Real mowers

[Rangier Rover]

An unusual thread but for the mower or older machinery inthusiast.

Who has the old tough mowers still in action. Big or small.
I mean the ones not made out of plastic.

Dug one of mine out today. An old Ransoms 61" Full hydro. Not bad for its day. Have just given it a repower with a Vtwin Vanguard.:) Now needs a dulux over hall;)

The lawns here have gone mad. Also full of weeds:mad:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=10843&stc=1&d=1222256638

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=10844&stc=1&d=1222256742

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=10845&stc=1&d=1222256874

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=10846&stc=1&d=1222256982

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=10847&stc=1&d=1222257121

[Hymie]

Nice old banger, are you sure it's a 60 inch and not a 72 inch deck?

[d@rk51d3]

Got a Toro Groundskeeper 345 with a 4 cyl Renault/Ford motor. 72"deck from memory. Missing the canopy though.

[Rangier Rover]

Got a Toro Groundskeeper 345 with a 4 cyl Renault/Ford motor. 72"deck from memory. Missing the canopy though. That should go very well if a going concern.

[Tote]

Nice house, that verandah looks like a bugger of a spot to drink beer. The barley grass isn't in head at Yass yet though so you must be a fair way North.

Regards,
Tote

[olbod]

My Bro has a Ransome similar to that but has a canopy and a 20hp
Mitsubishi diesel.
I have it in my shed, stripped, as I am giving it a complete new Paint job.
I need to fabricate a new seat as well.
Was a good, going concern and ran nicely but looked poorly.

[stevo68]

Well, I'm an enthusiast, I love my ride on...even if it does have some plastic on it :p. Some of you if you have been around long enough may remember these pics. We had quite a slippery slope and lost control and hit the fence....thank god for the fence. So what do you do when that happens? You get SWMBO to get in there whilst father and young son look on :D

Cmon Girl use ya muscles
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/179.jpg

Sorry mate you've had your swig ( oh and the infamous shorts:cool:)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/12/1225.jpg

Best get some real muscle in there
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/180.jpg

Hard work this, especially after a few cold ones
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/12/857.jpg

Success
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/181.jpg
I have found my mower pretty reliable, have used it on some pretty crappy terrain and lawns/ paddocks. Though once did throw the blades and bearings and was told by the place I bought that it wasnt a slasher :angel:,

Regards

Stevo

[dandlandyman]

A mate of mine has a restored and going Allen Oxford scythe. Hell of a machine! I think it might be for sale...

Dan.

[wovenrovings]

You have your work cut out using an Allen Oxford. Specially if you have to go around things. Sticks were a bit of a problem. Absolutely the best thing for tall grass. I have cut grass over my head with one of them. Makes seeing where you are going hard.

[mcrover]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/166.jpg

A couple of old Atco's Kick starts that I have sitting around, the small one was the first motorised mower to be used at the old Geelong Golf club.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/167.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/168.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/169.jpg

Just a few old Toro mowers thanks to Toro Australia in Breaside for having them on display during the Turf Conference back in July.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/165.jpg

My Favourite New mower, Jacobsen LF4677, 7 cylinder mowers, Kubota 4cyl turbo diesel fully Hydraulic drive and lift.

1 Ha takes about 15mins to cut nicely with catchers at 8mm :D

[stevo68]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/09/165.jpg

My Favourite New mower, Jacobsen LF4677, 7 cylinder mowers, Kubota 4cyl turbo diesel fully Hydraulic drive and lift.

1 Ha takes about 15mins to cut nicely with catchers at 8mm :D I want me wanna these babies :D,

Regards

Stevo

[mcrover]

By the way, one of the first reco's I did when I started in this trade was a Ransomes 61 Hydro.......with a 14hp Kohler K series single engine.......they were'nt much chop on the golf course back then but it would make a damn good domestic mower.

Just be careful that you dont over load the Hydraustat as that little fan doesnt draw much air to cool it as well as if it gets any leaks it fills up the cooling fins with crap and stuff the hydro quick smart and they are rocking horse poo these days.

The Toro 345 Groundsmaster was a good mower as well and yes it is a renalt engine in both petrol and diesel but later when they went to the 322d they went to the K3d Mitsubishi diesel and kept it through the 325d (power steer) until the 328d which got a Kubota engine.

You should see the new Vanguard Vtwin 20Hp engines, they have a much better carbi and intake manifold and run much sweeter than the old ones like that one.

[mcrover]

I want me wanna these babies :D,

Regards

Stevo

$74,000 and it's your Stevo :D

[Rangier Rover]

By the way, one of the first reco's I did when I started in this trade was a Ransomes 61 Hydro.......with a 14hp Kohler K series single engine.......they were'nt much chop on the golf course back then but it would make a damn good domestic mower.

Just be careful that you dont over load the Hydraustat as that little fan doesnt draw much air to cool it as well as if it gets any leaks it fills up the cooling fins with crap and stuff the hydro quick smart and they are rocking horse poo these days.

The Toro 345 Groundsmaster was a good mower as well and yes it is a renalt engine in both petrol and diesel but later when they went to the 322d they went to the K3d Mitsubishi diesel and kept it through the 325d (power steer) until the 328d which got a Kubota engine.

You should see the new Vanguard Vtwin 20Hp engines, they have a much better carbi and intake manifold and run much sweeter than the old ones like that one.
Um.. mine has a new 22HP vanguard. Runs very well to. Did have a 16HP L head twin.
The hydro gets a bit warm under hard use:(. Looking at fitting an oil cooler after spool valve to help cool it.
Do you remember what oil it had in it in your days. I'm runing dextron 111 in this one.
Tony

[Rangier Rover]

That Jacobsen LF4677 would get my lawn done quick. Might not like the sticks and stones here though:eek:
Tony

[mcrover]

Um.. mine has a new 22HP vanguard. Runs very well to. Did have a 16HP L head twin.
The hydro gets a bit warm under hard use:(. Looking at fitting an oil cooler after spool valve to help cool it.
Do you remember what oil it had in it in your days. I'm runing dextron 111 in this one.
Tony

I would put the cooler on the return to tank, thats where they normally run them on the older machines.

They ran 68 Hydraulic oil but Dex 3 will be plenty good enough.

Yes the 4677 doesnt like sticks and rocks at all, we blow off the fairways with a PTO powered blower on a tractor before we cut them as the blades ping pretty easilly and cost about $150 to grind and about $1000 to replace.

My camera doesnt do the mower justice to show how good it looks after a cut but during this season I will try and post up some shots.

Another few weeks and the place will be up and growing again, it is just coming out of dormancy at the moment so still looking a bit shabby.