Stevo,
You are way off base. I would love to get any kind of support (i.e. money
or free equipment) from ANY manufacturer. (If you would re-read my
previous posts, you would see that EXCEPT for owning a WORLD CLASS CROQUET
COURT in my back yard, I am simply a white collar professional) I have no
allegiance to any company. Actually, if pressed for favoritism, I feel
that Toro units may be a little better engineered than competing
(RYAN/TEXTRON) products. (although at a somewhat higher price) I
continue this discussion for the other readers.
Coming to this newsgroup, my sole objective was researching a planned
purchase of an aerator. (We are both obviously believers in an regular
aeration program) When I asked for suggestions/ reccomendations from users,
the only advice I got from you was to buy a Ryan hands down: no facts, no
eplanations, no comparisons. When you did not answer my questions
directly, I quickly gathered that you were biased, you must be a Ryan
owner?dealer.
My needs were straightforward, I need to aerate my court at least 3 times a
year (actually more often is reccommended). In the past, I have rented and
borrowed aerators . I have rented both Bluebird and a Ryan lawnaire IV
rotary aerators.
Maybe in your experience, maybe they are vastly different machines, but to
me (except for the decals) they were essentially the same unit. Simply
because they are both ROTARY aerators. They both leave 1 to 3 inch long
irregular scars at every single entrance point. This is TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE for a lawn laser leveled to 1/4" tolerance. (Maybe you are OK
with this if you run a mundane/generic lawncare business)
Later I borrowed a very old (~1988) Ryan GREENSAIRE aerator. This was an
AWESOME MACHINE!!!! Every aeration hole entered the ground at a
perpendicular angle!!! I propose that VERTICAL aeration from ANY brand
aerator (less surface disruption) is better than any ROTARY aeration
process. Ask any golfer, why golf course professionals use vertical
aeration. They know that bentgrass and bermuda cut at short cutting heights
heals faster with less surface (vertical aeration) damage.
I need VERTICAL aerating motion because of the height of cut of my lawn.
Today I cut my Tif Eagle bermuda (oh yeah, I forgot, you don't know
anything about bermuda) croquet court at 0.160" (or 5/32 inch) As far as
your cricism of my lawn photos, to your simple mind that is equal to
thickness of 33 sheets of 20lb copy paper. When you regularly cut your
lawn at that height, then you can realistically criticize my (ill posted)
photos, (which incidentally, only YOU complained about).
Rotary tine aeration (lawnaire IV and V etc) simply won't cut it for my
croquet lawn. Rotary aeration will cause scalping at every aeration hole
(due to large 1 to 2 inch long SCARS at every entrance point with a rotary
aerator) and ruin my 1994 Toro 3100 triplex reels in about 30 seconds. As
far as your earlier reply, I surmise you probably only have a ROTARY
aerator, like a Lawnaire IV or V. I remain unconvinced you have ever
owned or even used a Lawnaire 28. The fact that you didn't mention it by
model name and number but only send me a link with a photo of one suggests
that is unlikely that you could even afford one. Anyone can copy a photo
from a web page. If I purchased one for over $10,000+, I would like to
think I would remember the model name and number. My Plugr 400B cost less
than $2000 from
http://www.plugr.com/ (Matched price from
http://www.wikco.com/Plugr.html ).
If you really own a vertical aerator (in this case a Lawnaire 28 or
equivalent) then we have little need for further discussion. I am
seriously happy you can afford a Ryan Lawnaire 28 if you own one. Maybe you
can understand why the plugr is better fits my needs. As far as durability
goes only time will tell. I will say this, I can buy more than 5 Plugrs
400's for the price of one Lawnaire 28. At that rate, if a Plugr only lasts
5 years, I will still save money over time even if I buy a brand NEW
machine every five years.
I would only use a RYAN Lawnaire IV or V (for that matter, any other POS
rotary aerator) for my PASTURE. If you want to discuss this subject further
I will be happy to do so, but please discuss FACTS, not OPINIONS.
Dr. J
PS Now if Plugr (or Ryan or Toro) would send me a check, I will be happy
to cash it.
"Steveo" wrote in message
...
Steveo wrote:
"redrover" wrote:
And a note to Stevo, just cause you
haven't seen one up close doesn't make it junk.
I seen enough here to know I don't want one.
http://www.wikco.com/Plugr.html
As it turns out, redrover sells them. shocking!