I have seen a terrific amount of battery mowers recently, especially the Mean Green Electric Mowers. I must admit that I’m not particularly excited about battery mowers, but I have to admit that the technology seems to be rapidly increasing. For example, you can see in the LinkedIn post below a new Vanquish 52 battery-powered stand-on mower being demonstrated. Allegedly, it has a seven-hour runtime which I find absolutely amazing that a zero-turn mower of that size can run for so long! That really is quite impressive. It would be interesting to know how long the batteries lasted if the mower worked in tougher conditions. I appreciate that most contractors would be cutting the grass on a regular basis. So, in theory, the mower should not have to work too hard.
It looks like there is a good range of Mean Green Electric Mowers, ranging from a largish ride on zero-turn machine. And then the stand-on models and then a traditional walk-behind model. I will be writing more about these machines in the near future.
Benefits
It looks like these machines do have some great benefits that can’t really be argued with. The benefits include seven hours mowing time, zero emissions, low vibration, 80p per day running costs, minimal maintenance, low noise and low operating costs. And, of course, there are no exhaust fumes, no air filters to clean out, no oil to change, no oil filter change.
Obviously, with any petrol or diesel engine, there is a certain amount of vibration. However, I believe over the years that, manufacturers have brought vibration levels down considerably. With electric and battery power, the vibration is brought down to an absolute minimum.
Although I prefer a petrol or diesel machine, I can’t argue with the fact that the maintenance is very low. I like the idea of not having any belts to change or tension. And also no engine oil to change or filters and no engine servicing. I also believe with battery power, the transmission systems can be much simpler and cheaper to produce than on a traditional petrol or diesel mower.
For more information on The Mean Green Electric Mowers, you can visit their website here. I hope to have more details on these machines very soon.
I just came across this Kubota four-wheel-drive compact tractor L5040GST for sale, I saw the post on LinkedIn a couple of hours ago. This 52 hp Kubota L5040GST comes with a front three-point linkage, complete with a front power takeoff. A very useful feature indeed. Apparently, there are also a number of implements that would be suitable for this Kubota tractor. Paul can be contacted on 07961314068.
“Here we have one of our machines for sale. This Kubota L5040GST has been service regular and has a front three-point linkage and PTO call Paul on 07961314068 if you are interested. We also have implements i.e. cutters etc for sale.”
Kubota L5040GST Tractor For Sale
The Kubota L5040GST develops 52 hp and 44 hp at the PTO. It’s powered by a four-cylinder 2.434 L Kubota turbocharged diesel engine. The Kubota L5040GST is one of the larger models in the L40 series of tractors. The engine’s rated speed is 2600 revs per minute. There are 12 forward speeds and eight speeds for reversing. The maximum speed of the tractor is 15.8 mph, its reverse speed is almost as fast at 15.2 mph!
Front PTO And Linkage
The front PTO and linkage makes the tractor very universal, especially for attaching snow blades and blowers, flail mowers. With a front linkage, it’s ideal for the operator to operate machinery much more comfortably, no morning neck aches!
Today I am talking to Colin from “find a local gardener”. Colin set up a website around four years ago, with a view to showing people how to find a local gardener. One of the questions that I get asked the most when I go into someone’s garden is, do you know of any local gardeners?! Most of our blog posts are normally about machinery, as you can see in this recent blog post. However, due to being continually asked about local gardeners, I thought it would be good to share more information about finding a local gardener.
So, here is Colin; he is going to talk to me about how his business operates and how to find a local gardener. I believe that I first connected with Colin on LinkedIn, which is a great place to connect with business-minded people. As you know, I go into lots of different gardens, and so many people ask me if I know of a gardener or where can they find a gardener. There are a few rare occasions when I know of a gardener, but it does appear that the majority of gardeners seem to be fully booked.
Colin is going to share something about his business and how he started. Colin started the business just over four years ago; the business began by helping one of Colin’s elderly relatives. They were struggling to find a local gardener. Colin has been in the recruitment industry for well over 20 years. So, finding skilled people for different roles is very much Colin’s niche. Colin started to carry out some research locally and he discovered that there is a problem and that gardeners do get booked up very quickly. There is a very large demand for gardeners, so when people are looking for a gardener, whether it is online or through trade magazines etc. The problem is that it’s difficult to know who you are getting; sometimes it can just be a potluck!
Four Plus Successful Years In Business
Over the last four years, Colin has built a network of professional and approved gardeners, who have background and reference checks. To make sure that they are who they are and to make sure that they can do what they say they can do. Find a local gardener arranges the jobs for the gardeners with the customers that make contact through the website.
The company is just entering its fifth year; the network is almost expanded now to a national service. It appears that the company is going from strength to strength. Colin is able to use his skills and build relationships with his customers and gardeners. Many of the gardeners that started with the company originally are still working with Colin. Some of the gardeners come and go, but that can be the nature of the business.
Fundamentally, the customers that we have, stay with us year in and out. The advantage is that even if we supply them with a gardener, maybe something changes and the gardener is no longer available. This alters with the customer’s needs; Colin has a whole team of different gardeners. So if a customer wants us to change the gardener to a different type of gardener, the company has the flexibility to be able to do it.
Who Is The Service For?
Find a gardener caters for all sorts of different garden scenarios. The service ranges for customers who may want a one-off job carried out. For example, the company carries out a lot of end-of-tenancy type jobs. They also receive many enquiries from customers who are moving house and want the garden to look nice before potential buyers go around to view the house.
Then there are the other types of customers who simply want someone to look after their garden, whether it’s a monthly visit, fortnightly visit or weekly visit. This service can carry on throughout the year. Colin doesn’t only carry out work for residential gardens, he now does a lot of work on the commercial side. They work with housing associations, nursing homes, hotels, restaurants, and all kinds of different businesses that have grounds and want those grounds to be neat and tidy for their customers. So, in other words, it’s a very wide scale in what find a local gardener can do.
What Do I Need To Do To Use Your Services?
If you’re looking for a gardener, you simply click on the website here. Where you will be guided to enter your postcode, and the type of garden work that you are needing. And then, there are a set of questions which qualify and quantify what you need. Once the form is filled in, it goes through to the office and is dealt with from there.
Colin aims to get back to every customer within 24-hour’s. The company understands that because of the challenges that people have with their gardens and finding a gardener. They know about all the stories where people have left numerous messages and don’t receive a phone call or a message back from the potential gardener. Colin focuses on trying to respond within 24-hour’s as he knows that people need an answer to their question. In this way, the customer knows that they are on the ball and their question is being dealt with. We know what is required, and they will get back to the customer promptly.
I know the importance of getting back to customers promptly. It’s not that fact that people are in a mad rush to get the job carried out. It’s more to the point that customers want to know that their enquiry is being dealt with in the right way.
Do You Do One-Off Jobs?
Find a local gardener will also deal with one-off jobs. This can be in the case when a tenant leaves a house or a customer is selling the house. However, they deal with all kinds of different situations when it comes to one-off jobs.
Quite often, when someone moves into a new home, the customer may want a one-off job carried out as sometimes the garden hasn’t been looked after properly. A gardener can spend a day or whatever it takes and remove all the waste from the property. Then the owners may say, that’s great, we can take care of the garden now.
On the other end of the scale, sometimes potential customers will call up and will just require jobs to be carried out every two or three months. And then perhaps there is a type of garden that’s become slightly out of hand, a gardener can be sent to sort out the problem. They’re all sorts of different scenarios that they are used to hearing, and in almost every case, Colin can help in some way.
How Do I Know Who Is Coming To Look After My Garden?
Once you have made a booking, a suitable gardener will be allocated to look after your garden. All of the gardeners are vetted and made sure that they are suitable to carry out the work at hand. If the job is just a one-off job, most customers just want someone to come in and get the job finished and completed. It is someone booking one of the many packages that we have; we can arrange to send the gardener around to meet them. They can have an initial chat and talk to the customer about what their exact requirements are. So the customer knows who they are getting and normally the same gardener for every visit.
Booking A Date
Once the customer has confirmed that they would like the work carried out, the company will find out what is the best time and day of the week for them. The work will then be scheduled into the gardeners calendar. If the work is regular, so for example, a package customer, then the work can easily be scheduled in for regular times on the same day.
When the gardeners get into the more busy times of the year, which is May, June and July, it can become more difficult to fit everything in on a precise day. Most people understand that the gardening season is quite seasonal and there are periods when we can’t be quite so flexible. However, even in those busy periods, Colin will endeavour to try and get a gardener to the premises within 7 to 10 days.
Work In Progress
As a general rule, and if the customer isn’t present, for example, on holiday, before and after photographs can be provided. This is to give the customer peace of mind and know that the work is moving forward when they are away.
How Do I Pay?
All the payments are made to the company and not directly to the gardeners. There are no cash payments exchanges between customers and gardeners. Customers can pay by direct debit, bank transfer, PayPal or by credit and debit card. All payments are carried out electronically and directly through the company.
Flexible Contracts
Everything is designed to be on a customer satisfaction basis. The garden packages that are offered, which are on a three, six, nine, or 12-month package, are set up to run over that period of time. Clearly, if something alters in that period of time, then there is flexibility to talk. Colin is aware that certain unforeseen things can happen in life, so although there are contracts, he is willing to be flexible.
Guarantees
Thankfully, most of the time, things run very smoothly. However, there may be an occasion where the customer isn’t happy with the gardener; maybe the personality doesn’t quite fit. The company is aware that it’s quite personal when you have someone work on your property and in your garden. Different people gel with different people, it is important that the customer has the right gardener.
Due to the large networks that find a local gardener has, they can offer an alternative gardener. Fortunately, this is something that does not happen very often. The gardeners are very sensitive to the fact that they have to do a good job if they want to continue doing work. The fact that we have built up a good team over the years helps to represent the company very well. Once again, the company offers flexibility should the customer want to make a change.
Today we are looking at the John Deere battery zero turn mower, known as the Z370R Electric ZTrak. Over the last 20 years or so, zero-turn mowers have become very popular due to their excellent manoeuvrability. I have owned several zero-turn mowers; you will not find a mower that is more manoeuvrable than a zero-turn machine.
I’m amazed at how quickly manufacturers have adapted to producing battery lawnmowers. The technology really is coming along quickly. I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan of battery power, however, the fact that the machinery is much quieter, can’t be a bad thing! I also believe it’s easier to transmit power by electricity rather than through gearboxes, hydrostatic drives and belts etc.
The Z370R electric ZTrak™ mower comes with a 42-inch deck is designed for the domestic market. I’m sure that zero-turn models will also be manufactured for the commercial market in the near future.
The John Deere battery zero turn mower is aimed at property owners who want to maintain their lawn easily with minimal maintenance. The battery mower it’s very simple to use, and has minimal maintenance and increased operator comfort due to low noise and minimal vibration.
A Wide-Ranging Of Mower Options
John Deere has a huge range of various types of mowers, from zero-turn mowers to walk-behind machines. It appears that customers are demanding more from their equipment, so John Deere wants to deliver what the customers want.
There is no need to remove the batteries when it comes to charging the John Deere battery zero turn mower. The batteries are charged by using an outdoor extension cable and a 110 V grounded outlet. This makes charging very easy as there is no need for an external charger.
The batteries enable the operator to mow up to 2 acres of grass. The sealed 3.2 kWH lithium-ion battery offers protection from the outdoor elements and allows the unit to run under damp conditions. The mower can be stored outside and washed down with confidence. The sealed battery keeps the battery protected from dust and debris.
The John Deere battery zero-turn mower battery carries a five-year/200-hour battery warranty for peace of mind. Apparently, if you want a 10-year warranty, that is available from John Deere dealers. Personally, I like to see a long warranty for peace of mind; batteries can be expensive.
More Features
The Z370R Electric ZTrak features a large LCD screen which is used for monitoring battery levels. There are three different modes, which allow the operator to adjust the settings based on preference and grass conditions.
There is even an app to monitor the charging of the Z370R Electric ZTrak. The app works through a Bluetooth connection.
To Conclude
As I mentioned earlier in the post, I’m not particularly a fan of battery machines and equipment. However, the great thing is that technology is improving almost daily. And there are benefits, like minimal servicing, no oil, no filters and belts and, of course, quieter mowing. You can find more information on the Z370R Electric ZTrak here.
Specification
Battery
One 58 V lithium-ion, 3.2 kilowatt-hour, sealed and meets IP66 rating
Charger
On board, 700 Watts, 120 V input
Forward speed
0-7 mph
0-11.3 km/h
Front caster tires
11×6-5
Drive tires
18×8.5-8
Seat back height
High back with armrests, 20 in.
51 cm
Width of cut
Accel Deep™ mower deck, 42 in.
107 cm
Mulching system
Optional MulchControl™ attachment
Warranty
3 year or 200 hour bumper-to bumper; 5 year or 200 hour battery* (*Terms limited to years or hours used, whichever comes first, and varies by model. See the LIMITED WARRANTY FOR NEW JOHN DEERE TURF AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT at JohnDeere.com or JohnDeere.ca/TUWarranty for details.)
Key Specs
Battery
One 58 V lithium-ion, 3.2 kilowatt-hour, sealed and meets IP66 rating
Charger
On board, 700 Watts, 120 V input
Transmission
Dual electric motor with 1-in (2.5-cm) axles
Drive train
Forward speed
0-7 mph
0-11.3 km/h
Reverse speed
0-3.5 mph
0-5.6 km/h
Speed and direction control
Twin levers
Control adjustment
3 height, 11 positions
Travel speed
Frame
Heavy-duty 2.5-in. x 2-in. (6-cm x 5-cm) front, and 1.5-in. x 2-in. (4-cm x 5-cm) side tubing
Primer/paint
E-coat/powder
Front caster tires
11×6-5
Front caster bearings
Sealed ball bearings
Drive tires
18×8.5-8
Hour meter
Yes
Service interval decal
Yes
Storage compartment
Standard covered
Cup holder
Yes
Maximum towing capacity
250 lb
113 kg
Chassis
Seat back height
High back with armrests, 20 in.
51 cm
Fore-aft adjustment
2.9 in.
7 cm
Seat suspension
Two springs
Seat
Type
Foot lift
Mower cut height
1.25-4.5 in.
3-11 cm
Cut height increments
0.25 in.
0.64 cm
Preset cut height
Yes
Lift system
Mower Deck
Width of cut
Accel Deep™ mower deck, 42 in.
107 cm
Type
Side discharge
Mower deck material
12 gauge
0.105 in.
2.7 mm
Mower drive system
Electric motors
Mower deck
Wheelbase
49.4 in.
1255 mm
Overall length
75.4 in.
1915 mm
Width without mower
43.3 in.
1100 mm
Width with mower
50.4 in.
1280 mm
Width with mower (deflector raised for storage)
46.5 in.
1180 mm
Height
43.3 in.
1100 mm
Weight
490 lb
222 kg
Dimensions
Rollover protective structure (ROPS)
No
Slope operating limit
13 degrees; 10 degrees with Material Collection System
Operator presence system
Yes
Park brake interlock
Yes
Operator video
Yes, online
Operation
Note 1
Mow 2 acres on a charge with confidence, 3.2 kilowatt-hour battery has up to 40 percent more capacity than competitor’s batteries
Note 2
Smart charger is built into the mower, charge anywhere with a standard 120-volt outlet and grounded extension cord
Note 3
Sealed battery meets IP66 rating, allowing you to wash the mower with a water hose
Warranty
3 year or 200 hour bumper-to bumper; 5 year or 200 hour battery* (*Terms limited to years or hours used, whichever comes first, and varies by model. See the LIMITED WARRANTY FOR NEW JOHN DEERE TURF AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT at JohnDeere.com or JohnDeere.ca/TUWarranty for details.)
The John Deere 135 ride-on mower is a very popular search term on our website at the present time. The John Deere 135 has been replaced by the popular John Deere X127 ride-on mower. However, you can purchase a John Deere 135 on eBay; it looks like there are still some second-hand models available.
Engine
The John Deere 135 ride-on mower is powered by a Briggs & Stratton V twin two-cylinder petrol engine. The 700 cc engine develops 22 hp or 16.4 kW of power. I have used and owned this Briggs & Stratton engine on various machines, it’s a great engine. The V twin engine certainly helps to bring smoothness and power.
The John Deere 135 ride-on mower has hydrostatic transmission, which gives the mower versatility. Hydrostatic transmission gives the mower instant forward and reverse at variable speeds in both forward and reverse directions. The majority of ride-on mowers have hydrostatic transmission today. I certainly would not recommend to anyone to purchase a mower with the old-fashioned traditional gearbox and clutch system. Hydrostatic drive makes mowing so much easier and more efficient.
John Deere 135 is equipped with manual steering. The foot pedals give the operator instant forward and reverse with the hydrostatic drive.
Video Of The John Deere 135 Ride-On Mower
Cutting Deck
The cutting deck is a mid-mounted deck with a 42-inch cutting width. The side discharge deck can be used in conjunction with John Deere’s grass collection system. There is also a rear discharge model available with a collector. There are two blades side-by-side underneath the cutting deck. The deck has a manual lift to lift the deck in and out of work.
Today we are looking at Agri-Fab 50 kg fertiliser spreader. It appears to be that time of year again, with fertiliser spreaders out early this year. The dry February has enabled farmers and groundsmen to get out on the land early. Now is a good time to find a fertiliser spreader for your garden.
The Agri-Fab 50 kg fertiliser spreader is currently on special offer for £229, including VAT. The Agri-Fab fertiliser spreader is ideal for large lawns and rougher areas due to its large tyres. Areas of up to 1625 m² can be covered very quickly with the large walk-behind fertiliser spreader.
Garden Fertiliser Spreader
Features
A spreader with an excellent performance on lawns and rough areas.
Ideal for applying multiple products, including seed, fertiliser, salt and more.
The Agri-Fab fertiliser spreader has a spread width of 3 m, which enables you to cover the ground very quickly. I normally like to go over the areas a couple of times to make sure I get a good even covering of fertiliser or seed. With a spread of 3 m, the task and be carried out in no time at all.
The high-grade capacity hopper is constructed of a tough-grade poly material for strength. This material is much better than metal as fertiliser can be extremely corrosive if the hopper is not washed down well. Hence why I would always recommend a tough type of poly material on a spreader.
The tubular steel frame means that the spreader can be used on rougher areas without too much difficulty. The 13 mm steel axle and frame should give many seasons of service. The large diameter pneumatic tyres keep the spreader stable when manoeuvring on rougher ground and on inclines. Spreader comes with a five-year domestic use warranty for confidence!
To Conclude
I have always liked Agri-Fab products; I have used the smaller version of the Agri-Fab spreader. However, this model is a heavier-duty model and has a larger capacity which is preferable to the one that I have owned. The special offer and the five-year domestic warranty make the Agri-Fab spreader a good purchase. I always like a good warranty as it gives me confidence when I’m purchasing. No bills!
I came across this premium air-conditioned cab for a Ferris ISX3300 zero-turn mower! I must admit I didn’t know that such a thing was available and it’s something that I have never seen before! The cab looks almost larger than the actual mower. I guess it’s a good idea, although it could be a bit restrictive when cutting under trees and overhanging branches etc.! It’s great for those hot days to keep out the way of dust and flies etc. It is also great for those colder damp days.
Having owned several Ferris zero-turn mowers, I very much appreciate the build quality and everything that is zero turn mower has to offer. I believe that zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market today. They also have a great capacity for cutting grass extremely efficiently. Zero-turn capabilities makes them ideal for manoeuvring around obstacles and trees etc.
Premium AC Cab For Ferris ISX3300 — Fits Ferris Model ISX3300 (Vanguard® BIG BLOCK™ EFI ETC with Oil Guard) with 60″ (5902064), 61″ (5901881), or 72″ (5901872) Side Discharge Mower Decks (2020+)https://t.co/zQrhAZNnoapic.twitter.com/5l745rRznx
The cab weight is just 252 lbs, I actually thought it may weigh a bit more than that! I think the photograph makes the cab look bigger than it really is. The cab width is 80 x 50”. Apparently, it takes 4 to 6 hours to install the cab. The windshield and the door windows are made from polycarbonate.
You can see the features below of the premium air-conditioned cab for a Ferris ISX3300 zero-turn mower. It also comes with some optional features, which include a wiper kit, console kit, light kit and side view mirrors. I would think that you need side-view mirrors if you have a cab.
Recently I came across a shop on eBay which specialises in Howard Gem and Dowdeswell rotavator parts. Howard rotavators are great machines, especially the Howard Gems; I have owned several of them over the years.
Howard Gem Rotavator
You can see me in the video, using a later Howard gem, this was actually a Dowdeswell 650 24-inch machine. Dowdeswell took over the manufacturing of Howard rotavators in the mid-1980s. I purchased two brand-new Dowdeswell 650s in the late 80s, sadly they were both stolen! Apparently, Dowdeswell stopped producing the 650 in 1997. This was partly due to noise and vibration regulations! But also as demand for the machines was dwindling. I guess that this was due to compact tractors, lighter and easier-to-use rotavators and much fewer market gardeners around.
You Can See The Video Below
You can see the shop here, I will leave a link on the webpage where I will embed this video. There is also a selection of 186 items, I believe that there are probably more parts available; however, you will need to make contact with the owner of the shop. You can see that there are all sorts of different Howard rotavator parts. I also see that there is a Camon C8 rotavator for sale. The Camon and BCS machines are not bad machines and they have improved over the years. However, nothing digs like an old Howard Gem!
I have also dealt with Chester Hudson for Howard gem and Dowdeswell rotavator spares, in the past. He certainly knows all about Howard machinery, although I’m not sure how much business he is doing now. If you have any questions about Howard and Dowdeswell rotavator parts, I am here to help. It certainly appears that the eBay shop has a good knowledge and a good number of spare parts available.
Acorn tractors have a selection of Iseki tractor mowers for sale. Having owned and used Iseki tractor mowers, I know that they are well-made machines that stand up well for contracting. The SXG models with the high tip function are great for loading trailers and trucks. It’s also a useful feature if you are composting your grass clippings, as there’s no need to fork the grass up into a heap. The high lift feature will do that for you! The Ventrac RV602 has a similar high-lift feature. You can also find more Iseki tractor mowers for sale here.
Iseki Tractors
One of the features I like about the SXG range is that they have an excellent cut and collection feature. So many manufacturers make their mowers with a very complicated collection system. However, on the Iseki SXG range, grass clippings are blown straight into the collector with no tubes or sharp turns for the grass to become clogged. The grass is blown from the cutting deck directly into a large collector, which ranges from 320 and 550 and up to 600 L high tip collector. The compact Iseki mower also features a lever with an agitator that can remove any clogged grass in the chute, a very useful feature indeed.
Features
13.5 hp to 21 hp diesel engine.
Up to 600 L grass collector.
40 to 54-inch centre discharge decks.
Mulching deck available.
Excellent cutting and collection in various conditions.
Iseki machines are manufactured in Japan. They are powered by a quality diesel engine, which offers excellent economy and minimal noise.
I’ve just been looking at the post below on LinkedIn today; the Yanmar YT235V-R comes with a 35 hp diesel in with hydrostatic transmission. I think the main thing that stands out for me is a 5000-hour or five years manufacturer’s warranty, that really is quite something and impressive! Yanmar obviously trusts their products; I don’t think I have known a manufacturer to put such a great warranty on a machine. In the past when I was purchasing machines, it always gave me a massive piece of mind to know that a machine has a good warranty.
Engine And Transmission
The tractor is powered by Yanmar’s own 1.6 L three-cylinder engine, complete with hydrostatic transmission. I have always liked the versatility of hydrostatic transmission; much better for ease of use, especially on a compact. Hydrostatic transmission gives you variable speeds in forward and reverse; there is no need to use the clutch to change gears.
The Yanmar YT235V-R is made in Japan; they are available either with a cab or rollbar. I’ll have more on the range of tractors at a later date.
The Yanmar YT235V-R compact has been created and backed up through 110+ years of experience! Due to the compact Yanmar tractor’s exceptional quality. The company has the confidence to give a 5000-hour warranty or five-year warranty. That really is quite impressive!
The main benefit of the warranty is that the tractor is built to the highest quality standards. Which gives peace of mind. Costs are covered for parts and labour, and it gives the Yanmar tractor a higher resale value.
The main conditions to keep the tractor under warranty are to register the tractor within one month of delivery. The machine must be operated according to Yanmar’s instructions and operational manual. Maintenance and repairs must be completed by a Yanmar dealer using original parts and liquids. The warranty covers European models that are distributed by European Yanmar dealers.
