MidWest Equipment still open for business? Core aerator

[lively1]

I wondered if MidWest Equipment was still open for business? I am in the market for a core aerator and tried to get on their website, but had no success. I had looked at their website before, but wanted to get back on it again. Maybe I do not have the right address... Any word out there at TBN?

Also how has your experience been with Midwest Core aerators? I am looking at aeration for my lawn as well as starting a small part-time aeration, seeding, fertilization service. Mostly just want to do larger lawns 1+ acres based on the size of my equipment. Any other reasonably priced core aerators out there? Woods, Land Pride ($1800-$3000)seem alittle too pricey right now.

[Gamemaster]

I tried to get pricing on a boxblade thru Tarheel and was told that Midwest items are on backorder. I wanted a BB30-60 series BB, but they only stocked a BB20-60. It sounds like they are at capacity and shut down their web-site because they can't accept orders. My thoughts on the web-site. It sure is tough to find a dealer for Midwest up here in the northeast. Anybody
know of any dealers closer to NW Pa. than Tarheel ?.

[schmism]

hey another midwestern IL peep!

I just closed on my property outside of BunkerHill IL.

[lively1]

hey another midwestern IL peep!

I just closed on my property outside of BunkerHill IL.

Well I am very close to Bunker Hill. We live just north of Bethalto.

[cp1969]

I have a 5' Midwest core aerator.

It's fine for what I would call occasional use but I don't know how long it would last using it commercially. The quality of results is very dependent on soil conditions and if you try to make up for moist soil with more weight, you'll probably end up breaking something. This may be true of all of them. I've used Landpride and could not see that it did any better than the Midwest, which cost about half the Landpride.

[lively1]

I did find out some more information regarding Midwest. I found a number and called them today. They are still in business and didn't know why their website was canceled. Hopefully they will get it back up and running again. They had some information there and some manuals for equipment you could download.

On another note. I would like to know which aerator would work best with my current setup? I am leaning towards the 72" which has 12 hubs and 96 tines, but may go with the 60" which has 10 hubs and 80 tines. I am planning doing this on a part-time commercial basis once I have a hang of the operation and am comfortable with the results. Some of my concerns are as follows: 1) will the 72" be too big to fit in tight spots, 2) will the 60" cover my wheel tracks sufficiently, 3) will the 72" save noticeably more time... I have a B2910 and use a 72" belly mower and am pretty comfortable with its width although it is right below me. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

[radman1]

I have a Ryan tracaire 6' aerator. More commercial duty and weighs just over 1000#. The tines are mounted to 75# cast iron wheels and the tines are thicker than other models I looked at. The model I have is the same as what they sell now, but has a metal cover over all the tines. For 1 acre size yards and larger, I would lean toward the 6' model. Its nice to have the aerator tines well beyond the tire width.
Aerating takes longer than mowing because you have to mark all the sprinkler heads, ground boxes etc. Just raise it up as go over these obstacles. The tines will have no problems breaking sprinker heads. Also takes longer because these aerators want to go straight and turns are gradual. This requires much more stopping, lifting and backing up to get everything. Hydrostatic tractor would be great for aerating.
The ryan product when I bought mine listed for just over $3000. I had a good friend who worked at the plant and got it for $1300. Nice mark up.

[radman1]

Lively1
Since your mower is already 6', make the aerator the same. The width of the mower already limits you to where you can go. The width of the mower can also serve as a marker for the width of the aerator. Or do you plan to remove the mower when you use the aerator?

[lively1]

Well I took the plunge and bought the aerator this friday. Met the guy roughly half way (he had some equipment displayed at the Illinois State Fair in Du Quion) and bought it. I got it home and hooked up to the tractor --- looks real nice. I haven't used it yet. I need to get some weight back there and I think I'll be ready to go. I also bought about 1,000 lbs of fertilizer for the yard. We need one more good rain and I will be a busy boy. I want to spray the weeds with 2-4-d and then aerate and fertilize... Looking forward to getting some tractor time. I ended up with the 60" aerator. The 72" was alittle more than I wanted to spend and I measured up the width of the tractor and the 60" will cover it with some room to spare.