Aerator

[FarmerBob]

Haven't seen the Bush Hog, but if it's priced like the Bush Hog rotary mowers it's gonna be more expensive than the Landpride.

FarmerBob

[MReeter]

Landpride,Bush Hog,Ryan,there is just too many to choose from.Kinda like trying to pick out a Mothers Day card,too much to choose from.A friend of mine has a 4' Ryan that has the Cast hubs and Stainless "spools".He says it's the best tool he has ever bought,and he has several.

[Kelvin]

Ryan (Textron) has a web page that has product information as well as lawn (& Golf Course) care information. Or at least it did the last time I looked at the site. Try http://www.textronturf.com/2/main.asp

I have a 40" or so 3-point hitch Ryan model that I picked up Used & Abused from a Rental Center that was going out of buisness. I have replaced the shaft and all bushings and it works fine except over half the "tines" have a problem where the plugs get stuck in the tine. It had sat up for a while before I bought it and has some rust in the inside of the tine (plugger) that is probably the reason the plug doesn't push through.

Kelvin

[radman]

Farmerbob: Just saw your post. I was fortunate on the purchase of my Ryan 72" aerator. A good friend of mine works in the plant where they are made. Employees can purchase products just over cost of production. I paid $1450 including tax. (tax was about $80) I was told they retail for $3300. Took me almost 3 hours to put all the tines on the Ryan product. (Didn't realize they are shipped without the tines attached.) The Ryan unit is a heavy duty beast. The Textron (Ryan) website shows the unit (Traicare) with open tines, however when purchased the tines are covered buy steel. Only the tines sticking out of the bottom are visible. I don't use it for commercial reasons but only for my personal use or for friends. For occassional use it is more than I really need. The landpride unit with the water tanks on top, I believe sells for about $1400

[Anonymous Poster]

Take a look at the Gandy aerators they have independent wheel flotation and are very heavy duty. If you want a consumer unit try the millcreek ones they are priced right and have a economy and heavy duty model. www.gandy.net www.millcreekmfg.com or www.easternfarmmachinery.com

[FarmerBob]

Hey Rad...

Wanna adopt me??? Sure would be nice to have a friend who worked where tractor implements are made and who would give you his discount on any of their products. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

I guess I'll keep shop'n. I just read a research paper written by the State of Mississippi. It involved the effects of aeration on Bermudagrass pasture. Based on the results, it's best to aerate once a year, and in some cases twice a year. Even then, the yield per acre was only about 20% higher than non-aerated pasture. Makes it kind of tough for someone with 10-acres to justify the cost. Oh well... where there's a will... there's a way. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks for the input... and if you ever wanna get rid of that Ryan just give me a shout. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif[/img]

FarmerBob

[FarmerBob]

Guess I'm gonna hafta track down a Ryan dealer and take a look at what they've got.

FarmerBob