Toro’s New Self Propelled Snow Blower – the SnowMaster

Posted on October 14, 2015 by baggervance71

New to 2016 is Toro’s most innovative product of the century – the SnowMaster. This brand new snowblower design is being called an “inline two-stage” snow blower. This new design is comparable to a single stage/two stage snowblower hybrid.

Toro has designed the perfect solution for the user caught in the single stage vs. two stage snowblower dilemma. The last few years, we’ve seen a gradual rise in the national snowfall average per season. This has led to the creation of the innovative hybrid stage snowblower.

The Age Old Snowblower Dilemma

Typically, a single stage snowblower is ideal for clearing 2″ – 8″ of snow on a paved surface. However, most single stage snowblowers do not offer self propelled drive systems or adequate height for large snows. They also aren’t designed to be used on gravel driveways. On the other hand, two stage snow blowers come standard with self-propelled drive and can handle up to 24″ of snow or more. At the same time, these snowblowers don’t work well when there’s less than 4″ of snow on the ground. To further complicate matters, the self propel on two-stage snowblowers are relatively slow, compared to walking pace. Because of this, single stage snowblowers are much quicker when it comes to lighter snowfalls. In certain parts of the country, no matter which snowblower you buy – it’s only the proper equipment half of the time.

Toro’s SnowMaster: The Solution

Toro has taken these above issues and provided an innovative solution. Their solution is so simple, that it seems almost obvious.

Larger Intake and Chute

The first step in creating the perfect hybrid snowblower was providing a snowblower that could handle larger snowfalls, while quickly and effectively removing small amounts of snow. In order to achieve this, Toro started with a larger housing and a taller intake that handles larger snows. Then they added a large, single stage paddle system that still removes snow clear to the surface for light snowfalls. They’ve also upgraded to a larger chute that is typically found on two stage snowblower models. This allows the SnowMaster to better move large volumes of snow in no time at all.

Self Propelled Drive

Toro has been using their patented Personal Pace self propel system on their walk behind lawn mowers for years – with amazing results. For the SnowMaster, Toro has decided to utilize the same Personal Pace system found in their mowers. Turns out, it works just as beautifully in the snow! The larger tires mounted to the powerful transaxle allow the SnowMaster to easily power over or through the snow with minimum effort! Going from froward to reverse has never been easier!

Trac-Vac Lawn Vacuum & Leaf Collection Systems

Posted on October 13, 2015 by baggervance71

A Guide to Trac-Vac Leaf Collection Systems

If your lawn is being taken over by leaves, then you probably need a Trac-Vac Leaf Collection System. Trac-Vac makes a wide variety of great lawn and leaf vacuums for any mower type. That’s right – many Trac-Vac lawn vacuums are universal – so you can always find a Trac-Vac machine for your mower or tractor, no matter which model you have. If you’re not sure which type of Trac-Vac system is best for you, here is a guide to some of the most popular Trac-Vac models.

Walk Behind Lawn Mowers

If you would like to add a leaf collection system to your commercial walk behind lawn mower, then the Trac-Vac 470 is without a doubt, the best model for you. The 470 is powered by a 6 HP Briggs & Stratton Engine, with an 8-Bushel capacity Rubbermaid tub that mounts easily and securely on top of your mower deck.

Stand on Mowers

If you have a Stand on Mower, then the Trac-Vac 565 Leaf Collection Vacuum is the perfect model for you. The 565 mounts on most commercial stand on mowers and is powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine, mounted to the side of the mower, which reduces interference and excess heat. It also features a 44 gallon Rubbermaid tub, mounted on top of the mower deck.

Zero Turn Mowers

If you need to add a lawn vacuum system to your zero turn lawn mower, then you have a few different Trac-Vac options to choose from.

The 1060 Trac-Vac has a 44 Bushel Capacity cart that can be wheeled behind most Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mowers. This model is powered by an 11 Horsepower Briggs & Stratton Engine and heavy duty construction.
If you’re in the market for a lawn vacuum with more maneuverability than the 1060, then the 655 Trac-Vac is probably more up your alley. This model features two 8-bushel capacity Rubbermaid Tubs that mount right on the rear of your Zero Turn Mower, for maximum convenience.
If you have a smaller lawn, the Trac-Vac 462Z might be a better option for you. The powerful, yet affordable 462 features a compact design that maximizes maneuverability, and a 6.5 HP Briggs & Stratton Engine with a single 44 gallon Rubbermaid tub that mounts to the back of your ZTR.

Riding Lawn Tractors

On the other hand, if you have a lawn tractor, then Trac-Vac has a wide variety of models available for your tractor.

The Trac-Vac 580 vacuum is built for medium size lawn tractors. The 580 consists of a draw bar mounted Briggs Engine, heavy duty metal construction and a 25 Bushel Capacity cart.
The Trac-Vac 880 is very similar to the 580, with the key difference being the larger capacity hopper. The Trac-Vac 880 uses a draw bar mounted 44 bushel cart. This heavier system is designed for use with larger garden tractors.
The Trac-Vac 520C is brand new to the Trac-Vac lineup. It’s also one of the more popular models available for small lawn tractors. The new 520C features a 17 Cu. Ft. Cart with a detachable mesh top so you can use this cart for material handling as well as grass and leaf collection.

Utility Tractors

On the other hand, for tractor owners, a few other options exist. The Trac-Vac 854 is compatible with compact utility tractors and can even be used at the same time a mid-mount mower deck is activated. On the 854, the 540RPM rear PTO of your tractor powers the vacuum’s turbine assembly. The turbine hooks right up to any Cat 1 – 3-Point Hitch for added convenience. The 854 features a 44 bushel cart and 8″ turbine intake.

The Trac-Vac 662 lawn vacuum is also compatible with compact utility tractors. This model is very similar to the 854 tractor, in that it easily attaches to your tractor’s Cat. I, 3-Point Hitch. It also features two 44 gallon Rubbermaid tubs, 6 HP Briggs Engine and an 8″ intake for maximum performance.

New Fall Cleanup Accessories for 2015

Posted on October 8, 2015 by baggervance71

New Leaf Cleanup Accessories for 2015

As we’re headed into Fall, temperatures aren’t the only thing dropping! You might have noticed all the leaves! Nothing can screw up your lawn mower than leaves. Fortunately, there are some great new leaf cleanup products from Stihl, Trac-Vac, Little Wonder and more! If leaves are starting to take over your lawn, then it’s time to fight back! Here is a guide to some of the best new fall cleanup accessories, including Leaf Blowers, Lawn Vacuums and more!

Little Wonder C5 Wheeled Leaf Blower

It’s no wonder why the Little Wonder C5 Wheeled Blower is one of the most popular leaf blowers on the market. It’s powerful, yet lightweight design features never-flat, oversize wheels and a padded handle for maximum operator comfort and the simplest maneuvering. This great new leaf blower even features the new, adjustable Aim Rite nozzle for maximum versatility.

Billy Goat Walk Behind Leaf Vacuum

If lawn vacuums are more your style, the Billy Goat Walk Behind Leaf Vacuum is a perfect choice for any homeowner. This powerful vacuum features a heavy duty Briggs & Stratton Engine, a 27″ clearing width and heavy duty construction that’s rugged enough to pick up leaves, grass and even pinecones!

Trac-Vac Pull Behind Leaf Collection System

On the other hand, if you have a little more land to clear, Trac-Vac has a wide variety of pull behind leaf collection systems that are ideal for large areas. Whether you will be pulling the Trac-Vac system behind a lawn tractor, zero turn lawn mower, or compact tractor, there is a Trac-Vac collection system that is perfect for you and your operation. Simply tow this system behind your mower or tractor and experience a clean, perfect lawn.

Stihl Leaf Blowers

Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial landscaper, Stihl leaf blowers are perfect for any user. Stihl offers a wide variety of leaf blowers at any price point so you can be sure to find the perfect blower for you. Stihl handheld leaf blowers are lightweight, powerful and even come in battery powered models! If you’re going to be operating a leaf blower for longer periods of time, then Stihl backpack blowers are more up your alley! Lightweight, comfortable and super convenient, the Stihl backpack blowers rest easily on your back while you go to work! Now, Stihl even offers an Electric Start Backpack blower for added convenience!

Stihl Gutter Kit

We can all pretty much agree that clearing gutters is – hands down, the worst part about fall cleanup. Between shaky ladders and wet, smelly leaves, gutter cleanup typically makes for a pretty bad afternoon. Well, you’re in luck! The days of getting up on a ladder are over! Stihl now offers an incredibly convenient gutter cleaning kit! This kit consists of a series of plastic tubes that can easily attach to most handheld leaf blowers and extend over ten feet! Now you can clean your gutters from the safety of the ground!

Top 5 Best Accessories for your Exmark Lawn Mower

Posted on September 15, 2015 by baggervance71

Top 5 Exmark Lawn Mower Accessories

If you have an Exmark Lawn Mower, then you already know how great it is. It’s not hard to fall in love with an Exmark mower. Between Exmark’s tremendous engineering, quality and intuitive controls, it’s not hard to see why Exmark is ahead of the class in commercial and residential lawn mowing. Along with Exmark’s amazing performance, they even have a few accessories that can instantly improve your mowing experience. If you would like to take your cutting to the next level, then check out these awesome Exmark Lawn Mower Accessories.

5. 12 Volt Adapter

This 12 Volt Adapter lets you power anything you might need while you’re mowing. This is an absolute must-have for any operator. Whether you’re charging your phone, GPS or any other accessory, this adapter is a necessity. It’s also conveniently located to make it easy to access during operation.

4. Trash Container Kit

You don’t have time to stop and worry about debris while you’re mowing. And now you don’t have to! The Exmark Trash Container Kit allows you to pick up any trash or debris and throw it away on the go – in no time at all. This container is conveniently located within arm’s reach of the operator. It features a 2.5 Gallon capacity basket with durable, easy to clean, mesh material.

3. UltraVac Bagger Collection System

The Exmark UltraVac Bagger Collection System takes your yard to the next level of quality. This bagger collects all excess debris into the hopper with every pass, which leaves behind a neat, crisp appearance. Along with picking up any grass clippings, bagger systems are also great at picking up leaves in the fall, making your lawn look flawless.

The Exmark UltraVack Bagger collection system also features quick-attach capabilities, which allow you to easily switch between side discharge and bagging. Plus, only Exmark’s bagging system features a wide diameter tube that helps reduce clogging.

2. Operator Control Discharge

When mowing around sensitive objects like cars, windows, and mulch beds, you know that every second counts. The operator control discharge system allows you to quickly and easily operate the discharge chute. This awesome accessory is compatible with any Exmark Lazer Z or Vantage Lawn Mower. This is a must-have accessory – especially for landscape professionals.

1. Turf Striper Kit

Have you ever been at a baseball game and paid attention to the outfield? Most ballparks use a really neat looking striping effect for their outfield grass. This gives the lawn a beautiful, professional look. Well, now lawn stripes aren’t just for the ballpark. With the Exmark Turf Striper Kit, you can have that fresh, ballpark look right in your own backyard.

These striping kits attach to existing mounting points, which makes installation quick and easy. The innovative design makes it easy for you to service the striper kit, which will make sure that it lasts season after season.

The New Stihl Push Button Start Backpack Blower

Posted on September 11, 2015 by baggervance71

Introducing the Stihl BR 450 C-EF

Backpack blowers can be a pain – especially if you’re a commercial landscaper. When you’re on a job that requires multiple stops and starts, your choices are to:

Power the blower off only to have to remove the whole unit to restart it when you get to the next job.
Leave the blower running while you move to the next job, wasting fuel.

Who wants to remove the blower from your back every time you need to restart it?!? The fact is – most backpack blowers are not designed for on-the-go landscapers. For the first time, the Stihl BR 450 C-EF Electric Start Backpack Blower completely eliminates the need for removing the blower every time you need to restart!

Innovative Electric Start System

The innovative Stihl BR 450 C-EF is the ONLY backpack blower available with Electric Start. That’s right — this awesome new blower allows you to start it up while the unit is still on your back! No more time wasted putting on and taking off your blower. No more fuel wasted by letting the blower idle.

Extreme Power

Along with the incredibly easy startup, the BR 450 C-EF also offers exceptional blowing power once it’s started. Weighing in at only 25 pounds, the BR 450 C-EF is powered by an incredibly lightweight, but powerful 63.3 cc Engine. That power, combined with blowing speeds of up to 186 MPH, gives you one of the most powerful blowers on the market.

Anti-Vibration System

Backpack blowers can wreak havoc on your back when you use them for long periods of time. Many bulky, heavyweight blowers don’t take the operator into account. On the other hand, the Stihl BR 450 C-EF Backpack Blower was designed with you in mind. Stihl’s amazing anti-vibration technology drastically reduces the amount of engine vibrations, which gives you a much more comfortable experience with NO fatigue. When using the BR 450 C-EF, you can keep going all day long.

Multi-Function Control Handle

Aside from tremendous blowing power and incredibly user-friendly features, another awesome feature on the BR 450 C-EF is the intuitive controls, all the way around. The design of the Multi-Function Control Handle allows easy access to all of the controls. The intuitive control panel allows you to quickly complete any task without your hand ever having to leave the handle.

These are just few of the reasons that the new Stihl BR 450 C-EF Electric Start Backpack Blower is going to be a huge game-changer in the world of professional landscaping.

Five Quick and Easy Labor Day Weekend Projects Around the Lawn

Posted on September 1, 2015 by baggervance71

5 Easy Projects to get your Lawn Ready for Fall

Each year, Labor Day comes along to celebrate you! You’ve been working hard all year long and it shows! To celebrate all that you do, we’re giving you the day off! So take an extra long weekend and relax! Kick back and enjoy some “you time!” Labor Day weekend is also great for getting in a few projects around the lawn. With Fall right around the corner, now is the time to prepare for the incoming colder months. If you’re trying to get some work done this extra long weekend, here are five easy projects for your labor day weekend.

1. Prune Trees

After only a few minutes with a pruner, your trees and shrubbery will be looking great! Clear way those dead branches and unsightly twigs. Trimming away any out of control limbs will be sure to give your trees a clean appearance.

2. Aerate your Lawn

Over the summer, you probably put a lot of pressure on your lawn – literally. When soil becomes compacted due to high traffic and usage, it becomes harder for it to receive nutrients and oxygen. Regularly aerating your lawn drastically improve it’s ability to breathe properly, which will result in a beautiful, deep green color.

And for most cool season grasses , the best time to aerate is RIGHT NOW! Early fall aerating will help to promote healthy growth and aeration when your lawn needs it the most!

3. Edge Sidewalks

If weeds and grass are starting to creep up onto your sidewalk or driveway, you could probably stand edging. Using an edger or weed trimmer, clean up along paths and walkways to give your exterior a neat, symmetrical look.

4. Mulch your Lawn

Mulch Kits do wonders for your lawn’s health and appearance! They dramatically reduce the size of your lawn clippings, which makes it easier for them to break down. Fall is also the best time to mulch your lawn! Using a mulching kit promotes healthy growth and aeration, while severely reducing damaging thatch buildup. Mulch Kits are also incredibly easy to install! If you don’t have one, then it look’s like you’ve found your Labor Day plans!

5. Sharpen your Mower Blades

Just as it’s important to keep your lawn maintained heading into Fall, it’s equally important to maintain your lawn mower! By this point in the summer, your lawn mower blades have probably taken quite a beating. Dull or chipped lawn mower blades can leave your lawn looking dull. If you’re not sure if your lawn mower blades need sharpening, look at your lawn right after you mow. If your lawn looks white immediately after mowing, that means the grass blades are being torn, rather than cut, which is damaging to your lawn. Replacing your lawn mower blades can be done in under 10 minutes, and it will do wonders for your lawn!

Along with maintaining your lawn before Fall, maintaining your lawn mower is just as important! By now, your lawn mower blades have probably taken quite a beating. Dull or chipped lawn mower blades can leave your lawn looking dull. One telltale sign of dull blades is that your lawn will begin to look white right after you mow. This is a sign that the grass blades are being torn, rather than cut. If this is the case, then it’s time for a blade replacement. Replacing your lawn mower blades is a simple task that can be done in under ten minutes.

By now, you’ve probably got a list of projects to do this weekend! We hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Consumer Report’s Best Lawn Mower of 2015

Posted on August 24, 2015 by baggervance71

The Honda Variable Speed, Self Propelled Walk Behind Lawn Mower

Each year, Consumer Reports brings in hundreds of new lawn mowers for testing. In order to provide a list of the top new lawn mowers of 2015, Consumer Reports bagged over 1,500 pounds of grass clippings this year alone! After hours of testing and research, they discovered that the best walk behind lawn mower of 2015 is the Honda Variable Speed, Self Propelled Lawn Mower!

“The Honda Mower delivers superb mulching and bagging, no-prime starting, and an electric start feature.” said Consumer Reports. Along with these awesome features, the Honda Variable Speed Mower also features a few more amazing benefits that make it stand out among the competition. Features including:

Stacked Blade Quadra-Cut System. The Honda Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower Deck consists of two blades, which gives it a total of FOUR cutting surfaces! This results in a great looking, professional cut, finer grass clippings, and an unbelievable mulching job!

3-in-1 Capability. The 21″ Honda Walk Behind Mower is an incredibly versatile machine! It offers mulching, bagging or side discharge abilities. Now you can easily switch between side discharge and bagging with NO TOOLS!

Variable Speed, Self Propelled Drive System. The lightweight, self propelled mower offers extremely easy maneuverability and infinitely variable ground speeds, up to 4 Miles per hour. This award winning mower also offers an adjustable speed control dial for maximum comfort & convenience.

Powerful OHV Engine with Electric Start. Last but not least, the Honda Variable Speed Mower features a powerful 160cc Honda engine with low emissions, and a reliable, easy to start auto-choke feature. Powering up this mower is unbelievably quick and easy!

Aside from the amazing Honda Variable Speed Lawn Mower, other honorable mentions include the Toro Super Recycler and the Toro Recycler with Blade Stop. The Super Recycler is one of the best bagging lawn mowers on the market, and the blade stop system is an innovative design which allows you to keep the engine running without the blades being engaged — an awesome feature for operators who are frequently stopping to dump the bag or pick up debris.

John Deere’s Mulch on Demand System

Posted on August 4, 2015 by baggervance71

Messy Sidewalks are for Rookies

The John Deere Mulch on Demand System is an awesome new piece of technology, built for commercial landscapers, especially. This new system will change the way commercial landscapers operate! For the first time ever, the John Deere Mulch on Demand System allows you to effortlessly change between side discharge and mulching. ALL without ever having to leave the seat!

There’s no limit to how much time the Mulch on Demand (MOD) System will save you! Simply by pulling the lever, you can switch from side discharge to mulching in SECONDS! This feature will also help you take your mowing quality to the next level! Mulching means no more grass where you don’t want it. Keep your grass clippings on the lawn. Messy Sidewalks are for rookies!

Not only will the John Deere Mulch on Demand system save you a great deal of time, and give your lawn a neat, perfectly clean appearance, it also reduces the chances of any costly accidents! When you’re mowing around tight spaces and sensitive areas like sidewalks, driveways, and flower beds, Mulch on Demand allows you turn off the side discharge in seconds! No more grass where you don’t want it! No more debris hitting the siding of your house! AND No more rocks hitting nearby cars or houses.

When mowing in open areas, it’s just as easy to pull the lever back to turn off the Mulch on Demand so you can quickly side discharge grass clippings. Side Discharge is recommended for tall grass and open areas.

John Deere’s Mulch on Demand system is available for most John Deere Commercial ZTrak Zero Turn Mowers AND John Deere QuikTrak Stand on Mowers. If you’re a commercial landscaper, John Deere’s commercial lawn mowers are the absolute best piece of equipment for the job. Everything about the ZTrak and QuikTrak series was carefully constructed to provide maximum performance, comfort, usability, and power! If you are a commercial mower, don’t go another day without Mulch on Demand!

Mid-Summer Mower Maintenance Tips

Posted on July 21, 2015 by baggervance71

4 Steps to Keeping your Lawn Mower Running all Summer Long

Summer is almost halfway over, which means your lawn mower has probably seen it’s fair share of daylight. In order to keep your lawn mower running great all summer long, now is the perfect time to give your mower a mid-season tune up. Here are five steps to giving your lawn mower some mid-season maintenance.

1. Give your Lawn Mower a Good Cleaning

The first step in giving your lawn mower a mid-summer tuneup is to clean it up a little bit. During the first half of the summer, chances are, your mower has collected some dirt, debris and grass. It’s important to give your mower a good cleaning. Clean thoroughly, especially underneath the mower deck. Grass buildup underneath the mower deck can hold a great deal of moisture, which will make your mower deck rust.

PRO TIP: Save water and use an air compressor to get rid of debris quickly! If you don’t have an air compressor, a leaf blower will work just as well.

2. Tighten Bolts and Hardware

Over the course of a summer, your lawn mower takes on a great deal of wear. Vibrations among other things can cause bolts on your lawn mower to loosen. Grab a wrench and make sure all of your hardware and bolts are tightened up!

3. Change the Air Filter

If your air filter is dirty, then it’s probably time to change it. Replacing your paper air filter can maximize your mowers performance and engine life. If your air filter is foam, then you could probably benefit from cleaning it. Using soap and water, remove all debris, grass, and anything else it might have collected so far.

4. Check the Blades

Well sharpened blades can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to cut quality. Remove the blades and carefully inspect them for chipped or dull edges or any chunks that are missing. Properly balanced and sharpened Lawn mower blades are without a doubt, the most important part of achieving a high quality of cut.

After you do these 4 simple steps, your lawn mower should be all ready to take on whatever you throw at it, as we head into the last half of the summer. Happy Mowing!

Taking a Look at Electronic Fuel Injected Engines (EFI)

Posted on June 16, 2015 by baggervance71

Why Choose an EFI Engine Lawn Mower?

About three decades ago, the automobile industry went through a nationwide revolution! Between rising gas prices and pressure to become environmentally friendly, automobile manufacturers made the switch from traditional, carbureted engines to Electronic Fuel Injected Engines. Following the success of EFI Engines in the automobile industry, most commercial mowers and landscapers were also looking for an EFI Alternative in their lawn mowers, which led to a nationwide boom in Electronic Fuel Injected Lawn Mowers. If you’re still running on a carbureted engine, here are some reasons why switching over to EFI engines could be huge for you and your mowing operation!

How Does EFI Work?

Fuel injectors are electronic valves that send a fine mist of fuel to each cylinder. Each valve is connected to a computer that calculates factors, such as:

Temperature
Air Density
Throttle Position
Air Intake Volume

The EFI Engine’s computer takes real time readings of each of these factors, then uses these readings to adjust the amount of fuel that is being injected into the cylinders. Because of the flexibilty, EFI engines perform better and consume less fuel than carbureted engines.

Environmentally Friendly

EFI Equipped mowers use less fuel, give off less CO2, and offer a cleaner burn than traditional engines. Studies have shown that EFI engines use between 25 and 30% less fuel, which greatly reduces it’s carbon footprint! EFI engines are also more flexible and versatile than the bulky design of the traditional carburetor.

Cost Effective

Along with being incredibly environmentally friendly, EFI engines will also save you a lot of money! EFI engines use 25% less fuel, which means you will save 25% on fuel costs! Is that not impressive enough? Let’s put that into real-world terms.

Let’s pretend that you own a commercial mowing business. You run your carbureted lawn mower 600 hours per year, and your lawn mower consumes 1.35 gallons of fuel per hour. If gas prices are $3.50, then at the end of the year, you will pay $2835 in fuel costs alone. But when you switch to an EFI engine, your fuel consumption will be reduced to 1.01 Gallons per hour, and your annual fuel cost will be reduced to $2121! With an Electronic Fuel Injected Engine, you will save around $714 per year, and that’s only for one mower! If you replace four of your mowers with EFI mowers, you will save over $2800 per year on fuel costs! If that’s not enough to make the switch, I don’t know what is!

If you would like to see how much you can save by switching to EFI, check out this EFI Fuel Savings Calculator.

If your commercial mowing operation hasn’t made the switch over to an EFI engine, do it today! EFI engines perform better, burn cleaner fuel, are more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient! Think of all the money you will save with an EFI Engine Lawn Mower!

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