Efficient mowing technique
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Alan L.
Elite Member
Yea you're right - the turns would be 120 degrees each (the 60 degrees is whats left). Those turns are sharper than 90 turns and not as sharp as 180 degree turns.
Alan L., TX
Alan L., TX
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You guys are making me crazy.
Anybody knows that if the sum of the obliqe angles is equal to the square of the cross-section of your radial tires then your belly mower will overlap the curvature of the earth causing the windshield washer fluid in your tires to attract lightning bugs which will eat a minute portion of your grass which will increase your mowing efficiency by the square root of 3.14159265358979323846 divided by the distance to the moon in order to calculate the force of gravity exerted upon the individual blades of grass.
I had it all calculated here in a spreadsheet on the computer but my dog ate it.
I am so frightened by the risk of injury to all our fine tractorbynet participants who are dueling it out with slide rules that the next time that I mow I will turn counter-clockwise in order to throw the universe back into equilibrium. So there.
Anybody knows that if the sum of the obliqe angles is equal to the square of the cross-section of your radial tires then your belly mower will overlap the curvature of the earth causing the windshield washer fluid in your tires to attract lightning bugs which will eat a minute portion of your grass which will increase your mowing efficiency by the square root of 3.14159265358979323846 divided by the distance to the moon in order to calculate the force of gravity exerted upon the individual blades of grass.
I had it all calculated here in a spreadsheet on the computer but my dog ate it.
I am so frightened by the risk of injury to all our fine tractorbynet participants who are dueling it out with slide rules that the next time that I mow I will turn counter-clockwise in order to throw the universe back into equilibrium. So there.
glennmac
Veteran Member
What's the most efficient pattern for mowing a square lot?
Under the trigonometric analysis, I would assume it is to mow in lines parallel to the diagonal, because that's what you would have done for each of the isoceles right triangles out of which the square is formed. That is, you would have mowed parallel to the hypotenuse for each of the triangles.
Right?
Under the trigonometric analysis, I would assume it is to mow in lines parallel to the diagonal, because that's what you would have done for each of the isoceles right triangles out of which the square is formed. That is, you would have mowed parallel to the hypotenuse for each of the triangles.
Right?
glennmac
Veteran Member
By the way, if you bought an equilateral triangular lot next door to your equilateral triangular lot, you wouldnt end up with a square lot. I think you would have a parallelogram lot, and more specificaly a rhombus lot. So, for completeness, we must also calculate the most efficient pattern for a rhomboid lot.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by glennmac on 07/01/01 07:07 PM (server time).</FONT></P>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by glennmac on 07/01/01 07:07 PM (server time).</FONT></P>
JerryG
Super Member
Personally, I think that it’s time for the backhoe and the hip waders (spelling).
Well, the general case is that you want the average strip length to be maximized as this minimizes the number of turns.
For a square or a rhombus or any fairly evenly proportioned parallelogram the best way would be to mow parallel to a side - no point splitting up into triangles.
Think of it as stacking up long rectangles within the shape (mown strips). You want as few as possible and as long as possible.
For anything other than a simple geometrical shape you're best of approximating to the closest geometry. So, if some sick surveyor has sold you a lot that is in the shape of an octagon - mow it like a circle!!
For a square or a rhombus or any fairly evenly proportioned parallelogram the best way would be to mow parallel to a side - no point splitting up into triangles.
Think of it as stacking up long rectangles within the shape (mown strips). You want as few as possible and as long as possible.
For anything other than a simple geometrical shape you're best of approximating to the closest geometry. So, if some sick surveyor has sold you a lot that is in the shape of an octagon - mow it like a circle!!
glennmac
Veteran Member
Well, I am prepared to concede this issue to RPM's analysis.
Of course, the real world answer is what someone suggested earlier: When Grant gets his new tractor he should be seeking the least efficient mowing pattern so he can maximize his seat time on his toy ... er, his necessary machine.
Over and out.
Glenn
PS: RPM, in case I ever buy an octagonal lot, what is the most efficient mowing pattern for a circle?
Of course, the real world answer is what someone suggested earlier: When Grant gets his new tractor he should be seeking the least efficient mowing pattern so he can maximize his seat time on his toy ... er, his necessary machine.
Over and out.
Glenn
PS: RPM, in case I ever buy an octagonal lot, what is the most efficient mowing pattern for a circle?
markcg2000
Gold Member
Jeese, I never realized how hard all this mowing stuff was - I'm selling my tractor and gettin' a couple o' goats!
mark
mark
Anonymous Poster
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Depending on the width of the property, use multiple bat-wing mowers and make one pass, and you end up doing part of your neighbors grass at no charge…/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
patrickg
Veteran Member
How quickly the poor innumerate souls dismiss the superior spiral solution.
... and here's a web-site that includes triangles, spirals and is best experienced after a beer ...
http://dogfeathers.com/java/spirals.html
Enjoy!
http://dogfeathers.com/java/spirals.html
Enjoy!
skent
Platinum Member
Just goes to prove bigger is better and size is important! Now would 14 PTO HP be enough for one of those rigs? I guess as long as you were standing still and not cutting anything.
Steve
Steve
skent
Platinum Member
Re: Sickle bar mower
I haven't seen too many of these around - in fact have only seen one since I was a kid (other than this picture) that looked like it was being used for haying.
what's the main benefit for using them? I have some trails that have lots of rose-bushes and vines encroaching on the sides. Could you use one of these to trim them back or does it only work in the horizontal?
Interesting ...
I haven't seen too many of these around - in fact have only seen one since I was a kid (other than this picture) that looked like it was being used for haying.
what's the main benefit for using them? I have some trails that have lots of rose-bushes and vines encroaching on the sides. Could you use one of these to trim them back or does it only work in the horizontal?
Interesting ...
glennmac
Veteran Member
Although this thread by now deserves a merciful death, why wouldn't the spiral pattern be the most efficient for a square? No sharp turns at all. You then just finish off the corners of the square. I think that's what most people probably do in practice, a squarish circular pattern, rather than alternating back and forth with 180 degree turns.
I just realized all of this has been in the lawn and garden forum. They apparently have been exercising good judgment and ignoring this whole thing.
I just realized all of this has been in the lawn and garden forum. They apparently have been exercising good judgment and ignoring this whole thing.
Anonymous Poster
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Re: Efficient mowing technique-Batwing Mowing...
Obviously I was only kidding... but since you asked... as low as 25 PTO HP... to pull a 12 foot! {About $8400. retail}
CYCLONE FLEX - TECHNICAL FEATURES
Series Cyclone Flex, PTO 540 rpm, constant velocity PTO.
Model HP Workingwidth Transport width Transport height Weightlb # Blades Cutting height # Belts & Type # Wheels & Size Drive line1 3/8"
Hard tires 10" X 3.2".
312-FLXH 25-60 12' 91" 74" 2,465 9 1"- 5" 6 SPBX 1210" X 3.2" ASAE cat. 6
Pull type gang mowers on a hydraulic folding frame.25-60 HP (19-45 KW)540 rpm
· Heavy duty transport frame. · Cutting widths: 12, 15 & 17ft. · Cutting heights: from 1" to 5". · Pull type mower with high flotation transport tires. · Single action hydraulic folding wing system for easy transport & storage. · Transport width 7'10" max. · Telescoping wings that allow for adjustable cutting width. Learn more... · Stamped steel reinforced wheel arms attached by 8 bolts for maintaining a consistent cutting height. · Standard safety chain shields. · 8 gauge reinforced mower decks. · 12 rubber bearing tires (4 per deck) to guarantee a perfectly level cut. · Remote safety locks for local transport & deck kick out attachments. · Completely independent free floating mowing decks for a perfect cut on uneven terrain. · Heavy duty, one piece, balanced steel pulleys. · Spiral gears guarantee strength and quietness. Learn more... · High blade tip speed. · Precise blade overlap. · Choice of air or solid tires. · 3 front antiscalping rollers standard. · Optional equipment
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Obviously I was only kidding... but since you asked... as low as 25 PTO HP... to pull a 12 foot! {About $8400. retail}
CYCLONE FLEX - TECHNICAL FEATURES
Series Cyclone Flex, PTO 540 rpm, constant velocity PTO.
Model HP Workingwidth Transport width Transport height Weightlb # Blades Cutting height # Belts & Type # Wheels & Size Drive line1 3/8"
Hard tires 10" X 3.2".
312-FLXH 25-60 12' 91" 74" 2,465 9 1"- 5" 6 SPBX 1210" X 3.2" ASAE cat. 6
Pull type gang mowers on a hydraulic folding frame.25-60 HP (19-45 KW)540 rpm
· Heavy duty transport frame. · Cutting widths: 12, 15 & 17ft. · Cutting heights: from 1" to 5". · Pull type mower with high flotation transport tires. · Single action hydraulic folding wing system for easy transport & storage. · Transport width 7'10" max. · Telescoping wings that allow for adjustable cutting width. Learn more... · Stamped steel reinforced wheel arms attached by 8 bolts for maintaining a consistent cutting height. · Standard safety chain shields. · 8 gauge reinforced mower decks. · 12 rubber bearing tires (4 per deck) to guarantee a perfectly level cut. · Remote safety locks for local transport & deck kick out attachments. · Completely independent free floating mowing decks for a perfect cut on uneven terrain. · Heavy duty, one piece, balanced steel pulleys. · Spiral gears guarantee strength and quietness. Learn more... · High blade tip speed. · Precise blade overlap. · Choice of air or solid tires. · 3 front antiscalping rollers standard. · Optional equipment
______________________________
