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Beat the fuel cost blues
1 Jul, 2005 By: Matt Gersib Landscape ManagementEasy-to-implement strategies for wringing more mowing out of every dollar you spend on fuel.
With fuel prices exceeding $2 a gallon, mowing contractors must squeeze more production out of each gallon to hit their numbers.
Dan Dorn from Exmark Manufacturing and Cam Litt from Kohler Engines say that contractors can get more from their fuel dollars in three main areas — effective on-site planning, equipment selection and care, and preventive maintenance.
Follow these tips to beat the "fuel blues:"
- Put together an action plan for each account. For example, don't allow too much time between cuttings, making it more difficult to mow efficiently. This increases production time and wastes fuel. Double cutting taller and denser grass, especially when it's wet, wastes time and fuel. The same goes for bagging clippings that are normally mulched.
- Use the "one-third rule." Cut no more than one-third of the turf's total length at a mowing. This protects the turf from damage resulting from over-aggressive cutting and allows the mower deck to effectively manage clippings at higher cutting speeds.
- Mulching as you mow saves time and labor. It eliminates dumping, hauling and disposing of grass clippings, and it keeps nutrients in the turf. Finely cut clippings break down and provide nutrients for the living turf. When done correctly (not breaking the one-third rule), it reduces the turf's need for additional fertilizer applications to maintain a healthy attractive appearance.
Can't mulch?
In many cases mowing contractors can't mulch. Lots of clippings or clippings with high moisture content reduce mulching efficiency of even the best mowers. Several manufacturers offer mulching-specific blade sets to maximize mulching performance in less-than-ideal cutting conditions. Even so, there will be times when you'll have to bag clippings to maintain the appearance the client wants.
Here are some other tips to help you get the most out of your fuel dollars:
- Run mowers at suggested operating speeds: "Engines are designed to run most efficiently at their operating RPM, which is typically 3,600 RPM," Dorn says. "Lowering the RPM of the engine slows everything down — the hydro drive, as well as the speed the cutting blades spin at. Blades cut grass more efficiently at higher speeds."
- Keep cutting decks clean: Clipping buildup compromises clipping flow, requiring more power to cut grass and manage clippings. If the grass is wet or tall you will have to clean out decks more often.
- Sharpen mowing blades often: Grass is incredibly abrasive, and while most commercial cutting blades are made of high-quality hardened steel alloy, they still need consistent sharpening to maintain their cutting efficiency and quality-of-cut.
- Use fresh, good quality fuel: Don't purchase fuel of questionable quality regardless of price. An engine that isn't performing at its peak due to poor fuel will use more fuel in the end, negating any cost savings.
- Maintain clean air filters: Mowers work in extreme dirt and dust. Diligent air filter maintenance is essential for maintaining peak engine performance and efficiency.
- Keep your oil clean: Stay diligent to manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals, even with synthetic oil. Dirt can still work its way into the oil due to harsh operating conditions.
- Use fresh spark plugs in the proper heat range: Don't experiment with different heat ranges. Manufacturers have determined the optimum heat range for each engine, and any deviation from that specification will undoubtedly compromise engine efficiency, not enhance it.
— The author is with Swanson Russell Associates, Lincoln, NB. Contact him at
MattG@sramarketing.com.
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