Side-Mount Mower Reaches Steep Creek Banks

Side-Mount Mower Reaches Steep Creek Banks FARM HOME Lawn Mowers (31h,38) 30-1-25 "I came up with a method of mounting a push mower on the side of my riding mower to cut grass on ditch banks and in other difficult areas," says Jim Joyce, Custer, S. Dak. Joyce uses the side mount mower on his Deere 955. It lets him extend a 22-in. push mower as far as 4 ft. out to the side of his tractor. With its handle removed, the mower fits into a frame that plugs into a receiver hitch mounted just ahead of the right rear wheel. The bottom end of the angle iron frame is hinged and is raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. Another cylinder is used to change the angle of the mower. The two hydraulic cylinders operate off the tractor's auxiliary hydraulic outlets. "It works really well for mowing along steep creek banks on my property," says Joyce. "I chose an old Lawn Boy 2-cycle push mower because oil pressure at odd angles isn't a problem and because it's fairly light. The tractor's hydraulic pump was too big so I had to put flow reducers in the lines to restrict the quick movement. The tractor has a joystick hydraulic control located at my right side so I installed the rig on that side for better visibility. I installed small wheels on the carriage to help reduce scalping. Because of the added weight on the right side of the tractor, I experienced some loss of traction on steep side hills. I added a counterweight on the æuphill' side for better balance." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Joyce, % Weston Poste, 2032 South Coffman, Casper, Wyo. 82601 (ph 307 266-5812; wposte@cityofcasperwy.com).

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