Jungle Wheels question

[BRIAN GALLO]

I just got a set of JW's for this season, and tried them out today. I liked the feature of the rear-weighted design to help push the front of the mower downward, however I had some traction problems today. It was a little wet out, but it seems that since the sukly is pushing the front castors down there is less weight on the rear wheels resulting in some wheel spin. Anybody else have this problem?

[pilotcoplawnboy]

It depends on how much you weigh. Sometimes if I am going up a hill and turning at the same time I have to step off with one foot and hop up to the top. Other than that, they are a life saver.

[Runner]

Can you just lean down on the handlebars to counter the weight and put more on the rear wheels?

[Doc Pete]

Don't know if you've noticed this but, as you start mowing faster, and/or go over bumpy ground, you will find the velky shakes back and forth and gets a little annoying. Plus this sends a vibration through your feet. If you are mowing for an hour, more or less, this becomes tiring. The problem is the wheels are too close to the pivot point and tend to oscillate.
You can make the JW's much more comfortable by getting a local welder or friend to reweld the wheels rearward 3 inches. Also, I'd lower them 1 inch closer to the ground (raising the velky), while you're at it.
Pete
For Pete's Sake

[Wright Mfg]

Switchless- Our one wheel velke doesn't shake like a two wheel one does because it's the two wheels that cause it to shimmy. If one of the wheels drops in a slight dip or hits a slight bump and the other side doesn't, it will cause the jerkiness. This has always been a selling point for the one wheel velke because with one wheel, it stays smooth as it hits holes and bumps. Also your feet stay parrallel to your hands because it tilts with the mower side to side (less fatigue). Yes the pivot distance to the wheel is a factor but has other negitive effects if you change it too much.

Brian- As far as a rear-weight design. We've always known that the more weight you put behind the sulkies wheel axle, the more traction you loose on the mowers drive wheels. That's why the velke brand is designed to allow you to move your weight back as needed but does'nt rear-weight it much when you are standing forward because you often need the traction.

Jim Velke

[BRIAN FOLEY]

Thus the reason that toro came out with the tru trak, it works great!

[Wright Mfg]

But the Tru trak still makes you do a "stair stepping" motion that adds to the fatigue and feels unstable. If you wanted exercise equipment on the back of your mower, then you did ok. But you might as well walk then. LOL

Not to mention that it has the typical caster sulky problems. Like running into things when you turn close to them. Think about what would happen if your landscape trailer had casters! Also caster type sulkies are more difficult to start and stop turns and takes longer. Try turning a shopping cart quickly when a kid is riding on the front.

What did you pay for the Tru Trak?


JV

[BRIAN FOLEY]

$300 and it works better than any sulkie i have ever used.

[AltaLawnCare]

Someone needs to design the "ultimate sulky".

Maybe designed like the single wheel velke, but with a really wide tire (maybe low pressure) to ride smooth and not leave that stupid center tire track down the middle.

If you build it, I will buy it. ;)

[Doc Pete]

Jim,
As a long time user of your original Velky, when used with a belt drive WB, which is the only machine it should be put on, IMO, it turns too fast underneath your feet and gives your ankles a real workout. Furthermore, under daily working conditions, slop develops very quickly, because of the enormous load put on the front assembly that attaches to the mower.
If the load mechanism that attaches to the mower, was dispersed over a wider platform, a la bull/bronco rider, where an “A” frame is attached to each side of the mower, giving over 12 inches between centers, less slop would develop. And, with a much greater distance between pivot spots, the amount of perceived slop transmitted to the Velky arm would be 2 to 3 times less.
To continue, from my experience owning both, the one wheel Velky is drastically more uncomfortable than a two wheel Velky whenever bumps or holes are encountered. Having only one wheel, the OWV (one wheel Velky) just can’t compete with a TWV (two wheel Velky) over rough ground. Furthermore, a OWV must, by definition, carry more air pressure than a TWV, simple because it has a smaller area to support your weight This fact alone, gives the TWV a better ride, not to mention that any bumps or holes, are hit by only one wheel, or “half” the total running area.
As far as drawbacks from moving the wheels back on a TWV, this modification far out weighs any rider movement that might result. Also, I must disagree that “shimmying” from a “TWV” is from having two wheels. Regardless, after much experimenting, moving the wheels rearward basically “eliminated” the wobble or shimmy that your product or Jungle wheels, exhibits.
I realize that this modification imparts to the rider, a movement toward the machine and opposite to the turn. However, since these velkies should be used by only belt WB’s, turning should not be that sharp, otherwise devoting of the grass will occur. OTOH, I also realize that there are many operator using belt WB’s that go into a turn and just lock up the inside wheel with no regard for the grass. For those operators, I’m sure worrying about rider movement is not a concern.
Pete
For Pete’s Sake

[leeslawncare]

I luv mine ......had them for 4 yrs. just got to get used to em...

[Wright Mfg]

Switch- You don't need to explain about the hitch to me. I purposely did'nt make the hitch as you discribed for many reasons. Of course the velke can be made better, but at what cost to you. We could put roller bearings in all the pivots too but we feel we have the right trade-offs for the price.

Your claim that the velke should only be used on a WB really stuns me. The velke has no limits to keep you from zero turning like others that jackknife and makes the mower much more agile than caster types. I've run souped-up mowers with velkes doing 20 mph zero turns that I couldn't have done with anything else. Not that you would do that while mowing but it shows where the limitations are with sulkies. I'd love to compete in a high speed obsticle course race against any other sulky on a hydro WB.

You said: "I must disagree that “shimmying” from a “TWV” is from having two wheels"
To clarify what I was saying, the distance from the pivot to the wheel axis is a factor in how much it shimmys, but that distance is needed for many reasons. But with that distance, the OWV has much less shimmy than the Two wheel. The OWV only shimmys at all if the mower does first. Imagine (or try) nailing 4 or 5 3' two by fours on a piece of plywood like this /\/\/ and then drive over them with a one wheeled velke like this -/\/\/ and then a TWV or JW like this =/\/\/ . You see because the wheel on the OWV is in line with the verticle pivot, it will just glide over going only up and down. Ever see an empty utility trailer hit a pothole and jump to the side?

As far as tire pressures, you should run the one wheel velke with lower air pressure to get a cushioned ride.

The bottom line, I've tried every sulky out there, and I know what the trade-offs are, and I know we blow everybody away in sulky sales.

If you're happy with yours, thats fine. Not "everyone" has the same wants or needs.

Jim Velke

[Firefighter Dave]

Do they make a platform that you just stand on and not touch the ground at all... I do you need a wheeled option opposed to a standing platform?

Dave

:blob2: :blob2:

[TJLC]

I have tried a couple of different stand on velkies including the Bullrider from trimmertrap. Then I bought an Exmark sitdown, steerable sulky and it is far superior to any standup method I have tried, IMHO. It fits into tight spots much better and works pretty well on slopes also. A bit pricey (600-700) dollars but to me, well worth it. I have it hooked to my new TTHP.

[JimB]

:mad: YUP, it happened to me also on my 48 scag wb, I was so happy to go out and spend $300 on this jungle wheels thing and all I did was leave skid marks all over everyone's lawn and oh yes, the best of all, I kept stabbing myself with the handlebar everytime I turned or hit a bump. The wonder wheels or whatever you want to call em are now somewhere lost in my shed forever and I went out and bought a nice new Exmark Lazer Z HP 52 and I just love it, LOVE LOVE LOVE.


...Jim


P.S. if I find these wonder wheels, does anyone want em !!!

[Ryan Lightning]

Jim, are they free. :p Let me know what you want for them, I just need wheels for a few big lawns, the rest of the time, I can walk.

[Tony Harrell]

I've got Jungle Wheels on my Bob-Cat and they really do great on wide open spaces. On anything small, I just walk it. I've found it faster to turn properly without them if I'm trying to lay down some nice stripes in any confined area. I have a system, do the striped areas first then put the JW's on and zoom through the wide open areas in 4th or sometimes even 5th gear. My only complaint is sometimes the platform will scrub the ground.

[JimB]

if you want the jungle wheels, how about $75 plus shipping
I used them about 4 or 5 times, thats it, their like new.



...Jim

[darryl gesner]

Cant help with the JWs. Bull Rider all the way. I use one on my 48 Exmark TTHP. You can use caster mode (all I use) or pull the pin, lock the wheels and use trailer mode. Takes less than 1 minute to change over.

The best thing is the machine controls are always right in front of you like a stander. The only thing you have to watch is backing on soft ground. It helps to turn to one side a bit rather than going straight back...helps the caster wheels turn around.

Never had it vibrate or shimmy or jackknife or anything of those nasty things, and on run it full out at 6 mph on a couple of lawns.

Wanna walk a steep slope. Pull the pin, pull the unit from the mount, chain up the mount and you're off.

I can even squat behind the mower on it for going under trees. As long as the handle bars will clear, so will I.

Also, with size 12 steel toe boots, I can actually have my fee wholly on the platform.