Mowing Quick-Attach mower on a CUT

[Alan0043]

Has anyone out there ever thought of having a front mowing deck on a compact tractor ? NH has the quick-attach implements that fit both the compact tractor and thier commercial mowers ( MC22,MC28,MC35 ) . It looks like the front mowing deck would work on the quick-attach for the compact tractor ( TC18,TC21,TC24 ) . The PTO shaft could be the same one used for the snow blower.

If 75% of your time is mowing grass,the front mowing deck could help cut down mowing time. With a front mowing deck,you can mow under trees easier and trim with the deck.

NH is using the same quick-attach implements ( two stage snow blower, debris blower, front blade, and rotary broom ) for both the compact tractor and the commercial mower ( MC22,MC28,MC35 ) . Why not use the front mowing deck from the commercial mower on the compact tractor ?

Any thoughts about a front mount mowing deck on a compact tractors ? I thought it might be an idea to kick around.

Al

 

[JackIL]

Front mount mowers and numerous other attachments have been standard on the compact articulating tractors by Steiner and Ventrac from their inception. Steiner has been on the market since the mid-70s and Ventrac since 1998.( See www.Steinerturf.com and www.Ventrac.com and the attached photo).

One of the fundamental reasons these tractors have the deck out front instead of underneath is to keep the center of gravity of the tractor very low for improved slope stability. A second reason is that the tractors have equal-sized wheels front and rear with full-time 4 wheel drive. Center articulation steering is the simplest means of steering a 4 wheel drive tractor with equal-sized front and rear wheels. One of the advantages of this concept is that there is absolutely no turf damage during turning (4WD is always engaged) since the front and rear wheels run in the same tracks and are of the same diameter. With dual wheels front and rear these tractors are capable of safely mowing on slopes of up to 30 degrees.

I have had both brands and am very pleased with the mowing capabilities and slope operation.

JackIL

 

[have_blue]

I have often thought of it.

I like the concept of powering the mower deck with a hydraulic motor instead of PTO.

 

[have_blue]

Jack,

I ran across a weird little articulated machine on the Web with quick front and rear attachments. It was small, but appeared to be quite powerful. Can't remember the name of it for the life of me, but it had a hydraulic powered brush hog that would hold its own with a CUT and brush hog. Having said that, articulation does not look natural to me. It's nothing more than a big hinge, and looks like it would quickly develop slack. But then, I said color TV would never catch on. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I think mounting a mower deck on the front end of a traditional tractor, even with the NH "quick hitch" system would end up with a mowing machine that would be unwieldy and would not handle the why you might expect.

Think of all the other front mount mowers on the market, the turning wheels are the rear wheels. Even with the articulated units, the rear wheels are the wheels used to manuver. Ditto with fork trucks that carry pallets out front and many other types of equipment that carry the load in the front. With the only notable exception being a FEL.

With the NH quick attach system you might actually be able to mount the deck in front, and you might be able to power it, but I don't know if it is practical. I'm not sure why, but front turning wheels on a CUT with a mower deck mounted out front just seems like a bad idea to me. I think you might find it to be far less responsive that you think when trying to mow tight to trees, fences or other close quarter work.

 

[have_blue]

Bob,

I bush hog without removing my FEL, and I use the scoop as a guide. The scoop obediently goes just where I want to mow, but the doggoned bush hog swings around as it pleases back there. I can't envision any big problems mowing up front. Just eliminationg the need to look back all the time would be worth a few minor problems.

A front mounted mower would be just that...a mower. If used on uneven ground like a bush hog, it would get hammered to death.

 

[TMB1320]

I see this is an old thread. Since '03 no manufacturer has produced a front mount deck mowers that utilize the NH "Quick-Attach" hook up? I recently adapted the subframe of a 836GS SB with the Quick attach to a NH1320 and like to see a mower that would slip on the QA foot. The PTO drive short shaft is slip on square to the SB but I suppose that short shaft /w dual universal can be adapted to fit any after market front deck mower. Maybe even an off-breed? I too have problem with shrub trees and a tractor with full glass cab with a mid deck mower just will not do.