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At Kubota, we know that your success depends on how well we design and manufacture our equipment. If you have a machine down, you aren’t making money. We believe products and equipment that reduce time for commercial contractors will continue to be a focus of the industry, and we work closely with our dealers to find out what our customers are experiencing so we can be better prepared to anticipate your needs.

With Spring right around the corner, Kubota Senior Turf Product Manager Tom Vachal shares a few thoughts for commercial cutters to better prepare before the busy mowing season gets underway:

• Get Equipment Ready: Make sure all equipment is ready for the season, especially if it has been in storage all winter.

1. Add fresh fluids – Starting the season with fresh fluids is essential to proper starting and running. Gasoline breaks down over time, which could cause your mower to perform poorly or not start at all. Drain the remaining gasoline out of the machine so you can start fresh. A good rule is to drain it at the end of each season before you put the mower in storage.
2. Change the oil – Before you get your Kubota mower rolling, you’ll want to change the oil. Dirty oil can damage your engine, shorten the engine’s life, and cause future maintenance problems. It is recommended that you change your oil after every 100 hours of mower usage or once a year, whichever comes first.
3. Inspect all belts for failure points -- When inspecting your machine’s belts or changing your oil, be sure to allow the engine to cool down, as the oil inside will be hot and could cause burns.
4. Check all switches – During your inspection, make sure all switches are working properly.
5. Sharpen your blades – Like most items you use to cut things, mower blades become dull over time and with use. A dull mower blade only tears the grass instead of giving it a nice clean cut. Sharpening your blades regularly will help give your work a clean professional looking cut.

• Get Your Employees Ready: Ensure your employees are trained properly before you get busy. Competition among commercial cutters is fierce so taking time for training will pay off in the long run.
  1. Hold a training session: Hold a training session with all new employees to make sure they know how to operate and perform simple inspections on all equipment.
  2. Set expectations: Both new and returning employees should know how your company operates, what the expectations are for customer management and equipment maintenance.

Lastly, it is a great time to assess your equipment fleet needs. Kubota has added more flexibility to our fleet program, offering solutions to contractors to better suit a wide range of ever-changing needs.

“If we learned nothing else from 2020, we learned to remain nimble to help you through changing times,” said Vachal. “We are committed to not just be your equipment provider, but your business partner. We offer a fleet program that allows our customers to grow at their pace with the same brand from the start. In addition to saving money, customers who use our fleet program are able to work with one dealer for all their equipment needs, simplifying their process significantly.”