4 acres with a scag 36 WB

[EPSON]

At this time, I believe a good point is this is the type of mowing that makes one quit the business in a short time.

In addition, I'm sure a many breaks during the cutting will be needed, for even two hours on a velky is hard on the body.

well, I will tell you this. I am no quiter, and in addition it pays $125.00 per cut.
I cant really afford to lose that $500.00 a month right now. and I believe you when you say that it is hard on the body to ride for a long time, and I may need a brake or two, but I think it is still worth it from the position I am in currently. however I can't, correction: I won't sit another six hours mowing in the open (no shade at all) at that place again if I don't have to. But I do understand what you are saying. Thanks guys, and let me know if there is anything else I should know.

[EPSON]

Time will also depend on the grass. If your cutting once a week you can go fast adn get the job done. If you are cutting every other week you will probably have to slow down or cut it twice.

And yes, I mow it once a week, 4 cuts per month.

[Bulldozer]

well, I will tell you this. I am no quiter, and in addition it pays $125.00 per cut.

But I do understand what you are saying.

As with anything $125 is nothing to sneeze at . However, it would nice to make that amount with, maybe, a 40% reduction in time. Then, you'd be having fun at it (G).

Moreover, it's good to hear you "do understand", a few hours of straight mowing, doesn't give you something to look forward to each week.

As you will learn, "Efficiency", is the biggest word in mowing. In turn, it's the easiest way to making money without working any harder.
Keep up the good work.

[Woody]

If you could bump up to a 48 inch walkbehind, you would see a huge time savings. The 48 will be more stable over bumpy ground, and will cut your mowing time by 33% over the 36 inch. If you can fit it in the van (and in your budget), it would be the way to go (unless you have a large number of fenced in yards with gates smaller than 50 inches or so).

[EPSON]

If you could bump up to a 48 inch walkbehind, you would see a huge time savings. The 48 will be more stable over bumpy ground, and will cut your mowing time by 33% over the 36 inch. If you can fit it in the van (and in your budget), it would be the way to go (unless you have a large number of fenced in yards with gates smaller than 50 inches or so).

Well, I believe I could fit a 48in mower in the van but making it fit in my budget at this time might be a bit harder. And I do have a lot of gates I have to get into, so a 36in is more efficient for most of my lawns. But like I said I am hoping by may to add something bigger like a 48in to my small mowing fleet. But at this moment I don't have the money to do that and I am trying to stay away from loans as much as possible.

[ahlgrenlandscaping]

Whoever said that running the 36" for 4 hours straight will blow the engine needs to go back through small engines 101. I have a full 8 hours of mowing in one neighborhood my truck does not move I stop halfway through the day for a quick lunch check the oil and fuel and I go back to it. Commercial mowers are meant to be run all day every day as long as they are maintained.

[EPSON]

Whoever said that running the 36" for 4 hours straight will blow the engine needs to go back through small engines 101. I have a full 8 hours of mowing in one neighborhood my truck does not move I stop halfway through the day for a quick lunch check the oil and fuel and I go back to it. Commercial mowers are meant to be run all day every day as long as they are maintained.

I believe this, because if that 15.5 horse tecumse motor handled that job all summer and didn't blow up I believe a scag could do the same and better, it is a Kohler motor and I do know that they are very good. And after I got into my 4th hour I would check my oil as well. I keep my equipment very well maintianed and service them often, So, do you guys think this is a good idea? I do, but a little pro advice never hurt anyone.

[GeorgiaLandscaper]

I don't think its a good idea. For the money you said you would make it just don't seem like enough to stay on top. I have had alot of lot 4 acres and over. I use't to cut them with a 44" and 48" exmark ztr. I was miserable (sp). Now all big lots get cut with a 61" Scag Turf Tiger. Even though its alot faster it still takes time to cut that much property. I personaly could not imagine doing a job of that size with a 36" wb.

You know your situation the best. If you think that. that way is best for you than go for it.

[EPSON]

I don't think its a good idea. For the money you said you would make it just don't seem like enough to stay on top. I have had alot of lot 4 acres and over. I use't to cut them with a 44" and 48" exmark ztr. I was miserable (sp). Now all big lots get cut with a 61" Scag Turf Tiger. Even though its alot faster it still takes time to cut that much property. I personaly could not imagine doing a job of that size with a 36" wb.

You know your situation the best. If you think that. that way is best for you than go for it.

I see your point, But I also have a lot of other accounts that the 36in deck would be great for, So it is a delima for sure. Because I really do need that $500.00 a month off of that job, So we will see. One more question, other then long hours of mowing and the chance of doing harm to the machine, CAN IT BE DONE every week on top of my other jobs. What I mean is can the mower do it?

[TRANSMAN]

I would Rather / prefer to sit then die!!!!

I see your point, But I also have a lot of other accounts that the 36in deck would be great for, So it is a delima for sure. Because I really do need that $500.00 a month off of that job, So we will see. One more question, other then long hours of mowing and the chance of doing harm to the machine, CAN IT BE DONE every week on top of my other jobs. What I mean is can the mower do it?

So would recommend something that is not a walk behind , and has "at least" a 60+ inch cut...

The way i look at this , (and i may be wrong) is you need to close the distance travelled cutting this 4 acre plot because i think the average body would break down pretty quick using a 36 " mower that your not "at least" sitting on comfortably...

The mower should not blow up as it is an inanimate object having no idea about getting tired , or anything silly like that , however your body will wear down very fast unless your sitting very comfortably traveling at a reasonable speed......

I'm guessing that 5+ hours of walking or bouncing off road would kill you ,but the machine should not notice it as that's the general beauty of a machine it shouldn't get aggravated and quit on moral grounds of turning it into a slave..A living body will complain , and break however..

A residential unit should not be bothered by one job running 5 hours a week in my opinion , BUT i cant overstress i believe your body would probably fail if pushed to travel the 10 + miles...

Assuming an acre is 208 X 208 my 3rd grade math leads me to believe you will need to travel 10 miles+ cutting 4 acres with puny 36"cut, over bumps while , standing or walking with sweat pouring off your body , and that's just to harsh on the body in my humble opinion....

Rounding the acre off to 200 X 200 and playing math guy, LOL i divide 200 ft by the 36 inch cut or 3 feet swath leaving the figure 66.6 or lets just say 66 passes to make the math simpler...

Now if you require 66 passes for the 1 acre times the other 200 feet back and forth i come up with 66 X 200 = 13200 feet travelled per acre...

13,200 ft divided by (5280 ft or 1 mile) you get 2.5 miles travelled using puny 36 inch cut... 1 acre you could probably live with the 2.5 mile walk , but considering you will be cutting 4 acres with 36 inch cut i come up with this bungled haphazard figure..

2.5 miles pr acre X the 4 acres = 10 + total miles ,and i believe that's a conservative figure as i used a acre that was 200 X 200 not the proper 208 X 208 , and left out overlap which will make the mower a 33" cut...

Now standing or walking over 10 miles off road for the 1 job would probably wear a middle age guy out leaving him useless to work the rest of the week..

Also if I'm thinking correctly on this the 66 passes each require you to spin the mower around to reverse direction , and depending on how the property is laid out you would have to spin around reversing direction 66 X 4 times or 264 maneuvers alone which would wear me out alone just doing this exercise in my garage with heavy W.B unit....

If i had to do this even once i think i would cut in a circle pattern as i did as a child to cut some of this massive work load down....

If my bungles half azz formula to determine my thoughts were wrong please disregard but no matter how i`v approached the math i come up with the same miles travelled and it seems to be walking or bouncing on a velki for 10 plus harsh miles...

I would recommend some type of sit down unit and pull one of those fairly cheap tow behind finishing mowers that also cut 60+ inches on each pass...

If you get it down / up ( However you look at it)to wear your mowing a 120 inch swath you can make a profit without killing your self...

Just my thoughts and GOD BLESS and GOOD LUCK while keeping good hydration practices in mind , TRANNY D.

[MASTERMOWER]

Tranny thinks too much!

I have half the mind to pay a visit to that '2 acre' lawn I used to do and measure it off. I was told it was 2 acres, but it seemed like more. Tranny would be delighted to know I abused myself by utilizing a 36" gear drive walk behind for the entire property!

[jgc8fan]

Whoever said that running the 36" for 4 hours straight will blow the engine needs to go back through small engines 101. I have a full 8 hours of mowing in one neighborhood my truck does not move I stop halfway through the day for a quick lunch check the oil and fuel and I go back to it. Commercial mowers are meant to be run all day every day as long as they are maintained.

I think you were referring to me, but a misquote... I reread my post, and never "ever" said "running a 36" for 4 hours would blow the engine."

I actually had a really LONG post written out, but deleted it due to the fact that getting into an argument with someone I don't even know on the net is the dumbest waste of time one can engage in.

Just suffice to say that I run my mower all day too, but doing acerage on a regular basis is different than mowing in a neighborhood. You don't run 8 hours with your blades engaged constantly at mowing speed doing typical residentials. The 1.5 acre I did had the engine so hot I could feel it pretty good through the seat, and clogged the air filter damn near completely (had to be changed after that property). Not to mention that 36" use fairly small engines that aren't exactly designed for large acreage type of work regardless of being commercial.

[Bulldozer]

Tranny thinks too much!

Considering most of the ideas have already be hashed out/over before, YES!!!!
Please, this is just a guy trying to make a buck. Let's try to talk at his level.
Once he gets his $30,000 worth of equipment, we can talk stratagy.

[TRANSMAN]

Dear Mr Bulldozer....

I see your point, But I also have a lot of other accounts that the 36in deck would be great for, So it is a delima for sure. Because I really do need that $500.00 a month off of that job, So we will see. One more question, other then long hours of mowing and the chance of doing harm to the machine, CAN IT BE DONE every week on top of my other jobs. What I mean is can the mower do it?

Considering most of the ideas have already been hashed out/ over before YES!!! Please this is just a guy trying to make a buck Lets try to talk at his level.Once he gets $30,000 worth in equiptment, we can talk stratagy.

Considering "as you would say" Epson was still asking questions , and i would assume ,"still looking for opinions", should i now take into consideration that:

1.. I now have to run anything i feel relevant to type across Bulldozers desk before i decide i can make a post????

I know this sounds silly, but your remark above was clearly related to what Mastermower had to say "jokingly i may add" regarding me thinking too much...

2.. So should i now after 3 years being a member have to ask your opinion first ,even though you just ran into this forum and decided to join a week or so ago????

3..Considering "as you would say " we need to talk at Ebsons level , are you implying EBSON is some sort of moron that would think it takes $30,000 in equiptment to properly cut 4 acres ,without killing himself ????

WHO IN THE H$%^ SAID ANYTHING ABOUT SPENDING $30,000 on a lawnmower / or lawnmowers????

Personally i find used equiptment all the time.. People are continuously going out of business ,eager to sell everything, and I could be cutting with a 120" swath for less then $1500 if i needed it...

I may have read your earlier posts wrong or have you mixed up with someone else , but despite me not wasting any more time checking who said what, weren't you yourself giving advice that a larger cut machine was actually needed????

4.. What is the strategy nonsense anyway???? Shouldn't anyone with a half a brain use some sort of strategy first in deciding what equiptment they actually would need before buying it for a particular application , or would you suggest EPSON just run out and purchase $30,000 in useless garbage like a bunch of overpriced 21 " cut push mowers then decide what strategy he should use to have them all nibbling away at the 4 acres ,when he is only a 1 man operation...

I can see the strategy now!!!!

Purchase 30 21" push mowers spending $30,000 then get the strategical map out ,and decide to hire another 30 guys to run them and chop this 4 acre lot down...

Good strategy to buy the useless crap that is wrong to do the job first , and then realise he has to hire 30 guys he cant afford at the present time to run them...

A good "to late strategy" would then be to pay 30 guys $10 pr hour and Workman's comp with medical to mow and pay them the minimum 1 hour wage and it will "cost him" money to cut the said property , because he just paid some hoople heads $300 to mow the lawn for him because somebody else thinks you just haphazardly buy a bunch of equiptment first , then find out you wasted your hard earned money on the wrong garbage...

You got me a little confused here Bulldozer , and i think i`m confused because you got confused somewhere along the thread , and decided to just spout out junk advice while insisting i am wasting someones time ....

I guess it could just be my Bi -polar disorder kicking in again so i`ll reread the thread later and see if i misunderstood your final advice that i`m wasting someones time...

Sorry if i misconstrued your post as i said enough now ,and must tune in to the remaining portion of my favorite soap opera "THE Young and the Restless"...

Sincerely ,and GOD BLESS, TRANNY D.

[GeeVee]

an outfront mower will ber a better ride than a belly midmonut....