One of the most popular ways of doing landscaping in the 21st Century is with a Zero Turn Mower. These mowers are bigger, stronger, and more efficient than a standard lawn mower.
Also known as zero turn radius, these mowers are very agile and decreases the total amount of time while working which is a big plus.
They’re commonly operated for commercial use, but many people happen to own these special pieces of equipment.
The main thing about zero turn mowers is that in order for them to be as efficient as they can be, they must be properly operated much more so than a standard riding mower.
This is a large piece of equipment and can be very dangerous if used in a naive manner. If you own a zero turn mower or you’re thinking of purchasing one, there are some rules and regulations you’ll need to follow for achieving that lush, golf course lawn look.
1. Comprehending What Zero Turn Radius Really Means: For starters this could be like trying to learn a new language. Unlike you’re regular riding mowers, a zero turn mower’s drive wheels turn independently giving them a much wider range of motion. It’s kind of like an elbow joint compared to a shoulder joint.
Standard mowers have more of a hinged back & forth motion while the shoulder zero turn has a shoulder’s round & round motion. Each axle is powered by a hydraulic motor which allows each side of the unit to turn in opposite directions. This action truly causes the mower to spin.
2. Select The Proper Mower: This couldn’t be more practical and if you have a really small yard that’s probably less than a few hundred square feet, a zero turn mower would be a waste of hard earned money.
If you have a medium to large sized yard, an 18 horse-power torque mower with at least a 40 inch cutting path is big enough.Unless you’re trying to portray a certain image or ” trying to keep up with the joneses, ” stick with a standard mower which will take care of all your landscaping needs.
3. Read Your Owner’s Manual: Even though some mowers come with a quick start guide for cutting right out of the box, you’ll definitely have to learn the basics and features of this machine. Quick Start Guides will not cover a large enough portion of material to firmly get a grip with this unit.
4. Read and Get Familiar With The Operational Controls: It’s like the old saying, “never bring a knife to a gun fight” rings true in-a-sense. No amount of studying can properly school you for what you’ll be using. Hands-on training is much better and easier than a paper manual though each ways are extremely better than jumping on the zero turn with your eyes wide shut. Check out some of the main control of a zero turn:
- Fuel and Oil Gauge
- Ignition Switch For Starting The Mower
- Mower Clutch For Engaging The Blades
- Deck Adjustment For Raising and Lowering The Blade
- Examine The Tires ( Critical of The Mowers Turning Ability)
- Steering Arm -Which Replaces The Steering Wheel
- Check The Belts and Pulleys
5. Find An Open Location To Practice Your Movements: This action is to not actually cut the grass, but more so just for practicing and getting familiar with the movements. Gripping the handles, steering, backing-up, adjustments for your body type, engaging the clutch, and brakes. It’s very important to take your time and practice for a few days before beginning your lawn work.
6. Cut Your Own Lawn First: It’s just proper etiquette and also common sense to experiment on your own yard first. Do it multiple times before attempting to tackle someone else’s residence.
Now you should have everything down to a science. Respecting this machine and it’s capabilities will help you to become the most efficient landscaper you can be.