Need help with an idea for my hill

[ajmikola]

So i have been killing myself thinking of ways to mow my steep a$$ hill with my greens mower.
Then my wife (of all people) suggested i put down a track. At first i thought she was crazy, then i got to thinking about it and it wasnt a bad idea.
So my thought is to stake in 2x4s running parallel to the hill and let the mower rest against it as i cut.
The other thing i was thinking was to some how tie a rope around the engine and counterbalance the mower.
The big problem is the baroness and all other greens mowers roll on rollers and thats it, no tires or anything. The moment i put it sideways on a hill it just slides down.

So i know there are a ton of folks on here that are smarter than me.
Does any of that sound feasible and does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions?

Mowing straight up and down is virtually impossible. The mower weighs 200lbs or so and i cant push it up the hill and get a good cut.

[wardconnor]

No go. It's flat or nothing when it comes to greens mower and a hill. Flower bed if not flat. If you want grass then you'll need a retaining wall. Nuff said. It's harsh but it's reality.

Your text from wife you posted, if that was you, was hilarious. I can relate to how you feel. I want to buy a riding reel toro but might have to make an executive decision in the end.

[ Post made via Android ]

[SimonR]

https://youtu.be/plHVt6gqQg8

[ Post made via Android ]

[tphakkhc1]

Have you tried mowing up/down the hill at 45 degrees? You could possibly anchor a point at the top of the hill and tie rope around the mower mowing in a semicircle pattern. Shorten the rope with each pass until you've covered the hill but as suggested if it's too steep you could consider a garden/retaining wall.


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[ENVY23]

https://youtu.be/plHVt6gqQg8

[ Post made via Android ]

I was just about to post that. No experience with it, but it seems like a great idea. How big is this hill?

[Pete1313]

No experience and just a thought.. what about applying some kind of high traction coating to the drum/drive roller? I guess it depends on how bad you are slipping right now. Might make it alittle better?

[ Post made via Android ]

[Billy]

https://youtu.be/plHVt6gqQg8

[ Post made via Android ]

I was just about to post that. No experience with it, but it seems like a great idea. How big is this hill?

The golf guys would call that machine a "Flymo", since that was the brand name of the first hovering mower that came out.

These machines are essentially weedeaters with a molded shroud on the top. They don't have blades -- all the cutting is done with string, like a weedeater. They usually have height adjustments from 1-2". Some models say they can cut lower than that, but the quality really suffers < 1". At golf courses, these are most often used on steep bunker banks, where there's not enough room to fit a mower safely.

Like I wrote in another thread, the best thing to do here might be to get rid of the grass and plant something else. How a bout a narrow strip of grass at the top and bottom of the slope with a planting of pampas grass down rh middle?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Kmartel]

Inner tube or large elastic bands on the drum. Or as suggested a non skid coating painted on the drum. Don't think you will be happy with the cut quality of a hover mower since it is basically a string trimmer.

Have you tried finding transport wheels that have roughly the same diameter as the drum? They might give you enough traction to work.




Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[Mike2016]

Just a heads up - using a flymo absolutely sucks. I cannot begin to describe my disdain for these machines.

Source: did golf course maintenance for 4 years.


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[ajmikola]

No experience and just a thought.. what about applying some kind of high traction coating to the drum/drive roller? I guess it depends on how bad you are slipping right now. Might make it alittle better?

[ Post made via Android ]

Mighty quinn suggested that, i'm nervous about doing that because once something like that is sprayed on its hard if not impossible to get off and i dont know what effect it would have on the mower as a whole

[ajmikola]

Inner tube or large elastic bands on the drum. Or as suggested a non skid coating painted on the drum. Don't think you will be happy with the cut quality of a hover mower since it is basically a string trimmer.

Have you tried finding transport wheels that have roughly the same diameter as the drum? They might give you enough traction to work.




Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

My rotary can maneuver the hill fine, but i would really like to macguiver something to make the greens mower work.
Good news is i have all winter to work on it and i have a bunch of engineers around me so they could help to.

I do like the idea of finding tires. That certainly may be an option.

[OldGlory]

I worked on a golf course and used a fly mow. They are not the best...but they get the job done. Only thing that worked on the back of high tee boxes.

[ajmikola]

No go. It's flat or nothing when it comes to greens mower and a hill. Flower bed if not flat. If you want grass then you'll need a retaining wall. Nuff said. It's harsh but it's reality.

Your text from wife you posted, if that was you, was hilarious. I can relate to how you feel. I want to buy a riding reel toro but might have to make an executive decision in the end.

[ Post made via Android ]

Yeah that was my wife. She was having a bad day to her credit, but it was still funny.
I'm gonna figure out something for the hill if it kills me, which it actually might. Stay tuned

[J_nick]

Just a thought but what about getting some sandpaper with adhesive backing. That should be able to grip while still being able to be easily removed, also not changing HOC very much. I have a steep hill of my own I might pick up some tomorrow and give it a shot. I've been mowing it all year with the TruCut as the wheels can actually hold a line on the hill. Along my fence it's leaving marks from constantly going over the same spot with the wheels I'll let you know tomorrow how much traction the sandpaper adds

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[ajmikola]

Just a thought but what about getting some sandpaper with adhesive backing. That should be able to grip while still being able to be easily removed, also not changing HOC very much. I have a steep hill of my own I might pick up some tomorrow and give it a shot. I've been mowing it all year with the TruCut as the wheels can actually hold a line on the hill. Along my fence it's leaving marks from constantly going over the same spot with the wheels I'll let you know tomorrow how much traction the sandpaper adds

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Please do. But a tru cut has tires right? What are you going to put the sand paper on?

[Billy]

Are you concerned about the sandpaper tearing up or abraising the grass? Those rear drums are mostly smooth (even the dimpled ones) to allow them to spin without tearing or scuffing the turf. I would be afraid of creating some damage if something slipped.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[J_nick]

Are you concerned about the sandpaper tearing up or abraising the grass? Those rear drums are mostly smooth (even the dimpled ones) to allow them to spin without tearing or scuffing the turf. I would be afraid of creating some damage if something slipped.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I was wondering about that but we will just see how it goes. If it does cause damage oh well it's going to be dormant before too long as it's not even growing now.

Just a thought but what about getting some sandpaper with adhesive backing. That should be able to grip while still being able to be easily removed, also not changing HOC very much. I have a steep hill of my own I might pick up some tomorrow and give it a shot. I've been mowing it all year with the TruCut as the wheels can actually hold a line on the hill. Along my fence it's leaving marks from constantly going over the same spot with the wheels I'll let you know tomorrow how much traction the sandpaper adds

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Please do. But a tru cut has tires right? What are you going to put the sand paper on?

I'll be trying it on my JD220B. I've been using the TruCut on the hill because it has wheels and fights gravity better than the smooth aluminum drum of the JD

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[ajmikola]

Are you concerned about the sandpaper tearing up or abraising the grass? Those rear drums are mostly smooth (even the dimpled ones) to allow them to spin without tearing or scuffing the turf. I would be afraid of creating some damage if something slipped.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I was wondering about that but we will just see how it goes. If it does cause damage oh well it's going to be dormant before too long as it's not even growing now.

Just a thought but what about getting some sandpaper with adhesive backing. That should be able to grip while still being able to be easily removed, also not changing HOC very much. I have a steep hill of my own I might pick up some tomorrow and give it a shot. I've been mowing it all year with the TruCut as the wheels can actually hold a line on the hill. Along my fence it's leaving marks from constantly going over the same spot with the wheels I'll let you know tomorrow how much traction the sandpaper adds

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Please do. But a tru cut has tires right? What are you going to put the sand paper on?

I'll be trying it on my JD220B. I've been using the TruCut on the hill because it has wheels and fights gravity better than the smooth aluminum drum of the JD

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Lemme know how it goes

[lagerman72]

We know you like equipment, so you could always check out the Maruyama landscape blade. I'm sure it'll be different from your greens mower, but it could give you a nice short "reel" looking cut without too much hassle from pushing your reel on the hill.

[ajmikola]

I'll check it out