Sickle Bar Front mount sickle bar?

dwyleecoyote · Feb 16, 2011

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 · Feb 16, 2011

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 · Feb 16, 2011

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

dwyleecoyote · Feb 16, 2011

jlsmith said:
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 · Feb 16, 2011

Just curious, why?

dwyleecoyote · Feb 16, 2011

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 · Feb 16, 2011

dwyleecoyote said:
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 · Feb 16, 2011

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 · Feb 16, 2011

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 · Feb 16, 2011

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

teg · Feb 16, 2011

Cutthat.com | Sabre Samurai

Hydraulic... and pricey.

dwyleecoyote · Feb 16, 2011

That's pretty cool. Not exactly what I was thinking, but probably way more useful. I didn't see anything about cost on there- any idea?

dwyleecoyote · Feb 16, 2011

Better yet I could hang that thing on my backhoe and do some real sculpting...

Trafficman · Feb 17, 2011

Milkman,
Take one of those with a dead engine & hook it up to a QA for the mid mouth PTO or on the leading edge of the FEL. :2cents:

T-Man.

teg · Feb 18, 2011

Another option that I've thought about copying.... modifying for my needs .

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/184467-front-end-loader-weedwacker.html

jlsmith · Feb 18, 2011

dwyleecoyote said:
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.

Sorry i didnt get back sooner. Just run another hose from one of your output remotes and that will work fine.

wvpolekat · Feb 18, 2011

teg said:
Cutthat.com | Sabre Samurai

Hydraulic... and pricey.

Really would not be hard to fab up. Get an old sickle bar and small hydraulic motor.

jlsmith · Feb 18, 2011

teg said:
Cutthat.com | Sabre Samurai

Hydraulic... and pricey.

That was pretty interesting. It would come in handy around my ranch trimming up some things. I think im gona look more into them. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

dwyleecoyote · Feb 18, 2011

jlsmith said:
Sorry i didnt get back sooner. Just run another hose from one of your output remotes and that will work fine.

I have no remotes.

yet...

zzvyb6 · Feb 18, 2011

Several years ago, I saw a front sickle made out of the header from a NH479 hay mower. That included the rolls. The wobble drive was hydaulically driven from a pto pump. Tractor was a JD 4430 and also run with a 4020.

That's a 9' sickle mower for you. Is that enough? Or, would you prefer to have a 12' 499? These mowers go thru 3/4 to 1" saplings all the time, but, they are not shredders. Its "cut once and its done cutting".