Build/buy a skid steer brush cutter or cobble one up from an old brush hog?

[tmc_31]

Hey Guys,

I need a front mounted mower for my skid steer. I don't need one often enough to spend $2500 - $4500 to buy one. A few years ago, I drew one up that I figured would cost me around $1500 - $2000 in materials plus labor. Still a large investment in time and materials for no more than I need one.

Fast forward to today, I needed one this weekend to do some mowing for 3 neighbors whose lots were too heavily wooded to get my cabbed tractor and shredder into. Could not rent one to save my life. The rental places all said these mowers for skid steers were booked up solid for weeks.

It has occurred to me that since I am not really mowing down trees, why not find an older (cheap) brush hog, remove the tail wheel, weld a skid loader attach plate to the upper deck at the rear of the mower and install a hydraulic motor to drive the existing gearbox? The attach plate would at least be gusseted or maybe even attached with a heavy hinged mount so that the mower could flex up and down with the terrain. It would need a couple of gauge wheels attached to the front. I think I could put this together for a few hundred dollars and little time in the shop (compared to building a proper skid steer brush cutter).

I think it should be fine for occasional use. I am interested in your thoughts and ideas. I realize that there are probably a lot of reasons not to do this, I would like to hear them.

Best regards
Tim

 

[chim]

Sounds like fun to me Post plenty of pictures if you do it.

 

[texasranger556]

Search the forums, several threads on the topic. Here is one https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399502

 

[tmc_31]

Thanks Chim, I am on the hunt for an old retired 4,5,or 6' brushhog. A 6 footer would mow out the tires but I could get the 4 or 5 footer into smaller places

Tim

 

[jmc]

Were you aware of SSQA to 3 PH adapters with a built in hydraulic motor? (At least they were available 5 or 10 years ago) With one of those, you just connect it to a regular rotary cutter- no fab necessary. Seems like they had your choice of 3 hydraulic motor displacements. Just their motor sizing for this application might be useful. I think they also plumbed it for spin down.

Something like this:

Skid Steer Quick Attach Adapter | Skid Steer Solutions

 

[tmc_31]

Just so you guys know, my plan is to run this brush cutter on my NH L190 skid steer. 21.9 gpm and 3050psi at the auxiliary port. Should be about 35 - 40 HP at the auxiliary ports.

Tim

 

[franklin2]

I think that is what I would do. Pour all your money and fab work into making a 3 point hitch adapter. Then you can run all kinds of different attachments. You could still use your plate adapter, and buy the hydraulic pto motor and mount it and use this from harbor freight to speed along the 3 point hitch hook-up.

 

[Fallon]

I think that is what I would do. Pour all your money and fab work into making a 3 point hitch adapter. Then you can run all kinds of different attachments. You could still use your plate adapter, and buy the hydraulic pto motor and mount it and use this from harbor freight to speed along the 3 point hitch hook-up.

I made one for a plow mount on my L3200 (32hp, 2,500lbs). It worked well for the plow & moving some other impliments. Need more beef for your needs, but my cheap QH pulls my 1,700lbs flail through dense woody brush. Not sure if pushing would pose problems pulling doesn't.

 

[joeu235]

Have you ever used one? I rented one for a weekend and realized that at any reasonable ground speed it beats the **** out of you. Granted my machine does have solid tires.

 

[ruffdog]

Were you aware of SSQA to 3 PH adapters with a built in hydraulic motor? (At least they were available 5 or 10 years ago) With one of those, you just connect it to a regular rotary cutter- no fab necessary. Seems like they had your choice of 3 hydraulic motor displacements. Just their motor sizing for this application might be useful. I think they also plumbed it for spin down.

Something like this:

Skid Steer Quick Attach Adapter | Skid Steer Solutions

Here is a video of a tiller running on it.