I'm in love

[lawnboy82]

Well guys, I finally met somebody today who has changed my life. His name is Al, he introduced me today to the Aeravator. At 8:30 today we met up at a customer's house. I had tried aerating this lawn with a 28" Ryan core aerator last year. Got those nice 1/2" plugs, when the machine was bouncing off the lawn. Even after plenty of rain. I remember just the front lawn took me a couple of hours to do. The front lawn is about 5M sq ft. One nice big level spot, but both sides are hills. Well Al got the machine off the trailer today, (14' dovetail) we talked about the machine, the aeravator, trailer, and golf courses. We finally got the machine onto the lawn after all that talking. He turned the PTO on the tractor on. (855 JD tractor pulling the 60" aeravator) I walked behind the machine checking out the performance. I immediatley noticed that a lot of macropores had been added to the soil. I stuck my finger into a punched hole, my whole finger went in there :eek: I ran the machine over the lawn for a bit. Some spots got hit like 6 times due to turning. Other spots got hit 2 times. The spots that were done 6 times looked like they had been a part of a prison rape gone wrong :( all full of holes. This was a MASSIVE difference from aeration with that 28" Ryan. I believe it took us, with BS'ing about 45 minutes to go over the area, 2 times. Before I ran the yard over I put down some grass seed. Al and I got to talking, and he said they want to sell the tractor they were pulling the aeravator with. They want just under 10K for the tractor w/ 2100 hours on it, and a 2 year old aeravator. The aeravator before tax over here is like 6K and the tractor is 4x4 diesel, no loader. I am in love.. Well here is the thing. The dealer is about 100 miles away. Dealer is Turf Products? The guy lives by me though, they come pick the machine up if it breaks, if I need parts; UPS. Also, only people who have these machines by me is the golf courses and a few parks depts. I will be the only LCO in my county and a few others that has an aeravator. Al told me the best way to advertise this service is to talk with other landscapers, show them first and then sub. How does one advertise to other landscapers? Or to homeowners for aeravation? Also, I am thinking about $25 or $30 per thousand Sq Ft for just aeravation, and somewhere around $50 - $60 for aeravation / seeding per thousand Sq. Ft.
Also today when I was done aeravating, I put down some more seed, some starter fertilizer, and some gypsum.

I will testify to anybody who does not believe in the Aeravator.

Now hows about some help here with advertising and pricing?

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by lawnboy82
[i]Well guys, I finally met somebody today who has changed my life. His name is Al ... [/B]I hope that you two endure a long lasting and meaningful relationship!!! :laugh:

ROFLMAO!!!
Kris

[John DiMartino]

Your going to kill that thing on the average lawn,it is meant for golf courses,and athletic fields,where the turf is ,top dressed,soft,and free from rocks and roots.Figure in the high maintance costs into your bidding.Your going to be breaking lots of tines,and sheer pins.Get a parts list,I know parts are big$.

[kutnkru]

John

In all seriousness to LB82s post, do you think that even during the wet season that it would still not be cost effective to operate one of these machines. Im primarily talking in the month of April before the May temps hit and after the ground starts to hold the weight of equipment after the mid March thaws???

Thanks.
Kris

[Evan528]

Matt, Im throuroughly confused! I thoguht you are no longer in the landscaping busniess? What do you need a machine for? You said you met at a customers house. I thought you gave away your few customers you had since you went to college? I am interetsed to see what a Established lawn looks like after aeravating. I have seem some picture i beleave kirby posted of bare dirst aeravated. Looks like a pretty violent process for turf.

[lawnboy82]

Kris, thanx. LOL. I was tryin to make a joke there. This guy Al and I got along pretty well though. John, do you have one at your course? It sounds as though you speak from experience here. In doing this lawn today, we hit maybe 3 larger rocks. Those are at least the ones that did some damage to the lawn. I see your point about how it does do some damage. The rear roller tore up some small patches. Do you know offhand how much it costs to replace all the spikes? Also, where are the shear pins? Only place I would think they would be is by the PTO shaft thingy.

[John DiMartino]

if the turf is rocky,or rooted,it wont be cost effective at all,he would be much better off with a drum type ,I use a ryan 6 ft ,it weighs 1050 lbs,and it works well.You really need to see how much tines,sheer pins,and the cam/arms cost before you decide,these thing beat themselves to death,and cost $$ per hour to operate,in good turf,couldnt imagine how much in bad soil conditions.Most golf course roughs are better than the average lawn,and no superintendent would put that thing in the rough,they would use the cheap roller type we use on home lawns,it doesnt require much maintance,and broken tines are $4 a piece and your on your way.

[lawnboy82]

Didn't see you there Evan, sorry. This guy, I no longer cut the grass for him. But this guy has the worst soil out of everybody I could think of. I called him up and asked him if I could try the machine out, he said I could do whatever I wanted to basically. I want to get the machine, because from what some of you guys say they really work well. Nobody in my area has them from what I have found out. So why not make a niche for myself? With homeowners and LCO's alike. John, each spike is $2.60 Again though, where are these shear pins? Have you ever tried one before out on your course?

[kutnkru]

JOHN

Thxs. Missed the part about the terrains conditions. TY for the info about the roughs though. :)

LB82

I have been wondering ,,, When you threw the stick at the monkey did he scream???

Kris

[lawnboy82]

Kris, I honestly don't know the answer to that question. I forgot to ask the monkey before I left the zoo.

[plow kid]

Matt, offer him $7500 for it, but with 2100 hours that thing has most likely been beat to hell & back pulling that aeravator, Just be careful before you drop your life savings on that thinghttp://members.aol.com/ncls484/smilies/uhh.gif

[lawnboy82]

Nate, the tractor was a trade in. All it needs as far as I can tell is a new seat, and a paint job. The aeravator is a 2 year old strictly demo.,

[Scag48]

2100 hrs? That's not too bad. I've seen worse. It'll get along just fine. We beat the hell out of our Kubota and it's got 3,000 and going strong. I'd say it sounds like a good deal to me, if you can get work for it.

[morturf]

I own 2 aeravators. I have replaced the tines and it runs about $450 a set. As for what John said about the rocks and other obsticles in soil. I don't think John has ever run one of these, they require very little power because the tines are freewheeling. The shaft just makes the offset of the rollers move the tines in a side to side motion. John is right about one thing, I wouldn't run it on a golf course either, did you notice the hole is about the same size as a golfball, the players won't like having to find a ball stuck in that hole!! I have done some cotract work at one of the country clubs here, working up areas at the end of cart paths when the course closed for the season. The superintendent really liked the results.

I have run this thing thru so much crap that I can't say. I have even run it thru old asphalt parking lots that were hidden below 4 inches of topsoil with no damage. If you hit a rock, it walks right over it (I have even seen it break up concrete). This is a very rugged unit, you need not worry about breaking it on roots or rocks. There are no shear pins or anything of the like. Mine first unit has over 2000 hours on it run thru very bad conditions and I just did a little bearing work on a few of the rotors. Not terribly expensive, around$400.



Let me give you a little advice about running it on an 855. If you are going to be doing much hill work, you need to be aware that that tractor is not very stable with the unit out of the ground. I would suggest you look at the pivot latch on the aeravator, make sure it in not too worn. If it is, get it fixed. What happens is if you pick up the unit and it does not catch it will pivot freely downhill and roll the tractor because the 855 is a pretty light machine. I have had this happen, if it happens once, you will be very careful from then on. Don't get me wrong, I have a 955 and I love the tractor and unit together, it is a perfect match.

My only other advice would be to not run over the same ground too many times. Leave yourself a turn area at the end and then go across those when you are done. In smalller areas, I will go one direction, backing up to make each pass. This will help keep from too much of a good thing. I don't think you will be disappointed with these two units. If you want a good site for small tractor advice send me a private message. Good Luck.

[mdb landscaping]

are you going to drive the tractor to peoples houses? you said you dont even have a truck cause you wrecked yours? im confused like evan?

[lawnboy82]

Morturf, thanx. MDB, i have friends who are helping me out with basically whatever I need, so that is not a big worry for me, seeing as how I will only be using it a few days out of the month. All I need is a truck. I have my trailer sitting at my yard which this will fit on without fail.

[Evan528]

Matt, why havent you replaced the truck? Did you not have insurance on the truck that was totalled? Id think buying a new vehicle should be your first priority!

[lawnboy82]

I had insurance on the truck that was totalled. The money I got from that went to pay off bills. So right now I have virtually no bills. The insurance on another truck, small older F150, would be over 3K per year for only liability. :cry:

[Evan528]

whos your insurance company!:eek:

[KirbysLawn]

Evan, the aeravator works just fine on established lawns, not too violent. As for rocks and stuff, it will flip up most rocks or bust larger ones, and yes it will break concreate.

Three thousand $$ a year for insurance??? My wife's cousin has 10 insurance points and just got his license back after suspension and his is $3600 for full coverage on a 99 Ram 2500. What kind of driving record do you have??

[lawnboy82]

Ray and Evan; As you can probably guess I don't have the cleanest driving record. However that is not the only reason why it is so high. To commercialy insure a vehicle you must have at least 3 or 5 years behind the wheel. I at this time only have 2 1/2 years behind the wheel. As for who I use, I use a company called Indian Harbor.

[ant]

lawnboy,i got the 40" last mo. and love it.
ant

[lawnboy82]

Ant, how many other guys in your area have aeravators? Who did you sell the service to and how? Also, who did you buy from?

[lawnboy82]

Nate, you must be a psychic. I got the price today; before tax they want $7500.00

[Evan528]

Im so used to driving like an old fogey every day pulling my trailer that It has become a habit even when i dont have my trailer!:D

[plow kid]

Originally posted by lawn/treeboy82
The money I got from that went to pay off bills .............. The insurance on another truck, small older F150, would be over 3K per year for only liability. http://members.aol.com/ncls484/smilies/cry.gif


What do you do mooch rides off of everybody?http://members.aol.com/ncls484/smilies//wink.gif




$3000.00 a year for insurance, somebody is getting screwed and the ins co is not using vasoline,I pay $1000.00 a year on my 2 personal trucks! full coverage!! no smoke blowin either!http://members.aol.com/ncls484/smilies/smokin.gif

[ant]

only a park and a school has one.
i picked it up in pa.

[lawnboy82]

Yeah, so Ant, we are in the same boat. Only people around here with them are the golf courses and 1 or 2 parks depts. Do you make a nice amount off of the service? Or is it just another thing to do? I figured since nobody else around here has one, I could create a monopoly, so-to-say. Did it work out for you like that? I am gettin mine from out in Enfield Ct. Bout 2 hrs from my house give or take.

[RMDoyon]

lawnboy,

You are considering buying a tractor and attachment without the means to transport it?

What are you running here a lawn maintenance business or a website posting business?

You fall in love with a new toy and now are looking for a market to pay for it?

If you've read past posts you'll see that the guy who has posted the most about his experience with this thing (KirbysLawn) is using it as well as a core aerator.
This thing is not the be-all and end-all to the aeration market, just another tool in the barn for different soil conditions.

What is your business plan, "become the Aeravator subcontracting king"?

You told everyone you were getting out of business to concentrate on school and several people have asked 'what's up with that?' and you've ignored every question and that's your perrogative.

Not that it should matter a whit to you but your credibility with me has declined considerably over the past months.

Roger

[plow kid]

Rm, I think you hit that one on the head.