Fence line trimmer

[DT86]

Very nice.

 

[flusher]

After running it for a few hours I made a couple of little changes then shot some paint and wired up the electric start.

So some photos of the end result, the last time it will be clean.

Looking again at your design, you have a vertical shaft around which the mower swings. I would have added a horizontal shaft that would allow the mower to move up and down to follow the ground contour. The weight of the engine would be enough to keep the small outboard wheels planted firmly on the ground.

Good luck.

 

[BukitCase]

Flusher, look closer - next to the vertical shaft there's another pivot point, that's how JW gets the whole thing over the tires to swing out - then there's 2 small wheels it rides on as you suggested, plus a "rebound" spring so it can retract when hitting a post.

VERY cool design JW... Steve

 

[jwmorris]

Yes the vertical shaft is 1" and has bronze bushings for rotary motion the vertical movement is in the same part the 1x2 tubing is a clevis and polyu bushings I had.

 

[BHD]

I like your set up, does the cutter "slam" back when going around the post, first I do not have a 4 wheeler, or a small tractor, so I would need a little larger unit, but like the simplicity and lightness, of the design.

any problems with the little wheels digging into he dirt, I would think with my sandy soils they would be dug in to the dirt all the time,

 

[Dadnatron]

It does, cut 19" and loop it around a link of chain, welded to the hub. The two I have use two strings but I welded 4 links to this one (only used two of them) to the head to see how it worked.

I have a video of it in action but its too large. This is an example of how far it will cut under an object, as you drive by.

I really wanted it on the front but it was less work to make it attach to the other things we have via 2" ball vs custom mounts on everything.

Upload the video to YouTube, then link it here. I would really like to see this in action.

 

[jwmorris]

Here you go, a little too fast and I couldn't aim the camera and watch where I was going but you can get the idea.

 

[DT86]

That works perfect. Nice set up you've made!

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the video, it sure words good!!!!

 

[MNBobcat]

JW,

That's really sweet. I'm going to build one using your design. How often do you have to replace the line?

 

[skylarkguy]

Man that's slick.

 

[jwmorris]

JW,

That's really sweet. I'm going to build one using your design. How often do you have to replace the line?

I just put new ones on each time I get it out and hook it up, might be a waste of line but at least I don't have to mess with it once I get going.

 

[Renze]

Over here, these fenceline mowers are advertised these days:

RasterMaster prototype maaier 214 UK - YouTube

 

[jwmorris]

Over here, these fenceline mowers are advertised these days:

RasterMaster prototype maaier 214 UK - YouTube

I really like the action of that one but it looks like your fence would have to be 16" or so off the ground, maybe it was built for horse tracks?

 

[Renze]

I really like the action of that one but it looks like your fence would have to be 16" or so off the ground, maybe it was built for horse tracks?

Well it wasnt built for wire mesh fences... Its used for cow and horse rasters.

 

[MNBobcat]

Hi jwmorris,


What an awesome build and very ingenious! It looks like you may have used an actual mower deck spindle for the pulley and cutter? If so, did you have that laying around too or did you purchase it?

I may build one of these using your design. I doubt it could be improved upon. You did a nice job!

 

[jwmorris]

I used a spindle, pulley and cut the blade down so I had drive splines that connected to the shaft. All of those came off an old MTD riding mower deck I had at the farm. The "cutter" is just a round disk with bent chain links welled to it and then welded to the "keyed" section of mower blade.

 

[breadtrk]

Am I the only one who just rides the line a couple times a year with a sprayer?

 

[Todd727]

Am I the only one who just rides the line a couple times a year with a sprayer?

Nope, but these are still pretty cool builds and machines.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I was trimming around trees along the edge of my property today with my walk behind trimmer. It uses the same kind of hangers and line that the above mentioned trimmer uses. I went through five pieces of the four sided .155 nylon line trimming weeds and grass about one foot tall around about 35 trees. Is that normal or is my trimmer line too soft?