Toro Walk Behind - Homemade Platform

[AltaLawnCare]

Here's a couple of pictures of the platform I made for my Toro. It operates like a stander mower, works great on hill sides.

Toro Modification Pics (http://community.webshots.com/album/21304110ciMjASVwIQ)

Over the winter, I'm going to convert to 5" brakes; mount 2 swivel caster wheel asemblies to the platform; and drop some of that weight, it handles like a bear - but doesn't slide the rear wheels!;)

[Esby]

Wow, not bad at all for home-made. How does it work on turns when you step off the mower to pull the inside wheel back so you dont tear the turf? Did you put a lot into it?

[AltaLawnCare]

Esby,
This is a belt drive, I can't pull it back - those extra heavy brakes Toro put on there make sure of that.

I always loop around and swing wide on the turns, I couldn't back up with the Velke either.:cry:

[geogunn]

how can you stand on it without rearing the front wheels off the ground?

GEO

[MOW ED]

Thats an "Alta-ered" version of the Pro-Slide.:D

[AltaLawnCare]

Geo - it took a lot of counter weight. The big drawback is walking behind it, unless loading and unloading on the trailer.

Yes it has been "Alta - ered".:D

[lawrence stone]

Add two swivel castors with air filled tires.

[David Gretzmier]

what about slopes and uphill downhill? Riding my velke the wheel pushes me up or down as needed. have you experienced any "dig" on dips? and how does this affect your hillside ability with all the weight in the front and back? Dave g:confused:

[TJLC]

I use an Exmark sulky on my 48" w'b and find that weight on the front end greatly reduces wheelies.

[AltaLawnCare]

Yes, it will "dig in" if I don't watch what I'm doing - it will also swing around and nail something if I get too close.

On side hill slopes, it's very stable even more so than walking behind it! Walking behind it would let the high side tire slide (before all the weight) - this goes back to the balance of the mower.

I only have one small hill, which is soo steep that nothing else but a 21" would cut it - but the Toro Stander sticks to it like a spider.;)

[Double D]

It looks alot like my Proslide. Did you get the idea from the Proslide? Does it slide on the ground, or just above it?

[AltaLawnCare]

It rides just above the ground. I thought about rigging a "slide" plate under it - maybe fabricated from a snow shovel??

I'll probably add two swivel casters to it over the winter. I already have the casters. It will take a while to position them to get as much weight as possible on the back tires of the Toro.