Curious- Old tire driven rotary mower?

[Skyco]

Sunday I was passed by a truck/trailer with an old tractor and what appeared to be an old rotary mower on the back driven by a tire from the PTO to apparently a disk under the deck, with I suppose the blades on the disk perimeter. Pretty novel I thought to use that method rather than a gear box.
Anyone ever seen such a thing?

 

[RickB]

Something makes me think FMC made them. I must be getting old.........

 

[teg]

I saw one parked in a field on the way to my friends place. It was behind an old tractor with the 2 front tires right next to each other... Field was cut and it looked like it did a fine job. Next time I swing by there, I'll take a closer look and maybe a photo or two...

 

[Taylortractornut]

They do great FMC made them as well as woods. I have a friend hat has one right now on his big 70 hp tractor. I used to have a picture of one made at votech in Metal trades. When you hit an imovable object it will smoke the tire. It use to be a 2 groved implement tire but most get changes to the uni rib style. They didnt have a gear box to go bad just a bige set of greasble bearings. They do give a surprise when they blow out though. I had one go on a 4020 a friend has. Musta been a bum tire it was only 33 years old lol.

 

[dawoodwa]

Our state highway dept still uses some of the FMC mowers with the tire clutch, if they hold up to that crew they must be tough.

 

[Skyco]

Cool! When he passed me I was pondering why he had what appeared to be a spare tire mounted on a mower
Then I got a chance to pass him back when he slowed for an exit and got a better look. Pretty ingenious