Travels with Terry

Racks for spares
This triangle-shape design houses two sets of triplex greens mower cutting units along with one set of verticut reels. The 1 x 1/8-inch thick welded mechanical square tubing is 50 inches high, 32 inches wide with 5-inch diameter heavy-duty rubber caster wheels. The height is limited to no higher than chest height for safety and for easier handling. The platform shelves are 12 x 24 inches using ½-inch thick CDX plywood attached to the 1-inch square tubing with #10 self-tapping screws with #10 fender washers. The backstops for the rear rollers are 2½ inches high and 18 inches apart that are welded in place. The triangle shape and caster wheels make it very easy to rotate the rack for easy on and off of the spare units. The materials cost about $100 and it took about six hours of labor time. Another option would be to use aluminum, which is lighter, but more costly and difficult to weld. Tom DiFonzo, CGCS; Jason W. Bryant, equipment manager; Steve Powell and Mario Linardo, assistants, make up the team at the Laconia Country Club in Laconia, N.H.
 

Dry film Reels Lubricant
The greens and tee mowers cutting units are washed after each daily mowing and then allowed to air dry. The reel-to-bedknife adjustment is completed and then a light coating of Zeplon dry film lubricant (www.zep.com) is applied to the reels and bedknives. This procedure keeps the edges clean, keeps them from rusting and grass blades will not stick to the metal. Zeplon does not contain silicone, moly or graphite, so it is a non-staining film, which is also a dry and odorless compound. The fairway mowers also receive the lubricant after each usage. Using this lubricant eliminates the need for pre-cleaning with air prior to washing with water. Each can costs about $10 and it takes less than a minute for each cutting unit. Jason W. Bryant is the equipment manager, along with Tom DiFonzo, CGCS, and Steve Powell and Mario Linardo, assistants, make up the team at the Laconia Country Club In Laconia, N.H.