3pt finish mower to loader mount?

galaxie428 · Oct 28, 2011

I have an older Caroni 72 3pt finish mower that I have been thinking about turning into a loader mount mower. I mow with my CT230 Bobcat and it smashes the grass before the mower gets to cut it so by later in the day, my yard looks like I only mowed parts of it. It doesn稚 look horrible but it could look better. Has anyone done this?

I have a mid PTO that spins at 2000 rpm, the mower says 500 rpm min so I am assuming that would not be an issue. I think I could extend the mid PTO out to the front of the tractor and then hook the mower shaft on to it and that would allow me to raise and lower the mower a little if need.

I have not had the gearbox unbolted yet but it seems like you could just unbolt the 4 bolts and spin the gearbox around 180 so the blades would still be spinning in the correct direction (I think). I also think that I can just flip the 3pt on the mower around, get a quick hitch and weld it onto a universal skid steer plate.

What are your thoughts? Is this even possible?

RoyJackson · Oct 28, 2011

Ever think about adding high lift blades to your current mower? Or slowing down your ground speed to let the grass spring back?

I think running a mower designed to operate at 540 RPM at 2000 RPM is a very very bad idea. You'll need to reduce the RPM somehow (probably a modified gearbox).

Also, you'd have to run a shaft from the mid-PTO to the front end, then another PTO drive shaft forward to the implement. You'd also have to lock the loader in one position.
If you want a front mower, it might work using the same front PTO hook up as a snowblower or other front mounted powered implement...but you wouldn't have it mounted on the loader. You'd have to fabricate a front 3PH frame of some sort.

But you really want to solve that RPM problem first...

Addition: Look at the Erskine front snowblower driven by the rear PTO...an arrangement like that would work...but again, it's not loader mounted.

rasimmo · Oct 28, 2011

I think you are correct, the blades will be turning in the same direction no matter which way you position the gearbox. Unless the front front pto would be turning the opposite direction as the rear. Never dealt with a mid or front pto though

Don87 · Oct 29, 2011

galaxie428 said:
I have an older Caroni 72 3pt finish mower that I have been thinking about turning into a loader mount mower. I mow with my CT230 Bobcat and it smashes the grass before the mower gets to cut it so by later in the day, my yard looks like I only mowed parts of it. It doesnç¨š look horrible but it could look better. Has anyone done this?

I have a mid PTO that spins at 2000 rpm, the mower says 500 rpm min so I am assuming that would not be an issue. I think I could extend the mid PTO out to the front of the tractor and then hook the mower shaft on to it and that would allow me to raise and lower the mower a little if need.

I have not had the gearbox unbolted yet but it seems like you could just unbolt the 4 bolts and spin the gearbox around 180 so the blades would still be spinning in the correct direction (I think). I also think that I can just flip the 3pt on the mower around, get a quick hitch and weld it onto a universal skid steer plate.

What are your thoughts? Is this even possible?

That is a huge issue, the mower would more than likely 'explode' in seconds.......sending parts flying everywhere. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS.

Not to mention the the PTO shafts are different sizes(IIRC), and it would take serious work to accomplish it.

galaxie428 · Oct 29, 2011

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. I guess maybe I should look for another alternative.

I bought some mulching blades for it last year but I don't think it spins fast enough to do much mulching because the grass begin thrown out doesn't look mulched. Maybe I will try some high lift blades. It already takes me 2 1/2 hours to mow so I would sure hate to slow down any more than I do now.

RoyJackson · Oct 29, 2011

galaxie428 said:
Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys. I guess maybe I should look for another alternative.

How about a Zero Turn mower?

DT86 · Oct 30, 2011

galaxie428 said:
I bought some mulching blades for it last year but I don't think it spins fast enough to do much mulching because the grass begin thrown out doesn't look mulched.

Try blocking the discharge on the deck. I bought a set of mulching blades (for a Exmark) and the only way they made a difference was to block the discharge "chute" with a piece of diamond plate aluminum I had laying around.

RoyJackson · Oct 30, 2011

DT86 said:
Try blocking the discharge on the deck. I bought a set of mulching blades (for a Exmark) and the only way they made a difference was to block the discharge "chute" with a piece of diamond plate aluminum I had laying around.

That's a good point...my Snapper walk behind has a spring loaded closure (over the discharge) for mulching...

galaxie428 · Oct 31, 2011

How about a Zero Turn mower?

I have a 48" Snapper ZTR that I use to do most of the "trimming" which take about an hour (we have a lot of trees), but the big open parts of the yard I mow with the tractor.

I have thought about trading the ZTR off for something bigger but even bumping up to a 60" is still a large amount of money. We have spent too much on things this year anyway so I know "corporate" (my wife) will not sign off on that!