Ransomes Jacobsen, one of the leading manufacturers of commercial mowing equipment, launched the Ransomes Highway 3™, a new triplex cylinder mower, specifically designed for municipal and commercial contract applications. Ransomes Jacobsen is a Textron Inc.
(NYSE: TXT) company.

Taking its DNA from the existing Highway 2130 and the award-winning HR-3300T rotary mower, this new four-wheel drive machine is powered by a 33hp turbocharged Kubota diesel engine, which combined with a 6.7 percent weight reduction over the current Highway 2130, gives a class leading power to weight ratio of 27hp per tonne (20 Kw per tonne). Less weight drives improvements in fuel efficiency resulting in reduced operating costs.

Although lighter, there has been no comprise to durability and the new machine has greater agility, enhanced manoeuvrability, better hill climbing and easier transportability. With less weight, more engine power can be utilised to mow grass. 

It has several new features, never seen before in a commercial triple. A first for a mainstream municipal mower is the swing-out centre cutting unit, a principle adapted from the Jacobsen G-Plex III golf greens mower. Ransomes engineers were set a formidable task in designing a robust swing out unit that would stand the rigours of commercial operation, and they have produced a unique solution that is strong and durable, while providing easy access for adjustments, servicing and major annual maintenance.

Enhanced operator safety has been one of the prime drivers in the design of the Highway 3. The traction control system is a sophisticated amalgam of automatic limited slip differential on the front wheels, on-demand four-wheel drive combined with weight transfer and optional TST™ stability enhancement system that helps prevent the operator from using the machine on slopes that are beyond its safe working angle. A folding ISO 21299 ROPS is standard.

The four-wheel drive system operates on a cross-flow principle, which transfers oil from the front hydraulic wheel motor and delivers it to the opposite rear motor, preventing traction loss should the front wheels begin to lose grip. This greatly improves traction when cutting across slopes.

By pressing a blue button in the armrest control panel, the operator can manually activate the weight transfer system and boost the effect of the four-wheel drive. This increases the weight transferred onto the tractor and also locks the rear drive wheels into the transmission circuit. When combined with the auto limited slip differential, these features provide a true four-wheel drive in both forward and reverse.

Unique to any current mowing machine, and showcased on the Highway 3, is the optional TST stability enhancement system. An inclinometer is fitted to the underside of the seat platform where it measures the working angle of the machine. At predetermined angles it activates some of the hydraulic components on the machine, increasing its stability on slopes.

At 15 degrees of incline the operator is warned by an icon on the large dashboard display that the machine has reached that angle. At 18 degrees, the hydraulic lift valves close, preventing the cutting units from floating or being lifted. Locking the lift arms creates an ‘outrigger’ effect, which increases stability. If the operator continues to a steeper slope at 22 degrees, the cutting units will shut down, to prevent mowing at this angle.

With its narrow transport width of just 1325mm and short wheelbase of 1350mm, the Highway 3 is highly manoeuvrable for accessing difficult areas or when loading onto a trailer. With a total weight of just under 1200 kg including maximum fuel load and ROPs, this new triple stays well within the load carrying capacity of 3.5 tonne vehicles that can be driven without the need for tachometers, an important factor for local authorities and contractors. It also means that the Highway 3, in four-wheel drive format, is 30 kg lighter than the major competitors’ two-wheel drive machine and is 150 kg lighter than their four-wheel drive derivatives.

The tried and tested Sport 200 cutting units are now 3 kg lighter per unit, but still maintain their strength, durability and reliability.

Like the award-winning HR-3300T, operator comfort and improved ergonomics have been built in from the very beginning of the design process. The operator platform mimics the HR-3300T with a fully adjustable Grammer seat with armrest mounted mower control pod. This pod houses the individual control paddles that lift and lower the cutting units and includes indicator lights that notify the operator that the units are working and when the PTO is engaged. One touch of the lift levers activates partial lift of the cutting units into a ‘cross-cut’ position, which aids quick turns, crossing pathways and avoiding obstacles.

Access to the operator platform is simplified by the tilt/lock steering column, which can be moved and locked off in an infinite number of positions to ensure easy walk-in access and the ultimate driving position. Optional integral storage racks are positioned over the fuel and hydraulic oil tanks to aid the transport of ancillary equipment such as blowers or strimmers.

The instrument panel contains switches that operate the parking brake, starter key, cutting unit engagement, backlap/mower reverse and hazard warning lights, if fitted. The throttle control lever is also located in the instrument panel

The Highway 3 features the most advanced control systems yet seen in a Ransomes mower, perhaps any commercial mower and, because of this, many of the traditional gauges have been replaced with a single, multi-functional screen. This provides all the information required for safe operation including warning lights, fuel gauge and hour meter, while subsequent displays contain information on oil and water temperatures, oil pressure, blocked filters and various other warnings.

When a service is due an indicator displays the time left before the service and provides a list of the service items and parts required to complete the job. Any faults will be logged and can be retrieved later.

Commenting on the new mower, Managing Director David Withers said,
“The Highway 3 can trace its lineage way back to 1962 when we introduced the Motor Triple, the first machine in the UK to feature two cutting units at the front and one located centrally under the mower.  We have taken many of the features, such as the chassis and hydraulic systems, from other successful machines and added some innovative new ones. Our product management and engineering teams have used development methods from across other Textron businesses, and our experience of the golf sector has resulted in the innovative swing out centre unit.

“We have listened to the marketplace when they told us they wanted a mower that retained all the attributes of our Highway and Parkway machines, but with less weight than our competitors. We have worked diligently to provide the sector with the machine they require; state-of-the-art ergonomics for operator comfort, storage space, easy access, ease of maintenance, less weight and reduced whole-life operating costs. We are delighted that we have been able to launch and showcase the Highway 3 at SALTEX.”