Technical
“ Fine Turf
On fine turf applications, the likelihood of damage from debris, stones and raised ironworks or kerbs should be very slight. However, the cutting units will be much finer, and any debris could upset the setting and, therefore, the quality of the cut. It is a good idea to always check the site, and keep an eye out for debris when mowing.
The quality of cut on fine turf is a much higher priority than most commercial applications, so there will be more blades in the cylinder (to increase the clip rate), and thinner bottom blades to allow for a closer cut. The adjustment of these cutting units is
essential to its performance. The cylinder should always be running on an air gap of 2 to 3 thou” (0.1mm). Always use a piece of setting paper to accurately set the gap at either end of the cylinder, and don’t forget to check the middle as well.
Roller adjustment
If you have floating headed units with front and rear rollers, always check that they are parallel with the bottom blade (it’s essential for an even, level cut), and check that the angle of the bottom blade is correct. It is too easy to adjust only the front roller on some units, and this can change the pitch of the bottom blade, making a superior quality of cut impossible, regardless of the condition of the blades. Always check the operator’s instruction book when changing mowing heights, so that you set the front and rear rollers correctly every time.
Topdressing
There is a lot of essential renovation work in spring, however, running sand through the units will do nothing for the quality of cut or for the quality of the turf you try to cut with badly worn blades. If you have topdressed, then turn the irrigation system on to water it in, and leave mowing for as long as you can to allow the surface to settle before attempting to cut.
132 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
You have spent time, effort and money getting that sand down, so why fill the grass box up with it the following morning, unless you really have to!
the next cut. This is simply not true. The grass will grow by the same amount every day until it’s at least 12 inches high, so shaving it makes no difference to the amount of regrowth. The only thing achieved by low cutting is wearing out the bottom blades much quicker, and allowing more debris to get between them causing more wear, and more time lost in additional adjustments.
If possible, roll the surface (with some accessory units) instead of cutting it for a day or so. You have spent time, effort and money getting that sand down, so why fill the grass box up with it the following morning, unless you really have to!
Backlapping
Regardless of how well you adjust the units, they will eventually “go off”. When the cutting edges are dull, grass is pulled and torn, instead of cleanly cut. For fine turf applications this is unacceptable, and the decision must be made whether to backlap onsite, or perhaps send a vital piece of mowing equipment off to the dealers for a regrind, if you do not have grinding facilities on-site. Backlapping is often a forgotten, or sometimes overlooked way of sharpening dull blades. There can be serious safety concerns with applying grinding paste to a fast turning cylinder so, instead of risking an accident, why not apply the paste to the cylinder before driving it? That way the job can be done safely. You’ll need some cardboard or similar material under the unit as the paste will go everywhere, but, after a few minutes, you can stop the cylinder and inspect the newly ground surfaces. If any part of the cylinder is still bright and shiny, then it has not been ground and the process should be repeated. If you cannot rectify the cut within a few minutes, then it’s
probably time to regrind the whole unit. Note: Always wash off all the grinding paste
before running the units in forward drive, or you’ll take off the edges you have just spent time sharpening!
So, to retain the quality of cut between grinding it is essential that the cutting units are carefully set, and the setting is checked and reset throughout the working day. On commercial mowers, the height should be as high as possible to minimise damage, and wear and tear; whilst, on fine turf machinery, the height of cut should be checked to ensure that it is correctly set for the bottom blade pitch angle, and for a smooth, even and level cut across the whole width, which could be 7 units on a big fairway mower. Setting units correctly is not a difficult task; it
is just a discipline which must be learned. If you are unsure, then get some training on cutting unit adjustment and setting from your supplier or the manufacturer. The cost savings, and the improvement in the quality of cut, really will make all the difference.
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