A Guide About Purchasing a Lawn Mower

Getting a new lawn mower for your needs can be daunting when there are a lot of varieties and choices on the market. There are two main types of lawn mowers, the electric mower and the petrol-powered mower. Which one should you choose? Well in this blog we will discuss both of these and help you pick one that will work best as per your lawn. Ultimately, the mower you decide on will depend on the purpose. Having the purpose in mind will help you eliminate many of the varieties and narrow down your search quickly. To assist, we’ve outlined a few main types of lawnmowers.

Unpowered reel mowers

Unpowered reel mowers are widely used in different countries. They are relatively cheaper than other choices. As they are not powered by any kind of fuel and require manpower to operate, they are eco-friendly as they leave no trace of a carbon footprint behind.

Research in countries like the US has revealed that a household uses approximately eighteen gallons of fuel to mow their lawn per year. It is due to the weather that these numbers are higher in comparison to Australia. If you have a relatively small lawn, your best option would be to consider an environment-friendly hand mower. This will help you do some exercise too, bonus!

Here are a couple of major reasons why you should opt for an unpowered or hand mower:

As compared to scissors cut and rotary mowers, reel mowers are more accurate and give out precise re sults.

They produce very little noise during operation, this means your neighbours won’t get mad at you.

So, these are great if you have a small-sized lawn but if not, it’ll take a lot of effort and time to complete the job.

Corded Electric Lawn mower

Similar to a reel mower, electric mowers come at a very modest price. For instance, the Bosch ARM 37 Electric Lawn Mower will cost you less than $250. These mowers are great when you want a sharp cut of your lawn regardless of the condition of your lawn. Most of the electric lawn mowers are lightweight with a motor that is powerful enough to do a great job without damaging the environment by decaying batteries or petrol fumes.

Petrol mowers

If power is a concern for you, Abbey petrol mowers are what you should look for. Petrol powered lawn mowers are relatively more powerful than electric ones and can run longer in comparison to cordless electric mowers. It is important to note that petrol mowers require more attention in relation to maintenance as compared to electric mowers. You will find different types of petrol mowers and you can choose one as per your power needs and your lawn size.

Ride-on mowers

If you have a considerably large sized lawn that is unmaintainable with a reel mower, a ride-on mower would be a good option to consider, as it would be easier to operate. For instance, if you are currently using a hand mower and it takes around two to three hours to mow your lawn, then you should consider a ride-on mower as it allows you to comfortably sit on it and mow your lawn in a shorter time frame. If you still find things tough, you should seek professional help to mow your lawn.

 

A Guide About Clutch Testing

If you feel that your clutch isn’t working as it should and you want to test its ability, there are simple ways that you can go about clutch testing. Performing a clutch test on your own is not common and humans have a tendency to think the worst about situations. However, there are methods you can use to assess whether you need to visit the nearest brake and clutch, specialist.

You can use the steps in this post regularly to maintain your clutch and to get a clearer idea of the faults, wear, and tear that your components might have. These steps are crucial if you have a second-hand car that has clocked a lot of miles. Well, let’s get straight to the point, here are some of the steps that you can follow:

Start with a Basic Check

The best thing to do is start with a basic check, especially if you aren’t satisfied with your components and don’t have time to go to the shop. Switch on the car and put it into gear while pressing the clutch continuously.

If you notice strange noises or grinding, then you should further check where the issue is. Keep an eye on the signs, the clutch could be slipping, this happens when the clutch doesn’t engage properly. If there is hesitation in the engine slightly, or in extreme cases, your car may rev excessively while driving.

Drive and Test the Clutch Operation

If step one was successful, a test drive is the best way to check the functionality of the clutch a little further. Start by pulling off in first gear, as you would usually do. When the clutch is released, if it shows signs of abnormal behaviour, especially if it starts to make strange noises, you may well have a problem that needs to get looked at. The clutch may be worn out and will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

Pulling Away in a Higher Gear

If you’ve completed the aforementioned tips and don’t see an issue, it is time to try something out of the box. All you need to do is to stop the car normally and put it into third gear. Now attempt to pull away with this gear while balancing the pedal with the clutch to eliminate any chance of the car stalling.

Generally, the car will pull a lot slower as compared to the first gear but it should result in the car pulling away. If you see any signs of slippage or unusual sounds, the only thing to do is to turn off the car right away and call on a mechanic to replace the clutch or repair it.

Weighing Up Your Replacement Options

The steps outlined in this blog should have provided you with sufficient knowledge about the health of your clutch. If you’ve completed the steps and there haven't been any issues, but are still unsure, call an expert to get a second opinion. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! On the other hand, if you see issues while performing the steps, then the last step is to weigh up your replacement options. Make sure that you go to a reputable shop to get things perfect again and functioning. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Importance of Clutch Testing

 Traditionally all cars were made to be manual and with the evolution of technology, nearly all cars you see on the road these days are automatic. However, on the farms and in the agricultural business most of the vehicles come across are manual. Where manual transmission is concerned, the clutch holds great importance and without it, you are going nowhere.

Proper care of the clutch is crucial and clutches that are maintained properly can last up to 130,000 km or more, on the other hand, a clutch that is abused will start to fail after approximately 50,000 km or less.

The clutch is important and clutch testing needs to be done to make sure everything runs smoothly and so you don’t have to face hefty maintenance costs. In this blog, we will try to help you understand what causes the clutch to fail and how to overcome or avoid it.

Causes of Clutch Failure

Malfunctioning of Slave Cylinder or clutch master cylinder:

A clutch master cylinder is responsible for holding the brake fluid. This cylinder is connected to the slave cylinder through hoses. When the clutch is depressed, the brake fluid moves from the master to the slave where the pressure is applied to engage the clutch.

Both master and slave cylinders have seals that wear out which causes the leak. The leak is then responsible for the clutch malfunctioning. Common signs of master or slave cylinder failure include going all the way to the floor and not being able to shift gears.

Leak in Clutch Fluid:

Clutch fluid is brake fluid. When a leak occurs in the system it makes it hard to change gears causing the clutch pedal to go all the way down to the floor. Also, there may be a puddle of brake fluid on the floor of the garage. The sign of a fluid leak is just a glimpse and it can lead to serious issues for your vehicle.

Slipping of Clutch:

While clutches are designed to slip a bit when it first engages or when the gear is changed to provide a smooth ride but when it is fully engaged there should not be any slippage at all. In many cases, the slipping can happen when hauling a load or when inclining up a hill.

When slipping occurs, the clutch becomes hot, resulting in the burning of clutch facings that can potentially damage the pressure plate of the flywheel. A further potential consequence of clutch slippage is wear tears. When you see this kind of issue, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible to avoid additional damage to the vehicle.

Clutch Does Not Release:

There are so many things and factors that lead to the clutch releasing problem. Everything in between the damaged input shaft splines to a bent clutch disc to a worn-out bearing retainer. If a vehicle’s clutch isn’t releasing it should be inspected or tested as soon as possible because if not, it may lead to serious issues.

Hard Clutch:

A tanks hard clutch is another sign that your clutch isn’t well. If you experience that your clutch is hard or stiff, it is better to keep in mind that there is an issue with the pedal linkage or the clutch cable.

These are some of the problems that occur, and some of them can lead to serious issues. So, you need to check the clutch properly regularly for a smooth operating vehicle. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Everything you Need to Know About Mulch

Mulch is greatly used in gardens and in other areas to retain moisture in the soil, make it cool, suppress weeds and so on. Most people do not consider mulching despite some great benefits. Everybody surely loves greenery that is full of trees and plants. Mulch is not a specific material but it is any material that is spread over a soil surface as a covering. Mulching through mulcher and mowers machines has great advantages and in this blog, you will see what mulch is and what different types of mulch are available.

What is Mulch?

A simple definition of mulch is that it is any material that is poured, spread and laid on the soil as a cover to retain the moisture, protect it from external dangers, suppress weed, and prevent frost weaving in Winter and so on. Defining mulch is a hard task because there are different types of mulch.

Every type of mulch is used for different purposes and you have to keep in mind that if you want to achieve particular results, you have to choose the right thing according to your area.

Here are some of the types of mulches as per their area of use. Use these to know which one will work best for you.

Rubber Mulch:

Rubber mulch is one of the best options to be used as an outdoor flooring material. As there are no pores in rubber, no moisture can make its way towards the soil. Not just for agricultural purposes, rubber mulch can be used in playgrounds and other relevant places. Also, another property of rubber is that it is elastic which allows the slow growth of weeds. The longevity of this type of mulch is good too, which is on average around 10 years.

Bark Mulch:

Bark as the name suggests comes from the bark of trees. Bark mulch has great growing benefits. Similar to rubber, bark mulch doesn’t allow moisture to escape quickly, preserving the content in the soil. It can last up to 7 years. How good!

Hardwood Mulch:

Another type is hardwood mulch that is quite cost-effective as compared to other types. These work best for alkaline loving trees and plants.

Hemlock Mulch:

Another hardwood mulch but with a unique feature. However, hemlock mulch has all the qualities of hardwood mulch, but the additional quality is that it keeps pests away from the plants.

Leaf Mulch:

One of the best, free yet effective methods is to use leaves that fall from your trees on the ground. This way the moisture is preserved and also decomposes nutrients present.

Lava Rock Mulch:

Lava rock mulch is a great way to ensure that all the moisture is safe and also your trees and plants are safe from weeds in your garden. These lava rocks absorb the heat and keep it preserved to make sure the plants are warm at night.

Red Mulch:

Red mulch has chemicals in it and is not ideal for growing situations because the chemicals used may leak out and cause damage to the plants under its reach.

These are some of the types of mulch. Apart from these, you may find others like glass mulch, enviro mulch and others. You can use any of these types as per your garden needs. It is recommended to talk to a professional first before you select one. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Grader Blade Techniques and Tips for Operators

The motor grader is a piece of equipment that is used widely at construction sites. From the motor grader blade to any other part, everything needs to be operated precisely by the operators to get the best results. In fact, motor grader operators always have to adapt several techniques to get the best out of the equipment.

Even if you are a professional operator, manager, or a new operator, here in this blog we will share some useful tips and techniques that will come in handy. So, let’s get started.

Top tips and techniques for motor grader operators

In order to get great efficiency, achieve durability, here are some useful tips and techniques for the operators of motor graders.

Avoid wear and tear

Due to harsh and rocky terrains, your motor grader may face wear and tear. To avoid this, the operator needs to carefully and safely handle the equipment to prevent any unnecessary damage to the equipment. When using it, it should be kept in mind that only a required amount of downward pressure should be exerted and applied by the operator as if excessive pressure is exerted on a dry hard surface, it can cause wear in rapid cutting edge and the equipment will also consume more fuel and horsepower which ultimately reduces productivity.

Correct moldboard positioning

You need to make sure the moldboard is correctly positioned. It is important and the operators need to straighten up as when rolling the blade of the grader forward to make the edge blunt.

Keep the blade sharp

To keep the motor grader blade sharp, operators should ensure the blade is kept just forward of the cutting edge. This is done so that the blade only cuts forward when it is necessary.

Change the right angle

You or any other operator should alter the blade angle periodically. In case you choose to keep the moldboard forward, it might result in wear at the front of the cutting edge.

The right angle holds great importance and you have to consider the angle as per the material like for free-flowing and light material, moldboard angles around 10-30 degrees and when processing wet and sticky material or mixing or ditching large windows, the angles used on moldboard should be higher, around 30-50 degrees.

Beware of gutters and curbs

In the case when grading is done along with curbs and gutters, the operators need to pay extra attention because if any type of error occurs, it may result in the machine running against the curb and the edge chipped. Also, in such cases, the moldboard may be highly affected.

Moreover, when ripping or sacrificing across a slope, the operators should keep the moldboard parallel along the front axle, lowered to the ground and centred to the frame in order to provide protection against them rolling over.

Lower the teeth

Every time when using the ripper, the operators need to make sure that the teeth are lowered into the ground with the grader. In case the rear wheels lose traction, the operator of the equipment should raise the ripper first until the wheels of the mower machines regain traction. This needs to be done when the Abbey machine is being used on hard surfaces. Also, the number of teeth should be reduced.

The teeth under the pavement should be lowered to break the old pavement and also the ripper should be raised when lowering teeth. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Mixer Wagon Maintenance

Farmgard NZ has been buying, rebuilding, selling, and maintaining mixer wagons for a number of years. Here is a quick guide on how to maintain your farm equipment based on what we have seen in the field. The following notes are organized by vertical mixer wagons, reel feed wagons, and auger discharges. 

Vertical Mixer Owner Notes

• It takes at least a 450 cubic foot mixer to grind up a 5 x 6 bale of hay
• It takes around 8 minutes to process a bale of alfalfa – longer for grass hay, cornstalks are similar to alfalfa
• A single screw vertical mixer will unload faster than a twin screw because you have to wait for the feed to get from the back of the mixer to the front

VERTICAL MIXER MAINTENANCE:

Plow blade

• The plow blade is the piece of metal on the back of the screw. On the new
   Pentas it is bolted on and it is welded on in most other wagons
• Make sure the plow blade is not wore and is a ¼ “ from the side wall
• Even though the plow blade looks like a small piece of metal (it is not along
   for the ride so to speak) it is a very important piece of the puzzle for fast
   and proper mixing action

Mixer Knives

• Check to make sure your knives are not dull if you are cutting a lot of hay or
   roughage (especially dairy)
• If you are not worried about your knives and do not do a lot of cutting, check to
   make sure your bolt heads are not worn to the point where your knives
   will fall off. This can cause major damage. 
• How far your knives can go before you replace them depends on your application. So, if you are confused give Farmgard a call. 

Discharge

• Make sure you have proper chain tension on the conveyor chain (3?of slack)
   and the hyd. motor drive chain (normal roller chain tight)

Planetaries

• Make sure you have no leaks
• Make sure the oil level is at the proper intervals
• If you haven’t changed your oil in 2000 hours you should change it
• 2 speed oil every 1000 hrs.

Reel Mixer Owner Notes

• Red frame knights are older than yellow frame knights
• A 2 spider reel is newer than a 3 spiral reel
• A 2 spider reel takes a high roughage ration better than a 3 spider reel

REEL MIXER MAINTENANCE:

• Take a look in your wagon and make sure your reel bars are not thin (especially where the bolt and the reel spring is). We have seen reel bars get so thin, break off, and then get stuck and cause auger damage.
• Check your gearbox for proper chain tension and there aren’t any tensioner springs broken. This is a common problem when we trade wagons in.
• Make sure your bearings (set screws) are nice and tight on the augers and shafts.

Auger Discharge Owner Notes

• Make sure your drive chains are tight
• Make sure your augers are not worn
• Make sure your auger bushings are not worn badly
• Make sure your orbit motor is not leaking

For More Details Visit Our Website Please: https://www.farmgard.co.nz/