weeds, and the ‘Atomic Sail’ which works well later in the
season for mulching up leaves or for use with a recycling deck to mulch the
grass.
Genuine
Toro rotary blades are designed to work harder for longer, reducing the risk of
unexpected wear and breakages other non-genuine parts can suffer. They
will not need replacing as often as ‘will-fit’ parts and mowers will be
operational for longer, with less downtime.
