New brush project.

[kpinnc 11,942]

Starting with a non- Wheel Horse part, but I don't want to cut up a WH deck. It will mount on a WH when I'm finished though.

 

About a month ago, I lost my dad. The very same day my mom went into ICU at Duke, and 24 hours later we almost lost her. She's fine now and back home, but for about 3 weeks I have done nothing but run all over the state- more than 100 miles in opposite directions from home. Needless to say I fell way behind on my groundskeeping, normally having to mow at a minimum every five days here and sometimes twice a week. We have mutant grass, and much more rain than usual this spring. 

 

So I fell behind particularly on the back pasture. The grass is thigh deep, and nothing I have will cut it. The grass just lays down and it takes about 3 passes to cut it. That's if I creep along so slow that you can't cut the pasture in a while day. And of course I don't have a bush hog... Yet.

 

I'm gonna build a carrier up front similar to the factory deck carrier, and hang this Ford deck on it- with some modifications. I bought flat, no lift blades, and I'm gonna remove the front from the deck entirely. I'll add a raised section that will allow the high grass to hit the blades before bending over, and that should make cutting easier. It won't make a pretty cut, but I can knock it down and let it dry out before shredding it up with a regular mower. 

 

My pasture out back is a bear even when I've kept up with it. At least this way I can rake up clippings and feed my critters too, since it's fescue anyway. Eventually I'll get the electric fence up, and let them do the work. But for now I'll have something to keep the field mice and snakes away.

 

 

[Bill D 1,915]

My condolences on the loss of your father.  Glad to hear that your mother is better.

[ri702bill 8,296]

Kevin, difficult times show us what we are really made of, been there, done that...

Twenty years  or so ago, my son bought a used 60" tow behind flail mower and a Super Tomahawk chipper.

The flail mower had twin spindles with HUGE greaseable mounted bearings, probably 1-1/4", maybe larger. Those blades require some serious spindles! And a reinforcing plate to keep the deck from twisting.

Planning on 2 or 3 blades?? Two is easier and cheaper, but you have to address the overlap, unless you intentionally leave them spaced apart, and that will leave an uncut "Mohawk" of grass that requires a second pass.

Bill

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

Condolences. My Dad passed in January. Big hole in life...

 

Cool idea on the deck. Look forward to seeing you make it happen...

[ebinmaine 67,344]

My condolences to you and yours. 

 

We don't mow with a Horse here and in fact not much with anything.  Push mower exclusively. Fair amount of Echo trimmer work too.  

I learned today that Flat Blades exist. 

Never heard of that...

 

Your home shop made field mower slasher knocker overer should be very interesting. 

Looking forward to seeing this build.  

 

 

[Sailman 1,291]

So sorry to hear about losing your Dad but glad Mom is doing OK. Losing her at the same time would be hard to imagine. Good luck with the "sorta bush hog", will be interesting to see the end result. Have to say I am envious of all your "fescue". Living off Lake Lanier we just have too many trees, can't keep fescue growing. Have reseeded fescue year after year but it doesn't last. Have learned Zoisia sod is my only option for yards here....and its not cheap.

[ri702bill 8,296]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I learned today that Flat Blades exist. 

Never heard of that...

 

Your home shop made field mower slasher knocker overer should be very interesting. 

The flail mower my son got had 3 piece flat blades  - a center section and 2 pivoting 6 inch or so long ends, probably 3/4" thick. Those had cutting edges all along both sides - reversable.

They pivoted so if you ran over something in the 2" diameter range or bigger, it was a bit forgiving. Towed behind a high ground clearance ATV with a front skid plate, he could knock over 1-1/2" saplings with no problem - the 10 HP mower had NO problem with them either.... He had it for 3 seasons and sold it for what he paid for it.

[ebinmaine 67,344]

36 minutes ago, Sailman said:

Have learned Zoisia sod is my only option for yards here....and its not cheap

Not to go too far  on @kpinnc...

Have you tried what we call "winter rye" grass?

 

Most folks aren't aware it can be reseeded and left to grow. That was news to me until last fall.  

[kpinnc 11,942]

1 hour ago, Sailman said:

Have to say I am envious of all your "fescue".

 

Come and get all you want!  

 

53 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Most folks aren't aware it can be reseeded and left to grow. That was news to me until last fall.  

 

Will it crowd out this stuff?

[ebinmaine 67,344]

2 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Will it crowd out this stuff?

Not sure but I could find out tomorrow? 

[Sailman 1,291]

8 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Not to go too far  on @kpinnc...

Have you tried what we call "winter rye" grass?

 

 

The problem with rye grass is the summer heat will kill it. Does fine over winter but dies in the summer. Fescue would be ok in open field like @kpinnc has but will not in semi shady areas here in north Georgia. I have seeded it 3 times and each time it comes in lush and healthy fall, winter and spring then dies in the summer 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

My condoleances, hope you get through these difficult times.

 

About your mower; interesting idea and setup. I've had a similar idea stuck in my head but never knew WH actually offered what I would call a 'front-mower' attachment.

I'll be following along closely 

[kpinnc 11,942]

Got the front of the deck done. It's 3/16 across the front, so it'll serve as a decent bumper for light brush. With it completely open, none of the brush and high grass will get bent down before the blades make contact. 

 

This thing will be dangerous as can be. It'll only get used in the pasture, well away from home and family. 

 

Gonna build the carrier tomorrow. 

 

 

[Horse Newbie 7,057]

On 4/30/2023 at 10:02 AM, Sailman said:

Have learned Zoisia sod is my only option for yards here....and its not cheap

Try Zoysia sprouts/ plugs…

I’m sure they are way less $$$$ than sod.

Libby’s uncle mail ordered them and planted a sprout every so few feet. He said it spreads pretty quickly. This was in WV…

[Horse Newbie 7,057]

On 4/30/2023 at 7:07 PM, Sailman said:

lush and healthy fall, winter and spring then dies in the summer

Same thing happens with me in Monroe NC… An irrigation system is a must with fescue IMO… at least around here…

[kpinnc 11,942]

Got the carrier fabbed up, albeit kinda rough...

 

Lots of edges to smooth up, a few welds look like goose poop. 

 

But the basic frame is done. The deck hangs at the rear on the hooks that were on it, and a single 1/2 hitch pin supports the front and holds the 3/4 bar in place in the hooks. The blades ride about 5 inches off the ground. 

 

Now I gotta fab up the hitch. Then I'll work on routing the belt. There's plenty of room to run it. 

 

 

[OoPEZoO 513]

Dangerous.....yes, but I dig it.......looks like a fun project, and BTW a beautiful property.   Zoysia grass will choke out just about everything once it gets growing, problem is, its slow to spread.  Up here in PA, some people like it, some don't.  We planted plugs in my Mother in-laws back yard.  It took an afternoon to do it....they make a special tool.  You remove a plug of soil using the tool, then replace it with a plug of Zoysia.  It took a good 3-4 years for it to completely take over her lawn, but it covers it like a soft blanket now and absolutely zero weeds, plus it grows slowly so she doesn't have to mow often.....BUT it turns brown in the winter and looks ugly.  It comes back to green in the late spring and always looks nice by late May/early June.  Once again, that's in Southern PA, so I'm sure it would do better in NC.  I have never seen a "pasture field" of Zoysia.  I suppose its possible, but I'd have to think the $$$ and labor may outweigh the benefits.  I'd be interested to hear a local landscapers opinion on it.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

Looks like it's coming a long pretty well!  I can't wait to hear how it performs.  I'm curious as to how well it will clear out the cut grass since the deck is a side discharge design and those have a air flow direction to help it.  With the front open I'm wondering it'll still throw it well enough to not clog up and be pushed around too bad.  But being 5 inches up I would think grass would be able to fall down enough.  If it does seem to clog or not throw grass well you could cut off the other side plate if needed. 

 

Any chance you have Youtube and can post a vid on it running when done?  If this works out well I imagine similar builds will be in order around here   Lot's of brush to mow and not want to risk sacrificing a good WH deck. 

[kpinnc 11,942]

1 hour ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

Any chance you have Youtube and can post a vid on it running when done?  If this works out well I imagine similar builds will be in order around here   Lot's of brush to mow and not want to risk sacrificing a good WH deck. 

 

I've never posted a video, but I do have an account. Guess I'll have to try it eventually... 

[ebinmaine 67,344]

3 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I've never posted a video, but I do have an account. Guess I'll have to try it eventually... 

If me n @Pullstart can figure it out you'll do fine.  

[Pullstart 62,814]

4 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I've never posted a video, but I do have an account. Guess I'll have to try it eventually... 

 

So sorry to hear of your loss..

[kpinnc 11,942]

Been kinda busy lately, but I finished the "hitch" side of this build tonight. Decided to make this hitch perform two different jobs while I was at it. It will work as a front receiver for moving my trailer when not bush hoggin. 

 

I built this to use both the belly and front Tach-a-matic. That'll keep it from rocking upward if the front mower tries to jump, and it'll just be a while lot stronger this way as well. 

 

Probably have to get some better pins, but these will work for now. 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,344]

Nice looking fab work there! 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

 

[kpinnc 11,942]

Little more completed tonight. Hitched up, now I have to get the pulleys sorted out.