Hot Rod Mods

Customized Equipment Manager's Vehicle

This 2010 Kubota RTV900 4WD has a home-made 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 permanently on the left side rear. The bed was extended approximately 15 inches on either side using the existing tailgate that was cut to fit and welded in place. A used ramp from a Dual Express Model 3000 DX reel grinder is used as the new tail gate – and a 4-foot x 12-inch ?-inch flat-steel tailgate extension is used that slips in place over two 11/16inch 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 ?-inch winch cable. Two chains hold the tailgate in a horizontal position. Additional equipment includes a Mile Marker PE 2.5 winch ($100), with a 2,500-pound capacity, which 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 can slide 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-HP Kubota diesel engine has a SSS Turbo ($1,600) installed for an addition 15 HP. Robert Smith, equipment manager, at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa, spent about 2 months on this project and he is still adding custom features.

Versatile Former Golf Cart

The 27-hole Grandee Nasu Shirakawa Golf Club in Fukushima Perfecture, Japan, is the only golf course in Japan designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., who was ably assisted by Roger Rulewich, in 1995. Shigeto Hayashi is the golf course superintendent. This Yamaha Turf Mate was formerly used by women caddies to transport four golf bags around golf courses in Japan, where this type of vehicle was ultimately replaced by traditional 4-wheel golf carts. Hayashi purchased it used about 10 years ago, along with four spare wheels and tires, for approximately 10,000 Japanese Yen ($100). It was then modified by removing the upper golf bag holder frame and installing the round plastic case and supports and the hooks for the topdressing drag mat to be attached to, which cost about 2,000 JY ($20). The greenskeeper operates this vehicle standing up and it is used for course setup, dragging in topdressing, dragging the dew off the fairways, etc. It took about four hours to modify it.

Transporting Blower And Gas Can efficiently

Stephen Ehrbar, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance, Nick Sabatino, assistant director of golf course maintenance, and Scott Crisp, equipment manager, make up the team at the Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla., who were concerned about the blowers and gas cans tipping over during transport. The brackets, which are fitted onto a Toro Workman, are used to hold the Stihl BG-86 hand blower and the Blitz 1-gallon gas can. The material and tools needed are one ?-inch x 1¼-inch x 24-inch and one ?-inch x 1¼-inch x 19½-inch steel or aluminum flat bar. A ¼-inch drill bit and drill, four ¼-inch x 1-inch bolts and nuts and a bench vice are used. Measure out ? inches from each end of the two flat bars and drill a ¼-inch hole centered. On the 24 inch flat bar measure out 11¾ inch and make a 90-degree bend. On each end of the flat bar measure out 1¾ inches and make a 90-degree bend in the opposite direction of the first bend. The bend on the ends provides the mounting tabs for the bracket. On the 19½-inch flat bar measure out 11¾ inches and make a 90-degree bend. On each end of the flat bar measure out 1¾ inches and make a 90-degree bend the opposite way of the first bend. This bend provides the mounting tabs for this bracket. The larger bracket is for the blower and mounts 5 inches off the floor of the bed. The smaller bracket is for the fuel container and mounts 3 inches off the floor of the bed. Use the holes in the brackets as a template to drill the holes in the utility bed side walls. These brackets are meant to hold an 11-inch x 9-inch blower and a 10-inch x 6-inch fuel container, says Scott Crisp, who designed and built the brackets. It cost less than $20 per vehicle for the materials and less than one hour total labor time.

Gate Valve Holder:

The 2-inch x 2-inch square-nut irrigation gate valve key used to bounce around in the back of the 2007 John Deere Turf TX Gator 2WD. The roof was removed and the two factory-mounted brackets that held the roof in place on the front hood were modified, by adding a U-shaped bracket with holes drilled on either side for a lynch pin to hold it in place. The gate valve key is held firmly in place and it fits perfectly tight. The bracket was made from recycled parts from an old farm harrow/seeder. It took about an hour labor to modify both brackets. Timothy Brown Cope, superintendent, at the Penny Branch Club in Furman, S.C., conceived, designed and built this great idea.

Turf Vehicle Blower:

This 2011 Billy Goat 18-HP push-type blower produces approximately 3,700 CFM with a wind speed of 180 MPH that originally cost about $2,700. An Ultra Tow 12-inch Category III trailer hitch receiver, with an Ultra Tow 5-inch x 7¼-inch plate, is mounted underneath the center of the bumper of the 2013 Club Car Turf 2 (approximately $9,800 including the materials). The blower has a 2-inch male Category III hitch assembly that is held in place to the turf vehicle with one turnbuckle on either side of the bracket after the wheels are removed. The operator uses the throttle on the blower handle and there is an optional electric toggle switch to rotate the shroud. It took about four hours to build. Brian Goleski, golf course superintendent, and J.R. Wilson, equipment manager, from the Noyac Golf Club in Sag Harbor, Long Island, N.Y., were the design and build team.

Proper Steering Mechanicals

Standard steering mechanicals and basic steering alignment is being done properly on this Cushman Turf-Truckster by Jacobsen. The tires were wearing unevenly on the inside, the handling was suspect where the vehicle was “wandering” and hard to hold a straight line due to a negative camber condition and from in-proper tire pressure.

Reading tire wear:

• Wear on the inside and outside of the tire could be caused by under-inflation or worn tie-rod ends.
• Wear on just the inside of the tire could be caused by negative camber or a toe-out condition
• Wear on just the outside of the tire could be caused by positive camber or a toe-in condition

Jacobsen offers a shim (part # 841737 for about $3.50 each) that can be added between the upper control arm and the frame to push the top edge of the wheel geometry out and correct this condition. Each shim moves the wheel one half a degree. A digital level from Sears ($40), which has a magnetic base that attaches to a used bed knife cut to length, is used to measure the camber. To install the shim, the two upper control arm bolts are loosened and the shim is slid into place and the bolts are then re-tightened. To make the camber more negative, the bolts are loosened and one shim per ½ degree is removed. The number of shims added or removed depends on the camber measurement and how many degrees the alignment is out. This entire process takes less than 15 minutes.

Mark Yarick is the customer service specialist for North Florida and North Central Florida for Golf Ventures Inc. and he is the former professor and program coordinator for turf equipment management at Florida Gateway College. Yarick also offered these tips: Regularly check the tie-rod ends, ball joints, spindles and wheel bearings for excessive play. Jack-up the steering axle off the ground and wiggle the tire top to bottom and in and out to check for play. Grab the tie-rod ends and move up and down and in and out to check for play. With the steering axle on the ground, start the engine and have a helper move the steering wheel right and left while watching the tie-rods and spindles for “slop.” Any steering wheel movement that does not result in tire movement is an indication of excessive steering component.