Roller mower
Encyclopedia
Roller mower, or rollermower, is a term generally applied to tractor
-powered multi-spindled rotary mower
s that have full width rollers
front and rear. Most rollermowers attach to a four-wheeled tractor via the three-point linkage
and are powered by the tractor’s power take-off
(PTO), though larger models connect three or more complete mowing decks to a separate chassis that is towed behind the tractor. Good rollermowers can produce a finish rivalling that of reel (cylinder) mower
s while generally being far more robust and requiring considerably less maintenance. Modern machines can also cope efficiently with a wider range of grass lengths and densities than cylinder mowers.
from the early 1970s. These were linkage-mounted three-spindled rotary mowers with a cutting width of 1.8m (72”). A larger version (HS20RLM/300) was also produced before manufacturing ceased in about 1984. The company was absorbed by Howard Australia Pty Ltd and from 1985 sourced its rollermowers from Trimax Industries Ltd (later Trimax Mowing Systems) in New Zealand
.
Trimax sold the same machines under the Trimax brand around the world, with the first Californian turf
farm purchasing in May 1995. The third generation range of Trimax rollermowers currently includes models with cutting widths from 1.8 to 6.1 m (6 to 20 feet). Trimax Pegasus tri-deck rollermowers are extensively used on turf or sod
farms in California and the south-eastern United States.
Several UK companies have also manufactured a variety of rollermowers.
Canadian company Progressive Turf Equipment recently (around 2007) claimed to have introduced rollermowers to the turf industry but this is unlikely as they publicly exhibited their first prototype at the Turf Producers International (TPI) show in Memphis in July 2006.
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
-powered multi-spindled rotary mower
Rotary mower
A rotary mower is a piece of tractor machinery that is often pulled behind the tractor, powered by the Power take-off which uses thick blades of sharpened metal to cut thick grass, heavy bushes, weeds, and small trees...
s that have full width rollers
Roller (agricultural tool)
The roller is an agricultural tool used for flattening land or breaking up large clumps of soil, especially after ploughing. Typically, rollers are pulled by tractors or, prior to mechanisation, a team of animals such as horses or oxen....
front and rear. Most rollermowers attach to a four-wheeled tractor via the three-point linkage
Three-point hitch
The three-point hitch most often refers to the way ploughs and other implements are attached to an agricultural tractor. The three points resemble either a triangle, or the letter A...
and are powered by the tractor’s power take-off
Power take-off
A power take-off or power takeoff is a splined driveshaft, usually on a tractor or truck, that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine. It is designed to be easily connected and disconnected...
(PTO), though larger models connect three or more complete mowing decks to a separate chassis that is towed behind the tractor. Good rollermowers can produce a finish rivalling that of reel (cylinder) mower
Mower
A mower is a machine for cutting grass or other plants that grow on the ground. Usually mowing is distinguished from reaping, which uses similar implements, but is the traditional term for harvesting grain crops, e.g...
s while generally being far more robust and requiring considerably less maintenance. Modern machines can also cope efficiently with a wider range of grass lengths and densities than cylinder mowers.
History
The original developer of the rollermower is uncertain, but Howard Rotavator Pty Ltd manufactured and sold the 72RLM (later the HS20RLM/180) Rollamowa in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from the early 1970s. These were linkage-mounted three-spindled rotary mowers with a cutting width of 1.8m (72”). A larger version (HS20RLM/300) was also produced before manufacturing ceased in about 1984. The company was absorbed by Howard Australia Pty Ltd and from 1985 sourced its rollermowers from Trimax Industries Ltd (later Trimax Mowing Systems) in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Trimax sold the same machines under the Trimax brand around the world, with the first Californian turf
Lawn
A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn...
farm purchasing in May 1995. The third generation range of Trimax rollermowers currently includes models with cutting widths from 1.8 to 6.1 m (6 to 20 feet). Trimax Pegasus tri-deck rollermowers are extensively used on turf or sod
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
farms in California and the south-eastern United States.
Several UK companies have also manufactured a variety of rollermowers.
Canadian company Progressive Turf Equipment recently (around 2007) claimed to have introduced rollermowers to the turf industry but this is unlikely as they publicly exhibited their first prototype at the Turf Producers International (TPI) show in Memphis in July 2006.