Equipment Notebook: Sept. 2001 - MOWER ATTACHMENTS: Sulky Solutions

"The No. 1 one thing about sulkies is reducing fatigue," he said, since sulkies attach to walk-behind mowers and allow operators to stand. "So, we had women writing us letters thanking us for saving their marriages."

Obviously, sulkies were designed with walk-behind mowers in mind. With a sulky, operators expend less energy, explained Wright, president, Wright Mfg., Frederick, Md.

"A guy who is cutting grass in an eight-hour day, when a lot of these mowers travel at about 5 or 6 mph, can really walk between 20 and 30 miles a day," Wright said. "With a sulky, they are running the [mower] 3 or 4 mph, consistently all day long, and take less rest."

Michael Febbie, sales manager, Landscapers Supply, Spring Valley, N.Y., agreed. He identified operator fatigue as a contractor’s largest downfall, especially in a time-based industry where a higher volume of mowed property relates directly to company profit.

"When a landscape foreman or owner sends his crew out in July’s dog days, they’re mowing like crazy in the morning," Febbie pointed out. "In the afternoon, they’re drained after trotting behind a machine all day. If they are sent out in the morning with a sulky, mowers are productive all day long and make more money for the company."

HIGH PRODUCTION, LOW COSTS. Increased production and an energetic, efficient landscape crew go hand in hand.

"With hydrostatic capability replacing belt-drive technology on walk-behind mowers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was increased productivity of maybe 25 percent," Wright clarified. "When sulkies were added to the equation, there was yet another 25 percent productivity gain yielding a total boost of 50 percent at the end of the day."

Although reduced fatigue is a positive feature, low costs designate a sulky as an economical alternative to riding mowers. Sulkies cost between $100 and $300, depending on the brand name. Wright related that companies often come in to buy their first sulky, and then return the next day for several more after realizing first-hand just how beneficial they can be.

"The fact that you can do this economically is a big driver for this phenomenon," Wright said.

Installing a sulky most often involves drilling a couple of small holes into the back of the mower, bolting on a hitch and attaching the sulky. The hitch can be removed at any time and sulkies fit onto every type of mower, although most will only fit on a hitch that matches the sulky’s brand.

Kevin Giesecke, owner, Lawn-Wright Organic Lawns, Rockville, Md., has 40 to 60 walk-behind mowers in his fleet, with sulkies on almost all of them. He maintained that most, if not all, landscaping crews today utilize sulkies.

"I would be shocked if my operators didn’t use sulkies," Giesecke said strongly. "I don’t think there are many companies that don’t use them anymore."

CONSIDERING THE OPTIONS. After deciding to purchase a sulky, an operator must consider the three primary types. Trailing sulkies have one or two wheels and swerve to the insides of turns, allowing operators to overcome momentum changes and maneuver in tight spaces. One-wheel sulkies, the lightest type, work well on gear-drive mowers, while dual-wheel trailing sulkies accommodate heavier operators and do not leave definitive lines in turf, said Chris Havener, president, Havener Enterprises, Bradley, Ill. However, Febbie noted that the dual-wheel sulky might jack-knife when trying to reverse.

Caster, or swivel-wheel, styles have two wheels and resist changes in direction and momentum more than the trailer type. Yet, they allow the operator to remain relative in position to the handlebars throughout turns. Although heavier and less maneuverable, this sulky is better equipped for larger mowers, Havener said.

Another type of sulky lacks wheels and incorporates a hydraulic shock absorber so that the operator "floats" above the lawn. Febbie said this style comes in handy when customers do not want wheel tracks on their lawns.

Wright cited the trailer sulky’s ability to change directions smoothly as a clear advantage. "With the caster, the operator is the heaviest object, has momentum, and to get the operator swinging around, it requires overcoming the momentum of the operator," Wright explained. "The caster type with the operator in fixed position makes it harder to start a turn and harder to end."

Febbie backed up Wright’s preference for single-wheel sulkies. "Most people who buy sulkies buy single-wheel because they’re comfortable with how they operate and they are easy to maneuver," he said.

On the other hand, Havener praised the caster style for its comfort and position right behind the handlebars. He cited this style’s rising popularity as a result of handlebar design changes in many walk-behinds, but added that in the end, the choice between sulkies depends on the contractor. "It’s a matter of individual preference," Havener said.

DAY-TO-DAY BENEFITS. All sulkies offer several other advantages, including reduced top-heaviness and a lower center of gravity, which keep the mower from tipping over when traversing hills. In addition, the small size of a walk-behind mower with a sulky translates to storing more machines at a time.

"Fifty percent more walk-behind mowers could fill the truck [with sulkies] over ride-on mowers," Wright pointed out. Further, sulkies usually lift up and attach to the handlebars so that they can be tucked away when not in use. Havener pointed to this feature as an advantage to a contractor when mowing hills. "If you get into a real steep hill situation, and you’re not comfortable with the sulky, you can fold it up and you’re back to walking behind," he explained.

In terms of operating risks, Wright said sulkies actually improve operator safety. "When people switch to using sulkies instead of just a walk-behind, you find a dramatic decrease in the number of ankle injuries," he related. "Before it wouldn’t be uncommon for someone to step in a hole and twist their ankle."

Febbie asserted that sulkies pose minimal danger, and the reduced fatigue actually leads to safer conditions. "An operator who is fresher and not as fatigued is less likely to make a mistake," he clarified.

Yet, sulkies may have a few disadvantages, depending on the mowing job. Wright said a sulky might not be as efficient or necessary for smaller yards and tight spaces. However, Febbie always requires sulkies in his equipment lineup. "In my opinion, I would not allow a mower to go out without a sulky," he claimed.

Overall, Wright maintained that the productivity boost undoubtedly improves a mowing job.

"Wherever walk-behinds are, people ought to be using the stand-on sulkies," he said. "People who resist that change would not believe what they are missing in terms of what they can get done."