Test drove some ride-ons Today at GIE!

[Joshuakwhit]

Anyone else have anything to say about the test runs.

I have to tell you since I use the PG I find it simplest to run. Probaly the same with most of you when drive a new machine the first time. Everything right there at your finger tips. Not a whole lot of reaching and grabbing. Biggest prblem with the PG is no wand. Yeah, bottle is nice buuuuttttt a hose and wand just seem more senseible.

T3000 has a lot of hype, for a good reason. I found it drove smooth and the spread and spray worked nicely. Though I did not spread anything. I favor this machine more over the others, except PG for now.

I have one bad thought about the T3 and Z-Spray. There seems to be alot of moving around with the hands all over the consoles flipping and switching. May need just some time to get used to them. This is my thought and only would be a problem on smaller lawns. Also, a big turn off for me with the Z-Spray you need to trailer so more expense, though the spokesman was telling it would make up that expense in more production. A good thought if your leaning that way. I did like the speed would make quick work getting to and from the truck. I also like the new front caster lock. Hold down foot pedal drive foward or backwards locks in and your ready to face those steep hills, release foot plate to unlock. Pretty simple, may work. Although I was leaning towards the Junior 36 before the show, maybe not so much now. Don't get me wrong it worked great but I still like suff right there at my finger tips.

Took a look at Ground Logic, as well. There are some major upgrades over the PG and are there without ever taking your hands off the steering. Steers way better than the PG. A++ for that improvement! Priced good for the machine your buying.

By no means knocking any of these units. I just have a personal preference and some of the units tickled my fancy and some didn't tickle as much.:cool2::dizzy:

[Joshuakwhit]

There is one thing I forgot to metion. Everyone had a Spyker hopper. Which is heads and tails over the 3 port hopper on the PG. I wish they would swap hoppers.

[rob1325]

There is one thing I forgot to metion. Everyone had a Spyker hopper. Which is heads and tails over the 3 port hopper on the PG. I wish they would swap hoppers.

They do offer other versions. I have the older Bremly (spelling) hopper on my Perma green Magnum like my older centris. I think they also may offer spyker hopper? I paid extra for the upgrade.

Would like to know how you liked the new PermaGreen with the steering assist?

Do you have any pictures of the units?

Thanks
Rob

[bjlawnman]

I demoed the PG and turfco unit and thought the PG was much easier to drive. There's just to many controls going on like you said with the turfco unit. The steering wheel and throttles on each side are extremely awkward to operate. Maybye it just takes some getting used to..

[ted putnam]

Great posts guys... keep em coming. I'm still in the market for a new machine for 2009.

[Joshuakwhit]

Would like to know how you liked the new PermaGreen with the steering assist?
I really felt that it turned better. They were the only manufactuor with fert in the hopper. The steer asssit is done by 2 disc brakes on each wheel and slows the inside tire.:dancing:

Do you have any pictures of the units?
We drove 3 hrs. for the main purpose of testing these units and camera in glove box with extra batteries even. We arrived I believe I was so excited to be there or maybe just to get out and stretch. I didn't even thank of the camera till when we arrived back home. I kicked myself for that one.:hammerhead:

[Joshuakwhit]

I demoed the PG and turfco unit and thought the PG was much easier to drive. There's just to many controls going on like you said with the turfco unit. The steering wheel and throttles on each side are extremely awkward to operate. Maybye it just takes some getting used to..

I agree. The other thing that was nice were the big dropplet size spray tips T3 had and the Z-spray. Not on the Junior 36. PG still running tee jets. Less chance of drift with the T3 and Zspray.

One more thing I thought about the T3. It seems to be long, might would get high centered. One example that I know we all can relate is crossing through a ditch. Really not a big deal just go around to a crossing, I suppose.

I do think there is simplicty with the PG design. Open hopper with left thumd, start spraying with the left hand index finger. Release sprayer close hopper with left index finger and brake. No taking your ands off anything all controls can be completed with your hand moving no more the an inch or 2.

[Jason Rose]

Good reveiws. I feel that one really needs a good amout of time on a machine to really get comfortable with it though. I know the first time I ran a PG it was awquard, but after a few hours on the clock things were much smoother.

My question was about the PG steering assist as well, but you answered that already.

How high are the handles/controls on other models, and can any be folded down to make the machine a walk behind to get under low trees, etc.? I use the fold down handle on my PG a LOT, and if it wasn't for it I'd probably have several broken fingers, lol.

Back to the PG again, I'm suprised so many have troubles with the Lesco style hopper... I just don't have trouble with mine usually, only time is if I get some dirty product, with a lot of fines/dust in it, by the end of the day it settles to the bottom and kills the spread pattern, striped a few peoperties I did at the end of each day. I've used a spyker, but it was a smaller push model, had the spread pattern evener on it... Striped all the time, hence why I bought a Lesco...

[grassgod]

i tried the new turfco unit and i also found it a bit akward to run. the perma green was better with the steering assit but i really like the Z's. i looked at some of the other equipment but found a lot of them are just knock offs of the leaders.

[Joshuakwhit]

How high are the handles/controls on other models, and can any be folded down to make the machine a walk behind to get under low trees, etc.? I use the fold down handle on my PG a LOT, and if it wasn't for it I'd probably have several broken fingers, lol.

No other models have handles that drop down. They are all about the height of your waist or little higher, depending on the operators height.

Something I just thought about on the Zspray I felt as if were making lean foward. Causing an awkward pain in my lower back. Does the same on the Zplugger that we already own. :confused:

[ted putnam]

[QUOTE=grassgod;2572898 i looked at some of the other equipment but found a lot of them are just knock offs of the leaders.


I realize what you are saying and I realize the Ground Logic looks like a PG but honestly, there's only so many platforms you can put a spreader/sprayer on( zero turn, standard rear wheel drive lawnmower or a front wheel drive) I mean the only other way to move a piece of equipment on the ground is a hover craft or something like a segway. My point is engineers have limited options so it's not surprising there is what might be considered a "knockoff". I think the real question is, is it better than the PG in some ways...has the overall design been improved upon? I can tell you I like the all stainless steel hood better. Actually, I'd like to see what's under the hood of that thing...the guts. Just my thoughts.

[Joshuakwhit]

As I was going along today, I was thinking about the units I tried and remembered the only thing I wish they would change other than the hopper on a PG was the spraying. So let me ask ya'll a question. Is there a way to retro fit the nozzles that Zspray and T3 have on them to fit on the PG. You know the Ag spray tips. What else would you have to change. Would the pump need to be upgraded as well. This would go along away to control drift and may make the spray spread pattern the same. Anyone have thoughts on that, or has this already bee discussed in another thread.

[rcreech]

As I was going along today, I was thinking about the units I tried and remembered the only thing I wish they would change other than the hopper on a PG was the spraying. So let me ask ya'll a question. Is there a way to retro fit the nozzles that Zspray and T3 have on them to fit on the PG. You know the Ag spray tips. What else would you have to change. Would the pump need to be upgraded as well. This would go along away to control drift and may make the spray spread pattern the same. Anyone have thoughts on that, or has this already bee discussed in another thread.

You need to talk to Spread and Spray. He has come up with a very good update kit for the PG Mag and it is pretty much what you are asking for. Pretty reasonably priced also.

[Grandview]

As I was going along today, I was thinking about the units I tried and remembered the only thing I wish they would change other than the hopper on a PG was the spraying. So let me ask ya'll a question. Is there a way to retro fit the nozzles that Zspray and T3 have on them to fit on the PG. You know the Ag spray tips. What else would you have to change. Would the pump need to be upgraded as well. This would go along away to control drift and may make the spray spread pattern the same. Anyone have thoughts on that, or has this already bee discussed in another thread.

The Permagreen pump does not have the capacity to get an effective pattern using a Hypro Hi-Flow nozzle or 3-4 air induction nozzles that the Z uses.

[GreenAcresFertCo.]

You would be going through liquid like crazy to

[sclawndr]

The T3000 was nice but I'm having a hard time thinking I'm going to like pull starting that thing 35 times a day. It's a harder pull than the Honda on the PG and the demo units at GIE didn't always start on one pull either.

Did anyone look at the Time Machine by C & S Turf? Opinions?

[Russ]

The T3000 was nice but I'm having a hard time thinking I'm going to like pull starting that thing 35 times a day. It's a harder pull than the Honda on the PG and the demo units at GIE didn't always start on one pull either.

Did anyone look at the Time Machine by C & S Turf? Opinions?
I don't have any problem with starting my Z-sprays. Never mind-- I forgot they don't have pull starts.

[FdLLawnMan]

The T3000 was nice but I'm having a hard time thinking I'm going to like pull starting that thing 35 times a day. It's a harder pull than the Honda on the PG and the demo units at GIE didn't always start on one pull either.

Did anyone look at the Time Machine by C & S Turf? Opinions?

At the start of season with the T3000 I too thought that pulling this over was going to get tiresome but it really didn't. It started on the first pull almost every time. It did help when I put in synthetic 10w-30 oil from Amsoil.

One of the applicators in the area has the Time Machine and they don't like it. I don't know why but I plan on talking to him this winter.

[LushGreenLawn]

The push button is broken on my PG, and I have to pull it. I really don't notice a difference. If you fertilizing 35 lawns per day, after the first one, it only takes one pull to start. The first lawn is choke, one pull, choke off, two pulls and I'm going.
Easy as pie.

BTW, I test drove a Time Machine that was sitting at an auction near me. I didn't like the boom on the back. On my PG the two mozzles are in the front, and I don't have to look behine me to see what is going on. Seems like it would be a pain.

[sclawndr]

The push button is broken on my PG, and I have to pull it. I really don't notice a difference. If you fertilizing 35 lawns per day, after the first one, it only takes one pull to start. The first lawn is choke, one pull, choke off, two pulls and I'm going.
Easy as pie.

BTW, I test drove a Time Machine that was sitting at an auction near me. I didn't like the boom on the back. On my PG the two mozzles are in the front, and I don't have to look behine me to see what is going on. Seems like it would be a pain.

Thanks for the feedback on the Time Machine. I agree - the booms in the back are odd.

Starting a PG is one thing - it's a short pull and Hondas always start on the first pull. My grandmother could start a Honda. The Turfco unit seemed much harder - you have to brace a foot and really give it a pull. Not a big deal the first few times but I don't know if I'm up to that 35 times a day either.

[Joshuakwhit]

I seen the time machine later that day but it did not impress me much. I really would like to have bigger droplest on my PG. The drift it not some thing to play with, even with a slight wind.

As far as starting the PG it's a breeze.