Fairway aerifiers Cancel The title field is required!

1. Smith Kerry L

   
   9/9/2013 2:09 PM

   Whats are the best units out these days that don't break the bank. We currently use pull behind ground driven unit. In Texas on hybrid bermuda with tight soils. Thanks.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   9/9/2013 5:09 PM

   Toro Pro Core 1298. It's expensive, but very productive and provides a true core 4-5" deep on a 3" x 3" spacing. Handles rock no problem. Currently on my second unit and both have been bulletproof. Downside is they weigh roughly 3,000#'s, so you need a pretty heavy duty tractor that can lift and carry this beast around.
   
   [img">http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/andyjorg/AerificationandRenovation001.jpg[/img">

   
   
   
   
3. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   9/9/2013 8:09 PM

   Andy, what size tractor is that?
   
   Thanks!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   9/10/2013 10:09 AM

   Kubota 5740 HST.

   
   
   
   
5. Smith Kerry L

   
   9/12/2013 10:09 AM

   Rough cost? 8,000, 18,000, 28,000?

   
   
   
   
6. Smith Kerry L

   
   9/12/2013 10:09 AM

   One of my problems is we have a lot of gravel under many fairways and coring pulls it up and trashes or fwy units for weeks. Unfortunately we do mostly slicing. Not best agronomically but we get by.

   
   
   
   
7. Craig Moore

   

   0 posts
   
   9/12/2013 11:09 AM

   Kerry,
   If you pull up lots of gravel then I recommend solid tine aerification and vertical mowing with wide carbide tipped blades to manage your organic matter.

   
   
   
   
8. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   9/12/2013 2:09 PM

   Andy Jorgensen said: Kubota 5740 HST.

   
   
   Thanks, you wouldn't happen to have a picture of where you set your speed control do you?
   
   When we used one of our other courses 4310 HST a couple of weeks ago, the guys took turns with the deep tine and could not keep a constant forward speed.
   
   When I fertilized with it later, I set my RPM's where I wanted, put it in the gear I wanted and pressed down on the pedal, tried to set the "cruise control" lever, (down along the steering column) and would lose the forward speed, and pressing hard on that pedel was tough for me. I'm thinking about going with the gear driven unit instead of a hydrostatic, unless they have changed things?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
9. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   9/12/2013 7:09 PM

   Kerry Smith said: Rough cost? 8,000, 18,000, 28,000?

   
   
   
   1298 was around $26,000. Tractor was about the same. We do all three courses wall to wall twice a year with it. After 4 years, and the end of the lease, it was almost brand new. Someone picked up a nice second hand machine. Now on my second unit and looking to pick up another next year.
   
   My guys run it at 2.2 mph. They use the speed control lever, sit back and relax. It's a nice setup and the best job during aerification week.

   
   
   
   
10. Ashton Alan W

    
    9/13/2013 9:09 AM

    Craig Moore said: Kerry,
    If you pull up lots of gravel then I recommend solid tine aerification and vertical mowing with wide carbide tipped blades to manage your organic matter.

    
    
    I have the pleasure of working around an in-house, member aided, valve-in-head conversion project... that left me with wires 5" deep everywhere!!
    
    I'm using the First Products Aera-vator... solid tines go about 3" and the fracturing, with it's wobble action, goes below that... love this unit as it has saved us, given the circumstances.