**First Cut New Mower New Business**

[intgr8all]

Well I just bought my Lesco HYDRO 36 inch. I went right from the dealer to cut my first lawn.(friend). My experience was its kinda scary coming from a 21 inch home version to such a powerul WB.. Well the mower kinda shook me around and scraped my knucksles on the fence going through the little small strips on the side of the house and the fence line. Well after I cut trim and edge then I have to blow. Do you guys blow to little bunches and pickup or do you just blow into the street. Since this was my friend which is a lady I sweped her grass clippings into a bag. I want to know if thats the pratice you use; whats your finishing touches. I found it took me 1.5 hour for on the job learn the equipment and cut a 6500 property. Oh yea I ran into the fence because I couldnt turn in time and pushed the fence out a lttle.. Now I have a fence repair, well just to push it back in from the neighbors side.

What's some of your stories of first cutting?
Whats your finishing touches for tidy look?
Have you ever had property damaged to any customers.

Walk behinds are easy to use but they are very heavy and can do a lots of damage.

[BGJohn]

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I too cut my first lawn yesterday with my new 36" Exmark. I can see its going to take a little time to get used to the ECS handles and I didnt run in to to many obsticles but all in all I couldnt see using my 22" mower anymore!

[bobkessler]

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Congratulations on joining a great business. Since I had the advantage of learning on someone else's equipment, and customers, you may want to try out new stuff on your own lawn. Or..... as an alternative get in a big parking lot or industrial site so you can practice turns, blade engagement, speed, and all of that good stuff. I'm disppointed the equipment dealer let you out of there without at least giving you a thorough hands on demo. At least it wasn't a Harley or you might not be writing in here.

Good Luck,
ps. I lived and went to college at Valpo!

[mariner]

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You'll get used to the mower pretty quick. Blow the clipping back onto the lawn not in the street. Also, get a sulky or velke. You'll never want to walk again.

[mexiking]

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i hope ur going around the lawn area first. So when you turn it's easier to turn. Like that you shouldn't be hitting the fence. When I blow i blow everything to the beds (under the bushes and so) unless its very very thick that you have to pick it up...

[rattsass]

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I got the Exmark 36 with ECS. Definitely a rough transition from the 21" as the controls seem kind of backwards at first. Before I used it on a customers lawn I got out in an open field (city owned) and practiced. Damn thing will try to run away with you 'til you get the hang of it. But the more I use it the more I love it. Just takes a while like anything else. Don't get discouraged, the learning curve is pretty fast on them. Damn glad I listened to Zach an others here and got the Exmark with ECS. GREAT MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!

[bigT]

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First trim where you can't cut, hold line trimmer so that the clippings go into the lawn NOT into Aunt B's flower bed! Start at the truck, go all the way around the lawn so that you wind up back at the truck. Grab your stick edger,edge walkways,driveways,etc., and wind up back at the truck. Now grab the mower, start in the back and cut your way back to the truck. If you side discharge, go in a circle, throw grass into the circle, if you mulch it does'nt really matter much,but work your way back to the truck.[you just mowed or mulched up 95% of all the edge and trimmer clippings]. Grab your backpack blower, start in back,work your way back to the truck.
1st.trim, 2nd.edge,3rd.blow, in that order and you will have very little to blow back into yard. DO it in that order and you will be much faster-time is YOUR money .

[intgr8all]

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Thanks for all the response that really helps. The dealer did let me demo the mower however it’s different when you are in a big open field and nothing to really block your path of mowing. The dealer did tell me to stop and practice the turns. Well again that’s really easy when nothing is there to bump against or yank the skin off your knuckles when you get to close to the house/fence. To bad I can’t practice on my own yard since I use a powered greens reel mower on my own lawn.
Thanks for the advice that really helps reduce my learning curve dramatically.

[qualitylandscaping]

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intgr8all,

Make passes around the perimeter before you start cutting the "majority" of the lawn. Start out by going around the perimeter twice, and as you get better you may only need to go around once.

It is a big transition, but you will get used to it..

Good Luck![]

[qualitylandscaping]

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By the way, you made a great mower choice!!![8D] LESCO!![:p]

[Seascape]

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My worst was w/ a 48 w/b,, got my fingers caught between a no parking sign and the grip.
mike

[yz250]

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I wouldn't reccomend going in circles like "BIG T" mentioned unless the grass was very long and your mower was bogging. Normally you make 1 or 2 passes around the perimeter then mow in rows.

[mariner]

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What YZ said!

[BGJohn]

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The ECS handles are definately touchy and going to take some time getting used to. I guess its just like learning to ride a bike, you must fall off once or twice (or run into trees like myself) before you get the hang of it. I did bump a couple trees my first time using the mower but after about 10 mins with it I already felt like it was getting easier. I tried to see what gear I could control with no problems and after playing around a little I didnt dare take it out of third. By the way Im walking behind and I think a velke is in the future!!!!

[qualitylandscaping]

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BGJohn,

You will also notice a similar challange when first using a velke, but you will also get used to it quickly, and it will be simple!