How to self-power a pull behind sickle bar

[cedarriverguy]

I have a pull-type sickle bar (like a two wheel trailer) that I would like to use with a four wheeler rather than tractor. A 5 HP small engine should be plenty of power to run the cutter. Any ideas on how to transfer power from the 3000 rpm engine to slower rpms needed on the machine? Or any other ideas on how to self-power the sickle bar? Thanks, cedarriverguy

 

[GE222]

I am going to assume that the cutter runs off of 540 RPM PTO.

In the late 70's to sometime in the 80's, John Deere had attachments for a number of it's garden tractors.

It was a front mounted 540 PTO that was powered by the garden tractors engine.

It was designed to be used with small generators, grain augers, etc.

The mount and power connections were somewhat different as not all the tractors were the same.

I will try dig up some pics for you.

 

[Wis Bang]

Double reduction w/ 2 vee belts and pullies. We had a Simplicity walk bahind w/ sickle bar the engine had a two groove pulley one to the trans and one to drive front attachemnts w/ a smaller diameter driving a large pulley on a shaft w/ a smaller crank on the other end. The one belt had an idler that worked like a clutch to engauge/disengauge the mower...

 

[blacksmith]

Here is a PTO attachment that was sold for a MTD garden tractor. You can make you own if you can. All you need is 4 gears and some chain.

 

[Mace Canute]

Honda, Robin, Briggs & Stratton all make small engines with 6:1 gear reduction units. Years ago I scrounged a new one, 6:1 ratio, that fits a B&S engine and bolts on too, so you might be able to find just the reduction unit too if you already have the engine and want to go that route. Lots of ways to do it, some more elegant than others. If you are handy with fabrication, Wis Bang's idea sounds ideal and might be the cheapest , too. You probably want some sort of clutch anyways and can easily incorporate it into the belt reduction unit.

 

[Oldmax]

With anything over 3' I think you will need more than 5 HP. I had a 4' on a 110/ JD & it was all it wanted. 10 HP.

 

[Taylortractornut]

An old friend of mine had trailer type sickle mower. He wanted to pull it with his old Cub Lowboy because his big tractor was tied up on the other place. He took the axle offf and put in its place a 3:73 rear end out of a small truck. then turned the pto shaft and bearing s around backward by unbolting and flipping it over and put in a set of new universal joints. It worked great, He even used it behing a pickup and behind a team of horses. The reason he couldnt run it from his pto on the Cub is it has a nonstandard rotation and speed.

 

[Mattlt]

An old friend of mine had trailer type sickle mower. He wanted to pull it with his old Cub Lowboy because his big tractor was tied up on the other place. He took the axle offf and put in its place a 3:73 rear end out of a small truck. then turned the pto shaft and bearing s around backward by unbolting and flipping it over and put in a set of new universal joints. It worked great, He even used it behing a pickup and behind a team of horses. The reason he couldnt run it from his pto on the Cub is it has a nonstandard rotation and speed.

He's on to something here; how about looking for an old horse-drawn (ground driven) mower? Might be a MUCH cheaper and easier solution.

 

[Scotty370]

He's on to something here; how about looking for an old horse-drawn (ground driven) mower? Might be a MUCH cheaper and easier solution.

Worked for the Amish for a long time,........and continues to.........!

 

[Kernopelli]

I just happen to have a 6:1 gear reducer on a 5hp Briggs. I was getting ready to put them on Ebay but would part with just the reducer for a TBN brother. If interested, send me a PM.