BCS Sickle Bar Mower

[Harry Coster]

I have recently acquired a BCS tractor and rototiller in order to put a large garden on the back of my property.I need to clear it of blackberries and Scotchbroom before it can be tilled for the garden.Does anyone know where I can rent a sickle bar mower attachment or buy one (dead or alive ) for a reasonable price.I will most likely only need it once and don't want to spend a lot of money.I live near Seattle WA

 

[bcp]

I wouldn't want to go after blackberries with a walk-behind sickle bar mower. Cut them at the base and there is still a large, high, tangled pile. And you could only go in about 5-6 feet before the operator is in the vines.

I think I would prefer a pole hedge trimmer or a brush cutter with a blade. And a suit of armor.

Bruce

 

[Captain Dirty]

The sickle bar I have for my Goldoni is very efficient in its use of power. It will cut through anything that fits between its teeth, and its narrow vertical profile will pass under 14" boulders that were hidden by the foliage when I started. It is efficient because it only cuts the stem once, leaving the plant behind to obnoxiously annoy the operator as mentioned by bcp above. The tops will have to be gathered and moved, pricking and scratching all the time.

I also have a Goldoni rotary deck. It was intended as a lawnmower, but the 22" blade is about 3/8" thick. It will chew up anything it can push down; puting 10 hp into a 2' swath should do that. This mower would be my choice for tackling your problem, although the "clutch" is problematic on unseen stumps, etc.

Goldoni is incomparable with BCS (different spline patterns). If you are haunting Craig's List you may find something reasonably cheap. But the notion that you will need it only once to control those noxious plants is delusional. Look at Earth Tools's website to get ideas on brush cutters and flail mowers for your BCS. If they are too dear, an old beater rotary lawnmower may work albeit very slowly.