I went to Harrogate today to check out ideas for some machinery, grant dependant. One target was a pedestrian scarrifier/linear airator for cricket work, with a targt of 10mm plus depth capability (not just thatch romoval, I also have inherited subsurface issues from the era of Marl that I want to improve).
I was pretty much convinced I knew what I wanted until I compared the Graden and the Sisis 602, two machines with similar list price tags.
What do current users think of these machines - plus points and negatives please.
Also, am I right in concluding that the cassette machines such as Allett and Dennis (amongst a clutch of similar looking machines) would struggle to reach more than a few mm down and would not do the same job as the Graden/Sisis?
BTW, it was good to meet Bath, AA and Loamy face to face. Thanks for your time guys.
The ciderman rolls
If it was me spending that sought of money i would look at the 602, the allett and dennis machines are a good all rounder but do they have the power or weight to penetrate on cricket.
The 602 has the benefit of being multi machines in a sorrel /seeder / dethatcher / power brush/ verti cutter and much more , one question how long would it take you to change a reel on the 602 .
Graden. Much more durable.
21 Jan 2010 by vid
The graden is only really suitable for end of season work on cricket and it doesnt collect. The 602 is an all round machine and alltogether more suitable as a general help to cricket groundsmen as it assists in pitch preparation as well as end of season work and it collects. The Graden is much stronger and more durable but requires other machinery or manual work to complete its linear aeration work ie cleaning up afterwards. Perhaps someone who has used both will be in a better position to corroborate this however.
vid - that's only true 'if' you only have the thatch removal tines.
You can get verticut tines for the Graden - which would (in theory) extend it's use to in season as well.
For end of season work I think the Graden is currently beyond equal.
I've not had chance to use a 602 for complete renovations yet - hopefully will get a chance this next september.
602 major advantages:
Additional reels (verticut, brush etc etc) which extend it's usefulness well beyond the end of season work.
Disadvantage: you will be emptying the box very often during renovatations.
Graden advantages: built like a tank, goes through rock hard squares pretty much like butter.
Disadvantage - doesn't pick up at all, which imho makes it useless for in season work.
I couldn't careless whether a machine has a box for end of season - cos it won't be on there. Regardless, box or not, you still have to go over the surface picking up stuff afterwards so why waste time emptying boxes whilst scarifying.
As with all ground equipment it's a very personal choice as to which machine you'll prefer using. Get them in for a demo and try the out - you don't want a machine that you're not comfortable with.
JT, Missed you at Harrogate, would have been nice to meet up, perhaps next time.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
The box thing interests me. I think it is a plus point for end of season as it must catch a proportion of the arisings before they hit the ground and fall into the grooves. OK, so it won't get everything, but does it reduce the clearing up time? At the end of the day there is no more stuff to remove whether you do it as you scarrify or afterwards (except less may fall back down grooves?).
So long as the box is at least as big as whatever you currently use to clear up, why would you need to empty more frequently?
So I see the box as a plus for the Sisis.
Then I look to the blades. The Graden uses what looks like a circular saw but the Sisis uses a traditional (cruder) looking two toothed blade. I would imagine that the Graden blade puts less strain on both the machine and the ground as it presumably takes much smaller nibbles, but more often - or it might just move forward faster? So this point appears to favour the Graden in my mind - but that's back of an envelope mechanics only.
The interchangable units for the Sisis appear good - but are they economic?? The Sarrel roller head has a much smaller diameter than a traditional Sarrel roller - so the tines will inevitably either go in less deeply or create longer slot holes, and the unit is not dramatically cheaper than buying a dedicated Sarrel roller. You get a driven sarrel roller with the Sisis rather than one you have to push/pull by hand, but how do the results compare on the ground? Wat is the experience of those of you with Sarrel roller cassettes for Dennis etc?
JL is right - I'm going to have to get a demo to make my mind up. Looks like I'll be doing some early end of season repairs to my first tracks sometime in late May or early June!
The ciderman rolls
Ive just put in a capital bid for a sisis 602 as having looked at both machines the sisis machine gives me more uses from one machine very important when covering five cricket squares over a 100 acre site and can also be used when reseeding other areas throughout the year.WD.
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
Jon,why not demo both machines on your square thats the only way you will no for sure what works best for you.
23 Jan 2010 by vid
Thanks for basically agreeing with me, Jon - I think!! I'll put down the mild confusion whether you are agreeing with me or disagreeing to too much Harrogating!!
question for mr lawrance is kensit sports in surrey the only place to get gradon parts i am in the north east is there anybody in the north east
27 Jan 2010 by Barry Pace Last edited 27 Jan 2010
Mr Robinson, as far as I am aware as Kensetts are the Main Distributor and Importer of Graden they are the best location for parts as everyone will only be able to order them from them, although I dont think anyone is set up up your way anyway. As long as you speak to 'Jane 2' in the office you will get what you need as quick as rather than to Keith as he doesn't always get chance to sort things that minute................
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
For sure if you ring Kensetts they'll know if anyone in the North East has stock of parts.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Jon if you looking to deep scarify there is only one machine for the job and that is the Graden.
niel, what about the sisis tm 1000 tractor mounted scarifyer 50mm no probs !!!!!!!
50mm no probs. Was that a cricket square ? and if it was, how wet was it to achieve that depth please ?
2 Feb 2010 by vid
Guys - I get the impression you take your Gradens to bed with you. It is a very good machine but not that versatile and not really suited for in season use on a cricket square. The Sisis wont achieve the depth that a graden can but is still not bad and certainly capable more than the 10mm Jon originally requested. Most importantly it has a greater range of attachments plus it has a box. You can scoff at the box as much as you want but I would prefer that on a cricket square to sweepers, shovels and blowers any time!!
I dont currently have either myself and still get adequate performance out of the ARR 4 but I would love to have the use of either machine, but for me as I have mentioned versatlity over robustness and a few more mm wins it for me.
Ive used both and I used a Graden for 09 renovations in September. Not sure if the Sisis would have gone through the ground which was like concrete as easy as the graden did. In saying that, the graden is not as versatile as the Sisis and I used the Sisis the year before and it was fine although the ground was not as hard but it has tungsten tipped blades and a good strong engine.
Wish I had enough money to buy either!
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Barry, where did you manage to hire a SISIS Scarifier from? I can't find a company anywhere in Surrey / Hampshire.
Sean
Didnt hire it actually. I borrowed it from a local public school, I know the Head groundsman there. In fact I only used it because the Graden I had hired off the county trailer had broken down! But it did the job fine.
This year I hired the arden again and it broke down again! I think I was just unlucky, it was only a split pin but wasnt eaasy to hold of one at 10.30am on a saturday morning. But when fixed it went through the concrete like ground like a knife through butter.
I dont know where you can hire one either mate, sorry
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Back to Top - Go to Next Unread Message
This Message is closed, you may not post a reply at this time