John Deere at Saltex
STAND NO. VO1
New professional triple mower from John Deere
Improved operator comfort and serviceability plus a new traction system are features of John Deere's new 2653B professional utility mower, which builds on the durability, performance and quality of cut of its predecessor, the 2653A.
This three-wheel drive triplex machine is particularly suitable for the more difficult areas of grass on golf courses and other amenity turf areas, including slopes and rough terrain. It can be used equally well on golf courses for tees, surrounds and fairways leading up to the greens, or for cricket outfields and other sports turf areas.
The Tier 3 diesel engine is a 20hp, three-cylinder, liquid-cooled unit designed to meet the most up to date emissions and noise regulations. Improved traction and stability on wet or hilly terrain are provided by a new system that sends oil flow away from any tyre that slips and directs it to the tyres with more grip. This allows the mower to maintain good traction in the toughest conditions.
The operator station has been redesigned to give the driver a more natural sitting position, while also providing an extra 102mm (4in) of leg room when equipped with the standard seat. Console mounted controls include a new one-touch lever for lifting and lowering the cutting cylinders, a new hourmeter that displays all the key mower functions, and there is a handy cup holder/storage area on the driver's right hand side.
Serviceability has been improved with a new hood design, which allows access to all components in the engine compartment after raising the hood. The design also allows airflow from three sides of the machine, to divert heat and engine noise away from the operator. The 2653B also features a standard 'Sit on Seat' (SoS) on-board diagnostic system, easily accessible from the operator's seat, which helps technicians to quickly identify any electrical service issues.
In common with its predecessor, the John Deere 2653B mower features hydraulically driven ESP (extra strength and precision) cutting units, which can be fixed or floating as necessary to stay close to ground contours. Heavy-duty front rollers have either a smooth or grooved finish, and optional equipment includes a smooth or grooved roller scraper and grass boxes.
There is a choice of five- or eight-blade cylinders, each with a choice of 66 or 76cm (26 or 30in) wide cut, and micro-lap backlapping is standard. Mowing height can be adjusted quickly in 3.17mm (1/8in) steps, from 9.5 to 76mm (3/8 to 3in), and overall cutting width is 1.8m (72in). Price of the new John Deere 2653B professional utility mower starts at £17,937 (the same as the 2653A).
Heavy duty Gator gets upgrade
John Deere's latest ProGator heavy duty utility vehicle can be used as a general materials transporter or with specialist turf maintenance equipment for a wide range of applications in the golf & turf and commercial groundscare markets.
The new ProGator 2030A two seater utility vehicle is available with a 24hp diesel engine that meets all the latest emissions and noise regulations. It also provides a choice of two wheel drive or optional four wheel drive, which features a new manual engagement system to give the operator full control of additional traction when required.
A new auxiliary hydraulic pump has been designed with higher displacement and increased durability, to provide extra power for hydraulically driven attachments such as disc type top dressers and sprayers. The ProGator can also be fitted with John Deere's own HD200 low profile sprayer and TD100 top dresser, as well as materials collection systems and adapter kits for other makes of turf maintenance equipment.
This restyled ProGator has a five forward, one reverse speed synchronised transmission, with full front and rear suspension, hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels plus differential lock, hydrostatic power steering, a large 36-litre (8gal) fuel tank and a maximum speed of 19mph (30kph).
The standard tipping cargo box has a capacity of 876kg, and towing capacity at the rear hitch is 680kg. Overall payload capacity with driver, passenger and loaded cargo box is 2041kg, while unladen weight is 840kg.
An optional Mauser cab can also be fitted in place of the standard ROPS frame. As with all Gators in the John Deere range, the vehicle is designed for easy servicing, with all service points readily accessible, and operator training and safety instructions are provided on DVD. UK list price of the new ProGator 2030A for 2007 is the same as the previous model, starting at £17,569.