Rear rollers on triplex Cancel The title field is required!

1. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   3/26/2015 10:03 AM

   Right now we are running hollow tube style rollers. I was thinking of switching to the solid steel roller for added weight. I am hoping to get a little more speed out of the greens without changing hoc or anything else. Has anyone made this change? If so what were the results, other than the mechanic hating your guts.
   
   We do not have a greens roller, so I am trying to get the speed by other methods. We are at .125 on tifdwarf, brushing in front everyday, and grooming when we need to.

   
   
   
   
2. Nowakowski Michael J

   
   3/26/2015 10:03 AM

   Not sure if the little extra weight you will add with solid rollers will do much. Maybe setting the attitude differently will help by putting more weight at the back of the reel. Just a thought.

   
   
   
   
3. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   3/26/2015 11:03 AM

   We run the solid rear rollers on everything. Not sure if you'll notice that much in speed, but I think it helps with the quality of cut. I feel it keeps the reel a bit more steady on the turf and they certainly last a lot longer. Not sure why the mechanic would hate your guts? Changing the rear rollers is one of easiest jobs we can do as technicians:)
   
   Regards,

   
   
   
   
4. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   3/26/2015 11:03 AM

   Henry Heinz said: We run the solid rear rollers on everything. Not sure if you'll notice that much in speed, but I think it helps with the quality of cut. I feel it keeps the reel a bit more steady on the turf and they certainly last a lot longer. Not sure why the mechanic would hate your guts? Changing the rear rollers is one of easiest jobs we can do as technicians:)
   
   Regards,

   
   Changing out the rollers is no big deal. When he has to sling that extra 15 lbs on top of the table everyday is when he's not going to like it.

   
   
   
   
5. Roland McPhearson

   

   9 posts
   
   3/26/2015 1:03 PM

   If you have solid rollers on the front or wieles with close spacing you may consider replacing them with wide spaced wieles. That will give you a lower actual HOC without adding weight.

   
   
   
   
6. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   3/26/2015 2:03 PM

   We did this very thing last season. The new Deere cutting units seem a lot lighter and ball roll numbers tanked. It was no big deal to switch. It did help ball roll a little. Had we not ordered a dedicated greens roller for this season we would have changed to solid smooths on the front for this year. We do mow with the groomers on every day.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
7. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2015 5:03 AM

   That's a good point about adding the solid to the front. We have a set that is set up that way for winter use. A chain hoist or a lift is a good idea. In today's market lifting reels from the floor to the bench is just calling workman's comp. I use to lift from the grinder to the bench but not anymore. Roll carts and chain hoist are very reasonable. I bet you could get a set for under a 100 bucks at harbor freight that would serve well. I wont let a guy lift a reel, if there are two of them that's a different story. Deere's grooved front rollers have some decent weight to them as well. We always try to order our mowers with the heaviest rollers.
   
   Regards,

   
   
   
   
8. Cecil Daniel

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2015 9:03 AM

   Thanks for the feedback. I hope I get some more. Harbor freight does have good deals. I will check them out. I am trying to aggressively eliminate grain. We run brushes in front of the mower and groom a few times a week. I don't think I want to run solid rollers up front. I would be happy with even a few more inches of ball roll. Does anyone know of any negative effect to the turf from th heavier rollers?

   
   
   
   
9. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   3/27/2015 10:03 AM

   For me personally I haven't seen anything negative out of running the heavier roller. We have Mini Verde, and I've also ran them on all Bent and Bent/Poa with no issues in the northeast. Like I said, that's just me as others may have a different perspective.
   
   Regards,

   
   
   
   
10. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    3/28/2015 6:03 AM

    The only issue I could see would be the weight difference causing some issues with your cleanup lap but I doubt it. I run solid front rollers as not to scalp when it gets wet (south Louisiana). I do not think you will see much of a difference though. Anything is worth a try though. Good Luck!