30 PEDESTRIAN MOWERS
Cutting edge designs
Your choice of pedestrian mower model will depend on a raft of
considerations but keep in mind frequency of cut and the size of the area to be mown.
Walk-behind rotary mowers
are certainly versatile machines. They can be used on areas of rough grass or ornamental lawns and there are machines suited to roadside verges and embankments.
mower is likely to stall when the going gets tough.
Cutting-edge designs Rotary mowers can be of a
The type of
vegetation and its density, how often it needs cutting and the required finish, will determine the best choice of model. The size of the area to be mown and access to it, will determine the most suitable width of machine. There are a lot of options for
rotary mowers: push or self- propelled; side or rear discharge; collecting or not; wheeled or roller. But all rotary mowers have the same cutting action. They cut the vegetation by means of a horizontally rotating blade, or blades, usually spinning around 3,000rpm to slice through the grass. This means higher engine
power is important where the mower is required to smash its way through long or thick grass and where there is an abundance of dock and thistle plants or other weeds. An underpowered
push type, where the engine only drives the blade, or self-propelled where drive is also to a set of wheels or a roller. They are more expensive of course, but self- propelled models will mean less effort.
Side discharge mowers will
throw clippings out to one side. Rear discharge models leave a trail of clipping behind the mower, but more often than not are offered with a grass-collection system in the form of an easy-to- attach/detach box or bag. This is the type of mower for those of you seeking a neat finish. Many modern mowers are fitted with a blade brake clutch so that while the collection facility is being emptied, the blades stop rotating but the engine continues to run. Choose a model with a roller, rather than wheels, if you want a striped finish. Another type of mower, the
mulch mower, has neither rear nor side discharge. These mowers
MAY 2010
Photograph courtesy of Simon Richard Ltd
are recognised by their domed housing, designed to retain the clippings in the cutting chamber while they are re-cut into tiny pieces before being dispersed downwards into the sward. Mulch mowers are capable of a neat finish and are increasingly popular with contractors, although their usefulness can be limited by the height of grass. Tall grass may require double cutting: the first to lower the height and
the second to complete the
job.Setting the height of cut on a rotary mower is done via a lever, or levers, to adjust the height of the wheels or the roller in relation to the mower housing. Another type of rotary
mower has neither wheels nor roller. The hover mower glides on a cushion of air created by an engine-driven fan. This allows the mower to be moved in any direction. Such machines are useful for mowing under shrubs, around irregular shaped beds, on sloping banks and also where paving slaps have been set into the lawn as stepping stones. Contractors’ models are available. As with all machinery, it is best to see a demonstration before purchase. The mower should be well engineered and robust for commercial work. It should also be comfortable to use, with easy adjustment of handle height. Vibration figures and noise levels should be studied and compared. and be sure to check out the safety features and think how the mower will be transported between sites.
Pinnacle look to the East to boost product range offering
Pinnacle Power Equipment
Limited’s has been appointed sole UK distributor for Weibang, one of the largest garden machine producers in
China.The company’s comprehensive range includes hydraulic log splitters, stump grinders, trenchers and more than 50 models of lawn mower. “Weibang literally means high quality”,
Managing Director, Ian Lobb. “The machines are designed and manufactured to the highest professional standards as well as
Kew for a Paladin finish
Each year many turf
professionals choose Saltex to examine new machinery options for the coming year. Martin Fiedorowicz
is
Manager of the Machinery Services Unit at Kew Gardens. Last autumn, he began looking for potential alternatives to his existing mowing equipment. These were for the grooming and maintenance of fine quality ornamental turf areas and newly laid grass within Kew Gardens. His specific requirements
were to source two new cylinder mowers of professional quality from an established manufacturer.
The specific
requirements were small and light, yet robust in terms of profile. His visit to Windsor took him
to the Lloyds of Letchworth stand to discuss the options for two 21” Lloyds Paladin Duals. By selecting a five blade cutting cylinder coupled with the high speed ratio of the Paladin gearbox which produces a
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compliance with regulations including noise and vibration legislation. We were hugely impressed with how well the entire range performs,
with says Pinnacle
extraordinary reliability even in extreme conditions. We were also impressed that Weibang have been ISO-9001 accredited since 2002, the first China-based lawn mower manufacturer to achieve this recognition.”
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superior clip rate for ornamental turfcare. Following the enquiry made
at Saltex a demonstration was held at Kew Gardens in October. For the purpose of operator assessment a 21” Paladin Dual was loaned to trial for a period. The criteria set by Martin and the team was met in all aspects for the new season. The necessary high standard required was provided by Lloyds with full delivery taken in March 2010.
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