Leinbach aerator

[Hooked_on_HP]

I borrowed a freinds 6' Leinbach plug core areator over the weekend. We got about 1/2" of rain on Friday night so Sat morn. I gave it a try. It about beat the tractor apart. It was only penetrating abou 1/2". The drum is full of water and I added 240# . Now it penetrated 1". I decided the ground was still to dry.It was going to rain Sat night so I decided to try again on Sun. We got 1 1/4" of rain on Sat. night, Sun. morning I tried again. Now I could penetrate about 2" but it still bounced up and down alot. I tried varrying my speed and slower was better but not as smoth as I thoufgt it shoud be. Am I doing somthing wrong or is it the design of the aerator.
Bill

 

[sweettractors]

Sounds like that brand has all the tines in a horizontal row. That would give you the bounce. Most are mounted on a scroll pattern, to eliminate the bouncing. Don't know for sure? A picture of the machine would tell the tale. Ken Sweet

 

[Kays Supply]

I core aerate in the Spring and late Fall. Everything I have read says not to do it in the Summer because it causes your lawn to dry out too much. In the Spring I can get 6" plugs with a 50 gal drum of water on the rack.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I core aerate in the Spring and late Fall. Everything I have read says not to do it in the Summer because it causes your lawn to dry out too much. In the Spring I can get 6" plugs with a 50 gal drum of water on the rack.

We had a extremley wet spring and early summer, then high heat. The ground has gotten packed down from mowing when the ground was soft. Now it is hard as rock. I needed to do somthing to loosen up the soil. The grass had already turned brown and died.At this point I have little to lose. I though if I could get some air to it some of the grass might come back. What brand aerator are you using.
Bill

 

[bullbreaker]

Don't know if it makes a big difference,but for some of those Leinbach CA's they make opptional wheel kits.Close to thirty pounds I believe.
Boone

 

[Stradbash]

I live in Southern Michigan and even though we've had a lot more rain than usual this summer, I would not even get out my aerator (which is quite heavy) until after a good rain in the fall. My ground is just to hard at this point. See if you can borrow it again when the leaves are falling...

 

[Kays Supply]

My aerator is from James Equipment in Jackson , MO. It looks crude and doesn't have a name. It is built well. It was reasonably priced, if I remember right around $700 for a 5'. I put a frame on it to hold a 50 gal barrel on it's side. I can adjust the weight that way.

 

[sweettractors]

Here is a good picture of the Scroll mount pattern on the tine mounting. This type mount doesn't bounce around as much as others. $1195 for the 5 ft. Ken Sweet