ponytug
Super Member
I had never seen a rotary plow for a walk behind. That must be like a pig rooting around in the dirt. Wow!
All the best,
Peter
All the best,
Peter
Gravely 2 Wheel Tractor for PT 422 Owner
- Thread starter BobRip
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Bob999
Platinum Member
I had the rotary plow. It is a real beast to handle when tilling undisturbed soil! Once the soil is initially plowed subsequent use is much easier.
The plow throws dirt and rocks and is, in my opinion, inherently dangerous--as are some of the other Gravely inplements.
The plow throws dirt and rocks and is, in my opinion, inherently dangerous--as are some of the other Gravely inplements.
OP
BobRip
Elite Member
Is it too dangerous? Don't want my daughter's husband or me hurt.
Bob999
Platinum Member
I don't really know how to answer your question. All I can say is that at this point of my life I wouldn't chose to use one.
OP
BobRip
Elite Member
Anybody else have comments on safety. This is the most negative thing so far. I had not really thought that there was anymore danger than a regular mower. Bob999, can you elaborate on what's so dangerous.
JFS2295
Silver Member
I'll give my perspective. I currently own 4 two wheel gravelys and have grown up around and with them since I was 6, so about 49 years of exposure. My family has used them in our nursery both on site and in commercial landscaping use.
Most of the tractors and implements I have were built before the current safety rules for shielding and motor cutout when the operator is not in the "drivers seat". So you can get into trouble if your not safety conscious. I don't crawl under my CUT tiller to pull out vines when its operating either.
Gravelys have a lot of power and since your discussing the rotary plow, getting a root or vine caught in the blades or hitting a rock can cause some hurt. IF the safety clutch is set up too tight. With the older attachments, each attachment has it's own clutch and I find that the operator needs to set this up for his own conditions. Under the situation described, the tractor will pivot around its tires causing the handles to hit your hips or where your going to generate offspring. Any two wheeled tractor is going to transmit sideway force from an implement hit to the operator. Using the snowplow or one of the many mowers will do the same.
The rotary mower also can do a good job of throwing objects far and wide unless it has a chain guard on the front, or the ill conceived one piece deck that is closed off in the front. My Woods M5 CUT deck also throws out objects far and wide on the side where it is missing it's chain guard about the same distance.
To me the Gravely and the PT series are completely different animals. For the same tasks, the Gravely allows you to get into places that you can't with the PT. In our operation, the PT is useless as the larger work is covered by my Ford 1710, while the Gravelys cover the HD work that homeowner equipment just can't deal with effectively.
Bottom line I don't think the gravely is any more dangerous then one of my chainsaws or chipper. But to me safety is in how you handle tools and know their potentials.
Edit - forgot to add. Plus you can throw your driveway snow onto the PITA neighbors.
Most of the tractors and implements I have were built before the current safety rules for shielding and motor cutout when the operator is not in the "drivers seat". So you can get into trouble if your not safety conscious. I don't crawl under my CUT tiller to pull out vines when its operating either.
Gravelys have a lot of power and since your discussing the rotary plow, getting a root or vine caught in the blades or hitting a rock can cause some hurt. IF the safety clutch is set up too tight. With the older attachments, each attachment has it's own clutch and I find that the operator needs to set this up for his own conditions. Under the situation described, the tractor will pivot around its tires causing the handles to hit your hips or where your going to generate offspring. Any two wheeled tractor is going to transmit sideway force from an implement hit to the operator. Using the snowplow or one of the many mowers will do the same.
The rotary mower also can do a good job of throwing objects far and wide unless it has a chain guard on the front, or the ill conceived one piece deck that is closed off in the front. My Woods M5 CUT deck also throws out objects far and wide on the side where it is missing it's chain guard about the same distance.
To me the Gravely and the PT series are completely different animals. For the same tasks, the Gravely allows you to get into places that you can't with the PT. In our operation, the PT is useless as the larger work is covered by my Ford 1710, while the Gravelys cover the HD work that homeowner equipment just can't deal with effectively.
Bottom line I don't think the gravely is any more dangerous then one of my chainsaws or chipper. But to me safety is in how you handle tools and know their potentials.
Edit - forgot to add. Plus you can throw your driveway snow onto the PITA neighbors.
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BobRip
Elite Member
JFS, thanks for the input. This is very helpful.
Bob999
Platinum Member
My comment was directed to the rotary plow. On hard ground the machine will bounce and twist and could be ripped from the operators hands. The unit I had, manufactured in the mid 80s, had no dead man switch. Additionally the plow will throw rocks. There is a small shield but it doesn't prevent all rock throwing. I generally agree with the comments posted by the JFS2295. However, I believe that even a safety conscious user can get into trouble.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,128
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
If gardening is what he wants to do, I would invest in a good rear tine tiller with counter rotating tines, a couple of good garden hoes with different blades, a 5 gallon bucket, a sturdy metal cup, a hand trowel and a book by Mel Bartholomew titled Square Foot Gardening.
Welcome To My Garden! | Square Foot Gardening
OP
BobRip
Elite Member
If gardening is what he wants to do, I would invest in a good rear tine tiller with counter rotating tines, a couple of good garden hoes with different blades, a 5 gallon bucket, a sturdy metal cup, a hand trowel and a book by Mel Bartholomew titled Square Foot Gardening.
Welcome To My Garden! | Square Foot Gardening
Looks like good advice.