Aerator Suggestions?

[Harvest Moon]

Hi, thought I'd take a shot a seeing what you all think.

I have some fairly intense clay soil and fairly poor top soil and this obsession with driving my tractor around my yard (Kubota L3400 R4's). Anyway, my lawn tends to take on the quality of a country carnival parking lot and I'm thinking an aerator is in order.

My position, I don't like to spend big bucks to rent things, seems like throwing money away when there is a re-occurrent need. I love to help others but hate to borrow. I don't like to spend money on cheep China junk, (Not saying all things from China are junk) so those flimsy home center spiky things are out. And I'm not a fan of the walk behind motorized things that jerk all over.

I'm thinking spoon or core style with the clay. I wouldn't be surprised if the spike aerators compact it more but with holes.

The area I have an issue with is not more than a half acre but it is the area closest to my house, where it should look nicest. For my needs it's impossible for me to justify a nice shiny new 60" Land Pride to cover my tracks.

I also have a 22 hp, JD riding mower (they call it a tractor but not quite to me)

A few questions:

How does it work out to use a 48" on a 60" machine? Do the holes get packed in by the tires on the next pass?

Can my wimpy 400 pound JD (with tiny turf tires) pull a heavy enough aerator to do anything with?

Who makes a good model that isn't in the $1500 and up category? I was dreaming of $500 used but not seeing anything close that's worth the $500. Most of the used ones still seem to be $1000 or more, or 36".

Would something like this do the trick? 3-point tractor Core Plug Aerator 60" Plug depth 4" - The Smart Farmer, LLC. Cheeper than most, still pricey for my needs, but they do have a smaller one and a tow behind that is cheeper.

Any suggestions, am I just not being realistic or is there an affordable solution out there for me? And the first person to come up with "just don't drive on the lawn"....

Thanks for any input. Harvest

 

[lawn_king]

Decent core aerators are expensive! The link you posted seems to be cheap enough, the drawback on that unit is its a fixed drum. That means any turning and you will tear up the turf. It also looks like that unit has fixed tines, if so i guess you junk it when they wear down?

 

[Harvest Moon]

Great point lawn_king. I guess I could just make straight passes if it made a mess of things on turns. Good to know though, sorta discourages the tow behind version.

For my needs, I don't think I'd ever wear it down but I guess it depends on the quality of those tines. It looks like its a Leinbach, anyone have an impression of their quality?

 

[amigauser]

You can search TBN for the key word aerator and come up with a lot of threads.

This is the best deal I have seen on a quality unit that can be towed by a lawn tractor. They also have 3pt models.

Rental/Residential Core Aerator

 

[lawn_king]

I purchased a gill pl60 (woods) 5 years ago. I think i paid around 2 grand for it. It has 96 tines on gang wheels that spin independently, this allows some forgiveness on turning. I have turned more profit from this machine, than anything i have ever owned!

 

[radioman]

harvest moon, I currently have the core plug type china version from agrifab that is 40" that i picked up cheap from a garage sale. Before I had the kubota i pulled it with the cheapo tractor with turfs in the fall and since I have wet areas, I find that adding V bar chains on really helps. The small tractor does pull it but you need to be in a medium speed to keep it going and its kinda shaky due to the low mass of small tractor. I find it works the best the day after it rains due to a softer ride and deeper plugging. Now I have the BX24, I used that instead and it really makes a difference in pulling and it really handles well in terms of low shakiness, no slippage, etc. Like you I hate to spend extra money, and yeah it doesn't cover my tracks , but hey it doesn't bother me. Since its only aerating my lawn, the width makes no difference in my eyes anyway. Since you already have a larger tractor and don't own one yet, I would go with the largest width you can afford since its a one time buy. I am not sure if I would go with the nicer units since I only use it one day out of whole year and it sits outside doing nothing 99% of the time. I agree the star spiky type is a complete waste of money and only the plug core removing type is the best which I have. I had no problems with the china version and I had it for 8 years now and still going strong. When I first got it from garage sale, it was rusty. I wire brushed it and painted it. Its still holding up well and it could use a new coat of paint after 8 years of sitting outside. So that being said,I wouldn't hesitate in getting a china type. good luck.

 

[Harvest Moon]

Thanks for the responses, they've really got me considering my options.

I'm starting to think that I'll probably stick with something to pull with the riding mower. I'd love to have one of those Gill 60" deals but it will never pay for it's self with my current intentions.

Also, I think I have enough room in my little mower shed to store a smaller one. I'm not to keen on spending cash and watching it rust year after year. Unless of course it was rusty when I got it at a great price, then it's not such a big deal.

I like the one amigauser linked to but I'm also encouraged by radiomans success with the agrifab. I found this one on TSC's site:

Tractor Supply Company - Plugger Aerator 48In

It's definitely below my standards but if it will do the job and last through a 1/2 acre of somewhat packed clay for 10 years or better, it's steal. What do you think radioman? Anything like the one thats working for you? It will cover the ride on's tracks.

The TA 12 below looks like the smaller affordable aerator I've always dreamed of (I wasn't able to link to the specific page, all links bounce to the home page):

Welcome to www.bluebirdintl.com

but at nearly $1200 it almost costs as much as the riding mower. There seem to be some golf course models out there that go WAY up there in price but I'm not looking for a golf course, just a little tired of dirt.

Can't really see as to how the TA 12 might be worth twice what they are selling the one the one amigauser linked to though.

Any other thoughts out there?

 

[medicshawn]

I have one of those small tow behind kinds with some cinder blocks it doeas a great job. I have 3 acres and would like a nice one but can't buy one of the gold plated ones they sell at the store 6 feet or so. That little cheap one has lasted 6-7 years without rusting away that is worth it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[RalphVa]

I'd check your local equipment rental place. One place near here has about 3 or 4 different types ranging from a 3ph one, self-propelled, pull-behind, etc. Your tractor would be able to handle the big 3ph one that they rent. Issue would be getting it to your lawn.

Been here 8 years going on 9 and still haven't aerated mine. I just change my routes across the grass except for a fairly dedicated trail behind the rear yard.

Ralph

 

[ray66v]

Aerator on the cheap-

My dad and I went 50/50 on one of these: (lawn equipment Lesco aerator 30in.), used on E bay, for $400. I made a tow bar for it, and pull it with a lawn mower. You don't need to have the engine running when you tow it, so if you find one that doesn't run, you could get it cheaper. I can do an acre an hour, going over it twice.

I have made more than my half of the money back, doing residential lawns for my friends, using it as a walk behind.