OPEI News: The Diesel Debate

The old saying tells us “Variety is the spice of life.” If that’s true, then landscape contractors are really enjoying themselves these days as mower manufacturers continue introducing new machines into their fleets.

One area a number of suppliers are addressing is the engine options as they offer bigger mowers with bigger power plants, particularly diesel engines. At this year’s OPEI Show, Ferris introduced its new IS 5000 mower with a 34-horsepower Caterpillar diesel engine and Husqvarna announced its own diesel-powered mower later this year. That mower will be available in 61- and 72-inch deck sizes and with a 34-horsepower Daihatsu Turbo supplying the power.

But do landscape contractors really care? Most probably don’t, but they probably aren’t the target market for these machines either. “Why would I want a mower where I pay a premium for an engine that is going to outlast the mower’s body by two or three years?” asked Mike Rorie, president, Groundmasters, Cincinnati, Ohio. “The fuel efficiency isn’t going to pay for that added price. Plus, I don’t want to have employees trying to figure out if they need to put gas or diesel fuel in the mowers.”

Mower manufacturers acknowledge these concerns, and they agree with contractors to some degree. But they think the municipal and many in-house customers will be more receptive to diesel power.

“If you go talk to a school district, they’ve already got diesel fuel around because they’re using it for their buses and maybe some large tractors, so they’re not worried about that,” pointed out Mike Hogue from Husqvarna. “Plus, the diesel machine can save them anywhere from 25 percent up to 40 percent on their fuel consumption, and that can really add up.”

Roy Dust of Ferris, Munnsville, N.Y., said he thinks diesel users can expect to get 6,000 hours of engine use before they need to rebuild it. But he emphasized that so much power is necessary when you’re talking about a mower that weighs about 2,000 pounds. Fortunately, it comes with 26-inch tires that keep the machine from damaging the turf.

And he’s optimistic about sales potential for the nearly $17,000 unit. “We wanted to have a diesel machine, we wanted to set ourselves apart a little bit, and we wanted a mower that was reliable,” Dust pointed out. “We’re able to do all of that by working with Caterpillar. In fact, we’ve still got some extra power with this machine, so I don’t think it will be the last diesel mower we build.”

And Dust thinks come contractors will want to take advantage of what the diesel units offer. “Contractors want the biggest deck they can still fit on a trailer, and that’s what we’re trying to offer them,” he noted.

The author is Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at bwest@lawnandlandscape.com.