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Eldridge agrees, viewing the new
DPA cutting units as the product’s most
important feature.
“The biggest thing is the new
cutting unit, the DPA” he says. “That’s
something we’ve been requesting for
years, and I think that’s going to really
help us to do our jobs better.”
“With the DPA, I think you get a
better reel-to-bedknife adjustment,”
Eldridge explains. “Out in the field, we’re
able to do a better job of adjusting one
side instead of having to adjust the entire
bedknife.”
Better Quality Of Cut
The DPA cutting units are brand-
new and leverage many innovative and
proprietary features that together elevate
the overall quality of the Reelmaster
mowers. With special suspension and
weight balance, the cutting units’
innovative design optimizes ground-
following and mowing performance to
deliver unbelievable quality of cut on a
variety of terrains.
The cutting units are also made with a
proprietary reel blade material—another
innovation exclusive to Toro.
“By using a harder base metal and
an advanced tempering process, the
blades hold an edge much longer,”
says Ferguson. “The result is reduced
adjustments and less frequent
backlapping and grinding. That helps
to ensure a consistently higher quality
of cut because the sharper edge shears
the grass blade off cleanly, so grasses stay
green and healthy. We even scalloped the
reel blades for a built-in relief, which also
helps keep the blade sharp.”
A related improvement on the cutting
units is a heavy-duty bedknife called
EdgeMax
™
—used exclusively by Toro,
which incorporates a harder, leading-
edge tool steel to retain its sharp edge
up to three times longer than standard
bedknives. You can choose from among
three cutting units: a 5-inch diameter 8
blade; a 7-inch diameter 8 blade; and a
7-inch diameter 11 blade.
More reliable mowing is further
enhanced by the Reelmasters’ specially
designed all-wheel drive system—another
innovation that’s new to the industry.
The CrossTrax
™
drive system is based on
Toro’s patented Series/Parallel traction
system. This drive system provides
superior traction on wet slopes by
transferring power from the front tires to
the opposite rear tires. That way, if the
upslope tire starts to lose traction, the
opposing rear tire absorbs more weight
to help propel the unit forward and up
the hill.
“I think the quality of the cut is great,
and it was really quick,” Currier says.
With five courses and nearly 300,000
rounds played every year at Bethpage, a
high level of productivity is essential for
him and his crew. “With all the play we
have here at our facility, we need to get
in and out as quick as we can without
sacrificing quality.”
Lighter Frame, Less
Compaction
With the new Reelmaster machines,
Toro also offers another important
benefit: a product that’s not only better,
but lighter. The mowers weigh up to
280 pounds less than Toro’s older units,
and that’s even with the more powerful
engines.
“We trimmed unnecessary weight
so the mower would have a lighter
footprint, but without sacrificing any
durability or functionality,” Ferguson
says. “That means the new Reelmasters
provide the finest fairway cutting with
less compaction or turf abrasion.”
Eldridge and Currier viewed this
feature as an important benefit.
“Lighter frames are a benefit because
any time you get a lighter footprint
on the turfgrass surface, you’re doing
yourself a big favor,” Eldridge says.
“The lighter the mower is, the less
compaction,” Currier says. “For what
we’re looking for, the weight is good.”
Many Other Advantages
To provide better after-cut appearance,
the Reelmasters accommodate a series
of built-in features and optional
attachments, including platform
groomers, powered rear roller brushes,
collection baskets, cutting-unit combs
and more. The mowers can even be
configured with Toro’s TurfDefender
Leak Detector, a device that identifies
hydraulic leaks and then shuts down the
cutting system to prevent turf damage.
The new mowers also offer increased
operator comfort, providing a deluxe seat
suspension, a control panel within closer
reach, easier step-entry and exit, tilt
steering wheel and reduced noise.
“Comfort-wise, it was great, too,”
Currier says. “It’s such a comfortable and
smooth machine. When you’re riding
around on a golf course all day it’s pretty
rough, so the operators are definitely
going to enjoy not bouncing up and
down all over the place.”
Currier adds: “There’s plenty of room
on the machine and it’s easy to use,” said
Currier. “It’s also big enough to make
sure you have plenty of power.”
“They did a nice job,” concludes
Eldridge. “I think Toro has made great
strides with these machines.”
New Reelmaster
Fairway Mowers
Better Quality Of Cut Is Just The Start
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