Got a bx22 any tool I can use to mow pond banks?

[Nilesw]

I have a bx22 and I am wondering if there is any attachment that I can use to mow my pond banks they are too steep to mow with the underbelly mower. Also there is a drainage ditch that I need to mow the sides of. Anyone got any attachment ideas or should I look into a seperate walk behind kind of machine?? What would you recommend?

Thanks
Niles

 

[RonR]

Not sure how wide your pond banks/ditches are, so this might not work...............

If they aren't over 12-15' wide, and you can run your BX on the "high ground" safely, you might be able to build a 3PT implement that has a boom going off to the side. You could even add in a hydraulic jack to raise/lower the boom as required.

Attach a push type mower to the end of the boom and start mowing. ..............

You might need a counter weight on the left side---hanging even a push mower on 15' out could get tippy without some counter weight.

That's my two cents. You sure don't want to take your BX swimming!

Ron

 

[scout180]

We used to cut pond and gravel pit banks with a sickle bar mower. One was belly mounted under an Allis Chalmers model B. The other was a rear mount on the Farmall M. I only rolled the B over once....

 

[Nilesw]

Banks are only about 8-10 feet wide and the ditch is only 4 feet. That would be a great idea with a seperate mower kind of pivoting off the back. Hmm wonder if any one sells one? also might I be able to use one of those mowers that tows behind a 4 wheeler that will offset to the side?? Hmm just thought of that.

Well any more ideas are welcome!!

Niles

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I believe there are some small sickle bar mowers that might work with the BX. I think they may be in the 5.5' to 6' range. You might want to check with Mark at CCM or Ken Sweet at Sweet Equipment; both post here on TBN, and I seem to recall that there was a thread about smaller size units a while back. You could do a search of the forums. The BX won't be big enough for a full size sickle bar mower, but you might find a compact version. The question is, would a sickle bar mower allow you to mow enough???

 

[FamilyFarm]

It won't be as easy or get you any seat time, but a DR Trimmer and a 13 y.o. son that likes to work hard really works well for me in those kind of spots! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Terry

 

[sweettractors]

We stock the new "First Choice" Micro 5 ft double action 5 ft sickle bar mower for $2195. Range of movement is 60 degrees below horizontal and 90 degrees above horizontal--Double action mowers dont clog as the older style mowers do-Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New First Choice Roto Tillers in Stock 36 to 92 inches*

 

[Yankee]

I'd love a sickle mower for the ditch, but even at a few hundred feet or so long, it doesn't take long with the string trimmer. That makes it pretty hard to justify a couple grand!

 

[Tom_H]

Siclebar is the best choice. I have a little self-propelled Troy. Ever see the big tractors with the siclebar booms offset to the side of the 3ph grooming alongside the highways? The bar is easily tilted to be parallel to & above the slope. When you get to an obstacle, just lift the boom, pass, lower again. That'd be my 1st choice.

Something that might work (but wouldn't be my choice) is a flail mower offset partially to the side. They are, however, heavy, expensive, off-balanced, and complicated. The little ones for a BX are about the max. weight a BX can take and do not extend very far to the offset side. I only mention this because some highway maintenance crews do use them. Still, it's probably the worst thing you could choose.

I have a rough cutter to cut several acres of tall weeds. Since I only have a small amount of banks to trim, I back the BX up perpendicular to the very edge of the streambed and allow the cutter to hang suspended in the air over the stream. I then gently lower the cutter to the appropriate depth, raise it, reposition, repeat. I do this from each side of the stream. It's slow, but with only a little to trim, it works. Mine is 42" wide, same as the BX. A 22 horse BX MIGHT actually be able power a 60" rough cutter. That'd give a 9" overhang on each side of the tractor running parallel to the stream. For some people with a small stream, it could be a choice. You obviously need a lot more than that.

 

[BamaDave]

I noticed one of these ATV mowers in Cabela's catalog. Cabela's . A little expensive, but looks like a good solution. Search their site for: Swisher 44" Trailmower

BamaDave