View Full Version : Mower Babes & Walkbehinds
GreenMonster
08-08-2004, 09:55 PM
Ok, my wife works with me on the lawn accounts. She basically runs the Grasshopper and push mows (21") where needed.
We also have a 60" Bob-cat walkbehind that I wouldn't even think of letting her run. The thing really is a beast, and I'm just not comfortable with that.
That said, I'd like to eliminate as much 21" mowing as I can next year with the addition of a 36" or 48" walkbehind -- probably hydro. So Jodi, Liberty, and you other gals out there, do you run walkbehinds this size? Should I feel more comfortable with my wife running something a little smaller?
Also, are the Toro t-bar, and Exmark ECS controls more like a rider? That is, with pistol grips, you're in gear and then run the levers to stop. Do t-bar and ECS stay stationary until you press the levers, like a rider?
Also, my wife IS experienced in running equipment. She grew up on her dad's tractors and bulldozers, and is now pretty efficient on the Grasshopper.
grass_cuttin_fool
08-08-2004, 10:06 PM
The T-bar will go to neutral when released but there is a easy park brake built in to the T-bar to make sure it stays put. I own both the T-bar and pistol grip and I wouldnt want a woman on a pistol grip the T is much easier. I dont have any experience with the ECS controls
GreenMonster
08-08-2004, 10:16 PM
yeah, it's the whole pistol grip thing that concerns me. My hands are barely big enough to handle the Bob-cat. My wife couldn't run it if she had too.
To t-bar does seem like a more user friendly design...
dishboy
08-08-2004, 10:36 PM
Originally posted by GreenMonster
Ok, my wife works with me on the lawn accounts. She basically runs the Grasshopper and push mows (21") where needed.
We also have a 60" Bob-cat walkbehind that I wouldn't even think of letting her run. The thing really is a beast, and I'm just not comfortable with that.
That said, I'd like to eliminate as much 21" mowing as I can next year with the addition of a 36" or 48" walkbehind -- probably hydro. So Jodi, Liberty, and you other gals out there, do you run walkbehinds this size? Should I feel more comfortable with my wife running something a little smaller?
Also, are the Toro t-bar, and Exmark ECS controls more like a rider? That is, with pistol grips, you're in gear and then run the levers to stop. Do t-bar and ECS stay stationary until you press the levers, like a rider?
Also, my wife IS experienced in running equipment. She grew up on her dad's tractors and bulldozers, and is now pretty efficient on the Grasshopper.
Hi, this is dishboy's wife, I just started working with my husband about a month ago and I am running a 36" Exmark Hydro with ECS. I haven't been working with it that much but I'm starting to get the hang of it. He installed a proslide on it and that is still a little tricky for me to run. Other than just the learning curve, I think she'll be fine with this piece of equipment.
cantoo
08-08-2004, 10:50 PM
Green, if that's her in your avatar then I think she can pretty much run anything she wants to. My wife tried our Toro 44" once and only once she likes to sit if possible.
NoWalk4Me
08-08-2004, 10:57 PM
Monster,
I ran a Toro 52"/20HP Kohler Hydrowalk from Dec. '00 until July '03 and loved it. Oh yeah, BTW I am definitley not a woman but just commenting on the T-Bar. Its a bit touchy w/ the hydro but is a little less so w/ the belt drive. I weigh 270 so the Hydro was the best for me but I've tried several friends' belt drive units and they were a little more forgiving. I liked the instant reverse and speed control of the hydro also. Before buying my Super Z, I was intrigued by the ECS and demo'd them. Kind of like the P-grips control wise but definitely better for reach and finger fatigue purposes. If I were in the market for another walkbehind I'd have a hard decision. I'm kinda' partial to the T-bar but man that great Exmark cut.....
HOOLIE
08-08-2004, 11:15 PM
I've worked with a few women over the years, and they all could easily handle a pistol grip 36 or 48. One of these women was maybe 100-110 pounds at most. After seeing her handle a walk behind I don't see why anyone couldn't.
PaulJ
08-09-2004, 12:11 AM
try the hustler h-bar. you don't have to fight spring preassure to operate it. handles much more like a steering wheel. let your wife demo one.
GreenMonster
08-09-2004, 08:37 PM
Thanks for the input so far.
It occurred to me today Paul, that Hustler may be an option as well -- I'm not sure how their's works, but I do now it's not pistol grip.
I like the idea of something that returns to neutral when you let go, instead of something that pulls a wheelie when you let go:p
dcondon
08-09-2004, 09:10 PM
My wife can run one of our 60" ZTR TANKS just fine. I would never think of having her run our pistol grip W/B.
Steppenwolf
08-09-2004, 09:56 PM
Originally posted by dcondon
My wife can run one of our 60" ZTR TANKS just fine. I would never think of having her run our pistol grip W/B. WHY NOT? My female partner, 45, has no problems handling a 52 inch Scag hydro with a Velkie and a 20 hp Kohler,she is 5 '4 and 130 lbs.
can't see anything being easier than the hustler wb's for anyone to run.....male or female.
dcondon
08-10-2004, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by Steppenwolf
WHY NOT? My female partner, 45, has no problems handling a 52 inch Scag hydro with a Velkie and a 20 hp Kohler,she is 5 '4 and 130 lbs.
I may someday;) she tells me she could:rolleyes:
KL Squared
08-10-2004, 06:15 PM
My 12 year old daughter cuts my back yard using a Toro 37 inch mower. It has the T-bar system and she does fine with it.
GreenMonster
08-10-2004, 09:14 PM
Originally posted by Steppenwolf
WHY NOT? My female partner, 45, has no problems handling a 52 inch Scag hydro with a Velkie and a 20 hp Kohler,she is 5 '4 and 130 lbs.
My wife is 5'2", about 120 lbs. NO WAY she's hopping on that velkie!
The more I hear about Hustler the more interested I get. I really wish I had a dealer nearby.
Steppenwolf
08-10-2004, 10:15 PM
Greenmonster,
Is that your high school picture:-)under your name. Really, why would you not let your wife on a walkbehind with a Velikie,or what other brand?If you can use a walkbehind a velkie will just make you more efficient. I used my w/b two weeks ago without the velkie(hitch broke)I felt like a newbie and that was only one yard.Once you learn how to use a velkie,what ever brand, you will never walk again,productivity improves and you are alot less tired at the end of a day.Jack kniffing while backing up is a problem at first but once you have some experience you will have no problems.If you are using belt drives,ignore this post,only using hydros.
GreenMonster
08-11-2004, 08:31 PM
yeah, we got a velkie on it. I can back up pretty decent at this point, but it was a little hairy at first.
I just don't want her on it because I just feel like it can be a tricky, intimidating machine to run. It's just seems more logical to me that when you let go of levers, you should be in neutral....
BTW, there is no way she could run it if she had to. Hands are to small.
Steppenwolf
08-11-2004, 09:05 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GreenMonster
[B]yeah, we got a velkie on it. I can back up pretty decent at this point, but it was a little hairy at first.
I just don't want her on it because I just feel like it can be a tricky, intimidating machine to run. It's just seems more logical to me that when you let go of levers, you should be in neutral....
BTW, there is no way she could run it if she had to. Hands are to sm See what you mean that if her hands are too small to control the wb she is better off on the rider,or better yet she can do all the trimming:D
GreenMonster
08-11-2004, 09:17 PM
Ha. She no likey trimming. I do though, edging too. I'm too picky to let the others do it.
:rolleyes:
Back to my original post though, is it viable to put her behind a pistol grip 36-48", or should I really be looking at Toro T-bar, Exmark ECS, and/or Hustler...... whatever Hustler calls theirs, H-bar?
Steppenwolf
08-11-2004, 09:37 PM
Sorry I can't really help you, I have only used Scags for the past 16 years. No experience on other brands but Toro's t bar might be worth looking at if you really want her to start cutting more. Go to a few dealers and see what she likes...and is comfortable with. I have just not paid too much attention to the new styles of controls out on the market now days to be of any use to ya. Good luck..Bill
I use a Grasshopper Mower just fine. I think it has a nice cut and is easy to operate
Branchland
08-23-2004, 01:56 PM
My wife and I are in business together so she's always doing everything I do. We have a 52" Toro hydro. We both love how easy the T bar is. We also have a 36" bobcat belt drive and she just about ran over me with it. I would say anybody can operate the toro t bar no matter what size.
IMPACT
08-23-2004, 02:52 PM
Why not try a Stander? They return to neutral when let go, and they have two different speed settings by adjusting the position of the control arms on the pumps. I got 2 of them this summer, and the first thing my wife wanted to do was get on one. She tried it out for about ten minutes going really slow on a flat part of our yard, then she had the controls figured out in no time. She doesn't work with me, but if I ever need a back up operator, I know where to find one who will work cheap:p
Itsgottobegreen
08-23-2004, 04:26 PM
ALRIGHT IMPACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would agree about the stander (everyone here already knows I would say that since I am about their biggest fan) My 45 year old, 135 pound mother can run my standers with out a problem. Sames goes for my 17 year old sister, who only is 125 pounds.
My sister when she is home, mows with me. Both were shaky at first, but got the hang of it. Both of them also can run my Kubota tractor, and most of the rest of the equipment in the fleet.
As for the standers auto return or any machine for that matter, its great. Since the first time my sister ran my bunton bullet (sold it a long time ago) She fell and held on for dear life. While the machine keep going, dragging her across our yard until it shut down. Took a long time before I got her on it again. She likes the stander because if you let go it stops. Same thing for the Ferris Hydrowalk SD I had, let go and you ate the dame controls, since it would stop faster than you.
IMPACT
08-23-2004, 06:14 PM
Hey Will, I think I am becoming their second biggest fan. What awesome machines. It's like years ago switching from 21's to WB's, and thinking"why didn't I do this sooner?":D
Itsgottobegreen
08-23-2004, 06:25 PM
Ok I can go for that. Since MAC is getting rid of his standers.
By the way "why didn't I buy one of these sooner" is becoming what every new stander owner says. I said it. I know alot of other people who have too.
Now you start working west and I will start working east. I figure by next year, we can talk everyone between us into running standers. Lucky us, the wright factory is inbetween. LOL
Norm Al
08-23-2004, 07:50 PM
mower babes? in training?
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mototraining.wmv
Itsgottobegreen
08-23-2004, 08:43 PM
Norm thats just wrong. I don't want to know where you found that.
walk behind
08-23-2004, 08:57 PM
It will be no problem for her, I have used a 21" walk behind for years, and got a 52" Exmark 17 kaw tthp walk behind this year with ECS and it is sooooooo much easier to mow with than anything I have ever used! I am 48 yrs old, 5'4" 135 and I wouldn't trade it for the world. After watching the "lawn guys" mow some of my neighbors yards with their walk behinds last year, I knew there was an easier way and I figured if they are just walking, I knew I could manage a machine like that. Your wife won't want to use anything else once she gets behind a large commercial walk behind. It will take about 8 hours of mowing to get use to the hand controls and feel comfortable. Not to mention that the Exmark is gives a superb cut.
GreenMonster
08-23-2004, 09:08 PM
Originally posted by IMPACT
Why not try a Stander?
ACtually, I have demo'd a stander -- a John Deere. This will be my next mower, but in a 54" deck. I'm really looking for a small w/b to do small yards and perimeter. I want to eliminate as much 21" mowing as possible. A 36" stander is just too much money for the machine I'm looking for. From what I've seen on this thread, I will definately check out the Toro. I have a very local dealer.
OBTW, I'm going with Deere because of local dealer/support. Wrights are over an hour away.
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