Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Exmark Advantage: Enhanced Control System (ECS)

Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

Enhanced Control System ECS

One feature that sets Exmark commercial-grade walk-behind and stand-on mowers apart from the pack is our patented Enhanced Control System (ECS). ECS makes mower control easier, more ergonomic and ultimately, more sustainable day after day.

Exmark ECS controls

ECS places the controls at the operator’s fingertips for maximum ease of use.

The comfort of the operator’s hands might not be the first thing you think of when you think of commercial mowers. But we couldn’t forget about the hands, because in this case, they do just as much work as the operator’s legs and feet. And from an ergonomic standpoint, traditional control layouts leave a lot to be desired.

ECS in-use

Visit your local Exmark dealer to experience the advantages of ECS for yourself.

Our ECS-equipped walk-behind and stand-on mowers place the control handles in the location and angle your hands naturally fall. This also helps protect hands from hitting objects that stick out. The shorter grip distance and drive levers relieve fatigue while the cushioned handles reduce vibration. It’s total comfort for hard-working hands.

Learn more about the Exmark Advantage at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage.

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Tips for Picking the Right Lawn Mower

Sunday, April 17th, 2016

(StatePoint) While a beautiful lawn can be achieved through sweat and determination, you can make the work involved easier and achieve better results by choosing the right mower type and size for your yard.

Exmark lawn care“Take advantage of your local dealer’s perspective when choosing a mower,” says Steve Finkner, senior product manager at Exmark, a leading mower manufacturer. “They know what has worked well for other homeowners in your area, and that perspective can be valuable in helping you confidently purchase the right mower for your lawn.”

With that in mind, Finkner offers some factors to consider when choosing a new mower.

  • The area: How much lawn will you be mowing? A walk-behind mower is a good choice for properties of 1/2 acre or less. If gate access isn’t an issue, a large walk-behind or stand-on machine can be better. For larger properties, a zero-turn riding mower or stand-on riding mower can make lawn care easier and give you more free time.
  • The landscaping: Is your landscaping fairly straightforward or is mowing complicated by lawn furniture, a kids’ area, flowerbeds or lawn art? If so, maneuverability is an increasingly important factor. You may want to consider a zero-turn rider, which allows you to mow closer to lawn features with greater control. This can save you considerable time on trim work.
  • Your budget: Narrow down your mower search by deciding on your budget range in advance. Some manufacturers and retailers offer financing options that can help you more easily afford the right mower for your property.
  • Fueling up: One of the most basic decisions you’ll make when purchasing a new mower is <ahref=”https://blog.exmark.com/2016/01/exploring-fuel-options-for-exmark-mowers/”>fuel type. Propane offers reduced operating costs and an up to 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to gasoline-powered mowers. However, gasoline remains a popular fuel option due to its ready availability. Options such as electronic fuel injection can increase fuel economy and optimize performance for varying environmental conditions. And diesel-powered mowers are a popular choice for parks and municipal mowing crews.
  • Your search: Free online resources can help you dial in to the best mower for your lawn. You can filter your search on criteria such as fuel type, cutting deck size, price range and payment range. To research mower options, visit www.Exmark.com.

For more resources and tips on lawn mower selection, visit www.blog.exmark.com.

You can get your lawn into tiptop shape in less time by choosing the right mower. Do the research up-front and you can be confident your investment will save you energy on lawn care for years to come.

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What to Know When Repairing Your Lawn Mower

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016

(StatePoint) Every lawn mower requires routine maintenance to keep it running with efficiency and maximum performance. If a breakdown occurs or parts wear out, it’s much more cost-efficient to simply replace the worn parts than it is to buy a whole new mower.

EX16_Pioneer_S-Series_InUse_6_web72To keep your mower functioning optimally, consider the following:

Regular Maintenance

Follow your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule. Check your owner’s manual or your mower brand’s website for information on when and how to maintain your  machine, including checking and changing engine oil and filters, hydraulic filters, belts, air cleaners, spark plugs and more. This upkeep on your mower can prevent unscheduled downtime and costly repairs.

Replace Parts Wisely

“Modern mowers are designed to function as a system; they aren’t just a collection of parts,” says David Martin, customer service manager at Exmark, a leading mower manufacturer.

While virtually any company can sell parts that are almost right for your machine, Martin advises using original parts from the mower manufacturer. Brands such as Exmark, for example, extensively test every part and accessory for hundreds of hours to ensure they won’t compromise the safety, productivity or durability of the mower, or the quality of cut it provides.

“There is great value in using genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as opposed to cheaper “will fit” alternatives, when replacing belts, blades, filters, lubricants and other mower parts,” says Martin.

To learn more about the differences between using generic replacements from an aftermarket company and OEM parts, visit www.exmark.com/OriginalParts.

Whether you mow your lawn often or just a few times a season, be sure to take good care of your mower, paying attention to the suggested maintenance routine. It’s always better to prevent a problem before it becomes an issue. And doing so will improve the quality of each cut and extend the life of the machine.

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Exmark Advantage: Welded Cutting Decks

Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

The heart of a mower is its cutting system, because let’s face it, if a mower can’t cut grass well, what good is it? At Exmark, we know the best mowers start with great cutting systems, so we’ve spent an incredible amount of time testing and refining our cutting deck designs.

Exmark fabricated cutting deck

Whether you’re a homeowner or a landscape professional, Exmark’s fabricated cutting decks deliver the strength, durability and cut quality you’re looking for.

One feature that contributes significantly to the performance and durability of Exmark cutting decks is the fabricated, welded construction we employ on cutting decks throughout our line. When compared to the more common stamped steel cutting decks used by competitors, Exmark’s fabricated decks deliver increased strength, stiffness and durability, with our signature quality of cut.

Why are fabricated cutting decks better?

Stamped steel cutting decks are produced by pressing, or stamping, a flat sheet of steel into shape. The stamping process introduces limitations to the thickness and ductility/malleability of the material used. As a result, stamped cutting decks will often use thinner 12- or 13-gauge steel, compared to 7- to 10-gauge steel Exmark uses to produce its fabricated cutting decks.

Exmark UltraCut deck shell

It takes more time and skill to build fabricated cutting decks, but the results are worth the effort.

Exmark cuts and welds these thick, high-strength plates of steel into the form of a cutting deck. In addition, Exmark add reinforcements to may of its cutting decks at points of high stress or wear, such as spindle mounts or at the base of the deck skirt. These reinforcements provide the strength and stiffness necessary to withstand the punishment of commercial mowing, or deliver a lifetime of reliable mowing for a home or acreage owner.

Fabricated construction also allows Exmark to utilize its patented flow-control baffles on a number of its UltraCut cutting decks. Flow-control baffles accelerate airflow under the deck to provide enhanced clipping management, a higher quality of cut and more even clipping discharge.

Learn more about the advantages of Exmark cutting systems at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage/Features/Decks.

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New Product Showcase: Quest E-Series and S-Series

Sunday, March 27th, 2016
Series 2 cutting deck

The Exmark Series 2 fabricated cutting deck delivers increased strength, stiffness and durability compared to stamped deck designs.

Exmark has upgraded the cutting decks available on the 2016 Quest E-Series zero-turn riding mower. Customers can choose from 42- or 50-inch Series 2 welded, fabricated cutting decks, in addition to the 42-inch Series 1 cutting deck that was standard in 2015.

“We’re always looking for ways to increase the performance and value of our mowers,” said Exmark Director of Marketing, Daryn Walters. “We want even our most affordable model to offer commercial features such as a fabricated deck.

Exmark Engines

The Exmark engines that power Quest mowers are designed to be strong-running, durable and easy to service.

“Look at the mowers the pros are using, and they’re all running welded, fabricated decks. It’s because they’re stronger, stiffer and more durable long-term.” In addition to welded, fabricated construction, the Series 2 cutting decks feature durable, zero-maintenance sealed spindles designed to deliver a lifetime of reliable performance. The single-point height adjustment system makes cutting height easy to set or adjust, and the full-floating deck design ensures scalp-free mowing.

The Quest E-Series mowers feature Exmark power – the 708cc twin-cylinder engine on 50-inch models, and the 452cc single-cylinder powerplant on 42-inch machines. Designed from the ground up as zero-turn mower engines, both engines offer responsive, reliable power, with quicker governor response to deliver more power precisely when it’s needed.

Enhanced safety is provided by an automatic braking system, which applies the parking brake automatically whenever the controls are positioned outward. The standard 18-inch extra-tall back seat features suspension for a smoother ride.

Exmark Quest S-Series Front Steer

The Quest S-Series is available with a choice of a steering wheel (shown), or traditional twin-stick controls.

In addition to the Quest E-Series, Exmark offers the Quest S-Series mower in 34-, 42-, and 50-inch models. The Quest S-Series features a number of drive system upgrades, as well as an upgraded 18-inch Deluxe seat with a bolstered design and suspension system for increased operator comfort. Available with a choice of traditional stick-based controls, or in a steering wheel-equipped Front Steer model, the Exmark Quest S-Series delivers more professional grade features in a residential riding mower.

Learn more about Exmark’s 2016 family of Quest zero-turn riding mowers, or locate your local Exmark dealer at Exmark.com.

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Exmark Advantage: Hydro Drive System

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
Exmark Pioneer S-Series zero-turn mower

Exmark hydro drive systems deliver increased reliability, durability and ease of use for landscape professionals and homeowners alike.

The heart of any zero-turn mower is the hydro drive system. It’s the system responsible for controllably putting the power to the ground — undoubtedly an important job.

That’s why Exmark has worked hard to develop innovations that make its hydro drive systems function better, more reliably, with increased long-term durability. Working in partnership with Parker, we designed a unitized pump and motor unit that eliminates all hoses, fittings and potential leak points.

In testing, the Exmark UHT drive system in combination with Exmark Premium Hydraulic Oil has been proven to operate in the toughest commercial conditions while maintaining cooler system temperatures than the “off the shelf” hydro drive systems used by other manufacturers.

Exmark UHT hydro drive system

The UHT hydro drive system on Lazer Z zero-turn riders is designed to work harder, stay cooler and last longer than other hydro drive systems.

With no hoses and fewer parts to wear out, Exmark drive systems are more durable and easier to maintain than traditional drive systems. In fact, with proper preventative maintenance and care, the UHT hydro drive system on an Exmark Lazer Z can deliver 3,000 hours or more of productive mowing. That’s durability you can count on for years to-come!

Features of the Lazer Z UHT hydro drive system include:

UHT Hydro – 16cc

  • Used on Lazer Z X-Series with 60″ and 72″ Cutting Decks
  • Pump: Parker 16cc
  • Type: Axial piston
  • Displacement: 16.0 cc/rev
  • Motor: Parker
  • Type: Gerotor
  • Displacement: 280 cc/rev
  • Peak Torque: 684 ft.lb
  • Reservoir: 2 quart integral

UHT Hydro – 12cc

  • Used on Lazer Z E-Series, Lazer Z S-Series and Lazer Z X-Series with 48″ and 52″ Cutting Decks
  • Pump: Parker 12cc
  • Type: Axial piston
  • Displacement: 11.4 cc/rev
  • Motor: Parker
  • Type: Gerotor
  • Displacement: 240 cc/rev
  • Peak Torque: 684 ft.lb
  • Reservoir: 2 quart integral

Learn more about the advantage of Exmark hydro drive systems at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage/Features/Hydros.

 

 

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The Value of Propane Mowers in Today’s Economy

Sunday, March 20th, 2016
Exmark Lazer Z Propane

The reduced greenhouse gasses propane mowers produce isn’t just good for the environment, it’s a great marketing advantage.

Each day, a growing number of landscape professionals open their eyes to the potential of modern propane-fueled commercial mowers. Even as gasoline prices have come down in recent months, propane is still extremely price competitive and the environmental benefits of propane mowers are in-line with what the majority of landscape maintenance customers say they’re looking for in a landscape contractor (see first bullet point below).

Exmark’s white paper, Transitioning Mower Fleets to Propane, has a number of compelling reasons you should consider propane mowers for your business. Following is an excerpt from the Executive Summary.

  • 2013 market research conducted by Lawn & Landscape magazine revealed that 63 percent of homeowners responsible for decisions related to some or all landscape contract services are influenced by a sense of environmental responsibility.
  • Propane-fueled commercial mowers and equipment produce significantly fewer greenhouse gasses (GHG) than those fueled by gasoline.
  • PERC, Kohler and Exmark partnered on development of the industry’s first EFI-propane engine for commercial mower applications. The engine is the industry’s first OEM-level EFI-propane engine, offering full commercial warranty and support. The EFI design increases fuel efficiency by up to 25 percent, and coupled with the typically lower cost of propane, reduces overall fuel costs by up to 40 percent compared to carbureted gasoline engines. Uptime is also improved since the EFI engine solves startability and performance issues frequently encountered with engines using aftermarket conversions.
  • Exmark introduced a Kohler EFI-propane powered version of its Lazer Z S-Series zero-turn riding mower as well as two Turf Tracer wide area walk behind models in 2013. The EFI-propane Vantage S-Series stand-on riding mower followed in 2015.
  • Propane is widely available nationwide and is used in an estimated 12.6 million U.S. households for heating, cooking and recreation. It is a fossil fuel derived from the refining of oil and natural gas. It is a very safe fuel for commercial mowers, with an ignition temperature that’s nearly double that of gasoline (900 deg. F vs. 495 deg. F). In addition, robust, sealed containers virtually eliminate the opportunity for fuel spillage.
  • The selection of a retailer and the negotiation of a seasonal contract are two important aspects of a switch to propane for landscape maintenance professionals to consider.
  • Exmark propane mowers deliver industry-leading performance, productivity and durability.
  • Incentives from PERC, as well as a number of state marketing associations can mitigate some or all of the increased up-front cost of propane mowers. Combined with the EFI-related fuel savings and the lower cost of propane, Exmark mowers powered by Kohler propane-EFI engines can save up-to $2/hour, or more depending on duty cycle and other factors. This allows pay back of the added investment in one to two seasons.
Click the image to download the complete Transitioning Mower Fleets to Propane white paper in Adobe PDF format.

Click to download the complete white paper.

Download the complete Transitioning Mower Fleets to Propane white paper in Adobe PDF format.

Learn more about Exmark’s complete line of EFI-propane commercial mowers at Exmark.com.

See the average fuel prices in your area:

 

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Spring Lawn Care Checklist

Sunday, March 13th, 2016

While the spring equinox is coming up March 20, many folks across the country have been experiencing spring-like weather for some time now. As your lawn wakes up from its winter slumber, there are things you can start doing almost immediately to clean it up and get a proactive start on maintenance.

A Note on Timing

Exmark lawn care

Paying attention to the needs of your lawn this spring will make it easier to maintain the beauty of your lawn throughout the season.

While it may seem beneficial to get out as soon as the weather begins to warm up, a little patience can go a long way to maximize the results of your work. Wait until your lawn has mostly greened up to begin mowing, aeration or other maintenance. Too much traffic on the lawn before it’s green increases the chances of killing off new shoots before they mature, or compacting the turf.

Turf Type Matters

Understanding whether you’ve got cool-season grasses (such as bluegrass, fescue and rye) or warm-season grasses (such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia) is important to knowing which maintenance tasks you’ll need to perform, and when it’s best to perform them.

Cool-season grasses have two primary growth periods: one in the spring and another in the fall. They can struggle and go dormant in the heat of the summer, so spring maintenance should focus on strengthening the lawn to better deal with summer heat.

Warm-season turf grasses begin growing shortly after the final spring frost and hit their full growth stride as the midsummer heat cranks up.

Here are some maintenance items you can perform to help your lawn be more beautiful and weed-free this season, with notes on timing for warm- and cool-season grasses:

  1. Yard raking/clean-up — Most lawns can use some clean up first thing in the spring. Rake up all leaf and organic material to ensure your lawn is getting the sunlight it needs to green up quickly. As you rake up the leaves in your yard, make note of any areas of the lawn that may be compacted (and need to be aerated) or have excessive thatch (and need to be dethatched).
  2. Fertilization — You won’t necessarily need to fertilize your lawn in the spring, particularly if you applied fertilizer last fall. But depending on what type of fertilizer program you’re on, spring can be a good time to have your soil tested to check available nutrient levels. Cool-season grasses can benefit from a light fertilizer application in the spring, once they’re actively growing. For warm-season grasses, it’s best to fertilize in late spring — typically in April or May — as soon as the lawn greens up and is actively growing.
  3. Weed control — Regardless of whether you have warm- or cool-season grasses, a spring application of pre-emergence herbicide can be very beneficial for your lawn. For control of annual weeds such as crabgrass and foxtail, you want to apply the weed control as soon as the soil temperature consistently reaches 55 degrees. Often, your local extension office can help you understand the soil temperatures for your area. If you plan to perform any seeding to your lawn, you will want to choose your herbicide carefully, as most will prevent the germination of grass seed. According to the University of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, the only pre-emergence herbicide that can be used with new seeding is siduron, which is commonly sold as Tupersan.
  4. Seeding — Cool-season grasses can be planted as soon as soil temperatures are consistently in the 50s (and air temps are in the 60s). The goal is to plant as soon as conditions allow to give the grass as much time to establish before the stress of summer heat bears down on it. Fall is a better time to plant cool-season grasses, so your focus for spring planting should ideally be on filling in bare spots. Warm-season grasses should be planted when soil temperatures are consistently in the 60s and all threat of frost has passed.
  5. Mower maintenance — We covered spring mower maintenance comprehensively in this post from Feb. 17, 2016.

 

You may find that if your lawn went into the winter in a well-maintained condition, it may not need all of these steps to be ready for spring. Lawn maintenance you performed in the fall, such as aeration or dethatching, may or may not need an additional spring application. It all depends on the condition of your lawn coming out of winter. And if you maintained your mower in the fall, you won’t need to do another comprehensive service in the spring.

For more information:

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Exmark Advantage: Spindles

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016
Exmark Navigator

A half-mowed playing field doesn’t look so good, so this isn’t the time when you want trouble with a blade spindle.

When it comes to what makes an Exmark an Exmark, there isn’t one single thing you can point to and say “that’s it.” Rather, there are countless things — some big, some not so big — that add up to the unmatched performance, productivity and durability you get with Exmark mowers and lawn care equipment.

Today we’ll take a look at the blade spindles: a key feature of Exmark walk-behind, stand-on, and zero-turn riding mowers. Since they’re covered by shrouds atop the cutting deck, they aren’t parts you often think about, unless you’re having trouble with one.

Exmark Series 5/6 blade driver

This UltraCut Series 5/6 spindle cutaway shows the maintenance-free sealed bearings and 30mm splined blade driver, which eliminates impact-related bolt tightening.

If you’re relying on that mower to make your money for the day, that’s not a very appealing option. And even if you just want to mow your lawn, an awesome mower with a bad blade spindle isn’t going to get it done for you.

As a result, our designers, engineers and test crew have spent a lot of time and energy on the blade spindles on our UltraCut cutting decks. The result are spindles that do the vital job of making the blades go around with industry-leading efficiency, durability and low-maintenance.

Exmark uses tough cast aluminum housings with maintenance-free sealed, non-greasable bearing design. 25-30mm splined blade drivers (depending on UltraCut series) eliminate bolt over tightening and the spindles are completely serviceable. Exmark spindles are designed with features that minimize the opportunity for moisture ingression into the spindle assembly and/or bearings. This increases spindle lifespan considerably.

Learn more about the advantage of Exmark blade spindles at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage/Features/Spindles.

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