Homemade Mower

[cmore]

Neat!

 

[BHD]

In heaver grass, do the tires slip? My guess is on heaver or tougher grasses it is a power problem, or a slippage unless the blades are moving to slow? I realize there is a limit with a ground drive unit, but was just curious as to where you see the weak points, is/are?

 

[TractorGuy]

Very impressive job. Did you happen to take any pictures along the way that you could post so we could oogle at the build?

The original build was before I had a digital camera. I think I have pics in 35mm. I need to look back and see if I can find them to scan.

 

[TractorGuy]

In heaver grass, do the tires slip? My guess is on heaver or tougher grasses it is a power problem, or a slippage unless the blades are moving to slow? I realize there is a limit with a ground drive unit, but was just curious as to where you see the weak points, is/are?

The original prototype was too light and the tires would slip in heavy or wet grass. It hasn't done that with the heavy deck and I also liquid filled the tires for added traction. I have a few areas of thick Bahia where I will have to make more than one pass over to get a clean looking cut. I actually haven't calculated blade tip speed but you don't have to be moving very fast for them to be whirring. The tail wheels could use some improvement. Those are just the metal hub of some large casters that the rubber came off of. If I drag it over any soft bare ground they leave a trail. The only other weak point is like any finish type mower in that it won't work well on rough surfaces. I have a few pot holes in the yard it doesn't seem to mind but I can't take it up in our roadway easement where the surface is more irregular. The grass in that area is thick Pensacola Bahia also. It has enough short comings that I didn't think it was a marketable product but it works fine for my purpose.

The whole idea behind this was to pull it behind a car or truck and be in the AC with sounds playing. I had a dedicated Volvo 244 that I pulled it with for years. It saved my life the very first time I used it. I cut the yard then went up the driveway with it a few passes. When I parked it out by my shed I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a swarm of hornets attacking the mower. Turns out I went under their nest in my driveway and disturbed them. Seeing as I am allergic to bee stings they would have probably killed me had I been on the lawn tractor.

 

[TractorGuy]

Much better than this style:

View attachment 373678

Bruce

I actually tried this first. It went about 10 feet before I ran through a pothole which caused the blade to dig into the ground and mangle itself.

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks, Bruce.

No, just an interesting photo I ran across on the internet some time ago.

Bruce

 

[TractorGuy]

This is pretty funny. I was surfing stuff and came across this guys video that shows the lead of mine and his attempt to copy. Mechanical Mower Made From Junk! - YouTube

 

[czechsonofagun]

Great job, very clever!

 

[KubotainNH]

This is pretty funny. I was surfing stuff and came across this guys video that shows the lead of mine and his attempt to copy. Mechanical Mower Made From Junk! - YouTube

That kid has some fab skills. Both really cool setups.