Travels with Terry

Bedknife Rack
Robert Smith, equipment manager at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., built this rack to keep the bedknives from warping by hanging them vertically. Three-quarter-inch plywood was used measuring 5 feet long by 125⁄8 inches high by 4¾ inches deep. A 2-by-4 board, with ¼-inch-by-4-inch hex-driver ceramic-coated nails mounted to it, with the nail heads ground off, hold the bedknives in place. A ¾-inch plywood cover using the same dimensions, with 3-inch hinges, folds up and down nicely. This rack is mounted with concrete bolts into the cinderblock wall in the grinding room of the new state-of-the-art maintenance facility and it was painted the same color as the walls. It took about one hour to build and scrap materials were used (about $20 if purchased new).

Customized Equipment Manager's Vehicle
This 2010 Kubota RTV900 4 WD has a homemade lift tailgate ($200) for easy lifting of walk-behind greens mowers for transporting them back and forth to the mechanic's shop. A separate winch is used with a 1,500-pound capacity that has the yellow-colored up-and-down control mounted on the left side rear. The bed was extended approximately 15 inches on either side using the existing tailgate cut to fit and welded in place. A used ramp from a Dual Express Model 3000 DX reel grinder is used as the new tailgate – and a 4-foot by 12-inch by 1⁄8-inch piece of flat steel tailgate extension is used that slips in place over two 11⁄16-inch diameter steering-shaft rods from a Toro Workman. Two pieces of 1¼-inch "L" channel welded together, with the grooves cut vertically on each side, is where the tailgate slides up and down from the 1⁄8-inch winch cable. Two chains hold the tailgate in a horizontal position. Additional equipment includes a Mile Marker PE 2.5 electric winch ($100), with a 2,500-pound capacity, that is bolted to the front bumper, which is bolted to the frame with ¼-inch box steel added for bracing. A 1,500 watt/12.5 continuous amp 12-volt to 110-120-volt inverter ($150) is mounted underneath the hood for operating an air compressor with air tools, a battery charger and grinder. A 6-inch vise ($30) is mounted behind the passenger seat that slides 2 feet outwards from the bed that is mounted on a steel plate and sliding square tubing. Two red flashers ($10) are mounted in the rear below the roof, as this vehicle is licensed with a recreational license plate. A Craftsman toolbox is mounted on the left side with "L" brackets and angle iron. The 3-cylinder, 36-horsepower Kubota diesel engine has a SSS Turbo ($1,600) installed for 15 additional horsepower. Robert Smith, equipment manager, at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., has been spending about two months on and off on this project and he is still adding more custom features.