Mowing ..

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

7 months old!

Warranty claim, or Fair Trading as it's not fit for purpose.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I have been told by a colleague to release the pressure in the petrol tank before trying a hot start. I have not tried it yet, but could be onto something. That said, this seems like something that should not be an acceptable cure.

Does it have an altitude compensator? Its a little piece of black plastic held on by a screw with an icon of a sun and a snowflake on it. You unscrew and rotate it 180 degrees. I had a chainsaw that did a similar thing, it was set on snowflake/ high altitude, we changed it over and it was markedly better. Just an idea...

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Does it have an altitude compensator? Its a little piece of black plastic held on by a screw with an icon of a sun and a snowflake on it. You unscrew and rotate it 180 degrees. I had a chainsaw that did a similar thing, it was set on snowflake/ high altitude, we changed it over and it was markedly better. Just an idea...

I did actually think of that too. I went looking for reference of a winter setting in the manual and online but nothing is noted. I could not see an obvious winter symbol on the unit either.

[DFB FGXR6]

I tried the fuel cap trick as suggested on the 525 blower today with no luck. I will probably take it in and request a warranty repair and see how that pans out.

The replacement Stihl impeller housing arrived today.



It even came with a lolly, although I don't know how sanitary it would have been after spending a week in the packaging. Played it safe and threw it in the bin.



Replacement was easy as removing the screws, lifting the the damaged one off, putting the new one on and replacing the screws.





The old one was broken in several places and looked very brittle.





Drained and then filled with fresh fuel for it's first run in 6 months, started as normal and will be put back into use as my vac.

After fresh blades last week, the Bushranger's Honda was gifted an oil change today. Decided to run some Penrite for this cycle.





The old oil looked decent on the dipstick but came out dark brown. Looking back at my records, it has been 6 months since it was last changed. A bit too long for me. I have now added a date on the block, like my other machines, to remind me when the last oil change was.

[ThePursuit]

Hi guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Secretly love checking in and seeing how passionate you all are.

I feel I’ll need to frequent here more often with my recent purchase. Am hoping someone might be able to help me out before I do the usual searches.

I have purchased a 2.5acre property and inherited a Husqvarna TS 354 ride on.

What I was wondering is deciphering the build date as the previous owner was not the original purchaser. Machine has done 236 hours. Is it easily worked out from the serial number like most things?

I used it this afternoon with no apparent issues but would like to get on top of servicing and maintenance before asking the service shop and getting taken for a ride.

Cheers Sean

[danzvtil]

[QUOTE=ThePursuit;6675007]Hi guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Secretly love checking in and seeing how passionate you all are.

I feel I’ll need to frequent here more often with my recent purchase. Am hoping someone might be able to help me out before I do the usual searches.

I have purchased a 2.5acre property and inherited a Husqvarna TS 354 ride on.

What I was wondering is deciphering the build date as the previous owner was not the original purchaser. Machine has done 236 hours. Is it easily worked out from the serial number like most things?

I used it this afternoon with no apparent issues but would like to get on top of servicing and maintenance before asking the service shop and getting taken for a ride.

Cheers Sean[/QUOTE

You’ve inherited a ride on from the pointy end of the husqvarna range, that should last you well.
You should have the Kawasaki 2cyl engine, I’m sure the maintenance basics are-
Oil/filter 50hrs or 12 months
Fuel filter
Air filter

I find getting around my tc138 quite simple, and the huskis are very well designed, one of my properties has an old cox ride on, the ergonomics and ease of use are nothing compared to the huski.

[EgoFG]

Just purchased a second hand Ryobi 40v 20" mower (the self propelled brushless)
Curious to hear if people are happy with their battery mowers.

[Rallye Sport]

The new year has brought with it another job change to a new golf club. I was enjoying my previous role being more of a trainer. The hands on work was great but dealing with the Tafe system was a real chore. That and I still think I've got some grunt left in me.
An opportunity came up at an ailing and unloved, previously championship club. The idea of being part of its resurrection appealed to me and there is alot of construction planned, something I haven't had too much experience in.

A bit about the club, its in a rural area close to home and was on the verge of bankruptcy however with a surge in membership over the covid period and with some parcels of land being sold to development its become viable again.
The dead wood has been cleared and a new staff base has been employed.

First on the cards was to go though the graveyard of old machinery and recommission what we needed to start renovations. Its taken alot of welding, fabrication and an adapt and overcome attitude but we started work on the course this week.

My rig at the moment a Peruzzo vertimower.



After a bit of fine tuning its running like clockwork.



Following me up is the corer, 20mm hollow tines set at a depth of 100mm.



Its slow going at one fairway a day but every blow takes us closer to the goal of it once again being a championship course.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

The new year has brought with it another job change to a new golf club. I was enjoying my previous role being more of a trainer. The hands on work was great but dealing with the Tafe system was a real chore. That and I still think I've got some grunt left in me.
An opportunity came up at an ailing and unloved, previously championship club. The idea of being part of its resurrection appealed to me and there is alot of construction planned, something I haven't had too much experience in.

A bit about the club, its in a rural area close to home and was on the verge of bankruptcy however with a surge in membership over the covid period and with some parcels of land being sold to development its become viable again.
The dead wood has been cleared and a new staff base has been employed.

First on the cards was to go though the graveyard of old machinery and recommission what we needed to start renovations. Its taken alot of welding, fabrication and an adapt and overcome attitude but we started work on the course this week.

My rig at the moment a Peruzzo vertimower.

image

After a bit of fine tuning its running like clockwork.

image

Following me up is the corer, 20mm hollow tines set at a depth of 100mm.

image

Its slow going at one fairway a day but every blow takes us closer to the goal of it once again being a championship course.

That is awesome!

Look forward to seeing updates if you can.

[FTE217]

Congrats with the new gig Rallye for starters.
Nothing like seeing a challenge to take on as long as the support resource is there as it sounds.
Look forward to the updates for you know I’m a avid suffering player as well as loving landscapes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ThePursuit]

Originally Posted by ThePursuit

Hi guys, long time lurker, first time poster. Secretly love checking in and seeing how passionate you all are.

I feel I’ll need to frequent here more often with my recent purchase. Am hoping someone might be able to help me out before I do the usual searches.

I have purchased a 2.5acre property and inherited a Husqvarna TS 354 ride on.

What I was wondering is deciphering the build date as the previous owner was not the original purchaser. Machine has done 236 hours. Is it easily worked out from the serial number like most things?

I used it this afternoon with no apparent issues but would like to get on top of servicing and maintenance before asking the service shop and getting taken for a ride.

Cheers Sean[/QUOTE

You’ve inherited a ride on from the pointy end of the husqvarna range, that should last you well.
You should have the Kawasaki 2cyl engine, I’m sure the maintenance basics are-
Oil/filter 50hrs or 12 months
Fuel filter
Air filter

I find getting around my tc138 quite simple, and the huskis are very well designed, one of my properties has an old cox ride on, the ergonomics and ease of use are nothing compared to the huski.

Thanks danzvtil,

I’ll hopefully get a chance to go over it on the weekend and acquaint myself properly. Seemed like a higher spec model with bigger deck and cruise control from my initial searches. Kawasaki motor should be right for a while one would assume with the appropriate servicing.

Cheers Sean

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by ThePursuit

Thanks danzvtil,

I’ll hopefully get a chance to go over it on the weekend and acquaint myself properly. Seemed like a higher spec model with bigger deck and cruise control from my initial searches. Kawasaki motor should be right for a while one would assume with the appropriate servicing.

Cheers Sean

We had a V-Twin Kawasaki on a Toro Zero-Turn, very stout engine.

[MITCHAY]

I'm surprised I even have a lawn to mow in summer here but then again I can't remember when we had so much rain and the temp is barely cracking 30c here either. It's all a bit odd

[DFB FGXR6]

5.5 hours of non-stop lawn mowing in disgusting humidity. And that humidity has made the grass grow like crazy.

This is two weeks growth of Kikuyu and the images don't accurately depict how tall it is.

The first two pics are with the edges done vertically and the taller material slashed down around the perimeter. This offers a smoother, neater edge. I also slashed a couple of sections to make it easier on the mower.



I had to double-mow this lawn, as in cut on a high setting and going back over it on a lower height. This method is easier on the machine, helping to prevent chute blockages and and engine stall/bog. Even still, the poor thing worked HARD today.

First passes -





Second passes -





I filled 4 of my garden bags from that lawn and I actually had to make two trips to the tip today.



I'm actually pretty beat up after today. Have I mentioned I HATE summer!
It's also one of the reasons I charge accordingly. I don't do walk ups, I don't charge beer Bob prices. It's hard work, work than people clearly don't want to do themselves.......the price reflects this!

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

5.5 hours of non-stop lawn mowing in disgusting humidity. And that humidity has made the grass grow like crazy.

This is two weeks growth of Kikuyu and the images don't accurately depict how tall it is.

The first two pics are with the edges done vertically and the taller material slashed down around the perimeter. This offers a smoother, neater edge. I also slashed a couple of sections to make it easier on the mower.

image

I had to double-mow this lawn, as in cut on a high setting and going back over it on a lower height. This method is easier on the machine, helping to prevent chute blockages and and engine stall/bog. Even still, the poor thing worked HARD today.

First passes -

image

image

Second passes -

image

image

I filled 4 of my garden bags from that lawn and I actually had to make two trips to the tip today.

image

I'm actually pretty beat up after today. Have I mentioned I HATE summer!
It's also one of the reasons I charge accordingly. I don't do walk ups, I don't charge beer Bob prices. It's hard work, work than people clearly don't want to do themselves.......the price reflects this!

Self propelled is the way to go.

P.S. I'm glad I'm not the only one who ends up with lines after mowing

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Self propelled is the way to go.

P.S. I'm glad I'm not the only one who ends up with lines after mowing

The trouble with that yard is that the whole estate was built on a swamp and so drainage is pathetic. In winter, it gets pretty spongy. The lines are an unfortunate byproduct.

I resisted self-propelled for a long time due to their bulk and weight. They don't help with the "lines" either. However, I could not be without one now. Once you learn how to "drive" them, the weight factory is not as important.

[Tonz]

in a previous age when mowing we had a composting business near by that would take grass clippings free and charge for pruning's. Even took cardboard & newspaper

They had a massive business and quality garden compost available.

[Interceptor]

When I first posted, someone advised not to have the mulching plug in my mower and to actually catch and dispose of the clippings.....

just out of curiosity, what benefit does that give?

[LG17]

With all the rain, heat and humidity we have had (highly unusual) I find I'm having to mow every week and have done so for a couple of months. I aerated the soil in November and now the grass is as thick as, so thick that I have had to raise the cutting height on the mower. In the last 8 years I have never had to slash the horse paddock but I had to do it after Xmas as it was about 2-3 ft high. I have to do it again now as it's back to the same height. Well, either slash it or get more horses...

[FTE217]

I agree re weekly - I'm sure we've all been going through above normal humidity this summer.
IF I left my grass for 2wks as we know that adds on another hour and some on the job.

DFB your trimming is the same I do every time pre mow.

I keep telling the Mrs's I'm sweating out the pI ss I consume, man its been dripping off me like mad doing the garden.
Did alot of trimming last weekend, everything has been growing like on steriods.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

When I first posted, someone advised not to have the mulching plug in my mower and to actually catch and dispose of the clippings.....

just out of curiosity, what benefit does that give?

The act of mulching is said to be free fertiliser for your lawn.

When using a mulching mower or mulching plug on your mower, the grass is cut over and over, making it very fine. This fine material then breaks down much more quickly to in theory provide nutrients to the lawn. It's also said it can help to reduce evaporation. It can also save time.

Drawbacks are that it can spread weed seeds around and in some instances, be quite messy. Excessively tall grass should still be caught with a catcher.

Mulching is best done when mowing regularly. In some instances where I am mowing weekly, I can use my mulching mower to help save me time while not compromising on the quality of the finish. Also, on very tall grass, you can make a initial cut with the catcher, then follow up on a lower setting with the mulching plug.

As you can see, mulching is not for every situation and you do need to pick your mark with it.

[Ford17]

Originally Posted by Tonz

in a previous age when mowing we had a composting business near by that would take grass clippings free and charge for pruning's. Even took cardboard & newspaper

They had a massive business and quality garden compost available.

I was watching a show about off-grid living where they had limited soil for their home farm, so made their own out of grass clippings and newspaper.

Having seen that, I've recently started using grass clippings and leaves that been been composting for a good while as a top up for bare patches on the lawn.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Ford17

I was watching a show about off-grid living where they had limited soil for their home farm, so made their own out of grass clippings and newspaper.

Having seen that, I've recently started using grass clippings and leaves that been been composting for a good while as a top up for bare patches on the lawn.

Add some blood&bone to speed up the process.

[danzvtil]

Geez, the heat and humidity have been epic in Adelaide, 4 weeks ago I laid 80sqm of kikuyu turf, and even cutting it weekly, I’ve just had to dethatch it, customer is not too happy that his new grass is brown, but short term pain, long term gain.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Ford17

I was watching a show about off-grid living where they had limited soil for their home farm, so made their own out of grass clippings and newspaper.

Having seen that, I've recently started using grass clippings and leaves that been been composting for a good while as a top up for bare patches on the lawn.

Yeah I do the same thing, as I have several large river red gums on the property which love dropping several tons of leaves and bark all summer long.
Usually like to run the poor old mower over all of this (sorry DFB) carnage mulching enough for a mix with well composted dry hummus toilet waste and Zeolite to go straight onto all the native plant garden beds.

Originally Posted by LG17

I have to do it again now as it's back to the same height. Well, either slash it or get more horses...

Are you sure you haven't made the wrong decision? Out of those two options, one is clearly a better choice.

[Rallye Sport]

Another week of renovations and another machine saved from the graveyard out back. Such were the financial problems at the club machines like this were abandoned over small mechanical failures, this one is a core processor that follows up after the tractor breaking the cores down into topdress sand and removing the chaff and organic matter.
It had been assigned to scrap over a worn pulley bearing and worn belts but is running like new again after a bit of love.





This is another interesting piece of machinery thats been left to rot, a Tree Spade/ transplanting rig.





Now believe it or not, this old thing starts and runs like a champ. Should be good for removing grasstrees from the land sold for residential development and moving them onto the golf course.

[DFB FGXR6]

Geez, I just can't seem to get a good blow(er) job at the moment.

The locking tab on the outlet tube just wouldn't lock in place. I had to use two hands to get the job done. (sorry, the innuendo continues.)

Quick on the run solution was to drive three tech screws through the thing.







Is there anything a well placed tech screw can't fix? Worked a treat!

Keep in mind, this machine has a lot of hours on it, the wear and tear reflects this. The engine is still super strong so this hack job repair will do for now.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Another week of renovations and another machine saved from the graveyard out back. Such were the financial problems at the club machines like this were abandoned over small mechanical failures, this one is a core processor that follows up after the tractor breaking the cores down into topdress sand and removing the chaff and organic matter.
It had been assigned to scrap over a worn pulley bearing and worn belts but is running like new again after a bit of love.

image

image

This is another interesting piece of machinery thats been left to rot, a Tree Spade/ transplanting rig.

image

image

Now believe it or not, this old thing starts and runs like a champ. Should be good for removing grasstrees from the land sold for residential development and moving them onto the golf course.

Rallye loving seeing your resto work mate......
Those coring machines are lethal but needed.
Amazing what they do - if I recall right many years ago playing in burbia Perth the ground is pretty hard.
Must be alot harder where your based and this track.
Damn I hate the bad timing of playing when greens have been cored.
So the ol Bedford even had the roof cave in due to rust ?
Look forward to more updates when you can.

[Tonz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Geez, I just can't seem to get a good blow(er) job at the moment.

The locking tab on the outlet tube just wouldn't lock in place. I had to use two hands to get the job done. (sorry, the innuendo continues.)

Quick on the run solution was to drive three tech screws through the thing.

Is there anything a well placed tech screw can't fix? Worked a treat!

Keep in mind, this machine has a lot of hours on it, the wear and tear reflects this. The engine is still super strong so this hack job repair will do for now.

hackmans job that.

Professionals use duct tape