As the saying goes April showers bring May flowers but the rains also bring grass, trees and weeds. And as spring gives way to summer, grass mowing season swings into full gear.
Just about everyone is affected by this explosion of vegetation growth, which accompanies each summer, even people without front lawns or back yards. Because while the lawns grow shaggy, so too does the vegetation along the highways and roads. Not much thought is given by the public to the maintenance of roadsides, but this vegetation has the potential to cause safety hazards. Tree limbs can obstruct traffic signs and signals preventing the motorist from following proper driving etiquette; and tall grasses can block intersections, hiding cars and pedestrians from the view of motorists.
It is important for roadside maintenance crews to use the proper equipment to control the vegetation. The following is a round up of mowers and tree trimmers available on the market today.
Alamo
For tree trimming operations Alamo Industries, Seguin, Texas, offers a boom-mounted sickle bar tree trimmer called the Timber Cat, which can be mounted on the company's A-Boom, Machete Boom, Versa Boom, Slopemower, or the Boom Axe. According to the company, the sickle bar leaves a clean, finished cut similar to that of a chain saw. Cut limbs fall to the ground thus preventing them from being thrown about, presenting a danger to pedestrians and property.
The product is available in 5-ft and 7-ft wide models. The 5-ft model weights 440 lb and has an operating pressure of 1,300 psi, and the 7-ft model weighs 520 lb and has an operating pressure of 1,500 psi. It is recommended that a tractor in the 5,000 lb range should be used in order to accommodate the boom and sickle bar weight.
The company also offers the Gorilla tree cutter designed for land-clearing tasks. The product can cut trees up to an 8-in. diam with a brush-cutting swath 72-in. wide. To use, the operator opens the two hydraulically powered doors, cuts down trees and brush, closes the doors, to keep the material inside, and continues to chop reducing the material to mulch.
Excel
Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, Kan., has re-engineered two compact model rider mowers, the 251K and the 260K. The two machines now feature a hydraulic deck lift system as standard equipment. This simplifies operation because the deck can be raised and lowered from the driver's seat.
Model 251K has a 51-in. rear-discharge cut, and a 22-hp Kohler Command engine. The 260K is powered by the same engine but has a 60-in. rear-discharge cut. Attachments include a catcher, edger and a snow blade. A steering wheel option allows the operator to remove the T-handle joystick and replace it with a steering wheel.
John Deere
John Deere, Raleigh, N.C., has a new front mower called the F1145. The machine is powered by a 3-cylinder, 28-hp diesel engine with 58 lb of torque. It features wet-disk brakes, dual-pedal foot controls, power steering, cruise control, differential lock and a two-function "on demand" or "full time" four-wheel drive.
The company also offers a line of compact utility tractors suited for roadside maintenance work. In their 55 Series are three models, the 755, 855 and 955, which offer a power range from 20 hp to 33 hp.
With over 50 attachments to choose from these tractors can cut grass in the summer and remove snow in the winter. Some of the other attachments available include a backhoe, auger, forklift and loader. Mowing attachments include a rear-mounted rotary cutter, available in 4-ft to 10-ft cutting widths; flail mowers from 58.5-in. to 90.5-in.; and a sickle-bar mower, in 7-ft and 9-ft lengths with a cutting arc of 30 deg below to 90 deg above horizontal.
For smaller jobs the company offers a line of commercial walk-behind mowers. The newest addition to this line is the GS-30, equipped with a 5-speed gear transmission and powered by a Kohler Command, 13-hp, Pro Series engine. It can be used with a 48-in. or a 36-in. mower deck.
Tiger
Tiger Corp., Sioux Falls, S.D., has a series of rear-boom flail mowersÑthe RBF-2C, the RBF-12C, the RBF-14C, the RBF-19C and the RBF-26CÑwhich range in power from 45 hp to 70-plus hp. The out reach extends from 10 ft 3 in. for the RBF-2C to 26 ft for the RBF-26C. Reach up starts at 11 ft 3 in. with the RBF-12C to the 29 ft 8 in. reach of the RBF-26C.
Other mowing and trimming products include a boom rotary, a boom flail, and a triple flail mower set-up, with two hydraulically driven side units and a rear-mounted unit. The company also produces a rotary ditcher, sweeper, loader and snow blowers.
Toro
The Toro Co., Bloomington, Minn., offers the Groundmaster 580-D a large scale rotary mower. It is powered by a Mitsubishi Model S4F-T, 4 cylinder in-line, 4 cycle, liquid cooled, turbo-charged diesel engine, which produces 80 hp.
The front cutting unit has a 92-in. width of cut, while the side cutting units provide a 57-in. cut. The front unit consists of five spindles and the sides have three.
The machine comes with a hand-held diagnostic tool that aids in troubleshooting mechanical problems. A data log system also is available to record machine information, which can help in the repair and maintenance of the unit.
