Building a engine powered 4-5ft brush hog

[ArlyA]

And also way to start the mower without having to spend mass of the bush hog blades while cranking it over.
One catch, most bush hog gear boxes aren't going to be able to handle the side load of belts running off of the input shaft, so you're going to need to make up a jackshaft of some sort that then drives the gearbox.

db556 was talking about adding belts and an actuator to that, so its effectively clutched.

 

[ruffdog]

Whatever engine is used will need a governor installed to control rpms.

 

[BrokenTrack]

He...he...he...

Do not over-think this. I had a concert on a farm last year and wanted to knock down some weeds in the deep ditches leading up to the concert event. I just used a 2x4, a generator, and an electric fan as a makeshift boom-mower.

I think the people that laugh the most are just jealous because they did not think of it first. It did work! :cool2:

 

[db556]

Thanks for all the comments, Got more pictures from the seller of the brush hog, wow that was some rust! Back to looking for another brush hog.

I know VW engine used to be everywhere I have two on the shelf right now for my baja bug, same with the vw 1.6 diesels I could get them for $100~$200 all day long a few years ago, now can find any.

Wish the skid steer had auxiliary hydraulics, I really want to make a tree shear or thumb for my bucket.
I see it could have came with it but finding a kit for a 1980's skid steer might be a bit hard.

Going by the usual 5hp pto per foot for the rotary cutter gives me 25 real horse power, but more it better.

I do have extra bearing to put on the gearbox shaft for the side load.

 

[db556]

Well, its been on the back burner till yesterday when I picked up a couple VW engines. A couple 1.6 diesels for backups for my truck and baja bug, and a $40 1.7 gas engine with a automatic.
I didn't want a radiator but for the cost I'll rig up a shield for it, Now it has the stock vw fuel injection box(or had) and I'm tearing that off and I have a holley 32/36.
I welded a mounting plate for the holley carb on the stock intake manifold, and I gutted the automatic to use the bell housing, for the starter and for a extra pulley to support the shaft.

Now the engine in its stock output is about 70hp so I'll derate that with age and a ill fited carb to 55hp how many B size vbelts would you guys run to transfer that many horse power?
I'll run the engine at about 2500 so for 540rpm I'll need about 4.75:1 I have a 19" dual vbelt sheave and 4" for the brush hog gearbox, but I have a feeling I'll need double reduction since that 19" sheave
probably won't have room between the the input flange and the desk of the brush hog.

I go to look at a 5ft woods tomorrow.

 

[db556]

Well its been a while but that 5ft woods turned out to be a rusty but repairable 5ft new idea 452 tow behind, which had been flipped around jerry rigged but the price was right.

And putting a carb on the VW engine ended up behing a pain so I bid on two engines at rogers auction a Leroi D176 which I found a bit crusty but had a nice gear reduced twin disc PTO
and a Continental Y69 off of a T50 baler that somebody put a generator on at some time. Since the leroi needed more work than the Y69 and it had electric start I though to swap over the PTO to the continental and get electric start at the same time. Well low and behold they ended up being SAE #5 and SAE#4 bell housings and differnt flywheel bolt patterns I'm going to redrill the twin disc pto flywheel once I can get back into work and access to a lathe. And get the PTO on the Y69 but not anytime soon.

But for now I went to harborfreight and got one of there predator 22hp engines, it is probably much less torque (45nm or 33ft) than the y69 continental and less cool looking I lover the look of this powerpack even though its only 16hp.

Now measuring everything I can do a single stage reduction with 3" dual vbelt centrifugal clutch and a 15.75 sheave on the brush hog gearbox. So that reduces my part counts, and I dont need a radiator.
I'm going to pickup some steel tomorrow for a dogleg tow bare and for a front caster wheel.

I'll post some progress and pictures tomorrow.

 

[Xfaxman]

Sounds interesting :thumbsup:.