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turf pride core collector

8 posts
  1. Ryan Sears
    Ryan Sears avatar
    1 posts
    11/15/2011 4:11 PM
    Would like to hear from those of you who use this unit. What aerator do you use it on. Does it work well for you on greens. Does it work in short rough ie. bluegrass green surrounds??? Thanks for the replies guys.



  2. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    11/15/2011 5:11 PM
    After researching and hearing many positive comments from guys on here about this unit last year, I bought one myself and gave it a shot. Our previous method was to core, run a core harvester over it, then topdress. What was left was a bunch of ruts that took forever to smooth out. By the time the ruts were gone, we were aerifying again. Hated it.

    I bought this unit and talked to several guys as well as watched the video on their website. We attached it to our Model 54 Soil Reliever. Our method now is to topdress first and then core. We also built brushes for our Salsco rollers so we could brush/roll the sand in without putting a cart on the green. The results have been nothing but awesome since we started this and now the greens remain smooth as can be after we aerify. In two weeks you can't even tell we were on them. I can not begin to tell you how much time, labor and sand this one unit has saved us and it has paid for itself already multiple times. We have run it on three courses at least twice each and the unit is still ready to go next year. I highly recommend it.

    I have to admit though that the directions it came with weren't that great and we ended up figuring it out our self. But, I did call Turf Pride for help and the owner answered the phone and helped me threw the setup perfectly.

    I have never used it on anything longer than greens, but I would imagine it would work on grass up to about half an inch.



  3. Neidhardt John J
    Neidhardt John J avatar
    11/16/2011 7:11 AM
    I am ordering 2 today !



  4. Sam Welch
    Sam Welch avatar
    0 posts
    11/16/2011 8:11 AM
    I purchased two of them this fall for my Pro Core 648s, but I haven't used them yet. The only negative I've heard is if you're pulling big cores and a lot of material it can bog the machine down as it tries to pull all that extra weight. But again, that's what I've been told, not from first hand experience.



  5. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    11/16/2011 12:11 PM
    sam1627 said: I purchased two of them this fall for my Pro Core 648s, but I haven't used them yet. The only negative I've heard is if you're pulling big cores and a lot of material it can bog the machine down as it tries to pull all that extra weight. But again, that's what I've been told, not from first hand experience.


    The guys I know that have them on 648's will lift the head slightly to let the cores slide under once it gets too full.



  6. Patrick Reinhardt
    Patrick Reinhardt avatar
    0 posts
    11/16/2011 1:11 PM
    We used one in the fall, and as the guys were picking up the plugs on the edges of the greens, they would also help and raise the box for the aerifier if the plugs got to be too much (most passes on most greens due to pulling 1/2" cores on the 648 V-pattern).



  7. Andrew Burrow
    Andrew Burrow avatar
    0 posts
    11/18/2011 4:11 AM
    Andy,

    How about a picture of the brushes on the Salsco???



  8. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    11/18/2011 6:11 PM
    Here is a picture of the Core Collector in action on a Soil Reliever Model 54. Our 54 is an older model with the shortened hood. The picture was taken during the first few passes this past fall. We added a vinyl cover to go over the back to prevent the cores from being over thrown like in the picture. The new 54's have a longer hood and do not do this. Once we added the cover, the cores stayed within the collector.

    [img">http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/andyjorg/CoreCollector.jpg[/img">

    And our brushes. Salsco makes a similar brush. However, opted to make our own. Some angle iron, welding a few push brooms from Lowes, and VIOLA! We welded some bolts on the brushes that allow us to add/remove bedknives to weight down the brush depending on what we are trying to accomplish. Typically, two passes is sufficient to brush sand in after aerification. Sorry I don't have a closeup, but you can see how they are built and mounted in the photo.

    [img">http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/andyjorg/SalscoRollerBrush.jpg[/img">



  9. Matthew Enderson
    Matthew Enderson avatar
    1 posts
    8/5/2015 2:08 PM
    Wondering if anyone has used one of these core collectors from Turf Pride that hook behind the aerator and if so what are your thoughts good or bad. Thank you for your time.



  10. Andrew Perry
    Andrew Perry avatar
    0 posts
    8/5/2015 2:08 PM
    Yes, we have used the Core Collector the last 4 seasons. It works incredible on my USGA greens. I believe it saves about a man or 2, and a lot less work. Pays for itself in the end, and I would not want to have to pull cores without it again! Good Luck!

    Andrew Perry
    Superintendent
    Blackstone Golf Club



  11. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    8/5/2015 3:08 PM
    We own three. I couldn't imagine aerifying without it. Hardest part is shoveling the cores around the greens. But, a contractor here was looking at using a core harvester to drive around each green picking them up.

    Our process:

    1)mow, verticut, etc...
    2)topdress heavy. About 20% more than normal.
    3)aerify with Core Collectors
    4)brush/roll using Salsco with brushes.
    5)Water, water, water
    6)brush/roll again next day.



  12. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    8/5/2015 4:08 PM
    It depends on the machine you use to aerate with. It is not a good match for the procore 660. The machine vibrates so much that the core collector won't drag the cores off

    Andy, we tried to use the Core Harvester in the lowest of low gearing and were unable to do anything but clog the harvester. Your situation might be different but don't count on it working



  13. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    8/6/2015 5:08 AM
    Larry Allan said:

    Andy, we tried to use the Core Harvester in the lowest of low gearing and were unable to do anything but clog the harvester. Your situation might be different but don't count on it working


    Yeah, I was wondering myself if it would work. I guess he was planning on just attacking smaller portions of the piles and keep going 'round and 'round until its picked up. I haven't followed up to see if it worked or not. Will have to do that today.

    What were you running it on? He has a Workman.



  14. Chris Cook
    Chris Cook avatar
    0 posts
    8/6/2015 6:08 AM
    Andy, we use our core harvester all the time around the edge of the green. As you described, we just take smaller bites and go around until it's gone. Core collector and core harvester saves us about 5-6 staff during the process.



  15. James Smith
    James Smith avatar
    112 posts
    8/6/2015 2:08 PM
    You know I use to use our sand pro with a pipe placed under the front blade to push the cores off of my greens and then let two guys pick them up. That was until I found myself short handed and had to think outside the box. I found that if I use a 1" water hose with a nozzle that can be adjusted to a jet stream can blow them off with one person. Now it only takes three people total to aerifye all 21 greens in about 10 hours (one person aerifying, one person washing off the cores and one person topdressing the greens. we still have to pick up the cores but that gets done the next day before we start dragging the greens.



  16. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    8/6/2015 2:08 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said:
    Larry Allan said:

    Andy, we tried to use the Core Harvester in the lowest of low gearing and were unable to do anything but clog the harvester. Your situation might be different but don't count on it working


    Yeah, I was wondering myself if it would work. I guess he was planning on just attacking smaller portions of the piles and keep going 'round and 'round until its picked up. I haven't followed up to see if it worked or not. Will have to do that today.

    What were you running it on? He has a Workman.

    It was an older diesel Cushman. When we tried to take smaller bites as suggested, the V blade just rode up the pile. We didn't work at getting it right for very long as we had rain coming and needed to keep moving.



  17. Chris Flowers
    Chris Flowers  avatar
    0 posts
    8/10/2015 9:08 PM
    Andy Jorgensen said: We own three. I couldn't imagine aerifying without it. Hardest part is shoveling the cores around the greens. But, a contractor here was looking at using a core harvester to drive around each green picking them up.

    Our process:

    1)mow, verticut, etc...
    2)topdress heavy. About 20% more than normal.
    3)aerify with Core Collectors
    4)brush/roll using Salsco with brushes.
    5)Water, water, water
    6)brush/roll again next day.


    This process works great!



  18. Mike Tanis
    Mike Tanis avatar
    5 posts
    8/11/2015 2:08 AM
    We have 2 also, saves a lot of time and labor



  19. Justin Murray
    Justin Murray avatar
    0 posts
    8/11/2015 9:08 AM
    We use one on a John Deere 1500 Aercore and it works great. Topdress heavy and let the sand dry out and works perfect. I do have two guys following to help hold it down, if the sand is wet it makes it tough. We hand clean the edges. It saves my staff from having to push all the cores off of the greens, they appreciate it.



  20. Brawner Troy A
    Brawner Troy A avatar
    8/12/2015 10:08 AM
    How well does it work if pulling a bigger core say .5" or larger? I've heard its only good for .25" or smaller. Also how does it work on slopes and contours?



  21. Don Cotton
    Don Cotton avatar
    0 posts
    8/15/2015 4:08 PM
    Troy Brawner said: How well does it work if pulling a bigger core say .5" or larger? I've heard its only good for .25" or smaller. Also how does it work on slopes and contours?


    Troy, the standard bottom plate is for 3/8" and larger cores. There is an optional thin plate available to collect 1/4" cores. Works equally as well on all sizes.



  22. Don Cotton
    Don Cotton avatar
    0 posts
    8/15/2015 4:08 PM
    Troy Brawner said: How well does it work if pulling a bigger core say .5" or larger? I've heard its only good for .25" or smaller. Also how does it work on slopes and contours?


    The unique design of the floating bottom plate, independent of the sides and back panels, allows it to follow contours without damaging the turf.



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