2014 John Deere 8800A Rotary Rough Mower – 52HP Diesel, 5 Decks

Rotary decks feature rigid construction, rear discharge, double bearings, and high torque motors in one tough package

The 8800A TerrainCut™ Rough Mower is equipped with five 53.3-cm (21-in.) rotary decks for superior contour-following ability and cut quality, minimizing scalping opportunities in desirable golf course roughs.
The rotary decks perform exceptionally well across a wide range of grass types, including warm- and cool-season grasses.

A strong, 10-gauge shell construction is an integral part of this durable deck. Surrounding the deck is a tough, cast-steel frame designed to protect the deck shell.  It all starts with the frame on top of the deck. The shell is bolted to the frame, providing extra protection.
 
The front and rear roller brackets are attached to the framework, so as the front and rear rollers encounter obstacles, the force is transferred through the frame rather than through the deck shell. In addition, an angled skid plate between the front roller and deck shell helps protect the front lip of the deck in tough terrain.

Roller brackets are cast steel with extended housings to effectively protect the roller bearings from a wide range of debris types.

The decks are rear discharge to allow for easy trimming using either the left-front or right-front deck. An optional mulch kit is available for those who desire to mulch clippings.

Tires sized for proper weight distribution and a low ground pressure

When considering a fairway mower's effects on turf compaction, there is more to it than just weight alone. Weight is only a small factor in determining turf compaction.
A key component is the selection of tires used on the machine involves both sizing and tread patterns. The John Deere PrecisionCut™ and E-Cut™ Hybrid Fairway Mowers use large, 26x14-12 front tires for proper front weight distribution, and 20x10-8 tires in the rear to distribute the rear weight.
Both tires use a turf tread to maximize turf friendliness.
They excel in weight distribution providing low ground pressure onto the turf. This provides less tracking, less marking, and less compaction.

Standard GRIP all-wheel drive traction system provides superior traction by reducing wheel slip

For superior traction with a true hydraulic four-wheel drive (4WD), the GRIP all-wheel drive traction system is standard equipment on the 8800A and 9009A TerrainCut™ Rough Mowers. This system reduces wheel slip by sending flow from the front wheel to the opposite rear wheel.

For example, if the front-right wheel starts to slip, hydraulic flow is diverted to the left-rear wheel to maintain positive traction. By allowing the flow to cross over to the opposite rear wheel, the system maintains traction not only while climbing straight up hills, but also on side-hills.

The GRIP all-wheel drive traction system is always engaged when driving forward with the 8800A and 9009A TerrainCut Rough Mowers. There are no electronics to engage the 4WD system, simplifying the electrical system and the design of the valve at the rear of the machine.

In reverse, a standard switch is provided that disengages 4WD. The switch senses the reverse pedal has been depressed and shuts off flow to the rear drive wheels. This ensures the front drive tires are doing the work in reverse rather than the rear tires, minimizing wheel slip and scuffing of turf when backing up an incline.

The end result is more options for mowing different terrain than just straight up and down. The GRIP system ensures that when mowing slopes on an angle, the high side tire maintains tractions unlike like mechanical systems used on other rough mowers. This increases productivity in tight areas and reduces damage to turf from wheel slippage.

Tooled notch adjustment system makes height-of-cut (HOC) changes a breeze

One common element among John Deere golf mowing products, reel or rotary, is that adjustments are quick and easy. The 74000A, 8800A, and 9009A TerrainCut™ Rough, Trim, and Surrounds Mowers are no different. All HOC adjustments can be performed with simple tools utilizing an innovative notch system.

Height of cut changes on rotary decks are infrequent adjustments, and customer feedback has been that they prefer a system that utilizes tools with more positive clamp load to stay engaged and keep height of cut consistent in tough conditions.  With the tooled design, there are no hand-engaged latches that may loosen over time.  Instead, a bolt and nut are used to more positively clamp the adjustment in place.  The deck still utilizes the notch system with a pointer and numbered indicators for the height of cut.

To adjust the deck, (2) 15 mm wrenches or sockets will be required, one to loosen the nut on the inside of the adjuster and the second to hold the bolt head.  The system only needs to be loosened enough to disengage the teeth from the notches, but does not need to be completely removed to perform the adjustments. This allows the rollers to rotate upward and downward freely and easily.

Locate the HOC indicator on the inside of the adjuster arm and line up the tabs or use the top edge of the adjuster arm to line up the height on the gauge located on the outside. Re-engage the notches and re-tighten.

The adjustments must be performed on both the front and rear roller, and both rollers have the same adjustment process. A HOC label is also located on the rear of the deck to serve as a guide for setting the height of cut.

The HOC is adjustable 1.9 cm (3/4 in.) to 10.2 cm (4 in.), in 0.64-cm (1/4-in.) increments.

TechControl display maximizes performance and uptime by allowing more control in operation and diagnostics

MORE CONTROL WITH THE TECHCONTROL DISPLAY WITH A LARGE EASY-TO-READ SCREEN

Passcode-protected TechControl display enables quickly setting or changing mowing speed, turning speed, or transport speed to limit variations in performance by different operators.

LoadMatch™ electronic setting compensates speed of machine to keep power to the cutting units to maintain cut quality

LoadMatch is an electronic setting through the TechControl display that allows managers more control of the machine and how it is operated when out on the course.

Most operators will mow as fast as the mow setting will allow, keeping their traction pedal all the way down. However, in some conditions this can lead to poor cut quality.

One example is getting behind in mowing due to weather conditions. The grass is long and lush and to properly cut that amount of grass at one time, the operator should slow the traction speed. This allows the cutting units to maintain proper turning speed, process the grass, and properly cut in one pass. Not slowing down causes missed grass and an uneven appearance. This affects the after-cut appearance and also reduces productivity by having to mow a second time to properly cut the lush grass.

The LoadMatch feature compensates the traction speed of machine to keep power to the cutting units. In the long, lush conditions described above with LoadMatch engaged, the operator would still have the traction pedal all the way down, but the machine would sense the load and slow the traction speed to properly cut the mowing pass. Once the load is reduced, the machine will return to the normal mow speed.

eHydro™ hydrostatic pump for premium ease of use

The traction system in the A-models is driven by a servo-controlled hydrostatic pump. The control of the pump is no longer mechanical linkages, but instead it is electronic.

In total, approximately 94 parts have been eliminated from the traction drive system along with four adjustments compared to prior models. The design reduced the complexity of the drive system, which means no more linkages to adjust or repair, decreased routine maintenance, and more reliable day-in/day-out operation.

Double-acting, single-rod hydraulic steering cylinder for lines as straight as a greens mower

For superintendents who want stripes as straight as they are on the greens, the A-model PrecisionCut™ Mowers and E-Cut™ Hybrid Mowers do exactly that. Utilizing the same style steering cylinder as on the 2550 PrecisionCut and 2550 E-Cut Hybrid Riding Greens Mowers, the PrecisionCut and E-Cut Hybrid Mowers can mow the straightest lines of any mower in the industry today.

Traditional hydraulic cylinders have a rod on only one side of the cylinder. The cylinder on the A-models has one rod that goes through both sides of the cylinder. This equalizes volume and pressure on both sides of the cylinder packing, helping the operator make   perfectly straight lines with little effort.

This system also equalizes the steering effort, meaning easy turns whether turning to the right or to the left.

Easily accessible daily service points mean less maintenance time and more time working

Easier daily maintenance points are designed into the machine to assist operators with complete daily maintenance and to keep the machine running at peak performance, saving valuable time and money.

For ease of service, all daily engine checks are easily accessible by raising the hood. These service points include an engine-oil level check, a coolant level check, hydraulic fluid level, and an air-restriction indicator.

The A-model PrecisionCut™ Mowers, E-Cut™ Hybrid Mowers, and TerrainCut™ Mowers feature a radiator screen that is easily removed without tools and a tilt-out oil cooler for easy cleaning.