Side arm cutter

[chipmaker]

Hi
I am new in this forum, but I wanted to share my side arm creation with you all. Its built from a rider mower deck and ataches by way of a three point hitch with a receiver type mount. Its fully adjustable to cut banks, specifically I made it to trim around the steep banks of my pond and stream. Its nothing fancy, just a simple attachment that does what its intended use is. Single image is posted here, but a link to all the images is located at: http://home.att.net/~chipmaker/default.html
Sel;ect the "MY PROJECTS completed" link and you will see the link to the side-arm cutter on that page. If posting webpage links is not allowed I appologize.

 

[Ozarker]

That is a great situp. Gives me an idea.

 

[Molerj]

Hi, I saw a post about your sidearm cutter on another forum without the pictures this am. Then I came here & found this post with the pictures. Pretty neat setup. Also your homepage is nice & informative.

 

[Spencer]

Chipmaker, I like what you have done there. I don't know if you have a set of hydraulic remotes but if you do or someone else is thinking of building one of these I have a possible modification. I have altered your picture to show how you might be able to use a hydraulic cylinder to make things easier. I am no engineer so if this looks wrong it was just a thought.

If nothing else you may be able to put a regular toplink in where I have the hydraulic one shown and you wouldn't have to walk down to the bank to adjust it.

 

[chipmaker]

I had been thinking along the lines of adding a hydraulic cylinder in place where toplink is used to adjust the deck angle. Unfortunately my 1720 Ford does not have remote hydraulics on it. It has the block that you turn with a screwdriver to open or close, on the right isde off the main hydraulic lines, but I know absolutely nothing about it. I don't know what would be involved in adding remote outlets to the tractor but I am definetly interested. My local dealer just says bring it in and well take care of it.......not exactly what I want. I am more than capable of doing my own work, I just don't understand this hydraulic system and what parts I would need. I do have a normally closed valve, but then again it may take a normally open or whatever.

Appreciate your interest in my cutter.

 

[beenthere]

One way to learn more about it is to get an oil pressure guage and plumb it in to some of the plugged ports you have available. You can then find out what is under pressure and when. Getting a tech manual for your tractor should also help you figure it out.

My thought when looking at your side arm cutter was to pivot the boom arm off the draw bar (not a 3pt drawbar), and then raise and lower the boom arm by attaching it to the 3pt. The side arm cutter is a clever idea. Protection from flying debris would be a serious consideration.

 

[Spencer]

Chipmaker,
I've only been doing this tractor thing since last November so I don't have a lot of knowledge on all the tractors out there. I am assuming since your 1720 is a Ford and not a New Holland it is probably at least 5 years old. There may still be a kit available to install the remote outlets. I bought the kit and did it myself knowing absolutely nothing about hydraulics. The kit came with adequate instructions and other than having to buy a heavy duty floor jack I was all set. Just call the parts department instead of the salesman and see if there is a kit available.

 

[njrqs]

Great website with details of your cutter.

Nice looking dam you have there too.

Cheers

 

[chim]

Just in case you were wondering about the year it was made. The 1720's were built between 1987 and 1991. On the left side of the transmission is the S/N. According to a tractor book I have, the S/N's for the first tractor made for each year are: UL21001 (1897), UL22701 (1988), UL26556 (1989, UL28601 (1990) and UL30784 (1991)...................chim

 

[Tractors4u]

I see from your webpage you mentioned something about the water table in Alabama. What part? I see moss in the trees so you must be in the southern part. I am in Athens. Good looking cutter by the way.

 

[Branch]

I've never used a mower like that, and have never even seen one being used but.. Wouldn't it make sense to mount it somehow to the FEL. Then you could look forward as your working? Just wondering.

Branch

 

[ns_in_tex]

There is always more than one way to skin a cat.
This one takes a little more hydraulics but does a good job for me.
Requires about 5 or 6 gpm flow & duel remote hydraulics besides the front loader.
Local lawnmore store gave me a discarded 30" riding mower. Took the deck off, swung it on some compressed springs, built a hinge so could point it any direction in 45 degree settings. bought a hydraulic motor & some hoses & came up with this.Mows under fences, on top of hedges. Lift it above a 1" or less, 8' tall tree and let the loader down. You have a few chips on the ground when the loader reaches bottom. Nothing to pick up.
Turn it sideways & push back the brush.

 

[ns_in_tex]

closeup top view

 

[ns_in_tex]

Hinge for directional mowing.
Can swing free or lock in the down position or lock in most other positions.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Up in the air, clearing out those limbs that slap you in the face or scratch the cab.

 

[chipmaker]

It sure would make sense to mount it to a FEL ......if you had one, which I do not. Three point was the only option.

 

[chipmaker]

Super job there. That would have been my choice also, a hydraulic motor with hyd cylinder to angle it. Since I don't have any remotes on my tractor, but hope to someday just as soon as I figure out how to tap into the system thats there, I was thinking of making a hydraulic powered cutter, and mount it off the side of the tractor where the attach point is for mounting a FEl frame at the trans / engine area. It would be central to the wheelbase and would provide for good view and operation. Would be easy to make it angle and raise.......Nice thing about hydraulic motors is no need to worry about angle. All the utility / right-of-way tractors around here have them mounted about mid-point between front and back wheels. Just have to figure out the remote deal now.

Again thats a fine job you did on that cutter.

 

[chipmaker]

About 20 miles south of Montgomery, off I-65 in the big town of Tyson.......population 6. And three of that 6 is in my household. Tyson even rated its own exit sign off the interstate, ain't no telling what that cost the taxpayers. You mean you do not have moss in Athens area?

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I'm intrigued by your three phase converter. I have a Spectrum one thousand plasma torch I purchased and have never hooked up because I don't have three phase in the shop.

Yup, I've got a plasma torch that will cut inch and a quarter plate as easy as my small one will do half inch and I've never used it.

On your side cutter I've got a question in my mind you might be able to answer.

How would it be if you had a wheel out board of the deck that maintained your cutting height?

Another option instead of a hydraulic system on your upper boom arm would be to have a cable pulley system. You could mount a small electric winch like they have for ATV's for changing the angle of the deck and have a remote toggle switch attached to a suicide knob kind of assembly on the steering wheel. If you used a coiled cord from the steering column to the steering wheel there wouldn't be a problem with the cord wrapping and unwrapping.

You could then make minor adjustments with just a little thumb pressure even as you're turning the machine. These two modifications, the outboard wheel and the cable pulley assist I know would take half the fun out of the mowing but with that pond you might find some inspiration for what to do with the surplus. I'm sure you can fish for an idea or something like that.

 

[bgott]

Or rig an old boat steering wheel with the cable operated system on it. Cables might get caught up in brush, though.