Mower Built From Self-Propelled Spot Sprayer
Daryl Dixon wanted a front-mount mower, so he repurposed an old Schweiss spot sprayer. The old field buggy had everything he needed: hydrostatic drive, hydraulic drive wheels, and a solid, 4-in. sq. steel tube frame that articulated. Even the driver’s platform and controls were in good shape.
“I cut the height down by 2 ft. and brought the wheels in for about a 6 ft. width,” says Dixon. “It’s about 6 ft. long without the mower deck.”
Dixon fabricated the mower deck with 2-in. sq. tubing for the frame and cross members. He welded on bearings for the five blades that give him an 8 ft. cutting width. He also fabricated a cowling for the engine and a canopy over the driver’s seat.
The Schweiss sprayer had a little 8-hp. Kohler engine to power the hydrostat and spray pump. Dixon replaced it with a 30-hp. diesel that he mounted on the rear of the frame.
“I mounted it backwards with the hydrostat hanging over the articulating hinge,” says Dixon. “This kept the length of the machine down. I dropped power off the front of the engine to a driveline that runs forward to belt drives on the header for the blades.”
Dixon mounted the deck to the frame on pivot points with a hydraulic cylinder to control the cutting height. He says that comes in handy, especially in tall weeds.
“I can lift the header up about 2 ft. and clip the growth and then come back a second time and get the stubs,” he says. “With the articulation, it's great for mowing under the bottom wire of a fence and swerving around posts.”
Dixon has mowed a lot of lawns and acreages since he built the tractor/mower. Now 92, he thinks it is time to retire from his mowing business, having retired from farming in 1995.
Dixon has no plans to retire from fabricating equipment. “I’ve got a second mower in the shop that I’ve just completed,” he says. “It's just like the first. I’m also rebuilding a 1942 Studebaker pickup to go with the 1950 Studebaker car I rebuilt 10 years ago.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Daryl R. Dixon, 1835 State Highway 194, Plainview, Texas 79072 (ph 806-729-3917).
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Mower Built From Self-Propelled Spot Sprayer HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Mowers 38 Daryl Dixon wanted a front-mount mower so he repurposed an old Schweiss spot sprayer The old field buggy had everything he needed: hydrostatic drive hydraulic drive wheels and a solid 4-in sq steel tube frame that articulated Even the driver’s platform and controls were in good shape “I cut the height down by 2 ft and brought the wheels in for about a 6-ft width ” says Dixon “It’s about 6 ft long without the mower deck ” Dixon fabricated the mower deck with 2-in sq tubing for the frame and cross members He welded on bearings for the 5 blades that give him an 8-ft cutting width He also fabricated a cowling for the engine and a canopy over the driver’s seat The Schweiss sprayer had a little 8 hp Kohler engine to power the hydrostat and spray pump Dixon replaced it with a 30 hp diesel that he mounted on the rear of the frame “I mounted it backwards with the hydrostat hanging over the articulating hinge ” says Dixon “This kept the length of the machine down I dropped power off the front of the engine to a driveline that runs forward to belt drives on the header for the blades ” Dixon mounted the deck to the frame on pivot points with a hydraulic cylinder to control the cutting height He says that comes in handy especially in tall weeds “I can lift the header up about 2 ft and clip the growth and then come back a second time and get the stubs ” he says “With the articulation it is great for mowing under the bottom wire of a fence and swerving around posts ” Dixon has mowed a lot of lawns and acreages since he built the tractor/mower Now 92 he thinks it is time to retire from his mowing business having retired from farming in 1995 His mower tractor is for sale with a price of $8 500 Dixon has no plans to retire from fabricating equipment “I’ve got a second mower in the shop that I’ve just completed ” he says “It is just like the first I’m also rebuilding a 1942 Studebaker pickup to go with the 1950 Studebaker car I rebuilt 10 years ago ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Daryl R Dixon 1835 State Highway 194 Plainview Texas 79072 ph 806 729-3917
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