FC Aerator vs Goodyear

[JimMc]

In case any one was wondering, a coring aerator will pull cores from an agricultural tire.

While doing some testing this evening, I was shortening and lengthening the top link and examining the resulting cores. (Changing the attitude of the aerator changes the angle the tines penetrate and come out of the ground) All was well during the shortening phase. Then came the lengthening. I underestimated the amount of threads left and the top link popped apart. Had I been travelling forward, everything might have turned out differently. But, as luck would have it, I was backing up. The left 14.9x28 traction lug ag tire caught the outer spool of the aerator and inhaled 2 coring tines before exhaling all its air. By the time I dumped all the weights and pulled the aerator out of the tire, it was getting pretty flat. The good news is the aerator is none the worse for wear. Can't say as much for the tire and tube, though.

 

[powershop]

Not to make fun of your accident, but you sure made me feel
better. I thought I was the only one dumb things happened to.
Sorry about your tire, but i will sleep better knowing i'm not the only one Murphy picks on.

 

[Kodiak]

Ever since I fired that Murphy character, it seems that he has been showing up at a lot of peoples homes lately.

I hope that First Choice doesn't get that radical on all of its new product quality control testing.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

 

[JimMc]

It has been brought to my attention that I may have mispoken. (Thanks, Will) The angle the tines touch the ground does not change as the aerator is rotated about the lift pins by the top link. But we do experience a difference in the way the tines penetrate, probably due to the weight in the weight box moving fore and aft. By changing the top link one can effect a round vertical core and hole or an oval elongated hole with a round core. I haven't fully understood why yet other than that the tine is moving as it pulls the core. When I figure it out, it will either be something to avoid or a plus to feature. I personally like the neat round hole best, but I suppose the oval tear might provide some benefits.

 

[Turfman]

You can avoid all these costly tire repairs by sending one to me for testing and I'll let you know how it goes. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Turfman

 

[Bird]

I can't remember who it was that posted the message a long time ago about trying pulling his box blade without connecting the top link; said when he picked it up with the 3-point, the scarifiers swung into the rear tires and destroyed both of them./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[tdenny]

Jim,

You've been working way too hard and you really need a break with your testing. Send some of those implements out west and we'll run them through the heavy rain weather testing./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JimMc]

Rain? I seem to remember rain. Isn't rain that stuff that falls from the sky and makes my ground softer? Right now, even with aerating twice this spring, my 4 acre lawn is like a brick bat. Send some rain my way, please!

 

[justractors]

I am sure all the others were joking about testing your equipment for you, but I am dead serious about doing it.
I am the Equipment Manger at a golf course in Northern Michigan and we pull cores out of about 60 acres of fairways about once a month. We are currently using a Toro Pro Core 880 that will pull only up to 3/4" cores on about 3.5 " centers. We would be interested in pulling 1" cores or using 1" solid tines to possibly shatter some rocks that are close to the surface (about 2" down).
You could possibly find another golf course closer to you that would also do some product evaluation for you.

It seems like any golf course could give your equipment a good test because they have 8 to 10 folks each day that are maintaining the turf in one way or another.

Bill

 

[Turfman]

I was joking, sort of. I spend two and a half months each spring walking behind an aerator (26"). I just did a park with it in July. What a chore. Some of the lots are 1 acre+ in size and a tow behind would be nice.