Front mount rough-cut mower

[lodestonefarm 41]

What do folks think about a front-mount rough-cut deck?  Something that would handle light brush.  By light brush I mean saplings 3/8" or less, tall grass, multi-flora rose bushes)- stuff like the included photos over 'rough' terrain.  

 

My idea is to put a 48" deck on a front carrier.  Cut the leading edge of the mowing deck off and replace with chains (like the leading end of a brush-hog).  Maybe I'd need to do some modification to this discharge chute as well.  Not sure.  The carrier would allow me to set a cutting height of about 5-6" which would let me skim over dead limbs, the occasional rock, and the rough terrain.  It would also put the deck out front where I could get under trees more easily.  Has anyone done anything like this?  How do you think this would work?  If the area had been previously cleaned by a true brush-hog do you think the existing spindle-blade arrangement would be up to it?  Would the belt-drive give some margin for error?  I know on my big brush hog, the blades are actually connected to a spinning plate.  If the unit hits something hard, the blade can actually pivot at the plate to reduce damage to the unit.  

 

Is this crazy?  I'd expect to have to clear the area the first time with a proper brush hog, and only use this setup to maintain it- cut it 2-3x per year.  

 

Can't seem to upload photos.  System keeps complaining: You are only allowed to upload 6.25mb.  I've got two JPGs each about 22Kb so not sure what the problem is.  

Edited June 13, 2016 by lodestonefarm
managed to get photos attached by adding second post. But one photo is upside down. Don't know why.

[dcrage 631]

Red Square member "Stigian" has U-tube video out in the ether with just such an attachment -- I believe his U-tube name is "UKWheelHorseBloke" -- He is located in the UK so the attachment was native to England -- But it will give you a look at something like what you are wanting

[RedRanger 1,470]

I like the idea.

 

[shallowwatersailor 3,216]

I bought a Gravely with a brush hog for this reason. Not that your idea isn't interesting but the Gravely was built for this purpose. It discharges towards the front instead of the side. The head is gear driven (no belt) and the blades are each 3/8" steel in an x-pattern. It has chains to prevent having projectiles out the front.

[C-101plowerpower 1,606]

3 hours ago, dcrage said:

Red Square member "Stigian" has U-tube video out in the ether with just such an attachment -- I believe his U-tube name is "UKWheelHorseBloke" -- He is located in the UK so the attachment was native to England -- But it will give you a look at something like what you are wanting

 

 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,362]

Of course Stigian would have a mower that really cleans up the over growth.

[Phatboy 565]

There was a member here that had a front mount mower mount for sale,, ya just hung any deck ya wanted on it,,, it attached to the attachamatic in the front,,, check the classifieds

[wallfish 18,614]

It's possible to modify a snowblower to a flail mower. Remove the auger out of a snowblower to remove the blade from it. Weld on chains. Rearrange the drive chain so it spins the opposite direction. Cut the mount and weld it back on so the open part faces down.

Of coarse there's a bit more to it but that's a basic idea.

Not too much worry about hitting objects because of the chains. I think flail mowers also have some type of blade on the end of the chains.

Just kind of thing out out loud so

[lodestonefarm 41]

6 hours ago, shallowwatersailor said:

I bought a Gravely with a brush hog for this reason. Not that your idea isn't interesting but the Gravely was built for this purpose. It discharges towards the front instead of the side. The head is gear driven (no belt) and the blades are each 3/8" steel in an x-pattern. It has chains to prevent having projectiles out the front.

Your Gravely sounds perfect.  If I had the money I'd get a Ventrac or Steiner, but I've got the wheel horse and I'm trying to find another use for her.  I'll have to get this area cleaned up the first time with the tractor and brush hog, but with all the backing up and turning, my smaller hydro might actually be faster for 2x per year cleanings.    

 

@C-101plowerpowerThanks for the link.  This must be what @dcrage was referring to.  That's impressive.  He's got mechanical skills I certainly do not.  On some days I'm lucky just to get the parts I already have working, never mind assembling all manner of things into a new, working piece of machinery.  Too bad he doesn't live near by.

Edited June 14, 2016 by lodestonefarm

[lodestonefarm 41]

2 hours ago, wallfish said:

It's possible to modify a snowblower to a flail mower. Remove the auger out of a snowblower to remove the blade from it. Weld on chains. Rearrange the drive chain so it spins the opposite direction. Cut the mount and weld it back on so the open part faces down.

Of coarse there's a bit more to it but that's a basic idea.

Not too much worry about hitting objects because of the chains. I think flail mowers also have some type of blade on the end of the chains.

Just kind of thing out out loud so

That's not a bad idea.   One reason I'm thinking about the mowing deck and front carrier, is I could pretty easily move the normal lawn deck on/off for mowing the yard.  The other reason was weight.  I've got a 520 so hopefully there's enough power and rear weight that a front mount unit wouldn't put too much torque on the tractor, but I was thinking with the caddy, the weight would be shared between the forward carrier wheels and the tractor's front wheels.  I've got a 60" deck on my machine now.  I don't think I want to cut that one up to try this with, but I find it's a bit big for certain parts of the yard and I have a hard time raising it high enough to clear some of the roots in the yard.  I've seen conflicting posts about the 60" deck fitting on the carrier but if it would that might allow me to raise it a bit.  

 

I'll check the classifieds for a decent SD deck and the front carrier.  

 

I'd like something at least as wide as the tractor.  Do you think a 520 can run a 42-48" deck in tall grass/light brush if things could discharge easily?