Is a HD SS Mower on Tractor Loader a Good Idea?

[roadhunter]

Seems like it would be nice to have a float position on the curl cylinder so the front of the mower could follow the contour if the soil. Another option might be running in reverse with the loader in float.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm not sure about the "idea" but I think it's a misapplication. Skid steers are known for their hydraulic capacity, more so (obviously) high flow units. A utility farm tractor is a different animal. I also think the mower that far out front would be somewhat unwieldly as far as the turning arc goes.

I cut ten feet at finishing quality with a 56 hp Kubota engine powered purpose built machine. But I often venture into four foot high grass and brush, and never once has anything even slowed down. It may not cut it very nice on account of shear volume of material, and require another pass. So it's not about HP as much as design and $$$$$$$.

 

[Xfaxman]

Seems like it would be nice to have a float position on the curl cylinder so the front of the mower could follow the contour of the soil. Another option might be running in reverse with the loader in float.

With the nose wheel and the hinged SSQA plate, this one follows the contour of the ground:

More from earlier in this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...r-tractor-loader-post4521711.html#post4521711

 

[leonz]

Don't waste your time or money.

Your wife does not carry bear spray or a canned air blast horn?????????Why the heck not????????????????


Front loaders mounted on mules were an after thought and only ment for light materials not as heavy working implements.

If you end up doing that you will break welds and tear out the stuffing boxes on the dump cylinders eventually.

As you have no experience as you stated it may be simpler to just hire a neighbor
to mow it for you and it will cost you less money.

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If you really want a front rotary(choke) cutter/mower you should invest in a front hitch
with a PTO run off the crankshaft pulley but the loader would have to come off.
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Buy a rear mounted flail mower rated for your mule with a 7-8 foot width of cut and be done with it.
You can keep it all mowed to two inches tall the year round with barely a grunt on the
diesel engine at the 1000 or 540 RPM engine speed.

The rear three point hitch is designed for the heavy work of pulling the rolling trailed implements and
for ground engaging implements like dirt plows and rototillers and lifting heavy attachments like three point hitch mounted planters, disc harrows, cultivators, bedders, tank sprayers, hay tedders, hay rakes. etc

All you need to do is remove the bucket when mowing to keep it out of the way.


Another option is a Surplus Mule/equipment sale from the local or state highway department and
these things have barely 1,000 hours on them per mowing season. Most allof them are Alamo(choke) hydraulic drive fold out wing flail mowers with a integral three point hitch mower mounted in the rear and they have a hydraulic saddle tank on the left side. with a boom mounted flail mower you have more reach and can mow further to the right if desired.

Before you make any decision you ought to look at how many law suits have been filed with regard to rotary cutters of any type after they have killed or maimed people do to the blades flying off.


Hire a neighbor to do your mowing and mow a walking path with a riding lawn mower when the neighbor is done to get it down to 2 inches, much less expense and much less work.

You and your spouse need to carry bear spray and a canned air blast horn with you at all times.

If you do buy a rear mounted flail you can purchase them with a hydraulic side shift attachment from several implement makers.

A new rear mounted boom mounted rotary or flail with a rear tank will run into 3-5 times the cost of a rear mounted flail of equal width with a side shift option.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I spent about 17G for my low hour mower from a City, and can mow 11 acres/hour. Life is too short to be spent cutting grass. It is a major pain when something goes wrong, and something is ALWAYS leaking it seems, but it does make a ZT seem like something the wright brothers had in comparison..

 

[JWR]

How do you like the Orsi? I'm looking at boom mowers to get at a pond and roadside ditches on my property. I know you have the rotary head, but my interest would favor the flail. What size brush can the rotary head cut? The sales guy said the flail can cut up to 3" and the rotary head 5-6". This sound right? Finally, does it appear the unit is quick hitch compatible?

I like the Orsi real well. It cuts some very heavy material without flinching. My worst-case is usually clusters of autumn olive around 2 to 3 " thick but several of them at once. I had VMC make me a 4' rotary cutter rather than a flail for my purposes. It is a good heavy cutter. Matt knows what he is doing. I cannot see trying to cut stuff 5 or 6 inches thick. Might do it but just too hard on everything. I don't have a quick-hitch but must comment that nothing is quick about mounting this machine. There are 2 heavy stabilizer links required that can mount to the same point as your top link base. However, the entire unit must also be supported underneath the lift arms of your 3pt hitch to avoid damaging loads on the top link base. I use 2x3" - 1/4" thick steel tubing inserted alongside the drawbar with a crossmember of 2x4" steel tube under the lift arms of the 3 pt hitch and bolted to the drawbar and other 2 tubes. My 17' reach model weighs 2 tons and puts serious strain on the tractor without the support underneath. I looked at several other brands (Alamo, Brush Hog, and a couple of British ones at various farm shows. I think the Orsi is the best for the dollar, very well made and does what I expect of it. By the way, I use a MF2660 81 horse tractor and after many trials have it down to about 1hr to mount it and make adjustments by myself. The literature describes using it with as little as a 60hp tractor weighing a lot less than mine. I would not want to use it on a lighter tractor unless everything was on the level. With rear wheels spread 8ft apart outer edge to outer edge you will become very cautious using this thing on the lower side of the tractor on a slope. Some picts show the support rig. View attachment 486535 View attachment 486536
The cross member was moved up on top after this pict was taken. You will also need to mount the hydraulic control lever/cable assembly somewhere that you can reach it easily from the tractor seat. Another picture. View attachment 486537 I used a 2x2 square tubing "receiver hitch material." I permanently mounted a short piece of 2x2 I.D. tubing holder along the base of the tractor fender on the same side as the loader control. Then used a 2x2" O.D. tubing stem that inserts in the holder when I install the cutter each time.

 

[HenRut]

Thanks for the detailed reply, JWR, as I'm very keen on the Orsi. However your honest assessment regarding mounting has me concerned. I'm not much interested in spending good money on this mower only to have to fabricate additional metal to make it work (or not damage my machine, a 100hp TYM). Do you think it is quick hitch compatible? I know the Land Pride boom mower is (one of the more costlier units I've been researching).

Also, your photos showing your fabrication did not come through. Any way to send them again or in a different form? Thanks.

 

[JWR]

On the photos you should be able to click on the words "Attachment 486535" in the text and the picture should show up. If you can get me your email address -- send to billrymer@ieee.org -- Note the org not com. I'll send you better pictures that way. Your 100horse TYM should handle the Orsi even better than mine does. There is a technical issue with where/how to attach the stabilizer links near the base of the top link which I can clarify using pictures. I'd like to see pics of your 3pt hitch area and how the TYM tractor is made around the top link attach point. The fabrication of the support structure is really simple (not requiring welding or anything) but it is mandatory to avoid damage. My main disappointment was that Matt did not emphasize that when I bought the unit. Also, the quick attach unit should work (you will see how the pin locations are in pictures on the Orsi and can judge for yourself.) I just doubt that the quick attach does you much good in this setup given the overall job of mounting the unit.
By the way, this Orsi is a fantastic addition to tools -- being able to go along a pasture or meadow edge and cut off the overhanging limbs that otherwise damage your cab (or in my case whip me in the face, etc.) It runs just as well with the cutter vertical as it does horizontal. I have been pleasantly surprised at the lack of flying debris hitting me or the tractor. Reaching over banks, pond edges, etc. is of course very handy. I have several places where there are sink holes and small very steep gulleys that I dare not put the tractor into -- the Orsi is great for cleaning brush and briars out of those places. Havng a larger tractor you might benefit from the 20ft version but I would not want one bigger than my 17ft on my MF 2660.