He Turned His Riding Mower Into Giant "Weed Eater"

He Turned His Riding Mower Into Giant Weed Eater FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 When LaVier Schliefert has to mow rocky ground he converts his riding mower into a giant “weed eater” by replacing the blades with heavy-duty weed eater strings
    Homemade metal adapters bolt to the original blade mounts Each is fitted with 2 strings
    Schliefert came up with the idea after breaking numerous blades and bearings on the rocks
    “I often use my Deere 345 mower with 56-in deck to mow rocky areas for neighbors The weed eater strings go right over rocks without a problem When I want to mow grass again I remove the adapters and bolt the blades back on ”
    He used parts of old lawn mower blades to make the adapters welding on a circular metal ring and drilling pairs of holes through it for the strings to go through He crimped a small piece of copper tubing onto the center of each line to keep it from pulling all the way through
    “I used 16-in long plastic strings the same ones found on DR’s 2-wheeled weed eaters Walmart sells similar strings so replacing the strings won’t be a problem ” says Schliefert “The strings can’t be used on heavy grass but they work great on small weeds up to 8 in tall If part of a string breaks off I just pull it out and put another one in ”     
    Schliefert also made a free-swinging “weed eater” cutterhead that mounts on one side of the mower deck allowing him to trim along fences buildings and trees The weed eater runs off the tractor’s 12-volt battery “I flip a toggle switch mounted on the tractor’s console to operate it ” says Schliefert
    He used the head off a Black & Decker cordless handheld weed eater The handle had been accidentally run over It bolts to a hinged metal bracket that’s attached to the deck and is free to pivot up or down “When I need to use the weed eater I just reach down and grab an L-shaped metal rod that’s attached to it An overcenter spring holds the weed eater down until I’m ready to use it ” says Schliefert
    He converted a Yardman VS5 2-wheeled push-type leaf blower to mount on front of the riding mower “I call it my riding leaf blower I use it in the fall to blow leaves off to the side Saves a lot of walking ” says Schliefert
    A small gas engine powers the leaf blower He removed the handle and vac cleaner bag from it and mounted a caster wheel on front He also mounted angle iron brackets bolt on back that U-bolt onto the tractor
    “When I’m done using the leaf blower I pick up the front end and adjust the metal rod that attaches to the mounting bracket ” says Schliefert
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup LaVier Schliefert 1125 S E 720 Deepwater Mo 64740 ph 660 723-0072

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