Industrial Toys
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2008
- Messages
- 17,393
- Location
- Ontario Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota R510 Wheel Loader + Cab and backhoe, JD 6200 Open Station, Cushman 6150, 4x4, ten foot 56 hp Kubota diesel hydraulic wing mower, Steiner 430 Diesel Max, Kawasaki Diesel Mule, JD 4x2 Electric Gator
Let me start by saying that manufacturer suggesting this Samurai sickle mower can cut 1-1/2" branches is like saying a VW Passat can mow down 4" Hardwood. It's NOT a LIE! It's possible with GREAT DAMAGE!
I have always wanted to try this on the 430 MAX, that has little hydraulic power to spare.
First step was to see if Steiner would even move the sickle. Borrowed lines off a snowblower, to avoid much investment in this experiment. Machine required full RPM to get close to good sickle speed. Not the mowers fault, but unfortunate.
Tried on some weeds with poor results. Knives had been damaged from attempting to cut branches much smaller than advertised. Found some knives bent, making for poor scissor action. Dismantled sickle and straightened some knives.
Went to Pond, which is where this configuration would have been ideal.
The mower really needs a way to angle the sickle. Had this worked out, I would build a special carrier with an electric actuator for angle adjustment.
BIGGEST issue, is that the sickle gets choked by heavy, typical pond side vegetation. Probably not helped by damaged knives, but I don't think this is the whole problem.
It cuts maybe 5% of the vegetation and flattens the rest, making another kick at the can unlikely.
I would have LOVED for this to work.
Does anyone else have experience with this mower?
END of Experiment. FINISHED WITH ENGINES!
I have always wanted to try this on the 430 MAX, that has little hydraulic power to spare.
First step was to see if Steiner would even move the sickle. Borrowed lines off a snowblower, to avoid much investment in this experiment. Machine required full RPM to get close to good sickle speed. Not the mowers fault, but unfortunate.
Tried on some weeds with poor results. Knives had been damaged from attempting to cut branches much smaller than advertised. Found some knives bent, making for poor scissor action. Dismantled sickle and straightened some knives.
Went to Pond, which is where this configuration would have been ideal.
The mower really needs a way to angle the sickle. Had this worked out, I would build a special carrier with an electric actuator for angle adjustment.
BIGGEST issue, is that the sickle gets choked by heavy, typical pond side vegetation. Probably not helped by damaged knives, but I don't think this is the whole problem.
It cuts maybe 5% of the vegetation and flattens the rest, making another kick at the can unlikely.
I would have LOVED for this to work.
Does anyone else have experience with this mower?
END of Experiment. FINISHED WITH ENGINES!