Featuring a patented SpeedLink system that is
unique in the golf industry, John Deere’s new QuickAdjust (QA) cutting
cylinders provide rapid height of cut adjustment from either side of
the units.
This new technology allows adjustments of one thousandth
of an inch to be made in just
a few seconds to both sides of the rear roller simultaneously, using
only an electric drive 16mm (⅝in) wrench or socket. This effectively
allows the reels on an entire fleet to be set in the time it
previously took to adjust the height of cut on just one mower.
The 127mm (5in) diameter QA5 cutting unit replaces
the previous 22M version, and is available in 46 or 56cm (18 or 22in)
cutting widths. The 178mm (7in) diameter QA7 replaces all ESP (extra
strength & precision) cutting units, and is available in widths of 56,
66 or 76cm (22, 26 or 30in).
Introduced as a result of the company’s customer
feedback programme, these cutting units set a new standard in
engineering innovation. The Speed Link system connects both sides of
the rear roller with worm gears located on each side of the roller
housings. As well as providing much quicker height of cut adjustment
than has previously been possible, the worm gears ensure that the
adjustment remains in place.
QA5 units feature easier and faster bedknife to
reel adjustment using a new notch system, while QA7 units utilise the
same system for reel to bedknife adjustment. QA5 cutting units offer
an additional innovative and patented feature to extend the use of
worn reels. A reel eccentric on the bedknife shoe can reposition the
bedknife in relation to the reel and increase the clearance at the
rear of the bedknife; this allows users to maintain a lower height of
cut as the reel wears down towards the end of its working life.
For equally quick and simple height of cut range
adjustments, the front rollers also utilise a notch system, which
ensures that the rollers are locked into place regardless of mowing
conditions. Now attached to the cutting units with clips for easier
removal and greater stability, the grassboxes transfer the weight of
clippings to the lift arms of the mowers’ traction units, so that
cutting height remains unaffected.
The cutting units can be specified with optional
greens or fairway tender tender conditioners (GTCs or FTCs). The
conditioner blades rotate in the opposite direction to the reel, to
stand the grass up prior to cutting, and because they are gear-driven
they can be turned off when not in use. These and other attachments,
including brushes, can also be fitted and removed more quickly and
easily, in 10 to 15 minutes.
The turf conditioners feature ‘T’ handles on each
side of the cutting units, to lower the blades for grooming or raise
them to help with dispersal of grass clippings. Conditioners are now
available for both the 56 and 66cm (22 and 26in) QA7 units.
This option on the 66cm (26in) size cutting units will offer greater
productivity when fitted to the John Deere 2653B tees & surrounds mower.
On this machine, the use of recycling conditioners means that grass
clippings don’t have to be boxed off when working on tees, saving
greenkeepers time and money
ENDS (September 2009)
