saw a neat lawnmower/tractor hybrid today

Soundguy · May 3, 2003

On my way home today, i stopped at a small engine repair shop to look at an old fordson they had up on blocks, then i noticed around the corner what I thought was a tractor. Upon closer inspection I saw a snapper MGT 1800G.. a bit smaller than an 8n, yet much bigger than even the biggest riding lawnmower I've ever seen. Had a 50" MMM deck belt driven from a front clutch, and a cat0 3pt lift. Was hydrostatic ( oil add cap for tranny specified dexron/mercron fluid only.

It was a gas job, operator platform was similar to a tractor yet had many of the 'lawnmower' items... Pull up parking brake in the dash, electric clutch engage listed as PTO, for front driven clutch, Had power steering, and was 2wd.. fronts were turfs, rear were ags.

Fender wells had a molded cup holder, but had no rops. A decent sized machine... as big or bigger than my yanmar 1700.. again, just a tad bit shorter and less width than an N.. For comparison sake, easily the same size as a NH TC 18 except with a smaller MMM.

Fairly neat looking... wonder how they get away with no rops.... not class it as a tractor?

If you just needed a mowing machine, and a lift for a small box blad / plow / rake, this might be a nice orchard or small estate machine.. though, as the price on a riding lawnmower can approach 3k for something like a big JD/craftsman/huskie... I can only imagine that this is in the 5k range.. like a ZTR mower... Still I would rather mow on that snapper than the ZTR... just looks more tractorish..

Comments?

Soundguy

frank_f15 · May 3, 2003

might they have it listed as a GT? there are a lot of strange rules out there. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Soundguy · May 3, 2003

It is quite possible that they are pushing it through as simply a big riding mower... though the only thing it lacks from being a 'real' tractor is a rear 540 pto.

Though, that in mind.. I know lots of old John Deer's and AC's that have no pto, but have a lift... go figure...

Either way.. it is a neat machine.. might be good for the guys that want a tractor but only have 1-2 acres...

What would be sweet woul be to find a way to tap off of that front mount belt/pto drive, and make a rear pto.. like mount a hyd pump/motor combo, with the piping to the rear, and have a real 540 pto on the rear along with the lift.. then it would be a 'real' tractor imho.

Soundguy

Anonymous Poster · May 3, 2003

Soudguy,
The Power King tractors were of the same variety. At some point, I think the Snapper / Power King were built by the same mfr. and brand labelled.The Power Kings had an optional lineshaft kit with steady bearings that ran from the front electric clutch under the machine to the back. It was a belt driven arrangement, and could power a tiller. I guess there were other pto attachments, but I don't know if they were standard 540 rpm (probably not) and were most likely made for their tractors only. Mine did have a cat 0 3ph, but the tractor was too light to pull a whole lot. I can't imagine trying to pull a box blade with it.
DaveL

MossRoad · May 3, 2003

I have heard that ROPs isn't required for anything under a specific HP. What that HP is, I don't know. Does this apply to ag tractors, garden tractors, lawn tractors, etc... Everything I've read says over 20HP for ag tractors. Can't find anything on lawn tractors, garden tractors, etc..

Taylortractornut · May 4, 2003

Theres a fella here tht repairs small engines has an older snapper like that with the lift and the mmm. He mows with it and cultivates part of his garden with it and grades his paths. His has a pto tiller though, not sure but i think it runs off the motor and line shaft. I had a Sperry Rand New Holland one time never got it to run, it had the PTO that ran through the hydrostatic pump drive to the rear that ran a belt pulley on the back the tiller attachment on the 3 point would engage when the tension got right and it was variable depth. It had a 48 in mmm. wished id have kept it but at the time i had too many projects and not enough money. The fella i traded it to uses it daily now. It was called and S16 i think I never could link Sperry Rand and Allis Chalmers company to New Holland no one had ever seen one. International made the little Cub series that had a 3point hitch 4cylinder gas engin and an electric pto. The PTO gave alot of trouble. I have a freind that has one and we are thinking about building a hydraulic PTO. Take care Taylor Lambert

Soundguy · May 8, 2003

Not sure.. about that snappers pto... it is a fairly large unit.. I can't imagine that gas motor on it being less than 25 hp.. as it is bigger then the CUB and Huskie lawnmowers that are 25hp.

On the other hand.. a nhtc18 is 18 engine hp right? and it has a rops...

Soundguy

TC18guy · May 8, 2003

It seems to me that FEL would make the difference between requiring ROPS or not

MossRoad · May 8, 2003

<font color="blue"> a nhtc18 is 18 engine hp right? and it has a rops... </font>

Yes, but just because it has it, doesn't mean it's required.

I've searched a bunch of OSHA sites and the magic number for an employer to provide ROPS seems to be 20HP. But I couldn't find where the manufacturer is required to provide the ROPs. Anyone out there have any information on this?