Shop-Built Self-Propelled Hedge Cutter

Shop-Built Self-Propelled Hedge Cutter COMBINES Modifications The sight of a broken-down 30-year-old Claas Dominator 86 and a cast-aside McConnel PA97 hedge trimmer inspired Dorset/Hampshire area farmer Philip Harvey to combine the two machines into a single self-propelled hedge cutter Harvey began his project by towing the inoperable combine to his farmyard and steam cleaning a thick layer of debris and oil-soaked material from the machine as previous attempts at using an oxy-acetylene torch for demolition had caused small fires He then removed the combine’s elevator gearbox and threshing gear leaving only the chassis cab and still-working engine Since the cab was at the front Harvey initially positioned the hedge cutter there for better visibility of the hedge and flail head but the power unit was extremely front-end heavy After some design attempts he devised a new plan cutting the combine in half behind the engine bay and scrapping the rear-end pieces He installed two large RSJ beams to the front header mounts of the combine attached the rear axle and added a base mount as reinforcement The rear axle retained its original steering pipes which Harvey rerouted to the optimal front position When satisfied with the now nearly 10-ft shorter unit he positioned the McConnel PA97 hedge cutter in front of the cab Harvey explains this was difficult requiring plenty of trial and error and measuring and double-checking to settle the cutter level and balance before welding and securing it to the RSJs The final positioning left room for the trimmer’s breakback ram in the transport position Next he rebuilt and reassembled the trimmer’s control box and routed it to the cab The spool block was mounted on a beam under the cab An old scrapped PZ drum mower supplied a gearbox and universal joints which Harvey fitted to the Claas power unit rotating them 180 degrees to run the pto and trimmer hydraulic pump He retained the combine’s hydraulic system and transmission and plumbed the trimmer’s breakback ram into the header control system The cab entry steps were relocated to the rear and a short catwalk was added for cab access The 120-hp Perkins 6-cyl engine fired up on Harvey’s first attempt With the machine nearly 9 ft wide it’s completely stable even when the cutter arm is extended to full reach Harvey says the combine cab offers an excellent overhead view of the flail head as he cuts his hedges The machine steers easily due to the front-axle configuration The Class power unit was free and the McConnel trimmer cost Harvey £400 His other main investment was a package of welding rods Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Philip Harvey Dorset County England harveyphiledward@gmail com

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