MODIFY BRUSH HOG SOME MORE

[tommu56]

Rob
The farmer that I lived next door to went from a single rear wheel mower to a dual wheel one (all auction equipment of course) he had a top link on rear wheels to adjust them it worked fine it pulled on draw bar not on 3 point so it stayed parallel to ground.
It never scalped any thing when I used it, a big plus.

The only minus that he said he missed not being able to lower it on something to shred it like his 3 point could.

When get a cutter I will seriously consider spending the extra for the 2 wheel one

tom

 

[EddieWalker]

Rob,

Pretty cool idea!!!!

Next, you need to figure out how to make the entire deck move off to one side. Just think of what it will be like mowing your pond once you dig it. Having the ability to slide it closer to the waters edge would sure make life allot more fun!!!!

Thanks for another great thread.

Eddie

 

[bjcsc]

Cool design, but I don't see how it will solve the problem. The scalping/high problems you mentioned are caused by the lift arm side of the mower, not the tailwheel side. The tailwheel side is always the set height above the ground. The lift arm side rises and dips with terrain/tractor angle, no matter how many rear tailwheels there are. Seems to me you could solve it by finessing the 3pt height in trouble spots - works for me - but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[john_bud]

but maybe I'm missing something.

Yeah, he enjoys modifying stuff! It's way more fun to have a tricked out mower deck, even if it is easier to just lift the 3pt lever!

Now if there was a 2 speed gear box on the deck to switch to "turbo mode" when in the tall grass and then gear down to power thru saplings that would be cool. But, it would require some flames to be painted on.....

jb

 

[IslandTractor]

But, it would require some flames to be painted on.....

jb

Nah, have the flames plasma cut into the design. Why use paint when you've got CAD and plasma to work with?

 

[bjcsc]

Yeah, he enjoys modifying stuff! It's way more fun to have a tricked out mower deck, even if it is easier to just lift the 3pt lever!
jb

Well I can certainly understand that, but it seems like a lot of mod work to end up in the same place. If it was me with the same resources (CAD and XYZ cutter) I'd design it with four wheels, two in front and the two in back, all height controlled by one cylinder. Then you could float the whole deck. Cool mod and problem solved...

 

[MJPetersen]

He considered floating the deck with four wheels, but the cost was prohibitive. Although he now has probably doubled his original design cost.

By now his wife should have gotten used to the "cost overrun" and he could slip a couple more castering wheels into the deal probably without her noticing.

I think that his wife sometimes reads these things so we need to be careful!!

Mike

 

[SkunkWerX]

3RRL,

Nice project!

I know exactly what you are dealing with, I have the same thing, not a level spot for more than 10 feet of mowing. Ups and downs, and dips and hills.

I had been toying with floating my lower links in conjunction with some front rollers.
So, while looking at your set-up, I was pondering,
could there be a way to "float" that tailwheel assembly so it's constantly trying to seek it's level?

Just a wild question, I'm still thinking about it.

it looks like a winner from here.

 

[3RRL]

Thanks Skunk,
I'll try to post some pictures later this week.
I'm still trying to figure out how to cut some of this scrap steel for the components.
You know, so I have enough for all the parts I need without wasting too much and ending up with unusable remnants.

 

[GuglioLS]

......
I'm still trying to figure out how to cut some of this scrap steel for the components.

Rob figured it out, just draw it up and send the file to Larry and let him figure it out . I offered to get parts plasma cut as a favor for Rob, he took me up on the offer, so now I better get busy and get this done.

Rob, I took your drawing file that you sent me over to the plasma cutter today and uploaded it into the cutter software. I hope to have them cut sometime Saturday. Rob, I hope you don't mind, Here's a picture of all the parts:
Might as well get some of these to bolt it all together:

Larry

 

[3RRL]

Hi Larry,
Of course I don't mind. With your kind offer to have the parts plasma cut, I was able to design some free shapes that fit the linkage much better. As you saw before your offer, I had the linkage made out of 2" x 4" steel tubing. It would have worked but would be awful bulky and not nearly as nice looking as plasma cut parts will be. I will show you what the brackets and linkage will look like now with the plasma cut parts.



The reason I did not opt for the plasma cut parts in the first place was to build with only materials I had. This was driven by my desire for keeping the cost down to a minimum. But with your kind offer, it's allowed me come up with a much nicer looking linkage.
Thanks Larry
(I guess I will be in debt to you again)

Oh and those fastners ...hahaha... I think I've made some of those when I used to drink.

 

[GuglioLS]

Rob the new design looks good. No doubt you can be more creative and use more of your imagination when getting parts plasma cut.

Rob called last night, he said there is no rush to get the parts, but that if somehow I could get them soon he would really appreciate it. I got the feeling he needed something to do other than golfing all day everyday so I chanced going to the plasma cutter shop a day early. I figured I better get something to bribe the plasma cutting crew, so a quick stop to Krispy Kream was in order. Amazing how far a donut will go for a friend in need.
After I showed up with the goodies they took a little break, then got right to work. This is the Crew, The gal in the center is the owner of the metal shop that I frequent to get everything for all my projects.



First was to copy & paste Robs parts then duplicate the multiple quantities, then lay out everything for best fit on the 3/8 plate.

Here is the layout with all the parts ready to cut:


Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Here are a couple videos cutting out the parts:

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Two More Videos:



Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Here are the wheel brackets and a picture of overall progress. The cutter is working great the edges are crisp & clean:
Wheel Bracket: Overall progress
Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Total cutting time was 33 minutes, not bad, I wonder how long it took Rob to draw these? I know it took me longer to pack them up for shipping to Rob than it did to cut them out.
Here are all the finished parts ready to be packed and shipped. I had to let them cool off, But most were still a little warm when packed up.
They look just like Rob's drawing:......

Here is the negative: 48" x 21" -




Rob,
You should be getting them on Monday. Thanks for the opportunity to let me do this little favor for you, it was my pleasure.

Larry

 

[3RRL]

GEEZ Larry,
I had no idea you were going to get those guys to do that today. I thought you said they were busier than heck so I assumed I'd have to wait at least a week or so. Man, you are something else. Hey, now I know how Ken must feel!
I guess that means you already packaged them up and got it under way too?

I'll be busy next week boring out all those holes for the pins and bushing I'm putting in the pivots. My goal is to get this stuff ready for our vacation up at the property starting the 24th of September. With all that steel here, all I need is the hydraulic stuff and I'll be ready to go. I've still got some machining for the other parts, but I'm hoping to do the final assembly up there.

Those pictures and videos are just awesome.
Thank you for getting all that done and shipped already!

 

[MJPetersen]

Larry, thanks for the videos. I have heard LOTS about Plasma, but have never seen one in action. Now I have! That makes really nice clean parts, and FAST!

Rob, What program do you use to make your sketches and then the parts layout? I really like the way your plans come to fruition.

Mike

 

[GuglioLS]

I had no idea you were going to get those guys to do that today. I thought you said they were busier than heck....

I had no idea it was going to happen today either. I took a chance, and headed over there with a 12 pack of Krispy Kream donuts. Seems to work wonders in many situations. I told them I wanted to bribe them to put your job ahead in line and they said, OK. So that was that and it got done ahead of schedule. Now this frees up my Saturday for mowing, wood cutting, chipping, and 360* rotating back-blading for Renze, AND a machining project for another TBN member - DullPain. Whew, my only hope is I find something to do that afternoon.

Rob,
They shipped out today, I'll e-mail you the tracking#'s

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry, thanks for the videos. I have heard LOTS about Plasma, but have never seen one in action. Now I have! That makes really nice clean parts, and FAST!.....snip.......Mike

Mike,

Thanks - the videos are pretty cool, I only wish my camera had sound and a little better resolution. You should hear the noise the plasma cutter and all those flames make.

Like you, I was impressed the first time I saw this in action when making my grapple jaws. I never realized just how precise and reproducible those cutters are. Believe it or not, plasma cutters have already been out dated by laser cutters and high pressure water jet cutters. They can hold even tighter tolerances, and make the Plasma cutter look stone age by comparison.

Larry