To advertise in this section contact Classifieds
Peter Britton on 01747 855335 email:
peter@pitchcare.com
SPORTS TURF CONTRACTORS
A. SMITH GRASS SERVICES A Healthy Solution to the Perfect Surface
TEL: 01473 652982 MOB: 07759 542773 Email:
a@grassservice.com
GWAZAE DEEP GROUND PROBE AERATION KORO FIELD TOP MAKER • SCARIFYING VERTI-DRAINING • HOLLOW CORING SEEDING • TOP DRESSING
Get more for your money WITH
Sports Turf
SPORTS TURF RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION EXPERT ADVICE & AGRONOMY SERVICES
FINE TURF MAINTENANCE WORK SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT HIRE TEL: 01952 511000
www.oakleysgroundcare.com E.mail
phil@oakleysgroundcare.co.uk
Contracting Ltd Call us now for the best pitch renovation prices in 2008!
07980 604430
Free site visit and free advice from qualified agronomist
B
Sportsfield Construction Drainage Schemes Renovations & Improvements Cricket Specialists
Tel: 01529 455757 Fax: 01529 455775 e-mail:
steve@stevenpask.co.uk
www.stevenpask.co.uk
Consultancy, Management & Renovation of Sports Surfaces
Winter Pitch renovation BLEC Groundbreaker and Sandmaster attachment Koro Field Topmaker
Midlands & North Wales
Mobile: 07779 333010 Tel: 01889 567449
www.vitalturfmanagement.co.uk Email:
lee@vitalturfmanagement.co.uk
Advertising in the classified section of Pitchcare costs as little as £200 a year
DRAINING 25 years experience in sports turf aeration
WORTH
Overseeding - Sanding Top Dressing Hollow Coring
Verti draining Blec Groundbreaker
Tel/Fax 01476 550266 Mobile: 07855 431119/20
email:
bloodworth@onetel.com www.worth-d
draining.com
therefore, relatively easy to maintain. When I first started repairing grass machinery, towed gangs played a big part in my work load. I remember working on Greens Rangers, Mitchells, Atcos, Shanks, Lloyds and, of course, the redoubtable Ransomes.
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stood the test of time. They will put up with being left outside in all weathers, with no oil and no love and affection and, yet, still work (of sorts). However, if cared for correctly, clubs will have a set of mowers that will give years of trouble free mowing to a good standard. In this article I will look at the Ransomes Mk 3 Aero Cutters, Mk 10 and Mk 10 Sports Cutters, Mk 12 Magnas and later Mk 11 and 13. The differences on the latter are the gear selector mechanism and the bottom blade adjuster bolts. The construction is fairly basic. The front axle draw bar has ¼ inch steel side plates which mount the gear and pawl drive assembly. The cutting cylinder runs on two self aligning bearings, in two removable bearing housings, which slide into the side plates. The bottom blade pivots on two shoulder bolts which also supports the land roller assembly. Stripping units for reconditioning is as follows: Start by removing the wheels, rear land roller and bottom blade assembly. To remove the cutting cylinder first remove the covers on top of the gear boxes and remove the bolts on the cutting cylinder bearing housing.
The Ransomes gangs have
eing ground driven, towed gang mowers are not too complicated and are,
VIBRA-TINE SAND MASTER
Service and Repair
TOWED GANG MOWERS
EDWIN ROBERTS of Classic Mowers looks at the towed gang mower and suggests that they still represent good value for smaller sports clubs if maintained correctly
Remove the cutting cylinder by pulling up out of the frames. Remove the gear case covers, check and clean gear box parts, idler gear and shaft. Remove the main gear and pawl assembly and gear selector parts. On the Mk 10 and 12, the gear selector slides in and out and is retained in position by a spring and ball detent assembly. On the Mk 11 and 13, simply pull in and out and lock by turning the lever. It is best to remove both types to clean and oil. Remove the springs and balls and fit new ones. Clean the housing where the parts slide in and out. Clean out the spring hole with a good fitting drill to remove old grease and rust. Check and clean the main
gears and pawls and the gear hub bearings. Fit new if required. Check the idler gear pivot
shaft for wear, and also the hole in the side plate where the shaft fits into it. The shaft can become loose and wear the hole into a slot. This will allow the gear to move up and down in the side plate as the mower is driven. In time this will result in cutting cylinder bearing failure. Also, check the hole in the side plate where the roller and bottom blade block pivot. The draw bar will also wear at the point where the frame fits. All the worn parts can be built up. This can be done with stick welder, then, cleaned up with an
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