220 E-Cut HybridWalking Greens Mowers
- Fully floating head
- Follows contours
- Level cut
- Adjustable frequency of clip with lockout
With a full-contouring 22 in (58.8 cm) QA5 cutting unit that freely moves to follow curves, the 220 E-Cut Hybrid makes the cleanup cut as easy as mowing the rest of the green. And that’s not the only way it keeps your crew ahead. The new Quick Adjust reel means height of cut can be set in seconds. A simple dial changes the frequency of clip, so you can tailor greens speed. And backlapping is such a cinch with its integrated electric motor, you can easily do it every day.
The primary purpose of walk greens mowers with independent cutting units is to follow contours. It is in this area the 180 E-Cut™ and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers truly excel.
Ball-joint mounting system
It all starts with the ball-joint mounting system that attaches the cutting unit to the traction drive system. Similar to the PrecisionCut™, E-Cut hybrid riding greens mowers, and fairway mowers with Quick-Adjust 5 (QA5) cutting units, the ball-mounting system allows the cutting unit to rotate in any direction.
The cutting unit not only moves fore and aft, and laterally side-to-side, it also steers in turns, which translates to a much more turf-friendly premium cut in cleanup passes around the perimeter of the green.
Due to the ball-joint design, and also the fact that the wiring harness is the only connection to the reel drive system, the cutting unit has virtually no mechanical linkage to restrict movement of the cutting unit in the toughest of undulations.
It is basically a one-gang triplex, and many are familiar with how well the PrecisionCut and E-Cut hybrid riding greens mowers follow contours, especially in the cleanup passes.
For maintenance, the reel can be removed by simply removing a pin, and the electric motor itself features a quick-attach design by simply loosening two 15-mm bolts, turning the motor slightly, and pulling the motor off of the cutting unit.
Control contour following
Limit chains on each side of the cutting unit control how much the cutting unit contours while mowing, while also controlling the amount of rear-roller drop when the unit is lifted for turns.
The initial setting of the chain is exactly the same as the 2500B PrecisionCut and 2500E E-Cut Hybrid Riding Greens Mowers. Two links should hang free, which means the chain itself is shortened to seven links. The upper chain anchor studs should be centered in their slots. This setting provides maximum contour following and maximum rear-roller drop when lifted.
However, the majority of greens will not require maximum contour following. Turning and maneuvering are easiest when the amount of contour following is limited to the requirements of the surface being mowed.
To limit the contour following of the cutting units, adjust the upper chain anchor studs backward in the slots to limit float and reduce the rear-roller drop. If further limitation is desired, shorten the chain to six links (three hanging free), and move the upper chain anchor studs forward in their slots.
The benefits of hybrid technology are numerous. The 2500E E-Cut™ Hybrid Riding Greens Mowers and E-Cut Hybrid fairway mowers are proof of that.
So why not move that same technology to the walk-behind greens mowers? With the 180 E-Cut and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers, hybrid technology is now at operators' disposal on even the most undulating of greens.
In the case of walk greens mowers, hybrid technology provides more benefits than just noise reduction, fuel savings, and the elimination of any hydraulic leak points. With the 180 E-Cut and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mower platform, the hybrid technology also allows a truly independent cutting unit that quickly reacts to contours, not only allowing the cutting unit to pivot laterally and fore-aft, but also to turn side to side for mowing cleanup passes.
Because of the hybrid technology in the 180 E-Cut and 220 E-Cut Hybrid, the only link between the cutting unit and the traction unit for turning the reels off and on is the wiring harness. The wiring harness can easily move in any direction the cutting unit needs to go. There are no hard linkages in the reel-drive system to limit the cutting unit's ability to follow contours.
In addition, the electric drive system makes it easy to backlap by simply flipping a switch. No need for a special backlapping tool to spin the reel in reverse. It is all on board the 180 E-Cut and 220 E-Cut Hybrid as base equipment.
Frequency of clip is also adjustable by a dial behind the handlebar cover.
The system is powered by a Honda® engine, which turns an electric motor that is used as a generator. In between this motor and the electric reel-drive motor is the reel controller itself.
Similar to the controllers used on the 2500E E-Cut Hybrid Greens Mowers and E-Cut Hybrid fairway mowers, the controller takes the power from the generator and controls the reel speed. This particular controller monitors engine rpm and controls reel speed to precisely match the frequency of clip that has been set.
The electric reel-drive motor itself is the same one used on the 2500E E-Cut Hybrid Riding Greens Mowers and E-Cut fairway mowers – proven technology with proven results.
Honda is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
The buzz in the industry is all about frequency of clip. But what exactly is it? Frequency of clip is defined as the distance traveled between consecutive cuts. In other words, it is how far the machine moves from the time one blade passes across the bedknife until the next blade passes. The lower the frequency of clip, the less distance that is traveled until the next blade passes.
Some will say that the lower the frequency of clip the better the cut quality, but that is a misconception as the key factors of cut quality are the following:
There is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to frequency of clip. The less distance the mower travels between consecutive cuts, the more times the same grass blade is going to be impacted by the reel, which leads to bruising of the turf – especially in the overlap from pass to pass.
Optimum frequency of clip
So, what is the optimum frequency of clip? It all depends on conditions. The 180 E-Cut™ and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers give the ability to establish a frequency of clip that is appropriate for individual conditions.
The adjustment is a rotary dial located behind the handlebars. The system comes with a standard locking cover that must be accessed with tools, ensuring only those trusted to make this change, such as the superintendent or technician, can do so.
Once the frequency of clip is established, the 180 E-Cut and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers mow at that frequency of clip, no matter the traction speed of the machine.
It does this by monitoring the engine rpm. As the throttle is decreased, the controller slows down the reel motor to match the new speed of the traction system, maintaining a constant frequency of clip. As the throttle is increased, the controller speeds up the reel motor to maintain the frequency of clip.
Similar to the SL Series Walk Greens Mowers, this system keeps frequency of clip the same from operator to operator. This means no cut quality difference between more experienced operators mowing at a faster ground speed and less experienced operators mowing at a slower ground speed.
A significant benefit to the electric reel-drive system is that it is very simple to change the direction of the motor, which allows the cutting unit to spin either forward for mowing or backward for backlapping.
The 180 E-Cut™ and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers can be backlapped without needing any external devices to drive the reel backward. It can do it all by itself with a simple toggle switch located on the rear left-hand side of the machine.
To backlap, simply set the park brake, start the engine, toggle the mow or backlap switch to backlap, and turn on the power take-off (PTO) by toggling the PTO rocker switch on the front of the handlebar cover. The reel controller automatically sets the optimum backlapping speed; no special tools or rotary dials are needed to adjust the speed.
This onboard backlapping saves a lot of time and money, while keeping reels in top shape for a premium quality of cut.
For quick and easy troubleshooting should an issue arise, a diagnostic light is located on top of the handlebar cover. If the electrical system sees a problem, a diagnostic code flashes through the indicator light. The code is repeated until the power take-off (PTO) switch is cycled off and on again, or the engine is shut off and turned on again.
When a code is discovered, consult the technical manual for additional troubleshooting information. If a continuing condition exists, the diagnostic code displays again when the engine is started, until the original condition is corrected.
The controller is also configured to store any code that has been displayed, so dealers can see a detailed history of the unit to aid in additional troubleshooting. The information is accessible by dealer technicians only using Service ADVISOR.
The direct-mounting grass catcher is designed to retain clippings by slowing down the air volume and routing it out of the catcher while keeping the clippings in. Molded-in grooves and mounting brackets make it easy to remove and replace the catcher. The catcher is made of lightweight polyethylene material that resists corrosion and cracking, reduces vibration, and is easy to use.
Overlap marks for lining up to previous pass are molded into the top of the catcher for increased productivity and straightly mowed passes.
The direct-mounting design grass-catcher system is fixed to the same plane as the reel. This means the grass catcher follows contours exactly as the reel does, maximizing the volume of grass thrown into the catcher. It also increases operator productivity by the easy removal and installation of the grass catcher.
The dual traction rolls for the rear drum are powered by an external differential drive. This design provides equal power to both rolls for the straightest possible tracking. The external differential drive and split drum work together to allow minimal turning efforts and excellent maneuverability when making turns and mowing cleanup passes.
The traction-drive rolls are constructed of aluminum, which offers corrosion resistance for durability and a long life. The smooth roller surface on the 180 E-Cut™ and 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers provide an evenly-rolled appearance on greens and other mowing surfaces.
The outside ends of the traction rolls are tapered to provide a smooth transition between the rolled and non-rolled surface areas.
Using the QA5 14-blade cutting unit option on Greens Mowers will lower the FOC and also provide a clean, smooth cut. It can increase the playability of the putting surface and greens speed.
FOC is defined as the distance traveled between consecutive cuts. It is how far the machine moves from the time one blade passes across the bedknife until the next blade passes. The lower the FOC, the less distance that is traveled until the next blade passes.
There is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to FOC. The less distance the mower travels between consecutive cuts, the more times the same grass blade is going to be impacted by the reel. Too low an FOC can cause bruising of the turf — especially in the overlap from pass to pass.
FOC is often used as a measurement of cut quality; however, there are other key factors that attribute to gaining superior quality of cut that are more critical than FOC. The factors that lead to good cut quality are:
The geometry of John Deere cutting units makes the optimum range for FOC between 4.06 mm (0.16 in.) and 4.8 mm (0.19 in.) for Walk Greens Mowers and 1.12 mm (0.044 in.) per 1.6 km/h (1 mph) for Riding Greens Mowers. Technology of the QA5 cutting units excel and provide a superior cut and after-cut appearance.
Machines |
Minimum FOC mm (in.) with 14-blade |
180 E-Cut™ Walk Greens Mower |
3.18 (0.125) |
220 E-Cut Walk Greens Mower |
3.18 (0.125) |
2500B PrecisionCut™ Riding Greens Mower and 2500E E-Cut Riding Greens Mower |
0.86 (0.034) per 1.6 km/h (1 mph) |
Choice of four bedknives to meet the need for quality cuts to as low as 5/64 in. (2 mm).
For the 3225C and the 3235C equipped with seven-blade standard cutting units, ET17533 will be shipped as the standard 22-in. bedknife.
For the 3225C and 3235C equipped with ESP™ cutting units, ET17751 (minimum height of cut is 12 mm) will be shipped as the standard bedknife for the five-blade and eight-blade cutting units. The 10-blade cutting unit will be shipped with MT1928 (minimum height of cut is 9.5 mm) low-cut fairway bedknife.
Following are all the bedknife options available for lightweight fairway mower cutting units:
For the 3225C and the 3235C equipped with seven-blade standard cutting units, ET17533 will be shipped as the standard 22-in. bedknife.
For the 3225C and 3235C equipped with ESP™ cutting units, ET17751 (minimum height of cut is 12 mm) will be shipped as the standard bedknife for the five-blade and eight-blade cutting units. The 10-blade cutting unit will be shipped with MT1928 (minimum height of cut is 9.5 mm) low-cut fairway bedknife.
Following are all the bedknife options available for lightweight fairway mower cutting units:
For the 3225C and the 3235C equipped with seven-blade standard cutting units, ET17533 will be shipped as the standard 22-in. bedknife.
For the 3225C and 3235C equipped with ESP™ cutting units, ET17751 (minimum height of cut is 12 mm) will be shipped as the standard bedknife for the five-blade and eight-blade cutting units. The 10-blade cutting unit will be shipped with MT1928 (minimum height of cut is 9.5 mm) low-cut fairway bedknife.
Following are all the bedknife options available for lightweight fairway mower cutting units:
For the 3225C and the 3235C equipped with seven-blade standard cutting units, ET17533 will be shipped as the standard 22-in. bedknife.
For the 3225C and 3235C equipped with ESP™ cutting units, ET17751 (minimum height of cut is 12 mm) will be shipped as the standard bedknife for the five-blade and eight-blade cutting units. The 10-blade cutting unit will be shipped with MT1928 (minimum height of cut is 9.5 mm) low-cut fairway bedknife.
Following are all the bedknife options available for lightweight fairway mower cutting units:
For the 3225C and the 3235C equipped with seven-blade standard cutting units, ET17533 will be shipped as the standard 22-in. bedknife.
For the 3225C and 3235C equipped with ESP™ cutting units, ET17751 (minimum height of cut is 12 mm) will be shipped as the standard bedknife for the five-blade and eight-blade cutting units. The 10-blade cutting unit will be shipped with MT1928 (minimum height of cut is 9.5 mm) low-cut fairway bedknife.
Following are all the bedknife options available for lightweight fairway mower cutting units:
Compatibility Information
BM22762
For 7500, 7500E, 8000E, 8500, 8500E, 180E, 220E, 2500B, 2500E, 2653, and 7200. Needed if not installing rear roller power brush or GTC/FTC kits.
Compatibility Information
BM22704
For 7500, 7500E, 7700, 8000E, 8500, 8500E, 8700, 180E, 220E, 2653, and 7200.
Choice of two front rollers for cutting-height adjustment:
Both machined front rollers have an extremely consistent round surface, which enables very precise adjustments at low heights of cut.
Grooved front rollers maintain height of cut while allowing superintendent to experience a better quality of cut versus a smooth roller.
Compatibility Information
BM24202
For 7500, 7500E, 8500, and 8500E.
The 55.9-cm (22-in.), 5.1-cm (2-in.)-diameter machined rollers offer a smooth and true surface area for better cut quality. The self-cleaning grooves along the roller's entire length help reduce material buildup on the ends, which improves the appearance of the finished cut.
Choice of two front rollers for cutting-height adjustment:
Both machined front rollers have an extremely consistent round surface, which enables very precise adjustments at low heights of cut.
The 3-in.-diameter spiral-grooved roller with spiral endcaps allows more grass to stand up along the entire width of the cutting unit, providing a better quality of cut. This roller is also self-cleaning, reduces material buildup on the ends, and improves the overall appearance of the finished cut.
These rollers should be used with seven-blade heavy-section cutting units for mowing tees, collars, approaches, or fairways.
The height-of-cut range with these rollers is 5/8 in. to 1-1/4 in. (16 mm to 32 mm). Using the 3-in. (7.6-cm) diameter spiral-grooved rollers with spiral endcaps for a height of cut greater than 3/4 in. (19 mm) requires changing the height-of-cut bolt on the rear adjusters to M10 x 70.
NOTE: These rollers should not be used for greens mowing.
There are several options for brushes that can be utilized to improve the look and health of your greens.
Brushes will be best used when the desire is to stand the grass plant up vertical prior to cutting by the reel and to increase the appearance of the mower stripe on the green.
The brush will not remove or slice plant material like the blades of our Greens Tender Conditioner (GTC). Therefore, the use of both attachments may be the best combination, depending on the greens and turf type.
The out-front push brush is the perfect option to those customers who want to brush their greens to help the grass stand up prior to cutting, while keeping the front and rear drum in the closest set-up for ground following.
The brush can be adjusted to increase or decrease contact with the green and also the angle of the brush. This can help with the changing conditions on the green during the growing season. The brush also contains more bristles that enable the brush to make more grass stand up across the entire mowing width of the machine. When the brush is not in use, it is easily moved into a raised position to allow mowing without using the brush.
The standard rotary turf brush is used on walk and riding greens mowers that use the QA5 cutting unit. This brush has an exclusive helix design for mounting the bristles, similar to the blades of a reel in the cutting unit. This helix pattern of the bristles creates a more consistent turf engagement across the cutting width of the reel than straight-rowed brushes.
The helix design improves the ability of the brush to stand up the grass plant without having to increase brush depth, while promoting improved striping and quality. The standard brush, with fewer bristles, will be less aggressive then the dense turf (DT) brush. The standard brush if for cool-season grasses, but can also be used in warm-season turf varieties.
Exclusive helix bristle mounting design maximizes turf engagement and ability to stand the grass plant up for cutting. The benefits include improved ball roll, reduced lateral growth, and increased striping for excellent after-cut appearance.
The DT brush increases the bristle count compared to the standard brush, making it more aggressive and ideal for dense turf varieties of warm season grasses. The helix pattern of the bristles creates a more consistent turf engagement across the cutting width of the reel than straight-rowed brushes. The helix design improves the ability of the brush to stand up the grass plant without having to increase brush depth, while promoting improved striping and consistent cut quality.
Additionally, all rotary brushes use our gear-driven, counter-rotating drive system. The counter rotation of the brush improves the performance of the brush by rotating the brush in the opposite direction of travel, increasing the ability of the brush to stand up the grass for cutting. This system can be turned on/off as well as raised and lowered, so you can easily choose how and when to use the brush. The counter-rotating system has been used by John Deere for over 20 years and is proven to help produce championship cut quality on some of the best courses on earth.
Softer bristles than standard brush supplied with kit.
Compatibility Informaiton
TCU29767
For 180C, 180E, 180SL, 220E, and 220SL Greens Mowers.
This kit extends the front lip of the grass cather closer to the reel. Comes in 56 cm (22 in.) length-needs to be adjusted to mower.
Compatibility Information
BM23910
For 7500, 7500E, 8000E, 8500, 8500E, 180E, 220E, 2500B, 2500E, 2653, and 7200.
Compatibility Information
BM24199
For 7500, 7500E, 8500, 8500E, 180E, 2500B, and 2500E. 3 needed for complete machine 2500's. 1 needed for 220 E-Cut Hybrid Walk Greens Mowers. 5 needed for 8000 E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mower.
Compatibility Information
BM24900
For 220E, 2500BD, and 2500BE Golf Greens Mowers. Three needed to complete a 2500, one needed to complete a 220E. Requires BTC10630 Direct mount front grass catcher and BTC10655 Direct mount cutting unit yoke kit.
This kit positions the light well over the engine and forward to provide an excellent coverage area for early-morning or evening mowing.
Compatibility Information
BM22615
For 180E and 220E.
Transport wheels and parking stand attachment makes moving to and from greens an easy task. Parking stand allos operator to easily install and remove wheels. Quick-release wheel latches and cast-iron hub ensure quick removal and installation with precission fit.
Compaibility Information
BM22616
For 180E.
Product features are based on published information at the time of publication. Product features are subject to change without notice. Contact your local John Deere dealer for more information.