Landscape Management, February 2019

HUSQVARNA George Reister Regional product manager U S wheeled HUSQVARNA COM Its important to use stand on mowers that are built for a full days work and that prevent fatigue Visibility is a vital factor Stand on mowers offer line of sight at all four corners which can be a nice time saver and allow for closer cutting to obstacles and minimize extra time spent trimming Serviceability is another important factor Use a mower with balanced weight distribution mowers with the engine and transmission lowered and mounted evenly on the frame provide a lower center of gravity creating safer maneuverability and easier serviceability Look for a solution that makes it easy to access the pumps engine bay and fuse box preferably requiring a minimum amount of tools The most important factor is safety Take a close look at where the major user functions are located including deck lifts emergency buttons levers etc Knowing where those are helps avoid excess stress on joints and injury WRIGHT MANUFACTURING Ed Wright Vice president of engineering WRIGHTMFG COM Looking at mowing as a time study you will find that a significant amount of time is spent turning and maneuvering the mower On smaller properties the time spent mowing can be as low as 50 percent of the engine runtime Because stand on mowers are compact and agile they can help you cut down your mow times Its essential that the operator master the ideal two step turnaround technique As the operator approaches the end of a stripe he should make a slight turn toward the next stripe as he slows to a stop Then looking backward in the direction of the turn he should begin gently moving backward while gently pivoting the machine to the next stripe Performed well this technique is fast gentle on the turf and easy on the mower KUBOTA Tom Vachal Senior turf product manager KUBOTAUSA COM Stand on mowers are becoming the Swiss Army knife in commercial landscapers toolboxes They are compact requiring less space on trailers they allow landscape pros to mow under low height obstructions they offer the ability to quickly get off and on to pick up debris and perhaps most important stand on mowers reduce operator fatigue The flexibility of stand on mowers makes them one of the most valuable assets on a landscapers trailer They allow the operator to mow in tight and wideopen spaces The improved operator visibility allows the operator to tackle jobs quicker saving time and improving productivity Most standon mowers also allow the operator to quickly and easily complete routine maintenance on the unit reducing the amount of time the machine needs to spend at the dealership and saving the contractor time and money JOHN DEERE Carl Agee Product marketing manager DEERE COM Stand on mowers are growing in popularity offering unique benefits to professional landscapers To improve uptime and ensure their mowers are ready to go daily operators should inspect machines before and after using At the start of the day check oil levels tire air pressure brakes and belts to make sure nothing is low or damaged Walk around the machine looking for leaks and loose or missing parts This will help to reduce potential downtime while on the job After each use thoroughly clean debris and lubricate the machine Additionally check the mower blades and deck drive belt for wear Finally add fuel as needed to the machine to ensure its ready to go in the morning FEBRUARY 2019 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET 37