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The new Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester also known as a shear vane apparatus in scientific literature is a specially designed tool to test the stability of athletic field turfgrass root systems. In addition to shear vane testing, the Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester can also test the types and depth of cleats that will perform best in your particular turfgrass root system and environment. Knowing the correct cleat for play will ensure proper footing during play and will also reduce slipping and create safer playing environments for athletes.The unique design of the new Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester with the shear vane foot allows for turf stability to be tested ensuring the health of the root system directly on athletic fields. The Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester also tests different cleat designs and cleat depths to ensure proper footing during play. Simply unscrew the shear vane testing foot and screw in the desired cleats to be used during play and insert the tool into the soil. Simply press down and turning the tool until the turf fails will provide you with a reading in Newton Meters as to the shear strength of the turf. Different cleat types and depths can be tested and compared to each other directly on the playing surface before matches or games. These tests will ensure the cleat choice is optimum for the field on that given day, regardless of field moisture, soil types, turf varieties or weather conditions. This is the tool used by professional stadiums to measure shear strength before every game. For Horse Tracks, the Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester can be used on Dirt, Turf, Synthetic and Grass racetracks to assess footing. |
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Step 1 Determine if you are going to test with cleats or the shear vane foot. |
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Step 6 Remove the torque wrench from the top receptacle on the Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester. |
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Step 2 Press Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester firmly into ground until tool shear vane foot or cleats are all the way into the soil surface. |
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Step 7 Remove the tool from the soil and if any turf is on the shear vane, eject it by hand with the ejection lever. |
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Step 3 Place torque wrench into receptacle on top of Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester as shown. |
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Step 8 Pressing down on ejector level to remove soil. |
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Step 4 Using light pressure on the Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester, turn the torque tool using both handles toward the follower needle. When the turf starts to tear, this is the highest number you will see on the follower needle. It is unnecessary to completely tear the turf or shear the roots off. Note, do not push down on tool while testing. |
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Step 9 After Testing, remove the torque wrench and reset the follower needle to zero. Reapply the torque wrench before testing again. |
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Step 5 Read maximum reading on the follower needle and record this number. |
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Step 10 Repeat above procedure for each different type of cleat to be tested. |
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Testing Areas with Shear Vane foot
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Testing Areas with Cleats Using cleats on the Turf-Tec Shear Strength tester (See photos below) will allow different cleats to be tested before a game is played. It is recommended that cleat readings be taken on the practice field with the same length cleat the particular athlete or team regularly uses. At least three reading from different areas of each area of the field should be tested to get an average of the shear strength of the turf with the cleats. These "baseline" numbers from your own practice fields can be then compared to the field about to be played on and different length cleats can then be tried until similar numbers (as compared to the baseline numbers) are achieved. It is recommended that the field be tested as close to game time as possible to ensure variables like soil moisture content does not change. Different soil moisture contents will be the greatest variable in testing shear strength. If you are testing the same field over time and comparing the shear strength, it is recommended that a Turf-Tec Moisture Sensor also be used to ensure that soil moisture is in the same range each time you test that particular field. Worn areas should be tested and compared to non-worn areas to see the difference in shear strength between these areas. Using the new Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester with cleats will ensure your players are wearing the right cleat for that field. Take the guess work out of choosing the correct cleat and let science determine the best choice. |
Switching from shear vane to cleats on Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester
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| 1) Switching from the shear vane foot to testing cleats on the Turf-Tec Shear Strengthen Tester is very easy, Simply place Phillips screwdriver in ejector foot center hole and remove screw. | 3) Remove four Phillips screws from shear vane foot Remove shear vane foot. | 5) Unit is ready for testing. |
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| 2) Remove ejector foot plate from unit. | 4) Place cleats in holes provided in the base of the Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester. | 6) Test as instructed above. |
Uses
The Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester is not only useful in determining what types of cleats to wear before play, it is also useful in testing the strength of the turfgrass root system and its ability to resist wear.
New Sod
The Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester is also useful in testing areas that have been re-sodded to ensure the sod is rooted down enough for play. Test the sod seam and corner areas more than other areas to ensure safe footing.
Horse Racetracks
The Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester is useful in testing race track surfaces like Dirt, Turf, Synthetic and Grass racetracks to monitor surfaces for consistency and safety of jockeys and horses and to ensure safe footing.
Results and readings
Research has shown in general that readings as listed below are good general guidelines for footing*, however, additional testing and research is being conducted. The Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester is also useful in testing areas
that have been re-sodded to be sure the sod is rooted down enough for play. Test the seam and corner areas the most to ensure safe footing.
 Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester supplied with hard plastic carrying case |
Specifications
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Turf-Tec Shear Strength Tester (Shear Vane) TSHEAR2-M
Optional unit for Synthetic Turf
Optional foot for Equine Area (Dirt and Synthetic Horse tracks and Arenas)
Copyright 2024
Using the shear vane foot on the Turf-Tec Shear Strength
tester (See photos below) will produce a shear value number that has
been researched by the scientific community on sports fields for over
25 years. Please note that data is still being collected on different grass
species and soil types. You should take at least three readings from each area of
the field being tested to get an average of the shear strength of the
turf for each area being tested. It is recommended that the field be
tested as close to game time as possible to ensure variables such as soil
moisture content does not change. Different soil moisture contents will
be the greatest variable in testing shear strength. It is recommended
that when testing shear strength, soil moisture readings should also be
recorded by using a 
