Tractors with side mounted (articulated) mowers....

[Richard]

"The farm needs a haircut" Lots of branches encroaching into the fields and all....

I debate every now & then on attaching a side mounted mower to my International.....or buying another tractor with it mounted like you see cutting the right of ways.

I think I've primarily seen New Hollands. I have nothing against the brand nor for them. Totally agnostic.

Couple questions....

Irrespective of the brand one might buy.... Do people (Municipalities) generally buy these kind of machines already "tricked out" by the manufacturer or, does the owner (Municipality) buy raw tractor....raw mower, put things together and build the safety cage/screen on the tractor?

If someone ends up with a machine like one of these, can that SAME machine pull say, a 15' flexwing mower behind it such that you can merrily cut your fields and when you want to push the tree line back a bit, you change controls....... or, does it mandate a second machine?

My recollection is that the hydraulic pumps that might be on these are rear PTO mounted so unless you have a front PTO, I'm guessing you can have one or the other but not both? (why not plumb both into same pump system but have operation switchable to either/or mower?)

Who "makes" these? (makes as in takes the raw parts and creates a finished side mowing machine that is ready and safe to use)

 

[rademamj1]

Our county road service used that unique mower this summer, they used a very large JD tractor and a front mounted skid steer attachment, with a swing boom mower in place of the loader. It was completely hydraulic powered, and the boom would first mow the road shoulder and then swing up and rotate to trim back the brush and tree limbs. Tractor moves up 20 feet and then boom swings down to mow the shoulder again. I should have taken a photo.

Operation Techniques: Boom Mowers - Tech Tips - Diamond Mowers - YouTube

 

[oosik]

Our county and state highway depts have those things. Large JD tractors and the 3-point articulated mowers are yellow. Never caught one standing still so I've never asked questions. I've seen them cutting grass/brush down off the side of the ROW and from the pavement to the ROW dropoff. They will also rise up and trim the roadside brush and trees.

The tractor part doesn't seem to be anything special - just a fairly large( 100 to 150 hp ) unit with a standard cab. They ALWAYS have the slow lane blocked off with traffic cones.

The mower part has all sorts of interesting parts. Large rectangular box attached to the 3-point arms containing - ???. Then the hydraulics that control the articulated arm and the hydraulic hoses going out to the cutter. The cutter head can articulate also.

If they will be trimming a longer section with brush, limbs and small trees - all traffic will usually be stopped in that lane and may even be "pilot carred" thru the area. They obviously have experience with the cutter head, cutting the throwing stuff - just like shrapnel.

I never remember seeing one of these units with a FEL frame. There will be suitcase weights hanging off the frame in the front.

 

[oosik]

So ....... there are, at least, two types. Texas has them up front where the loader/FEL would be and around here in Ea WA they are on the 3-point.

A quick Google search = Orsi & Lane Shark.

 

[RjCorazza]

They appear to me to be single purpose machines, some with significant counterweights.
For ditch, brush, and stream mowing I am considering a small articulating flail mower. Backing my rear mount mower over the stream bank 7' at a time is getting old.

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

Here just south of Knoxville, they contract the service, so the muni just writes a check.

I would imagine that one would purchase these machines configured correctly from the dealer due to the complexity and heavy weights involved. You would need a gantry crane or such for some components.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

I have an Alamo-McConnel PA92 with a flail head that was used to cut back the woods growing into the fields and up tight to stone walls. I also used it for cutting over the wall to cut the brush back and it was extensively used for mowing the slope around the pond and a long drainage ditch. 3 point hitch mounted so not a dedicated machine. The town next to me has one with a sickle bar head and before we bought this I subbed it out to a guy with a rotary mower attached.

It's been a very good unit.

 

[workinonit]

I can say from experience if you are serious about one of these stay away from the 3 PH mounted ones unless your work is limited to your farm and you aren't going to be using it constantly. The units that are permanently mounted are the way to go. They are built with either dual wheels or serious counter weights or both. They have a much longer reach than the 3 PH mounted unit. Most of the time you see these mounted on a 150 HP machine or larger. There is one actually two on the sale I'm going to tomorrow. The nice one is on a JD 6115R tractor and has the ditching attachment that goes with it. I suspect it will bring upwards of $100K but it is really nice. There is also a well used one there. I don't have much experience with the FEL mounted ones but I can say that my opinion would be they don't have the strength and stability a side mounted unit would unless the tractor is very large and has a stout loader. Those mowers take a beating. They can be had with 3 or 4 blade rotary heads or flail. And you can get all sorts of other attachments for them. They are all electrohydraulic now so they are simple to operate with a joystick control. I couldn't see $16K for a 3 PH version no more than I need it and buying a used one of those is generally buying someone else's problem. Oh, and no. You would not be able to do anything else with the tractor and you it's not a quick detach.

 

[Richard]

Let me throw a curve into the conversation.... (I'm guessing this is 100% not going to work just so you know my thoughts up front.....but....you never know until you ask!)

I have a JCB 1550 industrial backhoe/loader. Is there something that could be attached in lieu of the front bucket or, in lieu of the backhoe bucket?

Heck, removing the front bucket alone drops something like 1,500 pounds if I recall.

 

[JethroB]

I've noticed some frame mounted (?) county side mowers have a large hydraulic reservoir mounted on the left to act as counterweight. 125 hp or greater I believe. Sure would like to borrow one for a day. Hmmm, they do leave them roadside overnight or on weekends sometimes.