Mowing PT425 Boom mower

[PowerTrom425]

Hey there maties......does anyone here have experience with the boom mower? Our house is on small cove of a decent size lake. There is a 'spit' that wraps around creating a mini-cove inside the bigger cove on the decent sized lake !!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

On the inside edge of the mini-cove there are various grasses and reeds that like the still water. The boom mower seems as though it might work well in cutting this growth down, but I'm not sure if it would handle the coarse reedy type growth. PT's picture just shows it mowing grass.

Anyone have it? As is always the case, even if you don't have it, I'm sure y'all have educated, guestimate opinions on the subject! Thanks.... Tom

 

[toy]

when I bought my pt I thought about the boom mower but I decided against it because it didn't seem like that was much of a reach out length to be very usful for me, and the price. If you decide to get one though I still am curious about it. When I went for my demo I wish I had tried it out to see first hand what it was like.

 

[pequeajim]

I believe that TanSprFarm has a boom mower. You might want to send a PM to him to see how he likes it?

 

[TanSprFarm]

Hi Jim, I have followed your posts and delighted you are pleased with the PT. I have used the boom mower once and believe it needs modification to be useful. I plan to use it to mow fence lines, under spruce trees, and on banks. I have encountered a problem in that no matter how you try to regulate the height as the tractor moves it ends up scalping the ground (rocks etc.) I plan to mount wheels ( like the big plastic ones used as guage wheels on many lawn tractor decks). That way, the mower can be allowed to float on the ground. I will get to this over the winter and report on my success or failure

 

[pequeajim]

Thanks Joe:

You letting me play with your toys, uhh, I mean toOLs was instrumental in helping me to make the decision, thanks!

I'm sure many people on here would be interested in the results of your tests... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

You might want to take a look at FenceHog
The unit has casters which do what you are suggesting for yours.
Bubenberg and I are in initial discussions about how to adapt the FenceHog to a PT, either with its current configuration and just mounted up font, or perhaps with a front frame and hydraulic motor instead of the separate power. But, as with the other projects on his and my list, don't wait for us. Our progress is sporadic, at best. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[TanSprFarm]

Thanks for the fence hog link. My thought for fences was to put an electric actuator on the boom (make the boom telescope) say, about a foot. Then you could run the fence line and move the boom in and out around posts. I saw a fence trimer at TSC that was towed and used a string head similar to the Fence Hog.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red"> I saw a fence trimer at TSC that was towed and used a string head similar to the Fence Hog. </font>
The one at TSC is a Swisher, I think. It's a lot lighter and less expensive. It uses string, which you have to climb down and replace. I've not seen either one work, so can't compare quality or longevity.
Your mod should work, but require more attention than the spring types. The FenceHog type casters should work to support the deck.
Swisher

 

[PowerTrom425]

Joe.....how thick a grass/reed do you think the boom mower would cut? If I get one, your wheel suggestion sounds good.

 

[TanSprFarm]

I will try it today on some heavy stuff and respond tonight. I have some ponds also and I like your idea.