Sickle Bar Front mount sickle bar?

[dwyleecoyote]

I am wondering if such a thing exists: front mounted sickle bar mower, operated by a mid mount PTO... Anyone ever see or hear of anything like this, for any tractor?

 

[milkman]

The only ones I know of look similar to this although they won't fit a 4 wheel tractor. I'd sure like to have one though.

 

[jlsmith]

You can get a hydraulic one and then modify it to fit the loader.

 

[dwyleecoyote]

You can get a hydraulic one and then modify it to fit the loader.

How would you plumb that? 3rd function? Or would that be called a front remote? I guess if I was making a frame anyway I could hook up right at the manifold where I just installed my backhoe connector.

 

[MMagis]

Just curious, why?

 

[dwyleecoyote]

Just thinking that it would make more sense to clear certain areas that way. Cut stuff down before you run over it. I seem to spend more time in reverse with my brush hog, just so I don't put a tractor tire on something I don't want to. I am just thinking, and it's probably more effort then its worth. Just bouncing the idea around.

 

[flusher]

I am wondering if such a thing exists: front mounted sickle bar mower, operated by a mid mount PTO... Anyone ever see or hear of anything like this, for any tractor?

If you have a skid steer quick adapter on your FEL arms, I don't see why you couldn't rig up an attachment for a sicklebar and run the mower with a hydraulic motor. Sounds like a neat welding/hydraulics project.

Of course, self-propelled swathers (aka windrowers) have used front-mounted sicklebars for decades.

 

[MMagis]

Keep in mind a sickle bar is not a brush hog. They’re made to cut grass.
Anything is possible with enough money and know-how. But, I would guess that someone has tried it before, and there’s a reason you don’t see front mounted brush cutters for tractors. I don’t know what that reason is since you can get them on skid steers. Personally, I don't think a sickle bar on the front would be all that useful.

 

[dwyleecoyote]

I don't have much experience with sickle bar mowers. My father had a walk behind, Troybilt I think, and I recall the advertising calling it a "field and brush" mower. I know it wouldn't take down small trees like my old brush hog will, but they did claim some pretty gnarly stuff could be cut with it.

 

[MMagis]

I THINK the Troybuilts were built a bit heavier than standard sickle bar mowers. I could be wrong about that.