Message Board - Health & Safety: Mowers for steep banks.
17 Sep 2009 by petermarkcraig
We are trying to establish a wild flower bed on a very steep bank. Does anyone have any similar situations to maintain and if so any tips on machinery, health and safety approach?
Peter
Of course the grass looks good. The sun is shining.
17 Sep 2009 by Neil Dixon
Peter, i have several nasty slopes / verges/ grass banks and maintaining them is becoming a major issue, i am now looking at side arm flails.
We physically cant get a mower on some of them, and even strimming them is a risk not worth taking.
17 Sep 2009 by dave r-b
Hi Peter, a few years ago we (local council) have a couple of things called grillo's, the best way to describe then is ... a go-kart with a mowing deck under them. these things went anywhere and everywhere. not sure if they still do them or anything like them now though.
im now an ex groundsman but hey old habits die hard
17 Sep 2009 by Cranfield
Hi Peter www.mcmurtryltd.co.uk/ have developed a new radio controlled rotary mower for banks . i saw it at saltex .
Have you also considered the Ransomes spider ?
17 Sep 2009 by petermarkcraig
Thanks for all your input chaps. I'll let you know if I find a solution.
Of course the grass looks good. The sun is shining.
17 Sep 2009 by ticky21
Peter, the absolute safest way to maintain this type of bank is with a side arm flail, depending on the severity of the inclinbe ther are machines like the Grillo as Dave RB says, also Aebi do bank machines, and Attila, im even thinking that Etesia do one.....we do alot of eco maintained grassland/wild flower work for local authorities around your area, PM me if you need any help..
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
18 Sep 2009 by panch
We use a large ferris walk behind or sidearm flail. The ferris is excellent and with a 52" cut you can cover large areas quickly. Much safer than ride on machinary. 1 death and 1 serious injury using ride on machinary to cut banks in last six weeks in north derbyshire.
18 Sep 2009 by wicketdevil
Same here we have a ferris 48inch and is very good for banks. WD
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
18 Sep 2009 by Neil Dixon
We hired a Grillo a couple of yrs ago from TH Whites and is worth hiring to see if it is suitable.
The one problem i have with it is it is so low to the ground it gives the operator a false sense of security, so they tend to go on banks that are well beyond the capability of the machine.
18 Sep 2009 by Nifty Last edited 18 Sep 2009
Tyre pressure is everything with those Grillos , 8-10 PSI only gives you miles more traction and stability , the new tracked Scag remote control mower looks like an awesome piece of kit , the thing with banks is they will have the odd rabbit hole so anything with tracks is going to win over wheels , the Ferris pedestrian is also excellent but twin wheels on each side is the best arrangement for banks , another thing to remember is the technique , long before Grillos etc they were done by Allen Nationals , and if you ask someone like me old friend Ticky , its always straight up and down with a ride on , not along the contours , aint that right Si ??
Its got to be purrrfect
20 Sep 2009 by ticky21
Yep..Rob...you give me a Kubota F3060 with an outfront flail head an ill mow it straight up, an reverse back down, its the safest way by far......
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
25 Sep 2009 by FATNGRUMPY
Hi Peter
The Spider II is a good option . It gives a very nice finish and it will work on slopes of over 40 deg. with a winch. There is also the RoboFlail that STM Machinery sell. And finally the Deltrak from IPU.
Health and Safety is a major issue these days.
Depending on how much work you have I am also a fan of the Aebi.
I hope this helps
Cheers
Jon
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