Oh boy, Oh boy new Aerator coming today!

[MReeter]

Hazmats reply pretty much nailed it.I didn't want to get an areator that the BX wouldn't handle when the weight rack was loaded with concrete blocks.

I'm sure the BX would deal with the 60" model just fine,but I didn't want to take any chances.I bought from out of state and would have been a big pain to try and return it if indeed the 60" aerator was too big.

I almost went with the 72" to hook behind our L-4610,but decided on the smaller unit for the BX as it is much easier to get into tight spots.

 

[pcmem]

hazmat,

Congrats on the new aerator!

I just checked the midwest "old" website and the "new" first choice website and could only find the manuals for the box blades.

Care to tell me where you found the aerator manual? I have one on order and would like to at least read about it /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Otherwise could you email me a copy?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[hazmat]

Michael

I got it from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.midwestequipment.net/>www.midwestequipment.net</A>

however, the site seems to be down right now. I didn't save a copy, just printed it out. Any questions I can answer?

Here is the condensed version

Grease b4 each use
attach to three point
Lift up & remove or flip parking stands over
max speed 5MPH
Clean dirt out of plugs when you store it.

 

[pcmem]

hazmat,

Thanks for the condensed version /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

I was wondering if there was "some assembly required"?

Mine is comming from sweet also btw.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>"some assembly required"?</font color=blue>

Yup, Two bolts to attach the top link "mast" to the rest of the unit. I thought I was missing them, but they come bolted to the aerator. You need to undo them & then install the mast. Pretty obvious how it goes, you want it facing the same way as the lower lift pins (already installed).

It took longer to get it off the truck & get the shrink wrap off the thing than to put it together.

 

[JimMc]

Sorry guys,

I just got in and saw the web site is down. It was up this morning when I left. At any rate, If you need manuals for box blades, rotary cutters, aerators, etc., let me know and I can email them in Adobe format until I find out what is going on with the site. It may be Monday before I can contact someone to get the site back up.

Once again, my apologies.

 

[JimMc]

Good news, at least for me. The Midwest site is back up. Still don't know why it was down. I can only assume I'll get an email next week from the company with our server explaining that the site will be down today. Why do they always send these out after the fact?

 

[pcmem]

JimMc,

Website is back up, thanks! Downloaded the aerator manual no problem now. It does mention adding weights but doesn't offer a recommended ( I know conditions require variations) or maximum allowed.

Do you have any rule of thumb sort for weight per tine, or inch or whatever? Or is there a maximum allowed per model?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[hazmat]

JimMc,

I'd be interested to know the official answer regarding how much weight to add too. Also, how much grease should we add before each use? When I first greased it, I used about a 1/2-3/4 of a tube of grease!!! It didn't seem to be coming out anyplace/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Michael, I used it again a little bit on Sunday. This was 2 days after we got a decent rain. It was pulling 2-3" plugs with 480# of weight added for a total of 850#

Here is a good link with aerating info from Kansas State (pdf) <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf2130.pdf>CLick Here </A>

 

[JimMc]

The bushings on the aerators are oil-lite bronze and are self-lubricating. However, when stored outside, the axle can rust and the resulting rust particles wear the bushing. Therefore, we provide grease zerks as a way to keep out the water and corrosion as well as provide additional lubrication. If you add grease to each spool until it just begins to show at the bushings it will take 1 to 2 tubes initially, but 1 or 2 shots in each spool before use will normally be enough to keep them topped off. Remember, grease dripping out all over your yard will not make your turf happy.

My personal unit has run for over 3 years with no lubrication and is stored outside as a test bed just to see what happens. It is used by everyone who knows me and has more than a few acres under its belt.

I have run as much as 920 pounds but would recommend keeping the additional weight under 600 pounds on the 60" model. As you repeat aeration, you will find secondary passes will pull the same core with less and less weight.