Son Built Steps To Keep Dad Mowing

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #5, Page #03

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

Bob Manzke feared he wouldn’t be able to climb onto his zero-turn mower this past spring, but his son Russ made it possible. Manzke’s health was failing rapidly as winter came on.
  “I told him that if he took care of getting better, I would take care of the mower,” says Russ, a mechanical engineer.
  Russ took measurements of the Troy-Bilt zero-turn and shared sketches with his dad.
  Bob had some specific needs in mind. He wanted to be able to get off the mower by himself anyplace he mowed should he run out of gas. He also wanted good visibility. But the biggest things were stable steps and 2 handrails.
  “My dad mows a lot of road ditches, which meant there couldn’t be anything too low ahead of the mower,” says Russ.
  After making a couple of revisions, he came up with a simple set of plans for a frame that includes handrails, posts and steps. Russ used 1 1/4 by 1 1/4-in. steel tubing for everything but the steps. They are fabricated with angle iron, providing a flat surface and less chance of a boot getting caught. He tack-welded the frame together at the farm as his parents watched.
  “The steel tubing ensured my dad would have the visibility he wanted,” says Russ.
  The math worked out that two 7 1/2-in. steps would get Bob up to a height that he could step over the front panel and on to the deck of the mower. The lower of the 2 steps is mounted inside the first posts for the hand railing and pivots on the upright.
  “I ran the bottom rails of the framework back to the rear of the deck and drilled holes to bolt them in place,” says Russ. “I used U-bolts to attach the frame to the front wheel mounts on the mower.”
  Bob’s health improved, and when the grass began to grow, he was ready to mow. He climbs up between the railings, turns around and lowers himself into the seat.
  “We tied a rope to the bottom step and ran it through a couple of eye-bolts,” says Russ. “He can pull it up so it rests on the second step. When he is ready to get off, he backs up to it and kicks it back into place.”
  Although several people have suggested he patent the design, Russ would rather others use it for their own friends and relatives.
  “If we can help someone continue to do what they want, we need to do it,” he says.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Russ Manzke (manszker@edgefocusdesign.com; www.edgefocusdesign.com).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

Son Built Steps To Keep Dad Mowing FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 Bob Manzke feared he wouldn’t be able to climb onto his zero-turn mower this past spring but his son Russ made it possible Manzke’s health was failing rapidly as winter came on “I told him that if he took care of getting better I would take care of the mower ” says Russ a mechanical engineer Russ took measurements of the Troy-Bilt zero-turn and shared sketches with his dad Bob had some specific needs in mind He wanted to be able to get off the mower by himself anyplace he mowed should he run out of gas He also wanted good visibility But the biggest things were stable steps and 2 handrails “My dad mows a lot of road ditches which meant there couldn’t be anything too low ahead of the mower ” says Russ After making a couple of revisions he came up with a simple set of plans for a frame that includes handrails posts and steps Russ used 1 1/4 by 1 1/4-in steel tubing for everything but the steps They are fabricated with angle iron providing a flat surface and less chance of a boot getting caught He tack-welded the frame together at the farm as his parents watched “The steel tubing ensured my dad would have the visibility he wanted ” says Russ The math worked out that two 7 1/2-in steps would get Bob up to a height that he could step over the front panel and on to the deck of the mower The lower of the 2 steps is mounted inside the first posts for the hand railing and pivots on the upright “I ran the bottom rails of the framework back to the rear of the deck and drilled holes to bolt them in place ” says Russ “I used U-bolts to attach the frame to the front wheel mounts on the mower ” Bob’s health improved and when the grass began to grow he was ready to mow He climbs up between the railings turns around and lowers himself into the seat “We tied a rope to the bottom step and ran it through a couple of eye-bolts ” says Russ “He can pull it up so it rests on the second step When he is ready to get off he backs up to it and kicks it back into place ” Although several people have suggested he patent the design Russ would rather others use it for their own friends and relatives “If we can help someone continue to do what they want we need to do it ” he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Russ Manzke manszker@edgefocusdesign com; www edgefocusdesign com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW