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Aerating Hard Ground
If the ground is too firm to obtain the desired coring
depth, the coring head can get into a "bouncing"
rhythm. This is due to the tines attempting to penetrate
the hard pan. This condition can be corrected by
attempting one or more of the following:
•
Best results are obtained after a rain or when turf
has been watered the previous day.
•
Reduce the number of tines per stomper
arm. Attempt to maintain a symmetrical tine
configuration to evenly load the stomper arms.
•
Reduce aerator penetration (depth setting) if the
ground is hard packed. Clean up the cores, water
the turf, and aerate again at a deeper penetration.
Aeration of soil types built on top of hard subsoils
(i.e. sand/soil cap placed over rocky ground) can
cause undesired hole quality. This is caused when
the aeration depth is greater than the soil cap and
the subsoil is too hard to penetrate. When the tines
contact this subsoil the aerator may lift and cause the
top of the holes to become elongated. Reduce the
aeration depth sufficiently to avoid penetration into
the hard subsoil.
Using Needle Tines
Long slender tines used in either a needle tine head
or mini tine head can leave the front or rear of the
hole tufted or slightly deformed. Hole quality for this
configuration generally improves if the coring head
speed is reduced 10 to 15% from full operating speed.
For PTO powered aerators reduced the engine speed
until the PTO speed is around 460 to 490 rpm. The
forward spacing is not effected by reducing the engine
speed. The pushed hole can also be affected by the
position of the rotalink damper assembly. Refer to
Adjusting the Rotalink Assembly (page
Avoiding Root Zone Lifting
Using the mini-tine heads in conjunction with larger
coring tines or large diameter solid tines can induce
significant stress on the root zone of the turf. This
stress can fracture the root zone and cause a lifting
action to the turf. If this damage occurs try one or
more of the following:
•
Reduce the tine density (remove some of the
tines).
•
Decrease the coring depth (suggested in 1/2 inch
increments).
•
Increase the forward hole spacing (change the
tractor transmission up one gear).
•
Decrease the tine diameter (solid or coring).
Adjusting the Rotalink
Assembly
The mounting height of the rotalink damper assembly
affects the reactive force applied to the stomper arm
and ground engagement during aeration. In the event
of the front of the hole being pushed (elongated or
dimpled), a "stiffer" position can help resist this push
and improve hole quality. In the event of the back
of the hole being pushed (elongated or dimpled) a
"softer" position can improve the hole quality.
To adjust the rotalink assembly, proceed as follows:
1.
2.
3.
24).
1. Rotalink damper assembly 4. D washer
2. Lower bumper spacer
3. Spacer(s)
4.
24
Remove the 2 locknuts (1/2 inch) securing the
rotalink damper assembly to the underside of
the coring head frame
Lower the damper assembly to expose the
spacers
(Figure
26).
Move 1 or 2 spacers per side from the damper
assembly to the top of the coring head frame.
Each spacer is equivalent to 1/2 inch. The lower
bumper spacer must remain on the damper
assembly.
Figure 26
Assemble the damper assembly to the coring
head frame again. Ensure that the D washer
is installed against the coring head frame as
shown in
Figure
26. Secure the 2 locknuts.
To see the effects of this adjustment, adjust
only 3 to 4 assemblies to compare the original
position and the new position on a trial pass.
When satisfactory results are achieved, move
the remaining assemblies to the same height as
the desired arms.
(Figure
26).
g007335
5. Locknut
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