The new “Age Old Question”: Horsepower vs cc’s

How powerful is your snowblower? When a customer shops for a new machine, the most common question is about its power. An engine’s CC (Cubic Centimeters) determines how large and ultimately how much power it can put out. Ft lbs tells you how much torque the engine will produce… but that’s another story for another day. Two things to remember:

•       There is no math equation to calculate Horse power.
•       Adjustments in gear ratios and rpms will impact the performance of any snow blower.

A general understanding of CC’s will prepare you when shopping for a new snow blower this season.

Here is a chart to help approximate cc to torque to horsepower. We used 3600rpm in this example.

179cc = 5hp

205cc = 8-9 gross torque = 5.5 – 6 hp

250cc = 11-11.5 gross torque = 7 – 8 hp

305cc = 13.5-14.5 gross torque = 9 – 10 hp

342cc = 15.5-16.5 gross torque = 11 – 12 hp

While the above calculations aren’t exact, it’s a step closer to understanding how cc’s correspond to horsepower. Keep this in mind next time you are shopping for a new snowblower!

ProParts Direct Holiday Gift Guide

Do you have DIY’er, landscaper, or outdoors person that needs a gift this season? While we offer millions of parts to fix a broken machine, we also sell lots of very cool products that everyone can enjoy!

No-Spill Gas Can – $30.99

http://www.propartsdirect.net/p/Fuel-Cans-and-containers

All new fuel containers are required to have built in safety mechanisms to prevent spills… the days of the simple can and spout are gone. This can is a no-fuss, next best thing to the old cans. Push the button and pour.

Additionally, the No-Spill design cuts off supply to the outside air – preventing ethanol in the fuel from pulling in moisture and corrupting the gas. The vacuum assist also does a great job preventing an over filled tank.

Why we like it: Rugged, DOT approved, variety of sizes and colors.

Why you will love it: No more spilling gas! Seriously - No flimsy spouts or complicated safety mechanisms. Push the button and go!

Radio Earmuffs – $79.95

Radio Ear Muffs

What Holiday guide is complete without a snappy gadget to listen to some tunes?! Radio

Earmuffs are the ear protection that you won’t work without! Complete with AM/FM radio and Aware technology to allow some environmental sound in.

Why we like it: Accessory jack allows an iPhone or MP3 player to connect.

Why you will love it: Stream any audio from your phone – Sirius, Spotify, iTunes – whatever.

Snow Accessories  - $39.00

http://www.propartsdirect.net/p/Ariens-Snowblower-Parts-Accessories

Grab a snowblower cover and keep the dust and rain off the machine! A floor mat is a perfect way to contain melting snow in the garage. Park your machine over the mat in the summer to catch mud, leaks, or spills.

Why we like it: Contains messes and prevents slip and falls.

Why you will love it: Use it all year to keep the shop or garage organized.

Grassbuster – $9.99

Grassbuster

The Grassbuster tool always finds its way into our lists. With a rounded, flexible scraper edge it is perfect for the curved underside of mower decks. It’s built to last and the stainless steel blade will remain rust free with superior strength!  

Why we like it: A clean mower deck provides a better cut and improved longevity.

Why you will love it: Perfect stocking stuffer that’s affordable and functional!

This year give your family and friends the gifts they need and will use! Our suggestions are affordable and practical. What do you think? Visit us on Facebook . Happy shopping! 

Top 3 Aftermarket Lawnmower Parts

In a recent article, we discussed aftermarket lawn mower parts. Hopefully you were able to learn the difference between OEM and aftermarket and why you can trust them. This article will take a closer look at the features of aftermarket mower blades, air filters, and trimmer line.

Oregon lawnmower blades are built to meet manufacturer’s specifications and provide users with high quality, safe, and affordable product. Oregon is an industry leading aftermarket supplier because they constantly refine their products to exceed requirements.

We sell tons of Gator Mulcher G6 mower blades. It’s affordable and reliable. The G6 provides a super high-lift for better bagging performance and improved side discharge. The blade is fused with tungsten carbide so the cutting edge remains ultra-hard, increasing time between sharpening. 

Our Oregon air filters ship out as fast as we can restock! Why? They are built with premium paper to prevent particle ingestion. A higher pleat count extends the filters life and most importantly your engine. Last, the filters carry a 12 month warranty against defective materials, exceeding the industry standard by four times. When our customers need filters, we don’t think twice before suggesting Oregon.

Gatorline is another ProParts Direct favorite. The Magnum Gator Trimmer line is built around a high-strength

inner core – highly resistant to abrasion and breakage. Magnum Gatorline comes in three different shapes: round, square, and our favorite, SuperTwist. Supertwist trimmer line reduces noise level, engine drag, and vibration. Looking for the best? Step up to the Platinum Gatorline!

We could provide plenty of great examples where Oregon is our top choice, but it’s safe to assume that our point is made. No matter where you look, Oregon wins on both quality and price. Have you put Oregon to the test?  

 What do you think? Follow us and join the discussion!

Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Pinterest  -  Google+

Catalog Contest Winners

2013 Catalog Contest Winners Thank you to all who participated! ProPartsDirect.net is committed to keeping our customers up and running with great customer service.

ProParts Direct Contest ProParts Direct recently concluded its largest contest to date. We invited our customers to enter for a chance to win three great prizes. Everyone received our ProParts Direct Catalog, but the following customers have won: $500 American Express Card Cameron St John - Cameron is the owner of Double Diamond Cuts serving Morris, Passaic, and parts of Essex county in NJ . He has been in business for 5 years. In addition to landscape service Cameron provides hardscaping, tree trimming and removal along with seasoned firewood deliveries. Cameron was recommended by a friend to Pro Parts Direct. He would highly recommend them for all your landscaping parts and equipment. 2 Kawasaki Trimmers Steve Pacetelli - Steve is the Owner of Pacetelli Lawn and Landscape servicing the entire Central Florida area for the past 20 years.  In addition to landscape, Steve provides Irrigation Services and Tree trimming.  Steve found ProParts Direct through the supplier he has used for the past 20 years, Boynton Lawn Equipment located in Longwood, FL. $500 ProParts Gift Card Scott Davis of Texas was the winner of the $500 gift card. ProParts Direct - Social Sites Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Online only Deals Make sure to follow ProParts Direct on our social sites for online specials and industry information. Do you have a website? Does your landscape company have a website? ProPartsDirect is building a directory of “trusted” landscapers. Your company will be listed on our website so our customers can find local service providers. Interested? Contact Steve @ shebert@turfdepot.com Fall Clean up As we move through the fall clean-up season, you’ll discover you may need new truck loader hose. If you are putting down mulch or picking up leaves we have everything you need right here: Gear up for fall. Request Our Catalog Interested in receiving our catalog? Click here and provide your information. There is no charge. Our 200+ page catalog is a must have for landscape contractors. orders $35 and up Ship Free!

ProParts Direct® ProParts Direct - 288 N Broadway - Salem, NH 03079 - 800-305-9255

We Trust Aftermarket Parts, you can too.

We receive questions about lawnmower parts constantly. Landscapers and homeowners use our website to look-up parts diagrams and repair equipment. Our experienced lawnmower specialists receive texts, emails, and calls from customers in the field who need help. It's a great feeling to know our customers turn to us when they need the right answer. 

Not every call or email leads to a sale and that's okay. In fact, that's great! Selling deck belts, mower blades, or snow blower parts isn't a complicated task. Gaining and retaining the trust of a great customer base is hard work and a job we take seriously.

With that said, it's important to recognize that when we suggest a part or advocate for a particular brand, it's a well thought out decision.

Oregon has been a leader in outdoor products like mower blades, chains, and forestry accessories. Oregon manufactures aftermarket parts that meet and often exceed the standards of OEM brands. Quality products and quality customer service are the cornerstone of ProParts Direct's operation. The product offering from Oregon is rock solid with quality control we trust will keep our customers equipment running.

Over the years, we have witnessed brands and manufacturers fail to innovate or adapt to the concerns of their customers. Oregon continues to step up their game offering parts that we trust and recommend to our customers. As the Product Manager for ProPartsDirect, I personally handle hundreds of parts each week. Oregon aftermarket parts have the feel of quality and top-notch performance. I take pride in offering our customers great parts.  Oregon is a brand we trust and a brand you can trust too.      

What do you think? Join the discussion on Facebook or Twitter

The most important (and overlooked) tool in your garage

On the heels of a new iPhone release, there is a good chance that you or someone in your home owns one. Even if it’s not an iPhone, digital cameras are affordable and a HUGE time saver when it comes to maintaining your equipment.

Here are the 3 iPhone ProTips for the landscaper, snowblower operator, and homeowner.  We sat down with our own parts wiz Pat to build our list.  As a factory trained specialist, Pat is a resource for landscapers and homeowners who contact ProParts Direct.

A picture is worth a thousand words. If your machine goes down and the broken part is obvious, snap a photo and email us! Don’t waste valuable time trying to look up part numbers, remember part names, or even worse, ordering the wrong part all together.  Even if you don’t order online with us, you will have an image to show your local dealer.

Before, during, and after you complete repairs – take pictures! *ProTip* Set a white sheet on the ground near your work station. As you remove items from the unit, place each part on the sheet, starting at the top left. Continue placing everything from screws to filters left to right. At the end of each row, snap a photo. Once the repair is complete, reverse the process working from bottom right to top left. This method prevents parts from being lost or forgotten. Most important, snap a photo when finished and send to us! @propartsdirect

Photograph and document your equipment while it is clean and accessible. Breaking a critical snowblower part during a storm can be a pain, but crawling in the snow to locate model/serial number makes the project much, much worse. What if one of your crews has a machine go down on a remote job? They call your shop but can’t locate a model/serial so the parts order is delayed. 

Once you create a photo inventory, email the photos to yourself to save the record. Tracking your inventory with photographs will also help you in the event of theft or loss. 

With a bit of foresight, your camera phone can be the biggest time saving piece of equipment you own. Do you use your camera phone to document your work or equipment? Share your tips with us on Facebook : www.facebook.com/ProPartsDirect 

The Top 10 Commercial Mowers of All Time

One of the most common questions we receive is “what is the best lawnmower?” “What should I buy?” Well, the best mower is the one you are sitting on – if it’s running and earning money for your company, chances are it’s better than the dream model that isn’t cutting lawns….right?
Reality aside, we will take a stab in a no holds barred, Top 10, Hall of Mower Fame. Although ProParts Direct is a leading parts retailer, our parent company, Turf Depot has nearly 75 years of retail experience in the lawn and garden industry. We didn’t take this assignment lightly, in fact, it’s become a hot topic in the office!
It’s important to note that our unofficial lineup is based on our experience and not scientific study. Our Top 10 Commercial Mowers are the mowers that have helped shape our industry.( Literally)
Here we go...
10. Toro 48 T-bar (30197 I think) The Toro T-Bar is a classic. Before hydros you had belt drive and before belt drive, well you get the point. The T bar gave you the steering control of a hydro but at the belt drive price. Many landscapers would die for this machine. The machine could take a beating and with minimal adjustment, be back in the field. In its heyday, the T-Bar was the go-to mower for many landscape crews.


9. Walker GHS48 – Walker loyalists are probably upset that the beloved GHS48 only made the nine spot. Walkers are great machines, offering one of the best cuts money can buy. They helped put the Kohler EFI engine on the map. Only down side you have to pull engine to replace spark plugs.
8. Stc52a-23Ka – If you’re a Scag fan, the Tiger Cub is the machine. Scag, showing its true colors, built a solid machine. At the time, it had a high price tag compared to other machines. The bottom line is that Tiger Cub was a professional machine for professional landscapers. What more can be said?

Scag Tiger Cub 52" Rider

7. Toro52 Grandstand with 19hp"- Join the revolution! Innovation, innovation, and more Innovation! The Grandstand is the newest mower on our list. The warranty on the grandstand alone makes it a worthy contender. First fold up platform. Toro nailed it!


6.TT5217KAC – Exmark had some golden years. This walk behind offered the finest from Exmark with ECS handles, Floating deck, electric start and the Famed Ultra-Cut deck. Exmark must have been drafting engineers out of MIT early these years. The equipment in this time period established Exmark as a leader in the mowing industry.
5. Wright Stander fixed deck 52 (mid 2000's) – Wright stander hit a niche market hard and well. This fixed deck 52 was the answer for hills and maneuverability. Moving weight over the drive tires allows this machine to grip hills like a new set of Goodyear tires. Some may say this machine put the nail in the coffin for Great Dane.


4.Snapper SW 30 – Most will scoff at this pick if they have had a Snapper Pro for a while. Although the Snapper Pro walk behind was known to have some issues with the bearing in the transmission. This mower ranks at #4 because of its great price point! Hydro drive, floating deck, electric start, and horsepower make it a must have. At a time when walk behinds are pricier than some riders this is a great mower.
Now for the TOP 3...
3. M48-15Ka – Exmark’s metro line of walk behind mowers offered the ECS handle system that basically said to every other brand put up or shut up. At a 48” cut this walk behind was comfortable to use and you didn’t have the shakes after a full day of operation. Good design, great mower.

2.Swz52A-17Ka – This is Scag’s offering in the walk behind arena. This machine was virtually bullet proof. Extremely well built with 10 gauge steel through its frame and a Kawasaki Engine. This was a cold hard commercial mower. It is not uncommon to see these beasts roaming the CT and NJ Area.


1.LHP5223KA – This classic from Exmark set the standard on commercial riders. The first machine to have a catching system that worked. It was a nimble machine that had the right power and offered an excellent cut. It helped put Exmark on the map so much it had a 10 year run.
Do you think your mower should be on the list? Agree or disagree? Why not join our conversation online? (Links to facebook) … Follow us for our “Top 10 Snow blowers of all time”

The opinions and views expressed at or through this website are the opinions of the designated authors and do not reflect the opinions or views of Turf Depot or clients,divisions or companies. or the opinions or views of any other individual.

3 Tips for Lawn Equipment Parts

Now that its “Officially” Fall – I wanted to repost this article. If you are shutting down a machine (or starting one) for the season, chances are, you will need parts.  Before you shop at propartsdirect.net, run out to your machine and grab the exact model and serial number. 

Knowing where to find the model and serial number on your lawn equipment is important for a variety of reasons. When addressing issues with your machine, the first question is always a model/serial request. Warranty work, insurance claims, and replacement parts all start – and stop with this information.


 1 – The engine that powers your machine has a separate serial and model than the actual unit. For example; Your Ariens snowblower has a model number (eg 920014) and unique serial number found on a sticker below the handle bars. The engine sitting on top of the unit has its own model and serial number. Unless you have issues with the engine, you will always shop for parts with the unit information.

2- When buying new equipment, make sure to record the model, serial, date of purchase. There is nothing more frustrating than traveling to your lawn and garden shop only to discover that you can’t be helped without this information. Its also not a bad idea to keep track of common replacement parts, like blades, skids, or oil. (HINT: use your phone to snap a photo and email to yourself.) This allows you to quickly search the internet for a specific item and get the best price.

 3- Learn where the ID plate is on your machine. Most newer equipment has a large, easy to read sticker along the side, under the seat, or attached to the side of the machine. Commercial grade equipment will have an engraved plate attached. There are apps and great web resources available to track this information but there are no shortcuts when it comes to knowing your equipment.

Late Summer Lawn Mowing tips

Here it is the middle of August. You are tired of mowing all season. If you are like me between the rain and humidity every time you had to mow the grass has been long and it has been a lot of work. Like me you probably cannot wait for the first snow fall so you can be relieved of your mowing duties. Well here is some quick tips so you can coast to winter!

Always use a sharp blade; tearing grass invites trouble. A sharp blade will cut quicker but will keep the grass looking even.

Raise the deck to about 3.5 inches until the final mowing of the season. The long look is in!

Don't cut off more than one-third of the height in one cutting. So you don't have to bag. Who wants to stop every 5 minutes to dump out a heavy bag of grass?

"Don’t feed it, feed it" if the “grass” (or whatever combination of grass and weeds your lawn contains) is thick and green. A green, vigorous lawn doesn’t need fertilizer, and all you’re doing is causing yourself more mowing.

Well this may not be the approved Horticultural method. It certainly is the approved method of the guy who has other things to do. Your lawn will survive and be around for next year. If you are looking for more tips stay tuned. You can spend your time either reading about what to do with your lawn or actually mowing it. Watch for our tips on how to carefully place your snow in your neighbors driveway with your snow blower.

Special thanks to awaytogarden.com for the idea.

Article written by Edward Proulx
Senior Lazy Man's Consultant
ProParts Direct Staff www.propartsdirect.net

Trying to do Customer Service Well.

You work hard at attracting customers to buy from your Online store. You can design it with the best graphics, easy to use shopping cart. But some of the fundamental, simple operations if not done right can really make this all for not.

When approaching an online business you really have to make sure you have your invoicing system down, a easy and clear way to communicate to your customers, access to your product and most important a shipping system in place.

Your Shipping department can make or break you. You can tell your customers all you want how great you are but if you cannot get your product to your customer complete, on time and correctly then you are dead in the water.

With the evolution of online sales, customer expectations of service has increased and at times come be be down right way out of perspective. In most cases the supporting industry has not evolved to the level that other industries have. Order fulfillment is the toughest of these concepts. Online businesses like Amazon have created this illusion that you can place an order and have it next day. While this is the future. The truth is that unless you are an electronics business, The supply chain of most online businesses has not changes. They rely on a distributor dealer network. So while they can have a flashy online presence the back ground operations are still operating like they did 20 maybe 30 years ago. So do you build a huge warehouse full of your product? In most cases it is not feasible for a start business unless you have a lot of start up capital.

So e-commerce has bread in its customers that if you order it online you can receive your product quicker than the local brick and mortar store. When the truth is that the online store usually buys from the same distributor and the order time time will be about the same. Even online store against online store.

So what is this article about. Well, as a online consumer before you order something you should take into consideration of when you need your item and be realistic of the time involved to get you your item. Also it is the internet, nobody is forcing you to buy their product. If you do not like the offer from the company you can cancel your order and shop else where.

Article Written by Edward Proulx
Web & Content Editor
ProParts Direct
www.propartsdirect.net

Toro Dingo Parts for TX series

A lot of times we get asked where do I find Toro Dingo parts?
Well if you have searched hard enough on the internet you will find not many people offer Toro Dingo parts. Or you will have to pour through many parts diagrams to find what you want.

One of the things we have done at ProParts is to create our own Toro Dingo parts Section with individual parts so you can easily choose the correct part you need. You can select parts by what they are, then by which model you own.

As our own service to Landscape contractors we have aligned our selves with Toro to provide drop ship to you. This should save some time and money in shipping.

This is one many reasons why ProParts is the leading supplier on Toro Dingo Parts Online.

To view our Dingo Online parts section Click Here

ProParts Gets Ready for New England Grows Show

ProParts Direct gets ready for the annual New England Grows Show in Boston at the B.C.E.C. If you follow ProParts Direct or have bought parts from ProParts this is a great chance to meet with the staff.This will be our 15th year at the show

ProParts has booth 1409 so it is easy to find us right when you come down the stairs. We will be in the center of the show room. next to the TPC booth.

The New England Grows show is a great time to see whats new in the industry and to see our new season prices on parts for your commercial equipment. We usually try to roll out our new deals and parts that show.

New England Grows is a 3 day event. February 6 to 8th. Boston offers great access to the show and night life after the show. They have many bar and grills within walking distance from the show. Many of them will make you feel welcome if you are not from around the Boston area!

Also this is the time of year to start getting your equipment ready. Start putting together a list of stuff you need and drop it to us at the show. You can get good discounts on order quantities and if your order is large enough you can qualify for discounts all year long. So see us at the show! We will show you why ProParts is the place for serious commercial Landscapers to by Parts!

Article written by Edward Proulx
Marketing Coordinator for ProParts Direct
Ed has over 14 years of experience in the Outdoor Power Equipment Industry.