i know a lot of guys said on this forum complain about problems with the pistol grips hurting there wrist maybe you can design something like the toro with the t-bar .

 

high blade tip speed

better controls

great mulching ability

In my opinion, spend most of you engineering time working on spindles and bearings. Figure out a way to make them last longer. Some people get many hours out of theirs (ericelm) but other than the choppers, I don't know of many that will make it all that long.

Exmark is best so far. The first three are a given, but the spindles, well we will have to wait and see. Not enough hours yet to tell.

 

Since I live in the "dew" belt (Mid Atlantic) what I'd like is an Exmark that will cut wet grass all day long without cakeing grass on the deck and throwing wet clumps of grass. The reason I choose Exmark is except for the wet grass problem the machine is virtually perfect. Also, if you are looking at beltdrives try the Dana tranny instead of the Peerless.

 

On a walk behind, Easy access to belts, Larger tanks, Parking brakes standard, High tip speed, I have yet to see a walk behind have the cut of my chopper. Velke standard, and a place that they fold up nicley when not is use. and keep them compact for easy transport. top access grease zert. manual blade engagment save cost, keep reliable, large dive tire so they do not leave tracks, and solid front tires to keep from going flat. easy height adjustment. high blade tip speed, and a bagger that rest atop the deck, and is easy to remove, doesnot stick out far, wont clog, does not blow back in your face, and easy to swith back and forth between discharge and bagging. Oh yea I forgot to mention Higher blade tip speed. lol

Good luck

 

a belt drive that will actually back up and solid handle locks that is ones that are easy to put in neutral and dont pop out my bobcat has 2 rollers that locks the handle in neutral and park and they have slipped out

 

put easy stripers on them and operator controlled discharge
chutes.
wouldnt a sping loaded eeasy striper be better to push grass
down ?

[Edited by rdh on 01-08-2001 at 04:07 PM]

 

Barry, What mower company do you work for? Also don't put a Kohler engine on it.

 

make changing the oil not so messy (flexiable rubber hose with a plug which can be flexed away and into a drain area)
also don't install the muffler on the side keep it up front ....and make the deck adjustable with pins not a thread like Snapper does ....Don't get me wrong I have a hydro snapper 36 .....has great control .....smooth and easy to maintain ....she mulches killer but I wish a kit was offered which I could quickly switch to side discharge like on a DC

 

standard parking brake
non-chaffing hand grips
non-grass clumping when wet out

 

I also don't like the pistol grip, On my 52 snapper loop steering i can cut 10 inches closer to sticker bushes by putting my hands in the middel and steering with ease. I sure hope they continue to stay with the loop steer, its a life saver on my hands. As the mulch kit goes i made mine, but i sure do like the way the Dixies have there shutes. And i wish my scags, would back up fast as the snappers, at least 4mph, I also wish that tank was 6 gallon.

 

Most definitely, work on the ergonomics. I think Exmark might have hit it with their new grip system with the angles AND keeping the hands inward to prevent injury. A lift and block system like the one on the new Toro ZTR would be nice. Also, make sure the handles are high enough for everyone. Very few machines have a handle height to suit most people. So often, I will see these guys, especially the taller ones having to literally crouch down to operate the machine. Let alone if their on a stand up sulky that raises the operator 3-4 more inches. Higher handles suit everybody, including short people. When you go with hydro, make sure you make the drive adjustments like Exmark's - with the knob controllers for easy adjustment and quick compensation on hillsides.

 

I would look for things such as; better mulching of wet grass, a grass catcher that does not make your machine wider and/or less powerful. I would like to see a better setup on the controls also. Maybe the exhaust would point down away from the center of the mower soaz I don't smell later. Noise is definitely an issue, without sacrificing power. I like the new TORO jack setup..very good idea. That's all oh and world peace! Thanks for asking the people that use the machines in the real world as opposed to the people that sell only. If anyone is going to know what works we will. Nuff said

Rick

 

1. The best spindles money can buy. Tapered roller bearing only; sealed is fine but they better hold up.
2. Foam filled drive wheel tires and solid rubber casters on the front; right from the factory.
3. A lever to release the tension pulley on the on the hydro drive belt for cold morning starts.
4. Power is everything.
5. Faster ground speed options for getting from a to b. Not necessarily to mow with.
6. If you do manual blade engagement, do not copy any current design, they all stink.
7. All of the other lawnsite posts I second as well especially the oil change issue.
8. Possibly look at removable deck baffles because some grass does not want the mulched effect. If you could cut and throw high thick grass with no baffling and then cut normal lawns with baffling you'd have a mower that could do it all.
9. Some kind of dischage schute control because sometimes you just can't throw grass. Like an OCDC.
10. 3 year bumper to bumper commercial warranty.

Where do I place my order?

Who is the best right now? Scag, Exmark/Toro and Bobcat are all good. But, with some tweaking they could be much better!

 

Use one of these Use one of these http://www.carrlane.com/oncatfrm.html but with 4 balls like this http://www.carrlane.com/oncatfrm.html as your spindle bolt. It will allow for a no tool, no nut to lose blade change. You will need to control the center hole in the blade to .005 but in production that would be easy to do. I think it could be engineered as a retro fit for other mowers as well.

Frank

 

THANK YOU everyone for responding.

I have no ego when it comes to making a good machine. I assume I know nothing and the user knows everything.

I thought Scag, Toro, and Snapper were the best machines from an engineering standpoint. Exmark was not on my list to do some creative borrowing. Surprise, surprise.... I was wrong.

I will look into solid front casters for 2002.

I will look into lift & block for holding mower up for 2002.

The grips will possibly change for 2003. To be honest I wanted to see how the Exmark ECS was accepted in the market. Sometimes what appears to be a neat idea doesn't always work well 10 hours per day 6 days per week. I have no idea since I make my living sitting on my butt for the most part.

Anyone for a partridge in a pear tree....LOL. I am really going to have to hustle though cause of all the testing I have to do.

Once again, thank you everyone for your responses. I appreciate it and hope I can serve you/the market well.

Barry Adamski
badamski@ariens.com
Sr. Project Engineer
Commercial Walkbehinds
Ariens / Gravely

My saying:
Fall in love with the customer, not the product.

[Edited by Eng Mwr Guy on 01-09-2001 at 09:02 AM]

 

From my standpoint, I would like to see the walk-behind evolve into a unit that with a velke can also tow somethin. An improved bagging system. Perhaps even a bag-mulch combination where with mulching blades/kit some of the larger particles would be bagged with vast majority being returned to the soil bed.
Easier controls..

 

There are many chain link fences adjoing the properties we cut. We have purcahsed bunton rollers and repainted them to match our machines.

Just a thought.
Kris

 

Hi Barry,
You have some great ideas and its good to see Ariens/Gravely jumping in deeper into the commercial market.

BTW if you have some units you need field tested mayby we can work out a deal as I'm 20 miles north of you in De Pere. Good Luck, Welcome aboard.

 

Hey Barry, thanks for coming here, to the lifeblood of the industry, for ideas. So often we start to run these machines and ask ourselves, "Did the guy that designed this actually ever cut a lawn? What were they thinking!?"

As we all strive to do, you have placed yourself outside and above your peers by going straight to the people who will use your machine. Bully to you, my friend.

As for design changes I would recommend, the best have already been offered. My top three would be:

1) Easier access for oil changes.
2) Ease of height adjustments.
3) Quicker change from mulching to bagging or side chute.

Again, thanks for posting your questions here. Good luck with your designs!

-TGC

 

Maybe try working for a couple of contractors and see how a wb handle on a day to day basis cutting commerically?

 

remote controlled walk behinds!! Sit in the air conditioned truck and play!! I like Exmarks new ecs, easy to use and comfortable. Parking brake would be nice. Foam filled front tires. cup holders standard Avoid Kohler engines

 

I'd like to have the option of tires where the tread pattern would read... BITE ME!!!

For "special" customer's of course.

Kris

 

GREASABLE ball bearings on all joints, a "self cleaning" deck, a rear roller with a FULL FLOATING deck, and a price tag that'll make me buy one. Only Kawasaki engines, and mount the oil filter AWAY from the engine. Sorry I'm a little late!

 

Well, I guess the only thing left is to add a helper to the shipping box and we have a deal.

 

Also don't forget to make double blades standard (2 blades per spindle)! Hey Barry, I think you would greatly benenfit if you read through this site a lot more we ahve got tons and tons and tons of invaluable information for a guy like you especially!!!