Abstract: A riding mower has a frame supported by a plurality of wheels including a pair of front drive wheels covered by front fenders. A plurality of cutting units are arranged in advance of the frame. The operator sits on a seat atop the frame at the front of the frame. The operator mounts and dismounts the seat from behind the front fenders and the front wheel and not from the front, access to the seat from the front being prevented by the placement of the cutting units. A pivotal armrest along one side of the seat normally blocks access to the seat from that side. However, the armrest can be pivoted to a raised position in which it clears the seat to allow the operator to reach the seat from that side of the seat.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a traction vehicle (12); one or more reel-type cutting unit(s) (20), each supported by one or more rollers (34, 35); and a cutting unit suspension system (22) associated with each cutting unit, preferably including a ball joint (90) located generally at the same height as the cutting unit roller(s) (34, 35) and proximate the lateral mid-point of the cutting unit (20). Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a flexible seal member (110) which bears against a reel-type cutting unit and the lower edge of the mouth of a grass catcher (46). The flexible seal member (110) flexes to accommodate yawing of the cutting unit to minimize dribbling of grass clippings. In a preferred embodiment, when the cutting unit (20) is raised off of the turf, the cutting unit (20) initially rises independent of the grass catcher (46), and the flexible seal member (110) accommodates this relative motion by sliding along a front shield (40) of the cutting unit (20).

Abstract: An improved rake assembly for a sandtrap maintenance machine comprises a rake frame having a transverse row or rows of scarifying teeth. A trowel plate is fixed to the rake frame and trails behind the scarifying teeth and includes a substantially planar lower edge comprising a horizontal flange that bears against the sand to smooth out the sand disturbed by the scarifying teeth. In addition, a finishing rake is moveably attached to the rake frame to trail behind both the scarifying teeth and the trowel plate to allow the finishing rake to further groom and smooth the surface of the sand. The trowel plate is adjustably carried on the rake frame to be capable of vertical adjustment up and down relative to the rake frame. This vertical adjustment allows the height of the scarifying teeth of the rake frame to be quickly adjusted without having to individually adjust the scarifying teeth one by one.

Abstract: A U-joint (23) for connecting a reel unit (22) to a lift arm (18) of a turf maintenance machine (10). U-joint (23) preferably includes a pivot arm (40) suitable for connection to the lift arm (18), and a pivot base (38) for connection to the top of a standard reel cutting unit (22). Situated between pivot arm (40) and pivot base (38) is a cross and bearing unit (72). Pitch stops are formed by the base (38) whereas roll stops are formed by the pivot arm (40). The stops act on the cross and bearing unit (72) to provide limited pitching and rolling of reel unit (22) relative to lift arm (18).