Pro-Max 36

Pro-Max Mowing System
Since 2001, the Pro-Max 36 mowing system has been the go-to mower for large scale natural grass producers. Progressive Turf Equipment is pleased to announce an evolution to the ‘front half’ of the Pro-Max 36 mowing system: the PM-36.
Responding to customer input, several key changes have been implemented that will enhance operation and reduce long term ownership costs. The Next Generation PM-36 utilizes many of the same components and design features that have been field proven on the previous PM-36. It also shares many of the same enhanced features that are standard on the Next Generation TD92.
The Next Generation PM-36 is proudly built in North America, and starting in the fall of 2016 it will be available with deck shells that are bolted to the deck frame. The decks shells will be available in either galvanized or painted finishes.

Bolt-on Deck Shells
In some locations Producers are faced with deck issues caused by abrasive and or acidic soils. Since 2007 and a design pioneered by Progressive, the separate frame deck shell design that is bolted together, not welded. This allows producers to simply change out the deck shell, years in the future, if required, reducing long term ownership cost.

Your choice: Galvanized or Painted Deck Shells
Since 2007, Progressive has offered natural grass production mowers with heavy-duty, galvanized deck shells. Ideal for producers with farms that have highly acidic soils or where certain fertilizers can accelerate the corrosion of a traditional painted deck.

The Next Generation PM-36 can be configured with:
Galvanized shells for long term durability in these conditions
Painted shells for less severe environments

Heavier Spindle Mounting
Incorporated into each new deck frame are heavy spindle mounting plates that are designed to provide additional structural rigidity. The deck shell is now captured between each blade spindle and the mounting plate to control any flexing that may occur. The result is a superior, more accurate cut.

Heavier Construction = Longer Life
The air flow hoops under the deck shell are a key part of the high quality cut that the Pro Max System is known for. The PM-36 hoops are made of heavier 3/16″ plate, adding both increased life and rigidity to the deck

Improved Clipping Discharge
Efficient airflow is a key component of the overall design that provides the high quality of cut the PM-36 is known for. With this in mind, the discharge opening of each deck has been made taller, aiding clipping dispersal and reducing the streaming that sometimes occurs when mowing long, wet grass. By revising the discharge opening on the Next Generation PM-36, fanning of the clippings is increased when mowing warm or cool season grasses. See Illustration.
Progressive has retained the high blade tip speed (over 18,800 fpm) which is another key component of the design.

Now Deck Cleaning Is Easier Than Ever
Cross-contamination between crops is a concern for many producers, but not all producers can justify dedicated mowers for each crop. As cleaning can be time consuming and inefficient, the Next Generation PM-36 deck frames have been designed to minimize ‘pockets’ where clippings can collect, greatly reducing cleaning time. The rear cross member of each deck has been raised above the deck to provide a large wash-out area (see arrows). The wash-out area is blocked when the belt covers are installed, mimimizing clipping build-up.

Bolt-on Transport Axle
It is a well-known fact that many PM-36’s remain in active service after operating 15 years plus in the field! Knowing this, Progressive Turf Equipment has made the PM-36 even easier to rebuild, which helps to control long term ownership cost. The PM-36 transport axle has been made bolt-on. See highlighted box. Common with the TD92 transport axle, if service to the axle spindle is required, it can be simply and economically replaced.

Maintenance Free Blade Spindles
Progressive introduced maintenance free blade spindle assemblies several years ago. Developed and tested over many years, they are packed with permanent grease. The sealed bearings incorporate a unique steel seal that is designed to keep lubricant in and contaminants out, providing superior bearing life in demanding conditions. Completely interchangeable with our conventional greased bearings, so older spindles can be upgraded. Maintenance free blade spindles not only protect the owner’s investment from a missed service, they also reduce routine maintenance time and cost.  The PM-36’s maintenance free blade spindle contains both an upper and lower splash shield to help protect the sealed bearings from moisture damage.

Maintenance Free Blade Spindles are standard equipment on the PM-36.

100 hour PTO Greasing Interval
All four wing deck shafts* on the Next Generation PM-36 have 100 hour greasing intervals. The extended interval means more productive mowing time is available each day. For larger scale operations this also allows for easier maintenance scheduling. A daily pre-use walk-around of the mower and tractor should always be performed, but now this task can be accomplished in less time.

* Note: Only the four wing deck shafts have 100 hour greasing intervals. These shafts are identified by PTO safety covers that are completely black. The three center shafts, including the input, have yellow and black PTO safety covers and have an 8 hour greasing interval requirement

Combining the maintenance free blade spindles with the 100 hour greasing interval, provides a measure of comfort for the owner – gone is the fear that a missed service point by un-familiar maintenance personnel will render the mower out of service and put production behind schedule.

Progressive GROWS with your business
As your business grows, so can your Progressive mower. By simply adding a PM-36 unit to your existing TD92, you gain the benefit of the Pro-Max Mowing System. Designed to work together, your cutting width is increased from 22 feet to 36 feet per pass, providing a productivity increase of up to 64%. Many common parts keep operating cost low.

Gear Boxes
The Next Generation PM-36 uses the same part number 4-way and deck gear boxes as the prior model and still features a 3 year gear box warranty. This is important as not only are field proven components used, but if future service is required they are readily available.

Cut Height – Easy to Adjust
Cutting height adjustment can be simply done on the PM-36 by removing a lynch pin from the top of each castor wheel stem, and repositioning spacers as required either above or below the support tube. Like all Progressive mowers, the wheel hub and castor pivot are greaseable and castor pivot bushings are replaceable for low owning and operating costs. A slight forward tip to each deck means the back half of the blade swing is just above the cut turf – reducing power demand, in turn saving fuel and preventing damage to the plants.  HOC adjustment is made using a combination of 3/8″ and 1″ spacers to achieve the 1″ to 5″ HOC range.

Drawbar Connection
A sliding drawbar is incorporated for easy one man connection of a TD92 to the PM-36. This also means that if needed, the 22′ wide TD92, can be disconnected from the PM-36 and quickly put into service as a stand-alone mower. A separate stabilizer link (circled) allows controlled reversing and true tracking of the paired mowers, maximizing mowing productivity.

Excellent Floatation
The complete Pro-Max 36 mowing system is easy on the turf. Low ground pressure is achieved through five independently floating decks, each supported on floatation turf tires. Four main transport tires plus two non-swiveling rear deck caster tires keeps the mower tracking straight while mowing along gentle hillsides. Tire position is staggered to minimize soil compaction and rutting.

Adjustable Overlap
The PM-36 was designed for real world use by professional natural grass producers. Often mowing patterns require the operator to make sharp turns or follow pivot tracks. To accommodate this, the PM-36 can be customized to meet your requirements. The PM-36 can be narrowed by 4″ on either side (independently) by simply moving a spacer. This increases deck overlap helping to eliminate strips of uncut grass during tight turns.

A producer can optimize the cut and maintenance costs depending upon the growing conditions by selecting between two fixed blade and two PRO-EZ II Change™ Blade options – all featuring the renown Progressive cut quality.

Pro-Teck Edge™ Fixed Blades
Progressive’s fixed high lift and low lift blades feature the Pro-Teck Edge™, designed to keep a sharp edge longer. Pro-Teck is a hard surfacing embedded onto the underside of the blade and can lower ongoing maintenance costs as the frequency of blade removal and re-sharpening is greatly reduced.

PRO-EZ II™ Replaceable Tip Blades
Progressive’s innovative PRO-EZ II Change™ Blade system lowers the cost of operation as only the blade tips need to be replaced, when re-sharpening is no longer feasible. PRO-EZ II installs on the same blade support bar as a Progressive fixed blade. Available in both high lift and low lift versions.
The new PRO-EZ II Change™ Blade system offers both extended service life and simplified assembly as it eliminates a spacer, a flat-washer, and requires only one wrench. For added convenience, the fastener has NC threads so no metric hand tools or nuts are required! *
*The blade tip fastener is installed with a single ¾” wrench and should be torqued to 75 ft/lbs.