Posted by Mike Welch
You buy a ride on mower because you have realized there is a better way to mow than by pushing a walk behind mower around for hours. You want to sit and enjoy yourself from the ease of a comfortable seat, not huff and puff around the garden pushing a mower. In your dreams however, one thing you don't plan for is problems. The problem I'm specifically referring to is blocking. It's not difficult to understand why it happens. It's a complicated task involving lot's of moving parts, cutting and collecting grass over speed. In this article we'll discuss the key points about blocking and what can be done to reduce this issue. You may even find it useful to read before you buy as it may help you buy the right machine for your job.
Blocking occurs due to many factors, three big ones are grass building up in your cutting deck, too much grass being squeezed into the catcher, and the competence of the driver.
Grass build up can occur during the spring when frequent rain leaves grass mixed with mud and this heavy concoction builds under the deck till no more grass can get through and a blockage occurs. In situations like this it's important to watch your grass cutting length - if it's too low you may have this problem.
Overloading the grass catcher or bin happens when the driver, not knowing the bin is full, keeps mowing until a blockage occurs as the grass has no where else to go. Sometimes it may just be a matter of finishing the end of one run that may prove the tipping point for the mower. There are some features available like an audible alarm that sounds when the bill is full, and/or a cut off switch that disengages the blades from the collection system when the catcher is full. These are useful as they take the problem out of the operators hands and simply mean you have to stop and empty before continuing cutting.
Finally, the third reason is also one of operator error. If the ride on mower is driven at speeds to fast for the conditions, especially when grass is heavy and lush with new growth, the grass will build up under the deck simply because the machine is not given time to process the intake.
So what can you do to prevent blocking? The top three points concerning the design of the cutting deck, mowing technique and ongoing care and maintenance.
Fantastic collection begins at the first point in any collection system, the cutting deck. The purpose of a cutting deck is to enable the grass to move unencumbered from blades up through the chute and into the catcher bin. Grass can get stuck in sharp corners and over time cause a build up which creates a blockage. Well designed decks will reduce corners and and streamline areas in the deck where grass can build up.
In order to get the grass from the cutting deck and into the grass catcher you need some mowing air. This can either be generated by the draft the blades provide from their revolutions or by a fan or blower. While they are working, fans and blowers are great but as another moving part there is more that can potentially go wrong. When blade draft is the main source of propulsion, it's important for the grass to travel the path of least resistance, so having a tube that avoids corners, bends is a must.
The engine is the next big consideration. A lot of ride on mower decisions are based on very large horse power. Well engineered ride on mowers are designed to get the most out of power ratio to blade speed. The cutting deck width impacts this as it controls the size of the blades and how much grass is being cut. The equation for successful collection is not how much power you have but what you do with what you've got. Decks engineered to maximize power to blade speed will do a better, faster job because they are being used efficiently. Decks that aren't specialized like this will suffer blocking problems and poorer finishes. In terms of horsepower....biggest isn't always best. You have to look at the system as a whole. If a ride on mower blocks it won't be fixed by more horsepower or a bigger blower. You have to consider the shape and design of the deck, the blades and also the collection system as a whole.
The main results you require from a collection ride on mower is that it picks up the grass without leaving a mess of clippings all over the ground, and preferably to do this without having a blockage. Ask your local dealer to show you where the common places a blockage could occur and the best way to remove it. A ride on mower that is easy to access into the deck and tube and catcher bin will make removing blockages vastly easier when your in the middle of your mow.
Open up your catcher bin when it's full, what you want is a even dispersed collection with good coverage in the bin, not just all lumped in one corner. If your still to have a working demonstration make sure you make this one of your tasks to do. Not every ride on mower will be able to oblige.
In times of wet grass, or lots of thick, lush new growth you'll have to watch your speed. Driving too fast for the conditions will cause unnecessary blockages. To avoid this problem during these times keep the ride on mowers revs up, and forward motion down and you'll allow the mower to process the grass effectively.
Regular maintenance is important to keep the ride on mower mowing and collecting effectively. There's more jobs to consider than on a push mower, as it has a larger cutting deck. These cutting decks can also have a very hard life thanks to corrosion, and the probability of hitting objects not seen in long grass. Regular maintenance is the key to optimizing the life of your ride-on mower.
Dulled blades will tear grass rather than cut it and tall or wet grass places stress on the PTO and mower belts as the motion tries to discharge the grass from the deck.
The deck should be removed and scraped clean at the middle of each mowing season and at the end of it to remove dried caked-on grass. Best use is to clean your cutting deck after each use and nowadays there are several available deck cleaning devices to perform this task easily without removing the deck. This practice will prevent the caked-on grass and mud buildup that occurs. Remove and sharpen the blades at the end of each mowing season. Replace the blades every other year for optimum cutting performance.
While you're never going to completely remove the risk of blocking, following these best practices can reduce the problem and also your frustration. Selecting the right ride on mower to begin with will also contribute to your success and enjoyment, and the quality of finish on your lawn.
About the author: Mike Welch is full of great advice, including how to prevent blocking your collection ride on mower. If you're experiencing blockages and you're getting frustrated then visit his site for everything you need to know about the best ride on mowers for collection.
Tags: blockages on ride on mower, blocking on ride on mower, collecting grass ride on mowers, collection ride on lawnmowers, collection ride on mowers, collector ride on mowers, Garden, Gardening, Gardening Articles, Lawncare, mowing, outdoor power equipment, ride on mowers
Posted by Christina Evans
The summer season is upon us and with summer comes heat and a lot of it. Do you know how hot it gets over the summer period? It is pretty ridiculous to think that we have to go out in the heat and perform tasks and jobs that do have to be done, like mowing our lawns or washing our cars from time to time. Would you want to be the person that is out there on a hot summer's day pushing the lawnmower around and almost dying because of heat exhaustion? That is usually the thought most people have when summer rolls around and we tend to leave our lawns and sections because, well we really do not want to push that lawnmower around anymore than we want to clean our car. There is a solution to this though, and no it's not to make your partner or children mow the lawns, it is to drop hints from now on that you are looking at ride on mowers, and that is what you want for Christmas; otherwise they will have to push around the mower.
This is how we motivate the people around us to give us what we want basically. We can either say " hey i think i deserve something nice for Christmas" or we can blackmail them into giving us something nice; pretty smart really. If you are in the mood to make your family give you something then what better than ride on mowers? I mean you are going to get asked to mow the lawns eventually right? And they will not stop until you have done the job. Now to me, mowing the lawns when it is hot outside and you can barely walk just seems like a cruel game. You have to push that mower around and then empty out the grass and keep on going. The hardest part is getting it going as well! Have you ever not been able to mow the lawns because you just could not get the old machine to work? And if this happens, who gets the blame? Exactly.
Now if we had a nice brand new ride on mower then things would be a little different. First off you do not have to pull a cord to get it going, oh no. All you have to do is sit on a nice comfortable seat and turn a key; just like a luxury car. So already there are two upsides because it's just a key to start and you are sitting down. Then what happens? Well, you go for a ride that's what. All we have to do is sit down and turn the wheel to go where we want to; how easy is that? I cannot see why anyone else would want a push mower when these ride on ones clearly seem unbeatable.
There are other benefits to ride on mowers of course, like the fact that they are more suited to different types of terrain and you can buy one depending on your property. Also they do last longer and are easier to maintain, although you should know what you are doing beforehand though.
Ride on mowers are the perfect gift for Christmas and the only person that is going to make it happen is you. Make the people around you see how much you want one and that you cannot live without one. Then it is only a matter of time before you are turning that key.
Have you been looking at a Ride On Mowers and really would like one for Christmas, then give the team at Agrigarden a ring right away!. This article, Ride On Mowers For The Christmas Season has free reprint rights.
Tags: cutting grass, Gardening Articles, Lawn Mower, mower, Mowers, ride on lawn mower, ride on mower, ride on mowers, Rideon mowers
Posted by Dave Tant
A ride on mower can be an expensive item to buy, so you want to make sure you get something that is correct for your requirements. This article lays out the things you need to think about before you buy.
The Lawn
The first thing to consider is the lawn or area you will be cutting. In general the larger the lawn you need to cut the larger you want the cutting width. This makes sense, but you need to consider other things too - are there narrow spaces you'll need to get through, between trees or through gates for example. You will need to ensure that the ride on mower you choose will be able to fit through the smallest of gaps on your cutting area. If your lawn is very large you'll also need to consider the storage capacity of the mower (if you're planning on collecting the grass).
Another thing you need to consider is the terrain of the land you'll be cutting. If it is steep in places you'll need a more powerful mower. Will you need to turn the mower on a slope or do you have flat areas on the lawn to be able to do this?
Where to store the mower
You will need to think about where the mower is going to be stored during most of it's life whilst not being used. Do you have enough room to keep the mower without taking off the collection bag, if it has one? If you don't are you willing to remove it every time you put it away? Is there somewhere to easily turn the mower or would you have to reverse down a long driveway to get it in it's home?
Leaving your mower outside under a waterproof sheet or shelter is not recommended. Not only will it not be guarded against the elements you also increase the risk of the mower being stolen if it's not hidden from view. A building (shed, outhouse, etc) is always recommended.
How often will you use your mower?
The number of times the mower will be used throughout a year will need to be considered. Someone who has a large area of grass that only wants to trim it a few times a year will probably not want to spend the same amount of money as a professional groundsman who will be using the mower once or twice a week.
Lawn collection
Most of the ride on mowers on the market these days can fit a grass cuttings collection bag. This is useful if you have a very large lawn and don't want to bother with collecting the cut grass. Depending on how large the bag is will determine how many times you'll need to empty it during one mow.
If you are not too bothered about collecting the grass you still have a couple of choices to make. Some models of ride on mowers have a side discharge, which, unsurprisingly, means the cut grass is thrown out of the side of the mower once cut. This form of discharge gives a more even distribution of cuttings on the grass and doesn't risk clumps of grass forming, which can happen when the grass is wet.
Mulching is another option you may want to consider. Once the grass has been cut from the ground, mulching basically cuts the grass up again into tiny pieces before it is put back onto the lawn. The advantage of this is that these small pieces decompose quickly, and return a large amount of nitrogen back into the lawn.
For a lot more information on ride on mowers click the link. The site also includes maintenance, lawn care and safety information.
Tags: Gardening, Gardening Articles, Lawn, lawn care, lawn mower maintenance, lawn mower safety, Lawn-Mowers, Mowers, ride on mower, ride on mowers
Posted by Mike Tant
Ride on mowers are dangerous machines and need to be handled with care and respect. According to a BBC report in 2009 almost 70,000 people in the US alone were admitted to hospital over a five period because of injuries caused by using them.
Please bear in mind the following safety issues before using a ride on mower:
1. It is strongly recommended that you wear safety goggles to protect your eyes whilst operating the mower. This becomes more important in dry conditions when grass cuttings and dust are more likely to fly up into your eyes.
2. Wear sensible clothing that will protect you from stones and other objects being thrown out from the blades. For example, don't wear shorts! A stone flying at a good number of knots can produce some rather nasty cuts.
3. Although most ride on mowers have been designed to try to reduce the noise they output as much as possible, it is still advisable to wear some sort of ear defenders - either ear plugs or proper ear guards should do the trick.
4. Never operate a ride on mower (or any mower for that matter) in bare feet or sandals. Most injuries are sustained through people ignoring this one piece of advice. Stop the obvious injury and put shoes on!
5. If you have loose items of clothing or long hair then take a few seconds to tie it back and out of the way. It's not worth risking it getting caught in the machinery.
6. If you have sweaty palms or you are using the machine in wet conditions it's advisable to wear gloves as this will help you grip the steering wheel and maintain better control at all times.
7. When the sun is shining strongly you may want to wear a cap to help your visibility. Also you may want to put some sun screen on to avoid getting sunburnt as a large lawn may take some time to mow.
8. Before starting to cut the lawn take a couple of seconds to ensure that the machine's adjustable seat (if it is adjustable) is correct for your body and that you can easily reach all the levers and steering wheel.
9. If you are lucky enough to have a drinks holder on your mower use it and stay hydrated!
10. Finally, if you have a seat belt, wear it!!! You definitely don't want to risk falling out!
For more information on background, choosing and maintaining a ride on mower click the link.
categories: ride on lawn mower,ride on lawn mowers,ride on mower,ride on mowers,lawn mower,lawn mowers,cutting the lawn,lawn,grass,garden
Tags: cutting the lawn, Garden, Gardening Articles, grass, Lawn, Lawn Mower, Lawn-Mowers, ride on lawn mower, ride on lawn mowers, ride on mower, ride on mowers
