Mowing Stupid Mower Idea?

[PTRich]

Is it possible to put 3 smaller hydralic motors on a deck instead of a belt. I think it would be a lot quiter and it would eliminate adjustments and wear parts. My other thought is that spindles wear because a belt is always pulling them into the same direction? You may not even need them at all.

 

[MossRoad]

Well, I don't see why it wouldn't work, as long as you could get the speeds relatively close. Price might be a deterent. Could add several hundred $$ to the cost of the mower.

Plus, the belts allow for some slip if the blades hit something. You'd have to do something about that or there might be trouble.

On the brush hog, the blades swing free. Maybe something like that could be worked out.

 

[Schultz]

Yes, you could do it, but your power loss would go up. Belts are around 98% efficient in energy/power transfer. Hydraulic pumps are 90- to at best 95% efficient. Put two more in series and your power loss would increase by 10-20%. That power loss would be transferred to the oil by increased heat. Your hydraulic oil would run hotter than it currently does. Also I don’t think you would reduce your noise much. Hydraulic motors whine quite a bit.