Well i mowed 12 acres today, here's a 5 acre lawn i did.

[bigw]

106437Not to bad for my first week on the ztr i guess! Did 3 places totalling 12 acres today and got done in 8 hr's. This was a 5 acre lawn.

[bigw]

a few more of the same lawn.

[progressivelawncare]

looks great, nice looking trailer.

[Mowerboy04]

need to work on your stripes it will come with practice, but over all not bad.
alex

[bigw]

need to work on your stripes it will come with practice, but over all not bad.
alex

Well considering i never even rode a ZTR before monday of this week i think im doing pretty good, atleast my customers have told me i have.

[DUSTYCEDAR]

keep it up looks great

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

Might just be the pictures but it looks like your middle blade is cutting lower on the left side.

[bruno_rs]

Might just be the pictures but it looks like your middle blade is cutting lower on the left side.

hey big, i have to agree with albery... something looks a little off with the cut of the blades. looks, to me, like it's cutting on a slight angle... could be a bent or even loose blade. also, make sure your deck is CLEAN on big $/valued customers lawns... clumps and/or thatch will wreak havoc right quick if not blown off and/or FINELY mulched.

are you mowing with gator (mulching) blades or whatever came with the machine? you may want to look into "magnum" (heavier) blades... kept sharp the magnums' give the best cut! if you mow when wet/damp, stay away from the gators they will clump no matter how clean the deck is! otherwise... looks good for a seasoned veteran like you. keep up the good work... my hats off to you. good luck. have a good one.

[capnsac]

lookey there, top notch. I love wide open spaces with the ztr, lawns like this make it feel like I'm almost stealing :)

[THRIFTY]

Your truck and trailer look super nice! Is it a powerstroke?

[ALC-GregH]

I agree on the cut, something isn't right.

Nice set up you have, the colors and name all seem to go together well.

[Raider]

That is an impressive set-up (truck, trailer, artwork)!!

[cuttin-up]

Love that trailer is it an 8 foot wide model?

[bruno_rs]

hey big, just out curiousity... what are you charging to mow the 5 and 12 acre estates? are you on track with what you'd like to be getting per hour? alot of nj guys are still at 60 hr. are you (pa) guys higher or lower, in your neck of the woods? are your higher end customers real or a real pain in the A$$?

i know you had another post which ran a preference survey (large or small lots)... personally i only do larger residential lots 2+ acres. don't care for the small stuff! i know... alot of guys will say that's where all the monies made (quick/simple/volume) but just not for this 47 year old... way too much loading/unloading. i do have a couple 1/2 acre commercial lots but HAD to take them, in order to get the 5 acre residences i was after.

glad to see your out there tearing em up... be easy on the equipment... it can be your best friend OR you worst ENEMY! good luck. have a good one.

[deere615]

Your Truck and Trailer Look and match very nice

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

Awesome set-up BIGW. I also agree the cut looks odd. Check your left blade Change them and see if the cut is the same.

[bigw]

Awesome set-up BIGW. I also agree the cut looks odd. Check your left blade Change them and see if the cut is the same.

well i did wack a drain pipe at the lawn right before this one so maybe i bent the blade or something, i will be changing the blades tomorrow. Hopefully its just the blade.

[P.Services]

how come you arnt striping in a strait line?

[ALC-GregH]

how come you arnt striping in a strait line?

Go easy on him, he did start a topic about making straight stripes so he IS trying. :) practice, practice, practice.....:weightlifter:

[P.Services]

i thought a exmark would stripe a lot better then that though. they arnt very defined.

[ALC-GregH]

I KNOW they will stripe better then that, I've done it with a friends 72 without a kit.

[bigw]

i thought a exmark would stripe a lot better then that though. they arnt very defined.

well first of all the grass was like really dry and the entire lawn leans to the left, and their is no striping kit on the exmark just me trying!!

[44DCNF]

While you are looking at the blade issue don't forget that tire pressure can effect the cut, but don't focus on just pressure. Check circumference and tire height because not all tires come out of the same mold and can be of different size - enough to cause an unlevel cut when inflated to equal pressure. I have to run 13.5 in one and 15 in the other for the drive tires to be of the same size and to cut level.

Everything looks great! You're off to a great start. I may be repeating from your other striping thread mentioned (I haven't read it), but pick a point in the distance, like one of the pines trunks and focus on it to help maintain a straight line. Once you are comfortable with the controls that becomes easier and you won't rely on so much on checking you tires tracks to verify your position.

[P.Services]

pick a point in the distance, like one of the pines trunks and focus on it to help maintain a straight line. Once you are comfortable with the controls that becomes easier and you won't rely on so much on checking you tires tracks to verify your position.

i think he may have picked a wondering and lost dog to aim for by the looks of it. hahah just jokin 100% man dont get mad.:waving::waving:

[Floyd21]

Looks good.Nice set up you have.1st of all, was your customer happy with your work?If so then you should be happy.Thats the only thing that counts.Keep your customers happy.:clapping:

[kleankutslawn]

looks good practice makes perfect!

[j05h22]

bigw you are a true entrepreneur my friend. Your my new hero.

[Clapper&Company]

Thats priceless!!!

Looks good man

[bruno_rs]

hey big, don't take much to get you all worked up, huh? all joking aside, your striping will come with time and nobody's' "lines" are great "right out of the gate". i agree with some of the other posters... pick a focal point and aim for it. for instance, the house you have posted, while on the driveway line up drop dead center with the front door and drive STRAIGHT for it.

NEVER mow the same "run" in opposite directions... some of the photos look as though you may have done that. when just starting out, you may have to run over some lawns a second and/or third time to get the stripping and/or cut you want. when mowing high grass, do your self a favor and plan on doing it twice... it'll save you time (blowing and/or raking) and aggravation. lift the deck where you will not be cutting more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time... it may take 2-3 x's but that's life in the big city. sounds like at lot of extra work but it IS better for the lawn and you... quicker too. depending upon your customer and/or profit margin you're working with, the additional charge (if any) is up to you. personally i do not charge more than 1.5 the normal fee , FOR QUALIFIED WEEKLY CUSTOMERS... "1 shot wonders"... bang em whatever you feel is good for YOU!

it won't be long before you get the hang of it. everyone, here, knows you have the look of an "old timer" along with the ATTITUDE and/or confidence to go along with it. if you're still having "troubles" by let's say next month, i'll have to come out there and "smack the taste out of your mouth"... how's that for some "seasoned" advice? as i said before, i'm impressed with your go get em attitude, sales ability and business sense. good luck. have a good one.

[mjlcare]

106437Not to bad for my first week on the ztr i guess! Did 3 places totalling 12 acres today and got done in 8 hr's. This was a 5 acre lawn.

theres a LCO where i live that had the same name as yours and the logo looks very similiar

what a coeincidence

[bigw]

theres a LCO where i live that had the same name as yours and the logo looks very similiar

what a coeincidence

well considering i designed the logo myself i guess he saw mine on here and probably copied it

[lifetree]

bigW -- you never answered the question about what the going rate is for a 5 acre property like that !!

[bigw]

bigW -- you never answered the question about what the going rate is for a 5 acre property like that !!

I am getting 155 and another 25$ when i edge the drive way

[fiveoboy01]

8 hours to cut 12 acres? Seems like a lot of time.

I'm very impressed by your truck and trailer. Very clean, very nice, very professional looking.

[Frue]

nice truck and trailer. I dont know about the quality of cut tho. Looks as if you decks not level.

[edgeman2003]

I am getting 155 and another 25$ when i edge the drive way

thats like $31.00 an acre, plus $25 for edging. seem kinda low for so much work.

[Jay Ray]

Man, I should have done so well right out of the blocks! Keep on keepin' on Big.

[Roger]

l... I love wide open spaces with the ztr, lawns like this make it feel like I'm almost stealing :)

I am getting 155 and another 25$ when i edge the drive way

Bigger properties may look like a dream, but the smaller ones are always more profitable for those of us with more usual mowing gear (e.g. 48, 60 mowers). As discussed on LS so many times, usually these kinds of properties are the least profitable.

[Clapper&Company]

Bigger properties may look like a dream, but the smaller ones are always more profitable for those of us with more usual mowing gear (e.g. 48, 60 mowers). As discussed on LS so many times, usually these kinds of properties are the least profitable.
I agree in and out is the way to be

[mjlcare]

well considering i designed the logo myself i guess he saw mine on here and probably copied it

ill have to take a picture next time i see him out on the road

[bigw]

8 hours to cut 12 acres? Seems like a lot of time.

I'm very impressed by your truck and trailer. Very clean, very nice, very professional looking.

well considering the 12 acres were 3 different jobs,i took about 45 min for lunch and im new to this id say it wasnt to bad. The one had tons of trimming { hotel } and they were spread out about 5-7 miles apart.

[bigw]

thats like $31.00 an acre, plus $25 for edging. seem kinda low for so much work.

well considering its all open lawn...no trimming and i only have to load and unload 1x i think its ok. I mean i cut it in alittle over 3 hrs so it could be $31 an acre or if you look at it like i am $51 an hr.
It would take me like four $40 lawns with travel time, loading and unloading 4x to make the same money.

[LushGreenLawn]

$51 per hour is still on the low side.

I shoot for $72 per hour, or $1.20 per minute. Some lawns are less, and some lawns are more, but if I'm not averaging $1.20 per minute, I am not making what I am comfortable with.

[TNT LawnCare Inc.]

Well i guess Slim is back in town then because yesterday i pulled the blades off and the one was basically caved in on the edge side where it wacked that drain pipe which was cast iron and actually broke when the blade hit it thats how hard it hit. I put new blades on so ill see how the cut looks this week and see if their is a difference.

If thats the case ,then it would explain the bad cut on that side . Iam guessing the whole cutting edge was mashed in. The blade just tore the grass ,rather then cutting it.

[bigw]

If thats the case ,then it would explain the bad cut on that side . Iam guessing the whole cutting edge was mashed in. The blade just tore the grass ,rather then cutting it.

exactly what happend.

[bigw]

$51 per hour is still on the low side.

I shoot for $72 per hour, or $1.20 per minute. Some lawns are less, and some lawns are more, but if I'm not averaging $1.20 per minute, I am not making what I am comfortable with.

Well you would never get this lawn at $72 per hr, are you telling me you would have charged $216 to mow this lawn? Your bid wouldnt even been considerd. I was lucky to get it at what i bid. Companies around here bid less then $25 per acre on lawns over 3-4 acres.

[ALC-GregH]

BigW, let it roll. I watched my buddy hit a rock with his EFI 72, the cut was ruined until he got new blades on it. I changed the blades, one was tweaked pretty bad. After I finished changing them, I checked the cut and it was smooth and clean. Results may vary!

[ALC-GregH]

btw I never doubted you. :)

[Supper Grassy]

Nice job for your first week

[bill8379]

One time I thought I bent a blade but it turned out to be a bent spindle.

[bigw]

Thats what I have done. I have trashed spindles but the blade was completely intact after hitting hidden objects.

Its tough to bend a commercial lawn mower blade even if you stick it in a vise and pound it with a sledge hammer.

well it wasnt actually like bent in half, more like the blade edge was smashed in over about 3-4 inches. How would i know if i bent the spindle??

[DK lawn care]

The cut doesnt look bad for a bend blade! lol, keep up the good work and good luck with your season!

[lifetree]

$51 per hour is still on the low side. ... I shoot for $72 per hour, or $1.20 per minute. ...

Hell, If I was making $ 72.00 an hour at my regular job, I wouldn't be doing this part time ... I say be happy with $ 51.00 per hour !!

[lifetree]

Well you would never get this lawn at $72 per hr, are you telling me you would have charged $216 to mow this lawn? Your bid wouldnt even been considerd. I was lucky to get it at what i bid. Companies around here bid less then $25 per acre on lawns over 3-4 acres.

That's kind of the way it is around here !!

[lifetree]

bigW -- Since you hit that water pipe that you said, did you have to pay for it to be repaired ?? Most places would have to cover the cost of repair !! Also, what kind of ZTR do you have again ??

[Roger]

....

After 15 years of this I have yet to "bend" a blade.

Ten years for me, ... never bent a blade either.

[bill8379]

well it wasnt actually like bent in half, more like the blade edge was smashed in over about 3-4 inches. How would i know if i bent the spindle??

I looked for the position of the blade in relation to the bottom of the deck (once I had already put a new blade on thinking that was my problem). On one side of my deck the blade was 1/2 inch above the bottom of the deck, on the other side, the blade was almost even with the bottom of the deck. I spun it around several times by hand to make sure.

This was with a 21" inch so I'm not sure how relevant this is but it was a fast cheap fix at the dealer. They said they just put it in a press.

[bruno_rs]

well it wasnt actually like bent in half, more like the blade edge was smashed in over about 3-4 inches. How would i know if i bent the spindle??

hey big, i see you're on here DEFENDING yourself again... these guys know how to "push your buttons" and you play into it every time. anyhow, i'm not surprised to hear the blade was bent and/or damaged... when i commented earlier i added the blade could be loose and/or bent thus explaining why the cut looked a little "off".

i can't recall who said they've never bent a blade before and/or it couldn't be done... bulls#!t... it happens all the time. quite often you will bend a blade before taking out a spindle and/or housing. it doesn't take much of a bend to through off your cut... sometimes you can't see a bent and/or damaged blade while still on the machine.

you will know you have a bad spindle by it becoming "sloppy". with the blade on TIGHT, if you can move it laterally (any movement) it is bad. with some more experience you'll also hear a bad spindle. if you're mechanically inclined they're not too difficult to repair and/or replace yourself. dust and/or dirt are more of a threat to your spindles than impact... that's not to say don't worry about taking out a drainage pipe... GO AROUND THEM... sorry couldn't help myself.

i see your kicking A$$ lining up all sorts of accounts... be careful not to take on too much right out of the gates. be mindful this is the easiest time of the season. if we start to get rain every other day, then what. besides inclement weather, plan for on the job training and possible down time. if you schedule too much, you're gonna be run ragged, your equipment will not be properly maintained and/or your customers may get p!$$ed and look elsewhere. you should have enough right now to pay the bills and then some therefore take it easy and if you feel comfortable with more weekly accounts in the near future go for it.

take care of that equipment... like i said it can be your best friend OR your worst enemy. good luck. have a good one.

[milkie62]

His equipment looks great,probably alot better than some of the ones that are critical of his lines.Nobody was perfect when they started and did not have a truck and trailer like that.Like I always said cutting lawns is not rocket science.Some homeowners do a fantastic job.

[LushGreenLawn]

Hell, If I was making $ 72.00 an hour at my regular job, I wouldn't be doing this part time ... I say be happy with $ 51.00 per hour !!

Some of us are doing this for a living and have taxes and other overhead to cover. We also generally dis-like lowballers that drag pricing down.

[Charles]

You guys need to stop harrassing each other so we don't have to close threads