Mowing Gang Reel Mower

[SwampmanLA]

I have a new home and lawn (not sodded). As the lawn matures I am beginning to think the 48" finish cut mower for my 422 is not going to please me long term. So I began to think, why not a gang of reel mowers up front? Has anyone attempted to build a version of this? If so what are your learnigns?

I am thinking of a three reel setup shaped in a triangular fashion with at least 33% overlap. Each would float so scalping should be minimal. I figure the manual types of mowers would work just fine as the 422 would be doing the pushing. Also, do reel mowers work well on Saint Austine grass?

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I have a new home and lawn (not sodded). As the lawn matures I am beginning to think the 48" finish cut mower for my 422 is not going to please me long term. So I began to think, why not a gang of reel mowers up front? Has anyone attempted to build a version of this? If so what are your learnigns?

I am thinking of a three reel setup shaped in a triangular fashion with at least 33% overlap. Each would float so scalping should be minimal. I figure the manual types of mowers would work just fine as the 422 would be doing the pushing. Also, do reel mowers work well on Saint Austine grass?

If your going to use regular Reel mowers up front your going to get covered in grass
But the Steiner company used to make a 74" Reel Mower for their tractors.
They use a belt drive and special mounting bars, might be able to modifiy it to a PT.
Used ones pop every now and then, not sure of the price they usually sell for.

Hope this helps.

 

[woodlandfarms]

New house? No pictures? Build or buy? Congrats BTW...

 

[TRUKFXR]

I don't have a lot of experience with "gang mowers" but I do remember years ago using one that was made to use on a golf course. It didn't have power on the mower blades and the smallest twig or clump of grass was all it would take to stop the blades moving. It would drag along not turning, and you would have to stop and free it up quite frequently.

 

[J_J]

Gang mowers have been discussed before. Do a search for gang mowers. I included pictures. Here are some more pic.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

The ones used by Steiner/Ransomes are high RPM units, they just run off the PTO.
These things use a Belt drive system to run a Hydraulic pump that powers and raises the Reels. You could either replace the belt pulley with a hyd. pump or somehow directly hook up to the hyd system on the unit. Either way would probably work well.
Nice thing about these, they rotate very fast so sticks shouldn't be a problem.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a new home and lawn (not sodded). As the lawn matures I am beginning to think the 48" finish cut mower for my 422 is not going to please me long term. So I began to think, why not a gang of reel mowers up front? Has anyone attempted to build a version of this? If so what are your learnigns?

I am thinking of a three reel setup shaped in a triangular fashion with at least 33% overlap. Each would float so scalping should be minimal. I figure the manual types of mowers would work just fine as the 422 would be doing the pushing. Also, do reel mowers work well on Saint Austine grass?

Why not just tow them behind the PT?

Here's a link to several reel mower setups at Northern Tool for example.
reel mower from Northern Tool + Equipment