DIY ssqa hydraulic sickle bar mower conversion, 120 degree pivot

[ksJoe]

A local guy on craigslist sells "Miva" brand 58" sickle mowers intended for 1-2 ton mini excavators for $450. I couldn't resist. I bought one.


I had leftover parts from my post hole digger conversion project that worked out nice to make a pivot mount for this on a ssqa plate.


the storage rack doesn't have wheels on it yet in this picture. But note the pipes on each end of the ssqa plate, so they it will slide onto the vertical pipes on the storage rack.


closeups of the pivot (this is symmetrical, and I made symmetrical mounting points on the ssqa plate, so it can go on either side of the ssqa plate.


All done:


costs:
miva sickle mower $450
ssqa plate $90
hydraulics & misc: $200

 

[Smokeydog]

Nice build. Like to see that running and how durable. Special consumables? Is there a breakaway devise just in case?

 

[ksJoe]

on consumables when the time comes I'm hoping standard sickle bar parts will fit, but I'm not sure of that yet. Worst case scenario, should be able convert it to use domestically available sickle parts.

As for breakaway, yes. Look at the ssqa plate in the photo before assembly. There's a small piece of angle iron on each edge of the ssqa plate with a hole in it - the bolt though that works like a hinge. And there's a pair of holes drilled in the ssqa plate itself. So the whole thing is held to the ssqa with 2 low grade bolts. The second bolt is the only thing preventing it from swinging on the hinge bolt.

So the plan is: if it hits something too hard, the bolt towards the middle of the ssqa breaks, letting it swing on the remaining bolt. Hydraulic hoses would take some wear, but hopefully that's all.