Mowing telescoping boom mower for larger PTs?

[J_J]

These mowers are about as simple as you can get. The first one is PT small boom mower, and don't know who made the other one.

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by J_J

These mowers are about as simple as you can get. The first one is PT small boom mower, and don't know who made the other one.

no mower yet...still estimatin'...using pt decks is one approach

altho 2445 specs are 15 gpm at 3000, don't know what the aux flow is. Using PT's small boom mower as an example, would its needs be far different from say a PT auger, tiller or trencher?

[J_J]

Originally Posted by wasabi

no mower yet...still estimatin'...using pt decks is one approach

altho 2445 specs are 15 gpm at 3000, don't know what the aux flow is. Using PT's small boom mower as an example, would its needs be far different from say a PT auger, tiller or trencher?

A motor for an auger needs to be large for the torque/HP required. Small auger head, small auger bit. A small auger head would turn a large bit, but digging a hole, it would stall easy.

I am just guessing that the aux circuit is no more than 1 or 2 GPM. You could test it out by taking off a hose and put it in a bucket for 15 sec, then multiply by 4 to figure the GPM's. If you get a quart in 15 sec, then you have 1 GPM flow.

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by J_J

A motor for an auger needs to be large for the torque/HP required. Small auger head, small auger bit. A small auger head would turn a large bit, but digging a hole, it would stall easy.

I am just guessing that the aux circuit is no more than 1 or 2 GPM. You could test it out by taking off a hose and put it in a bucket for 15 sec, then multiply by 4 to figure the GPM's. If you get a quart in 15 sec, then you have 1 GPM flow.

i appreciate the excellent insights...i'm guessing too... with no documentation to speak of to go by it's that or wait til i'm at the farm to try the bucket approach...with auger, tiller and such as comparables, i'm guessing you, as usual, are very close to the mark...

[wasabi]

i'm trying to be practical and open minded about this..., really...

for the foreseeable future we'll be in building mode, so the ability to unload trucks, lift materials, carry stuff around, convince beams, headers, poles and such into place, etc., rules. That also means a safe and manuverable, telescoping boom belongs on the list.

Some may say the 2445's ability to lift 1800 lbs 9' high is enough (if not downright piggish), but a more powerful frontal boom with the right project, will pay for itself. further, an appropriately powerful frontal telescoping boom, with vertical control via plate tilt and 45 or so degree (90 total) side-to-side hyd cylinder control....if used within safe limits, could be unbelievably handy...especially with a reasonably rigid telescoping boom with 500 lb capacity at full eleven foot extension.

WHile boom alone is clearly a winner...adding ability to hyd quick connect to mower or ??? is a plus. X-Y control (powered on one plane w/ float valve/cylinder) would be the cat's meow...ideally 48" deck but open to ??? for certain hillside / ditch / downslope situations..

i like the small pt boom mower but still don't buy the logic of side mowing (as opposed to 45% frontal mowing) and emphasis on vertical control...i'd prefer ability to extend, wider deck and abilty to use in concert with rear drawan 72" to achieve 96" plus swaths...

Considering the potential benefits /uses this may warrant plumbing a left hand joystick for relevant features...

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by J_J

A motor for an auger needs to be large for the torque/HP required. Small auger head, small auger bit. A small auger head would turn a large bit, but digging a hole, it would stall easy.

I am just guessing that the aux circuit is no more than 1 or 2 GPM. You could test it out by taking off a hose and put it in a bucket for 15 sec, then multiply by 4 to figure the GPM's. If you get a quart in 15 sec, then you have 1 GPM flow.

confirmed w PT the 2445 PTO flow thru large aux hoses is 15 gpm at 3,000 - flow to small hoses is 5 to 6 gpm. That nixes my idea of using a standard PT 48" mower deck outfront, so I'm on the hunt to buy and retrofit a deck or fabricate from scratch. a round deck with approp sized hyd motor and at least 36" swath incorporating 4 hard rubber swivel casters is what I have in mind...

[aczlan]

Originally Posted by wasabi

confirmed w PT the 2445 PTO flow thru large aux hoses is 15 gpm at 3,000 - flow to small hoses is 5 to 6 gpm. That nixes my idea of using a standard PT 48" mower deck outfront, so I'm on the hunt to buy and retrofit a deck or fabricate from scratch. a round deck with approp sized hyd motor and at least 36" swath incorporating 4 hard rubber swivel casters is what I have in mind...

Look for a Gravley brush deck, 36" cut, monster blade, built in clutch and skids.

Would need a motor, adapter plate and wheels mounted.

Aaron Z

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by aczlan

Look for a Gravley brush deck, 36" cut, monster blade, built in clutch and skids.

Would need a motor, adapter plate and wheels mounted.

Aaron Z

thanks Aaron. looks like it might work...I'm tracking one on ebay

[MossRoad]

Boom mowers bother me. Here's why...

They are:
Expensive.
Complicated.
Heavy.
Slow.
Easily damaged.
Extremely dangerous as all $%^^!!

To top it off, once you mow something, it just grows back! If something is in such an inaccessible place as to require a boom mower, I say kill it with chemicals, remove it with your backhoe and plant ground cover. Save the $$$ and buy a more useful attachment.

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by MossRoad

Boom mowers bother me. Here's why...

They are:
Expensive.
Complicated.
Heavy.
Slow.
Easily damaged.
Extremely dangerous as all $%^^!!

To top it off, once you mow something, it just grows back! If something is in such an inaccessible place as to require a boom mower, I say kill it with chemicals, remove it with your backhoe and plant ground cover. Save the $$$ and buy a more useful attachment.

one of the things i love about TBN is reluctance of members to share their opinions...

um, mossroad...i'm losing ground against multiple acres....did i mention there is barely a thousand square feet of flat ground in our 75 acres? In addidion to slope mowing seven or eight acres i've got miles of roadside, trails and ditches. I like packysandra, but not that much...

While most areas only need occasional touch up, I'm tired of weedeating and convinced myself that a telescoping extension boom mower will be just the right tool for the job while i get more seat time. While acknowledging your observations and concerns have some validity, i opine the trick is to kick the design up a notch but make it less complicated, and safer. I think simple but durable construction, hard wheel swivel casters on the deck like you put on yours, and solid telescoping frontal control will go a long way in making this more stable and easier to manage even at at regular speed over reasonable ground. But, so far at least for me, this is still only armchair thinkin... have you had occasion to use boom mowers?

BTW, I have NO desire to ever run a boom mower agains trees or brush like the highway guys do. I'd prefer to float this thing on durable wheels to reduce the danger factor to that of a common brush mower...which should be respected and well managed.