GRIP All-Wheel Drive Traction System provides superior traction by reducing wheel slip

The standard GRIP all-wheel drive traction system transfers hydraulic flow from wheels that slip to wheels that grip. For example, if the right front wheel starts to slip, hydraulic flow goes to the left front and rear tires to maintain traction power. This helps provide maximum traction in undulating conditions.

The GRIP all-wheel drive traction system is standard equipment with the 6080A, 6500A, and 6700A PrecisionCut™ and 6080A and 6500A E-Cut™ Hybrid Fairway Mowers and is also engaged at all times, whether in mow or in transport. A check valve in the rear motor puts the machine in two-wheel drive (2WD) in reverse to minimize any potential scuffing.

Tires sized for proper weight distribution and a low ground pressure

When considering a fairway mower's effects on turf compaction, there is more to it than just weight alone. Weight is only a small factor in determining turf compaction.

A key component is the selection of tires used on the machine involves both sizing and tread patterns. The John Deere PrecisionCut™ and E-Cut™ Hybrid Fairway Mowers use large, 26x14-12 front tires for proper front weight distribution, and 20x10-8 tires in the rear to distribute the rear weight.

Both tires use a turf tread to maximize turf friendliness.

They excel in weight distribution providing low ground pressure onto the turf. This provides less tracking, less marking, and less compaction.

MTSpiral and MTGrooved roller options for most any turf condition

The MTSpiral roller and the MTGrooved roller (not shown) options are available for Quick-Adjust 5 (QA5) cutting units to minimize roller overlap marks.

The MTSpiral roller and the MTGrooved roller options take the patented 50.8-mm (2-in.) machine spiral roller to a whole new level. These designs reduce the number of times the grass is rolled in the overlap area of the cutting units. With these unique designs, the material in the overlap of the roller is machined down to a smaller diameter, allowing the ends of the rear cutting unit rollers to roll through the open space of the front cutting unit rollers.

Types of overlap marks and what causes them

There are two types of overlap marks: reel overlap marks and roller overlap marks. It can often be difficult to determine what type of overlap marks a customer may be experiencing. In general, a roller overlap mark is roughly 88.9-mm (3.5-in.) to 101.6-mm (4-in.) wide, while a reel overlap tends to be 63.5-mm (2.5-in.) to 76.2-mm (3-in.) wide.

A reel overlap mark may be caused by a variety of factors:

• Bedknife attitude
• Low effective height of cut
• Frequency of clip to high (shorter distance between cuts)
• Cutting unit not parallel
• Bedknife to reel contact
• Dull reel and/or bedknife
• Turf stress

A roller overlap mark is caused by how many times the front and rear rollers of the cutting units go over the turf. With traditional roller setups, the grass is rolled four times in the overlap of the front and rear cutting units – once by the front roller of the front cutting unit, once by the rear roller of the front cutting unit, once by the front roller of the rear cutting unit, and once by the rear roller of the rear cutting unit.

The rest of the cutting unit roller surface, not in the overlap, rolls the grass twice, once by the front roller and once by the rear roller. In certain conditions, particularly in times of lush growth, this may result in overlap marks, which will be darker striping marks in the dark stripes and lighter striping marks in the light stripes.

Applications for the MTSpiral roller and the MTGrooved roller

MTSpiral rollers and MTGrooved rollers can be installed on all PrecisionCut™ and E-Cut™ Hybrid Fairway Mowers and Riding Greens Mowers with QA5 cutting units. They are an addition to the lineup of roller options for fairway, tee, and approach applications, and may help reduce roller overlap marks on both warm season and cool season turfgrasses. Use of the MTSpiral Rollers or MTGrooved rollers is not recommended for greens applications.

Available for both the 45.7-cm (18-in.) and 55.9-cm (22-in.) cutting units, the MTSpiral roller and MTGrooved roller feature a true 45.7-cm (18-in.) and 55.9-cm (22-in.) length with tapered ends. This full-length roller, as compared to other shorter rollers in the marketplace, supports the cutting unit in turns and on sidehills without the gouging or marking.

This design is only available in the 50.8-mm (2-in.) configuration at this time:

• BM23566 – 5.1-cm x 55.9- cm (2-in. x 22-in.) MTSpiral roller
• BM23567 – 5.1-cm x 45.7-cm (2-in. x 18-in.) MTSpiral roller
• BTC10267 - 5.1-cm x 55.9-cm (2-in. x 22-in.) MTGrooved roller
• BTC10281 - 5.1-cm x 45.7-cm (2-in. x 18-in.) MTGrooved roller

Larger, 63.5-mm (2.5-in.) front grooved disc roller compatible with fairway tender conditioner (FTC) and Greens Tender™ conditioner attachment for 55.9-cm (22-in.) Quick-Adjust 5 (QA5) reel cutting units

The grooved disc roller can be used with 55.9-cm (22-in.) QA5 cutting units, in combination with the Greens Tender Conditioner and FTC, to provide additional roller options for fairway, tees, and approach areas.

The increased diameter improves the durability over smaller rollers, and it features hardened discs for improved wear which retains spring tension for reduced maintenance, making it an ideal roller for fairway, tee, and approach mowing.

TechControl display maximizes performance and uptime by allowing more control in operation and diagnostics

MORE CONTROL WITH THE TECHCONTROL DISPLAY WITH A LARGE EASY-TO-READ SCREEN

Passcode-protected TechControl display enables quickly setting or changing mowing speed, turning speed, or transport speed to limit variations in performance by different operators.

LoadMatch™ electronic setting compensates speed of machine to keep power to the cutting units to maintain cut quality

LoadMatch is an electronic setting through the TechControl display that allows managers more control of the machine and how it is operated when out on the course.

Most operators will mow as fast as the mow setting will allow, keeping their traction pedal all the way down. However, in some conditions this can lead to poor cut quality.

One example is getting behind in mowing due to weather conditions. The grass is long and lush and to properly cut that amount of grass at one time, the operator should slow the traction speed. This allows the cutting units to maintain proper turning speed, process the grass, and properly cut in one pass. Not slowing down causes missed grass and an uneven appearance. This affects the after-cut appearance and also reduces productivity by having to mow a second time to properly cut the lush grass.

The LoadMatch feature compensates the traction speed of machine to keep power to the cutting units. In the long, lush conditions described above with LoadMatch engaged, the operator would still have the traction pedal all the way down, but the machine would sense the load and slow the traction speed to properly cut the mowing pass. Once the load is reduced, the machine will return to the normal mow speed.

eHydro™ hydrostatic pump for premium ease of use

The traction system in the A-models is driven by a servo-controlled hydrostatic pump. The control of the pump is no longer mechanical linkages, but instead it is electronic.

In total, approximately 94 parts have been eliminated from the traction drive system along with four adjustments compared to prior models. The design reduced the complexity of the drive system, which means no more linkages to adjust or repair, decreased routine maintenance, and more reliable day-in/day-out operation.

Double-acting, single-rod hydraulic steering cylinder for lines as straight as a greens mower

For superintendents who want stripes as straight as they are on the greens, the A-model PrecisionCut™ Mowers and E-Cut™ Hybrid Mowers do exactly that. Utilizing the same style steering cylinder as on the 2550 PrecisionCut and 2550 E-Cut Hybrid Riding Greens Mowers, the PrecisionCut and E-Cut Hybrid Mowers can mow the straightest lines of any mower in the industry today.

Traditional hydraulic cylinders have a rod on only one side of the cylinder. The cylinder on the A-models has one rod that goes through both sides of the cylinder. This equalizes volume and pressure on both sides of the cylinder packing, helping the operator make   perfectly straight lines with little effort.

This system also equalizes the steering effort, meaning easy turns whether turning to the right or to the left.

Easily accessible daily service points mean less maintenance time and more time working

Easier daily maintenance points are designed into the machine to assist operators with complete daily maintenance and to keep the machine running at peak performance, saving valuable time and money.

For ease of service, all daily engine checks are easily accessible by raising the hood. These service points include an engine-oil level check, a coolant level check, hydraulic fluid level, and an air-restriction indicator.

The A-model PrecisionCut™ Mowers, E-Cut™ Hybrid Mowers, and TerrainCut™ Mowers feature a radiator screen that is easily removed without tools and a tilt-out oil cooler for easy cleaning.

Cutting units are stable for easy transporting

The 6500A, 6700A, 7500A, 7700A, and 8700A PrecisionCut™ and 6500A and 7500A E-Cut™ Hybrid Fairway Mowers all have cutting units that contact up stops for transport. These up stops are rubber and limit cutting units from swinging during transport. The lift system also folds the two wing units inside the tires to limit possibility of damage to the wing units when transporting through and around objects on the course.