Becareful mowing around waterways.

[Steve]

What a sad story. I do wonder which mower Jorge was using. Did it have a roll bar? Did it have a seatbelt? Who would normally think that such a terrible accident could occur when mowing near a body of water three feet deep? Do you do anything different or are you more aware of potential problems when you mow near water? Newburgh man drowns in lawnmower accident - Police said Jorge Trinidad, 25, was riding one of the mowers when he rolled into a pond on the property. Trinidad fell with the mower on top of him, pinning him under about three feet of water.

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Yes this is very scary and can happen in an instant. A local apple farmer rolled his tractor in his pond and died the same way. At our shop we have a large pond I cut around...makes ya think.

[kc2006]

I read that article the other day, made me put the ROPS up on my mower for the first time at my one commercial account that has large ditches and creeks.

[Steve]

What kind of device is it? Was it factory installed or did you fabricate it?

Also do you have a seat belt on the mower as well?

[kc2006]

it's the factory roll bar, the mower has a seat belt too, I didn't put it on though, all these ditches are maybe 2-3 foot drop only and the deepest creek is a foot and a half deep. I've read of guys getting pinned under mowers and drowning in 1-2 foot deep water only, so I figured the roll bar should keep it from pinning me and I can get out fast if I need too without the belt.

I do believe that's how that guy died, he had the seat belt on and couldn't get it off (if thats the same story).

[Steve]

What concerns me is I would think the seat belt should keep you in place and keep you from being pinned. If you did get into a rollover into water, I would think you would have a better chance getting out with the belt on initially.
Otherwise who knows where you would end up.

[kc2006]

I'll probably start wearing the belt and have the rops up. I only have 1 account where I have to worry about hills and ditches. Hills aren't a problem, I've done some pretty crazy hills in the past, and if I even start to get squirrely I just steer down the hill to the bottom, but the ditch is what scares me (not even for being pinned under it) it's getting the mower stuck in there! I carry a 30' chain with me but I'd probably have to have it craned out of there.

I actually took the rops off my mower last week, and I cut at the commercial place and wow is it different, that weight back there makes a big difference in stability, I was sliding all over the place on dry ground. So this week I had the dealers demo unit while mine is being staired at (long story) and that has the rops.

[Steve]

What's up with your current mower?

[kc2006]

I just bought it about 3 weeks ago and I've hardly used it. It was supposed to be the deck that can cut in the rain and not clump or collect any clippings up on the deck...yea right! It can hardly keep up in 7 day growth, I've had to double/tripple almost every account, plus the cut is just bad, the left spindle has a real rough cut and it leaves streaks of pushed over grass that isn't cut all the way. It's been a nightmare.

The thing that made me flip was yesterday the dealer called me and he was even upset that the company wants to patch the problem. They want to put a couple different kinds of blades on it at once and I'm not standing for that. I told the rep before that I know they're going to bring some butcher patch to the problem and make me the test unit and then bring out a good unit next year and I'll be out in the cold. This shouldn't be happening when spending this much on a machine. I should be getting word on whats going to happen in the next day or two, so we'll see.

[Steve]

What kind of mower is it?

Is this from a newer company or a well established one?