Mower Project

Greg_Phillips · Dec 21, 2004

Posted this in the build-it-yourself section but no replys as of yet so I thought I would post it here as well.

Need some opinions here, I am wanting to build a mower in the image of a combine or windrower. What I am think is using 2 or 3 old reel type mowers welded togeather for the header (using a belt to drive the reel off the front axle), a hydrostatic transaxle out of a lawn tractor, and wheels and tires from a lawn tractor.

Now I need opinions on a few things. If I make this like a combine, how do I make the auger in the head to pull the cut grass to the center, and how do I get it to feed into the feederhouse? How about an unloading auger for the grain tank? Lastly, how do I provide power steering to the rear wheels?

Sorry for the length of the post, thanks for the help.

bontai_Joe · Dec 22, 2004

I'd check out an old Toro groundmaster mower for the rear wheel steering. That is about all the advice I can offer.

oliver28472 · Dec 22, 2004

Why do you need a grain tank? Are you going to be actually combining and threshing grain/grass seed? If you are looking for something small, it will be much cheaper to look for a small used combine. They go pretty cheap. See if your state Ag dept has a classified monthly paper. NC has one and folks get it for free. Ads are free also. Be patient and you can get what you want. You might get real lucky and find a test plot combine from a state research farm in the state surplus property. If you are trying to build a mower that looks like a combine I would look at a golf course gang mower. It would have the reels on the front, rear steer, etc. Then you could modify it to look like a combine.

MarkLeininger · Dec 22, 2004

( how do I make the auger in the head to pull the cut grass to the center )

Maybe the auger out of a snow thrower? You'd have to add paddles, but that sounds effortless on the scale of what you're doing. I definitely want to see pictures of this thing, and the bread you bake from the wheat you harvest...

Mith · Dec 22, 2004

post hole borer for the auger?
couldnt you get the front blades ect off a combine - could be off a non runner for real cheap then get a out front rotary to provide chassis
but this would take all the fun out of making it naturally /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
mith

DmansPadge · Dec 22, 2004

( You'd have to add paddles, but that sounds effortless on the scale of what you're doing. I definitely want to see pictures of this thing, and the bread you bake from the wheat you harvest... )

I'm with Mark. Sure sounds like one heck of a project and I'd love to see the finished product. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Greg_Phillips · Dec 26, 2004

Guys, you are giving me way too much credit here. What I am wanting to do is make a lawn mower that LOOKS like a cobime, not an acctual combine.

I have figured out parts of the project, but parts of it are giving me fits, just need some ideas on a few things (auger in header, feederhouse, ect).

Thanks

johndeere2210 · Dec 26, 2004

If you can get ahold of this article number from Farm Show Magazine, you might get a few ideas.

27/06/24 Pedal-Powered Combine Big Hit With Kids

FARM SHOW Back Issue
Volume 27 Issue 02 Page 43

It is about a 1/4 scale combine replica.

Greg_Phillips · Dec 26, 2004

I've got a couple of articles from Farm Show about some scale combines, the problem is none of them are used for acctual cutting. The ones I have seen are just for show.