Horse-Drawn Sickle Mower Powered By 400 Hp Engine

Horse-Drawn Sickle Mower Powered By 400 Hp Engine ENGINES Engines 18-5-19 "It's the most powerful sicklebar mower in the world," jokes Mark Madson, Clinton, Wis., who mounted a supercharged Chevrolet 427 cu. in. big block dragster engine on a 1920 Deere horse-drawn sickle mower. Madson removed the tongue and constructed a frame to support the engine and 400 automatic car transmission. The engine is equipped with a 6-71 blower intake system off a Detroit 671 diesel engine. He fitted the rake with the front steering axle off an old pull-type hay rake and small steel wheels. The 56-in. sicklebar is ground-driven off the mower wheels and is raised or lowered by a hand lever. "I call it my `Make Hay While The Sun Shines Mower'," says Madson, a life-long "street rodder". `"The big steel wheels in back and small wheels in front make it look like a dragster. I've never actually used it for mowing but it was a big hit at a local parade. "The engine blower doubles air intake to greatly boost engine power. It's driven by a belt off the crankshaft and has dual carburetors and air cleaners mounted above it. I use an inexpensive newspaper box as an air scoop. It works good and saved money. A conventional air scoop would have cost over $200." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mark Madson, 8729 E. Little Lane, Clinton, Wis. 53525 (ph 608 676-4283).

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