Snow Power Sweeper in Snow!

ernemats · Jan 5, 2004

How do you think the rotary broom would work to take gravel out of the lawn and put back on the driveway, would it tear the grass out?? Just wondering as I use a back blade on my big tractor to plow the driveway for deep snow and I end up with a lot of gravel in the yard.

smartguyz · Jan 5, 2004

Hmm. I suspect that if you have a PT with draft control, it may be do-able. The trick would be to be able to adjust the amount of down pressure on the bristles. I suppose it would also depend on the sensitivity of the draft controls. As the PT425 has no draft controls, I can't really say. I suppose you could experiment with the tilt control, since that would shift the 'weight' from the casters to the tips of the bristles. I would experiment, but the grass is so beaten-up that I hesitate to subject it to anything right now. There has been a LOT of rain, and the grass is really soggy. You should see the patch of grass where I lifted the JD318 with the PT425. It's pretty muddy. I'm just glad grass grows back so quickly - I'll still have to wait until spring for things to look right again.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JackIL · Jan 5, 2004

I haven't worn one out yet so I really don't know what wear life to expect. I would consider 3-4 years of life in a very heavy use environment like clearing snow at airports to be quite reasonable.

JackIL

JackIL · Jan 5, 2004

I can sweep gravel off of turf without damage to the turf so long as the ground is absolutely level. I have the weight transfer (or draft control to use the PT terms) set to max. It is also necessary for the soil to be relatively solid and dry--if the ground is soft, turf damage will occur.

These brooms can also be used to dethatch lawns, but it takes another attachment to set the gauge wheels on the outside of the broom and exactly in line with the contact patch of the broom. This is to prevent the broom from gouging the turf on uneven areas. If the wheels are behind the contact patch they are not effective in preventing gouging.

See photo of sidemount gauge wheels here Side Mount gauge wheels for dethatching

JackIL

smartguyz · Jan 5, 2004

Hi Duane,

Here's photo #1 - The Power Sweeper on the PT425 in the garage, arms in float, in 'rest position', fully tilted-up to put the weight on the gauge wheels only.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

smartguyz · Jan 5, 2004

The other side...

smartguyz · Jan 5, 2004

Closeup of the attach plate (sorry, it's like 15 degrees out, and I didn't want to 'untilt' it and lift it - which would give a better shot - we're expecting freezing snow and rain tonight!) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

smartguyz · Jan 5, 2004

Final shot - other side of the quick mount plate, shows the angle cylinder...

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

duane · Jan 6, 2004

Rob,

Thanks for the pictures. It's really got me thinking that having one would be nice.

I quess the PT had plenty of traction to pull your JD318 out of the mud.

thanks again
Duane