Improvised pull mowers

[J2E]

Hey all, I wanted to share my current improvised pull mower setup and see if anyone has any thoughts about modifying it.

This all started when I purchased a new home with 1.5 acres of lawn. My FIL had an old Craftsman 42" rider that had been sitting unused in a shed since 98. New battery, plug, air and fuel filter, and fuel and it was in wonderful condition. First time out it took me probably 3 hours to mow it all. Off to Craigslist and happen to find 2 almost identical mowers to pull behind the mower to increase the width. Both have the same 22" deck, one's a 5 and the other is a 6hp. Total cost for push mowers = $55.

Used some scrap iron laying around to build an A frame and now I have about 78" of mowing deck that cut my time down to about 1.5 hours give or take.

I'd really love to have them both swing off the left side to avoid the discharge chute and also so I can run my front right tire up along the already cut line and not have to keep looking back to adjust based on the back right mower. I found a video of a gentleman who looks like he's solved the problem and they look like they do really well trailing.

YouTube - mobmower2

He's got quite a few more mowers than I would have but the principle is the same.

 

[beenthere]

The safety of the approach would be my only concern.

I shudder when I see anyone around a push mower other than the one doing the pushing. Too much debris that can be shot out at by-standers and the guy on the pulling tractor is a by-stander.

Tending the running mowers while getting on and off the pulling tractor is another concern.

I see it as a fun project but a temporary solution to mowing the lawn.

 

[Ductape]

On its face it would seem like it wouldn't be an especially fuel efficient solution to the problem. I do like the thriftiness of using used push mowers..... I've even seen them in running condition offered for free.

 

[SandburRanch]

This old man at age 82 has done it like that for years.

 

[MMagis]

The safety of the approach would be my only concern.

I shudder when I see anyone around a push mower other than the one doing the pushing. Too much debris that can be shot out at by-standers and the guy on the pulling tractor is a by-stander.

Tending the running mowers while getting on and off the pulling tractor is another concern.

I see it as a fun project but a temporary solution to mowing the lawn.

Just curious, why is a push mower any more dangerous than other mowers?

To the original poster, how slow are you going that it takes 1.5 hours to mow 1.5 acers? That seems painfully slow to me. I bet you get some looks from the neighbors.

 

[Mpking]

YouTube - mobmower2

He's got quite a few more mowers than I would have but the principle is the same.

That is a great setup. Yeah, he might get some looks from the neighbors, but secretly they are all jealous.

If you were concerned about the safety and fuel efficiency of this type of setup, I suppose you could try the same thing with reel mowers instead.

 

[mullins87]

Hey I like it!! The fact it only cost you $55 is great. I'm building an offset mower to compliment my riding mower. I have a 16hp engine and 48" deck that I'm using. I guesstimate it will end up costing me around $250. Once I have it hooked up, I will be actually mowing 7.5' per pass.

When I get it done, I'll try to get some pics posted.

 

[beenthere]

Just curious, why is a push mower any more dangerous than other mowers?
.............

Don't think I said they were more dangerous.
Just that being around them is dangerous.

 

[handirifle]

I like the setup myself. When I was a kid (MANY moons ago) we had a 2 acre front yard on our farm, and our beater riding mower's blade assembly took a major, unrepairable crap. He hooked up three (no idea where he got em) push mowers behind the rider, and pulled the blade setup off of the rider. Did this for a whole summer, till he bought a really nice rider to replace it all. People would actually stop on the road, just to watch me mow:thumbsup:.

Sure cut my mowing time WAY down. I actually got to do some fun stuff on Saturdays, beside mow and clean the barn stalls.

As for the "all on one side" idea, Consider making a multi point mount. I would connect the main pull bar with at least two holes in the rear bracket, and a third coming from somewhere up towards the front of the tractor. These two mounting points would anchor the tow bar solidly to the tractor.

I would then hook the two push mowers to the pull bar, with a single pivot point, kinda like the gut in the vider. This would allow them to swivel when you turned, making turning easier. Just a thought. not sure how well the rear bracket will handle the torque of the pull bar.

 

[mjncad]

An Aussie road train to mow lawns with in the YouTube video. It's not for me; but if the guy is happy with it, more power to him.