Revolutionary Front-Mount Mower Deck Design
“It can cut closer around trees and under bushes than anything on the market,” says Lew Williams, who designed and built a totally new kind of deck for front-mount riding mowers. What makes it unique is that the caster wheels are underneath the deck – rather than out front – and the new-style mower blades rotate around them.
The prototype 54-in. deck mounts on a Deere zero-turn mower. The rider sets his feet on top of the deck, which is equipped with 3 spindles set in a triangular configuration, allowing 3 points of contact with the ground.
“The narrow front end allows mowing and trimming close to and in between obstacles, such as trees and bushes,” says Williams. “I can mow to within 1/4 in. of whatever I want to trim.”
For years, Williams worked as an independent consultant for the lawn and garden industry. Although intrigued by the zero-turn mowers on the market, he noticed they all had a major design flaw.
“The problem is the caster wheels are out in front and in the way,” he says. “My design puts the caster wheels underneath the deck. My goal is to eliminate secondary trimming as much as possible. With the deck’s pointed front end I can mow right up to buildings or fences, or go under bushes or evergreen trees.”
Williams fitted the deck with new disc-type mower blades that rotate around each caster wheel. Each “cupped” mower disc is fitted with 2 swinging cutter blades that cut a solid swath across the width of the deck. The caster wheel spindles ride inside the blade spindles, which in turn rotate inside specially designed hubs.
Williams says the new deck design offers a lot of potential for front-mount mowers of any kind, including walk-behind mowers. “Although my particular deck has 3 spindles, the same spindle-caster wheel design could be used whether you have one blade or multiple blades,” he says.
Now that a U.S. patent has been issued for the caster spindle apparatus, he plans to offer purchase or licensing opportunities to manufacturing companies.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lew Williams, 17069 County 31 Blvd., Welch, Minn. 55089 (ph 651 307-3584; fsfmonline@gmail.com).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Revolutionary Front-Mount Mower Deck Design FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 “It can cut closer around trees and under bushes than anything on the market ” says Lew Williams who designed and built a totally new kind of deck for front-mount riding mowers What makes it unique is that the caster wheels are underneath the deck – rather than out front – and the new-style mower blades rotate around them The prototype 54-in deck mounts on a Deere zero-turn mower The rider sets his feet on top of the deck which is equipped with 3 spindles set in a triangular configuration allowing 3 points of contact with the ground “The narrow front end allows mowing and trimming close to and in between obstacles such as trees and bushes ” says Williams “I can mow to within 1/4 in of whatever I want to trim ” For years Williams worked as an independent consultant for the lawn and garden industry Although intrigued by the zero-turn mowers on the market he noticed they all had a major design flaw “The problem is the caster wheels are out in front and in the way ” he says “My design puts the caster wheels underneath the deck My goal is to eliminate secondary trimming as much as possible With the deck’s pointed front end I can mow right up to buildings or fences or go under bushes or evergreen trees ” Williams fitted the deck with new disc-type mower blades that rotate around each caster wheel Each “cupped” mower disc is fitted with 2 swinging cutter blades that cut a solid swath across the width of the deck The caster wheel spindles ride inside the blade spindles which in turn rotate inside specially designed hubs Williams says the new deck design offers a lot of potential for front-mount mowers of any kind including walk-behind mowers “Although my particular deck has 3 spindles the same spindle-caster wheel design could be used whether you have one blade or multiple blades ” he says Now that a U S patent has been issued for the caster spindle apparatus he plans to offer purchase or licensing opportunities to manufacturing companies Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Lew Williams 17069 County 31 Blvd Welch Minn 55089 ph 651 307-3584; fsfmonline@gmail com
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
