Posts Tagged ‘Exmark’

Mid-Season Mower Maintenance

Thursday, July 16th, 2015

By David Martin, Exmark customer service manager

Maintenance: mower cleaning

Minimize the use of water when cleaning your mower. Instead, use compressed air whenever possible.

Now that mowing season is well under way, the last thing you want to happen is for your mower to experience downtime. The following maintenance tips will help you keep your mower running in tip-top shape.

Maintenance: mower blades

Sharp, balanced blades are critical to the performance of the cutting system. Check and sharpen blades if necessary.

  • Check the operator’s manual to see what might need to be greased. Keeping the right parts greased is an important step in extending the life of a mower.
  • Check the air filter (inner and outer) and change it if necessary. Never use compressed air to clean a filter. The powerful air stream can compromise the filter’s ability to effectively filter the air coming into the engine.
  • Depending on how many hours the mower has been running, consider changing the fuel filter. Consult your owner’s manual or http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Maintenance/Schedules/ for the recommended replacement interval.
  • Check and, if necessary, change the spark plugs.
  • Blow the debris off the unit:
    • Remove the belt deck belt shields and blow off all foreign material.
    • Blow the grass off the areas around the pumps and wheel motors (overheated oil leads to shorter component life).
    • Blow through the openings in and around the console or remove the console mounting screws to get debris out of this area.
  • Check for loose hardware.
  • Verify torque on wheel motor castle nut and tire mounting lug nuts.
  • Verify oil changes are being performed at the proper intervals, and perform the service if necessary. NEVER, under any circumstances, exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations by more than 100 hours. Significant damage will result that will reduce the machine’s lifespan and compromise productivity.

Learn more about how to effectively service and maintain your mowers and lawn care equipment at http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Maintenance/Service-Tips/.

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Exmark Employee Profile: David Rayburn

Monday, July 13th, 2015

 

David Rayburn, Exmark

Exmark Logistics Manager, David Rayburn, stands with Logistics Coordinator, Patty Kaufman (middle) and IS Supervisor, Liz Daubendiek.

Where are you from?

I was born in Wisconsin and my family moved here when I was small. I went into the service for two years and then moved back to Nebraska after I got married. We’ve now lived here for the last 34 years.

Tell us about what you do at Exmark.

I manage the product planning process— also known as forecast– for Exmark products. My team consists of myself and our logistics coordinator. We receive direction from marketing for the product need and bring everything down to the specific quarter to meet the financial plan. The production facility then takes the plan and breaks it down. That’s how the production flows.

What’s your favorite thing about working with Exmark?

There’s a passion and a knowledge that people have here and it makes work very enjoyable. When we talk as a team or go through different groups, everyone is knowledgeable about their areas; they have expertise. It’s fun to work with people like that. You don’t have to repeat yourself a lot because everybody knows what they’re doing. Everyone is passionate and easy to get along with.

What do you like to do in your free time?

My family and I like to go camping, fishing, and boating. We take trips to Minnesota and North Dakota to fish and camp as much as we can during the year. But with the weather lately, it’s been tough. At least the rain is good for business in the long run.

What initially drew you to Exmark?

Both my son and daughter work here at Exmark. My son started here first and then my daughter came here after college. After that, Exmark hired me. It’s funny because normally the kids follow the parents into a company but it was the reverse for me. I started off working on the floor in the plant and was able to transition into different areas. After 13 years, I’m now in this position. I’ve been very fortunate. They’ve been very good to me.

If you could have lunch with any person, who would it be?

Probably John F. Kennedy. When I was in grade school, he was running for president and he was one of the first ones where I was old enough to understand a little bit about what was going on. During his election, Bobby Kennedy came through my town. I was in fifth grade, and I skipped school so I could listen to his speech. That’s somebody I would like to understand.

What’s something surprising about you not many people know about?

For the last 27 years, I’ve been doing a yearly reenactment for the Pony Express Association. Every year in June, we’ll ride a horse and carry the mail from Sacramento California to St. Joseph, Missouri, like they did on the original Pony Express back in the 1800’s. We do it in nine days and it’s pretty cool. We try to stay as close to the original trail as we can.

David Rayburn has been a member of the Exmark team for 13 years.

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Spotlight: Exmark-Sponsored Professional Fisherman, Mike Iaconelli

Thursday, July 9th, 2015

At Exmark, we’re passionate about the outdoors. For 2015, we are demonstrating that passion through our sponsorship of professional fisherman, Mike Iaconelli.

We recently sat down and chatted with Mike and learned a little more about what makes him tick. Here’s the result of our conversation.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Mike with Exmark machines

Mike’s Exmark equipment helps him maintain his 10 acre property quicker, so he can get back to doing the things he loves. Photo: Becky Iaconelli

My name is Michael Iaconelli. I’m 43 years old, husband to Becky and father to four kids: Drew (16), Rylie (15), Vegas (4), and Estella (2). I’ve been fishing since I was a little kid and I’ve been lucky enough to turn my passion and hobby into a full time career. Besides fishing and spending time with the family, I love the outdoors and gardening around the house.

What excites you about your relationship with Exmark?

There are a lot of things that excite me about my relationship Exmark. First is that they build the most amazing products. These are the kinds of products that help us everyday at home! Second, the folks at Exmark share our values. Family, outdoors, and getting kids involved in fishing are at the top of that list. And finally, we’re excited to help bring the Exmark brand to the fishing world, and to fans of the sport.

How have you been using your Exmark 700S Utility Vehicle?

We use our Exmark 700S utility vehicle extensively at home, for normal yard and gardening chores such as moving mulch and top soil, hauling wood and rocks, or carrying gear and equipment. We also use it for other activities like getting the mail, surveying the property and launching small boats in the lake. The amount of time and effort the utility vehicle saves us is awesome!

How much time has your Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower saved you in yard maintenance?

Great question! The Lazer Z X-Series has saved us such an immense amount of time. As a large land owner (we have 10 acres), we used to lose a lot of time, especially out of our weekends, trying to keep the grass cut with a traditional riding mower. Now, with our Exmark Lazer Z, it’s not only easier and more enjoyable, but has cut our mowing time by more than half!

It’s fantastic because now we can spend more time engaged in other activities we love like gardening, playing with the kids, boating and kayaking in the lake… and fishing of course!

How’s your 2015 season going? What tournaments do you have coming up?

My 2015 season is going great. I’ve had several top finishes and I’m still looking for a major win this year. I have about 8 events left this season, including one coming up in August on the upper Chesapeake Bay. The Bay is an amazing place and a home field advantage for me. I’m really looking forward to that event.

Where would somebody go to learn more about you and your fishing?

Anyone who wants to keep up with my family and I can follow us on our web site (mikeiaconelli.com), through our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and on our live web show Ike Live.

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Spotlight: Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator

Sunday, July 5th, 2015

Exmark 30inchStandOnAerator_smHR

With an efficient stand-on design and the ability to aerate at up to 7 mph with fingertip control, the Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator product page raises the bar for aerating productivity and ease-of-use.

Productivity is the key to profitability, and the Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator delivers for your business. The stand-on design, cushioned operator platform and intuitive controls reduce operator fatigue and maximize productivity for every operator, every day.

Exmark Coring Tines

1,200 pounds of hydraulic pressure drives the 48 coring tines into the ground with incredible consistency.

The hydraulic tine actuation system delivers an incredible 1,200 pounds of down force for consistent core depth and the ability to pull up to 5-inch plugs. Hydraulics are fully-integrated, so there’s zero hoses to break or replace, and a clean, purposeful and ergonomic control layout is incredibly easy to use.

Free-floating center tines allow turning with tines engaged without damaging turf, with the ability to perform zero-turns with the tines raised. The Exmark design also offers incredible traction on a wide variety of turf, courtesy of a combined wheel- and tine-drive system that delivers infinite speed control up to 7mph.

Here’s Exmark Product Manager, Lloyd VonScheliha, with more on the 30-inch Stand-On Aerator:

Learn more about the opportunity lawn care services could represent for your business with our Lawn Care Services White Paper (Adobe PDF format), or visit Exmark Turf Management Products.

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Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer: Digging In

Monday, June 29th, 2015

Go Tough. Go Strong. We know even professionals can find lawn care daunting. However, excellent tools make this process easy. The innovative Exmark Spreader Sprayer allows you to seed and fertilize quickly and thoroughly. Looking for the industry's most advanced, most innovative stand-on spreader sprayer? Look no further. This versatile, easy-to-operate, easy-to-maneuver machine offers our most advanced lean-to-steer technology and outstanding stability.

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Exmark Employee Profile: Trevor Porter

Thursday, June 18th, 2015
Exmark Engineering Manager, Trevor Porter - Photo

Exmark Engineering Manager, Trevor Porter

Where are you from?

I’m from all over, really. I grew up in Florida and then went to school in Florida, Utah, and Arizona. I lived in Illinois before Nebraska, which is where I’m at right now.

Tell us about what you do at Exmark.

I’m the engineering manager here. My group handles all the engineering issues surrounding things in production. We do things such as design improvement, fixes, emergency handling, replacement parts, and substitute parts. We always try to get feedback from customers and figure out if there are any issues that we need to address.

What’s been a good, challenging experience for you at Exmark?

The biggest challenge is our growth. Each year, we come out with a new model and my group takes care of that. There’s a new design group that works on one model every 1-2 years. Each one that comes out needs support, kind of like what customer service does.

What’s your favorite thing about working with Exmark?

My favorite thing about working here is the people. The people here are the secret sauce to Exmark. I also love engineering, which makes it fun to come to work every day. It’s really a great place to work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I spend a lot of time working on my house, which my two teenage boys help out with. We’re actually building a sundeck this year. Other things include hanging out with my friends and family and learning how to play the guitar and bass.

If you could have lunch with any person, who would it be?

I’d like to talk with Isaac Newton because he came up with calculus, which is an amazing thing when you really get into it. How can someone figure something out like that and develop it out of thin air? I’d like to find out.

What’s something surprising about you not many people know about?

I’d have to say how much I’ve moved around the country. I’m also a big fan of 80’s metal, like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

Trevor Porter will celebrate his tenth year at Exmark this August.

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ECS Controls: Why They’re Better

Thursday, June 11th, 2015

Landscape maintenance is a tough job, and during the season downtime is lost revenue. That’s why it’s important to take every opportunity to make it more sustainable for operators and their bodies. It was precisely for this reason that Exmark developed the exclusive ECS (Enhanced Control System) controls for its wide-area walk-behind mowers.

Why ECS is Better

Exmark ECS Controls -- Turf Tracer

The improved ergonomics of ECS controls increases control while reducing operator fatigue.

ECS controls improve the ergonomics of walk-behind mower controls when compared to traditional pistol-grip controls. ECS places the arms in a more neutral position to keep the operator’s joints in a more natural state. The elbows rest naturally against the body, while the lower arms extend easily to grasp the controls, reducing arm strain and hand fatigue significantly. Thanks to ECS, operators will experience less upper body pain after a long day of work.

Back, neck and shoulder pain is reduced thanks to the improved ergonomics of the ECS controls, and the hands are positioned closer to the machine center, keeping them out of harm’s way when maneuvering in tight spaces. Padded operator handles reduce vibration and the ECS controls feature a shorter grip distance for enhanced control and reduced hand fatigue.

Learn more about ECS and Exmark walk-behind models it’s a standard feature on at Exmark.com.

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Back story: Exmark Stand-On Spreader-Sprayer

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

In recent years, stand-on spreader sprayer machines have revolutionized the application of fertilizer and chemicals to lawns. Recognizing the potential of stand-on spreader sprayers hadn’t yet been met with existing models, Exmark developed its new stand-on Spreader-Sprayer with a number of innovations designed to maximize productivity, profitability and safety for lawn care professionals.

The Lean to Steer controls of the Exmark machine allow one-handed speed and direction control.

The Lean to Steer controls heighten productivity by providing one-handed direction and speed control.

According to Exmark product manager, Lloyd von Scheliha, the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer was developed with direct input from top lawn care professionals throughout its development. As a result, it raises the bar in a number of critical areas.

“We started the process by asking a number of lawn care professionals what they wanted in a stand-on spreader sprayer,” von Scheliha said. “They told us a lot about what they liked and disliked about their current machines.

“We learned the control layout is very important on a stand-on spreader sprayer, as is the side-hill stability of the machine. We also heard about the challenges these guys were having keeping materials such as wettable powders and flowable solids in suspension in the tank.

About two years ago, von Scheliha and his team began testing prototypes of what would become the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer with a number of trusted lawn care professionals.

The feedback they received was priceless. Testers universally praised the Exmark machine’s innovative “Lean to Steer” controls, which allowed one-handed control of machine direction and speed. Testers now had a free hand to operate spray or spreader controls, or perform spot treatments with the easy-to-access spray wand.

Wettable powder

According to lawn care professional, Kent Harlan, the agitation system of the Exmark Stand On Spreader Sprayer allows him to utilize a wider variety of material, like this fungicide — a wettable powder.

One tester, Kent Harlan of Kent’s Lawn Service in Beatrice, Nebraska, said the Lean to Steer controls allow him to effectively do more with each pass of the machine.

“I end up spraying as much with the wand in reverse as I do going forward. I have enough control with one hand that I can simultaneously spray using the wand in the other hand, even going backward.

“The simple controls make it easy to do.

Harlan said even he was shocked by how much better the Exmark control system was when compared to the controls of other machines he’d owned.

“You don’t realize until you try it (the control system): it’s truly better. In all honesty, at first sight I didn’t think it’d work, but now that I’ve used it, I’m convinced it’s one of the most impressive aspects of the machine.”

According to von Scheliha, Exmark designed the Spreader-Sprayer with no belts and a durable hydrostatic drive system to increase up-time and ease routine maintenance.

Harlan said perhaps the most significant advantage of the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer is the agitation system contained within the machine’s low-profile 20-gallon tank.

With two induction providing aggressive agitation, the Exmark system keeps materials in suspension better. This allows him to consistently apply a mixture of chemicals based on the needs of his customers and their lawns, many in the form of wettable powders that cause other machines headaches.

“I’ll dump all the materials into the tank, open the agitation circuit and wait about 40 seconds for it to mix,” Harlan said. “At that point I’m ready to spray. And if I put the machine away for the night with a half-tank of material inside, as soon as I start that agitation circuit it quickly puts the material back into suspension.

“Nobody else’s machine puts material into suspension and keeps it in suspension as well as the Exmark. In my opinion, that is the key difference between what Exmark is coming to market with and the others.”

In the end, Harlan said that no single machine has positively impacted his business more than the Exmark prototype he used during the 2014 season.

“Not only did my revenue significantly increase for the year, my profitability and customer retention improved as well.”

According to Exmark’s von Scheliha, that’s exactly what the machine was designed to do.

Learn more about the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer at Exmark.com.

You can increase profitability and customer satisfaction with lawn care services. Learn how with our free white paper. Download in Adobe PDF format.

 

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Exmark 20-inch Slicer Seeder Delivers Productivity, Durability

Thursday, April 23rd, 2015
Seeder, left view

The 40-pound capacity hopper holds more seed to easily handle large jobs.

Landscape professionals can count on the Exmark 20-inch Slicer Seeder to deliver top-notch results every time. It performs three jobs — verticutting, detaching and overseeding — with each pass of the machine. As easy to use and maneuver as a walk-behind mower, the 20-inch Slicer Seeder is a productive, profitable addition to the team.

Durable high-carbon steel blades remove thatch and provide maximum seed-to-soil contact, which enables superior germination. The innovative seed delivery system features a large-diameter mixer. It regulates seed flow based on ground speed to ensure even seed delivery, regardless of machine speed.

Slicer Seeder, right view

Simple controls make the 20-inch Slicer Seeder as easy to use as a walk-behind mower.

The large-capacity seed hopper holds 40-pounds of seed, so the 20-inch Slicer Seeder can handle large jobs with fewer stops. The Subaru EX270 engine delivers commercial-grade reliability and power combined with reduced noise, fuel consumption and emissions. In fact, the engine is EPA and CARB certified for use in all 50 states.

When it comes to overseeding, the Exmark 20-inch Slicer Seeder delivers results that will delight your customers, with productivity and durability that will enhance your bottom line. Learn more at Exmark.com.

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Fuel for Your Mower: What’s Best For You?

Sunday, April 5th, 2015

When it comes to the purchase of a new mower, you have more choices than ever before. Instead of merely the choice between a push mower and a riding lawn mower, today we have walk-behind mowers, stand-on mowers and zero-turn mowers to choose from.

Once you’ve decided which mower type you want, it makes sense to consider which fuel is your best option. Gasoline isn’t the only choice anymore. There are also a wide variety of propane lawn mowers to choose from. But which one is better, gasoline or propane?

Advantages of Propane

There are several advantages to propane as a mower fuel. For example, propane stores longer than gasoline. You don’t have to worry about fuel quality degradation over the winter, so you can store the mower in the garage and from a fuel standpoint, it’ll be ready to go when it’s time to mow again in the spring.

Propane is typically less expensive than gasoline. You’ll also find that propane prices don’t fluctuate as much as the price of gasoline. Since propane prices are often lower in the summer, propane-powered lawn mowers are becoming more popular with landscape professionals, too.

In addition to paying less per gallon, using propane also eliminates the possibility of a hazardous and costly spill. Propane also reduces the likelihood of fuel being stolen for use in other vehicles. Last but not least, propane is environmentally friendly. Propane-fueled mowers produce fewer greenhouse gasses than gasoline mowers, making them a good choice in areas where air quality is an issue.

When it comes to using propane-powered lawn mowers, it’s important to remember to fill the propane tank (or keep an alternate) before you start mowing. But propane’s growing popularity as an alternative fuel means you shouldn’t have trouble finding a filling station nearby.

Advantages of Gasoline

Gasoline-powered lawn mowers continue to be popular for a number of reasons, but universal fuel availability is a big one. If your mower runs out of gas, it’s easy to get it refilled. You can purchase gasoline at any gas station, virtually any time of day. Plus, it’s relatively easy to carry a small gas canister to and from the filling station.

Gasoline engines are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations, so chances are you’ll be able to find a mower type and size to suit your needs. As a result, today, gasoline engines power the majority of our mowers.

Gasoline can for lawn mowerWhen Gasoline-Powered Mowers Make Sense

We recommend gasoline-powered lawn mowers to most homeowners. For a small or medium-sized property, you’ll find a wider variety of gasoline-fueled mower options suited to the task. While you may still like to take one of our zero-turn lawn mowers for a ride, you might be better served with a smaller self-propelled walk-behind for your property. And nine times out of ten, those mowers will be gasoline-powered.

For a smaller property, you’re not going to be mowing the yard for several hours. This means you probably aren’t going to use enough fuel each year to be able to realize a significant cost benefit using propane. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a propane-powered mower to maintain a small- to medium-sized property. But the difference in fuel cost really pays off for commercial and professional users.

When You Should Choose Propane

Propane-powered lawn mowers, whether they are zero-turn mowers or not, are most useful for commercial and professional users and large properties. Propane mowers give these users the opportunity to reduce fuel expenditures by up to 25 percent, which is a big deal. If you’re running your lawn mower for eight hours a day or more, you’re probably spending a lot of money on fuel.

When it comes to mowing the lawn professionally, it’s also a good idea to consider the environment. After all, switching to a propane-powered lawn mower is really noticeable when you cut grass for a living. Fortunately, you don’t have to trade energy efficiency for power. Thanks to state-of-the-art Kohler EFI-propane powerplants, our propane mowers offer exceptional performance while being easier on the planet.

If you are a landscape contractor, you may also want to look into grants or rebate programs from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), or other agencies to help you defray the initial cost of the propane mower. That said, even without financial assistance, your business would benefit from the cost benefits a propane mower will deliver over time.

References:

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