New addition to the runway mowing rig

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

That is really cool. I like to make use of others cast offs.
Looks like you could use a tad more overlap though, based on the flowers still left standing.

Good eye Scott..... Last night was my first run with it and I noticed that too but rain was threatening. I am going to drill another hole in the adjustable arm to fine tune the overlap.

Yep... I get great satisfaction knowing I paid $250 and a evening or two of tinkering to 100% repair a mower that would have cost me $3000 new.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

That is beautiful weed free grass! Would you mind sharing your secret on what the magical weed spray is? My grass is full of weeds and I just did a major seeding so I have to hold off for a while but soon it will need a spraying to get rid of these weeds. I especially hate the ones that pop with seeds when they touch you (those have to be sprayed in the fall?).

I sprayed last weekend using my old Polaris ATV with a boom sprayer I bought about 15 years ago from Northern. I use Trimec mixed about 2 oz per gallon. It works OK on most weeds, but it does not do much to hurt the clover. I typically like to spray on a calm morning when the air temp is then supposed to be high later with no rain forecasted for a couple days after. I may end up re-spraying in a week or two as the dandelions are hurting, but I am not sure they are all going to die.

My grass looks pretty bad compared to many fancy developments closer to civilization, but all I am after is dandelion free green stuff covering the yard/runway.

[Tim Hancock]

My old spray rig..... Seems like I paid $200-$300 for it many years ago... Still works great.

[speeder]

Nice Ford! We have one of those in WI., not sure exactly wheat year. I can't believe that those mowers cost that much new. And I can't believe that anyone has that much grass to mow, but I like it!

[Tim Hancock]

The $250 "Polaris" mower I just bought/repaired has an electric clutch, 14hp OHV engine, swivel/lockable rear wheels (to allow attaching to front of ATV) and a remote control panel that can be fastened to the driving vehicle. I would never pay 3k for one, but even my simpler red 12hp Swisher is now over 2k.

All together, I have spent under $3000 for my complete 15 1/2' mower rig (most of which I spent 10 or so years ago). On top of that, the tractor served several years as my primary snow plow rig and has been used to build an MX track and to disk the garden.

I would love to have a newer modern Kubota style tractor, but for mowing my runway, this rig is a winner and has paid for itself many years ago. If the engine ever grenades, I will have a tough decision between picking a more modern replacement or fixing it.

[Heel n Toe]

Tim, do you have to hold any significant right input into the steering to keep everything from drifting left?

The reason I ask is because if you do, you could flip everything over to the right and use the left steering input to build up your strength for dirt track racing.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Tim, do you have to hold any significant right input into the steering to keep everything from drifting left?

The reason I ask is because if you do, you could flip everything over to the right and use the left steering input to build up your strength for dirt track racing.

Nope.... the Ford steering is unaffected by the ganged mowers. Now that I have the mowers going again, I can hopefully get back to installing my engine/trans in the race car. (after I partake in the annual mother's day festivities later today.... sitting at my mother-in-laws bored out of my mind)

[ckelly78z]

That's a really nice setup that looks like it works wonderfully.

My mowing is done with a 72" belly mower on my John Deere 955 4x4 utility tractor. I probably would have bought an 8N or a 9N, but didn't like the manuverability with the rear mower and PTO shutting off in reverse. Horses and goats take care of my pastures, so I am only mowing maybe 3 acres around house, barns, and trees.

[304065]

Looks great Tim!

(But with your directional control and crosswind technique you really only need an 8' runway. The wider swath must be for guests. . . .)

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by 304065

Looks great Tim!

(But with your directional control and crosswind technique you really only need an 8' runway. The wider swath must be for guests. . . .)

75' is more than enough....... Except on the rare occasion that the farmer plants corn on both sides. A low wing like a Cherokee feels kind of cramped when the corn is full grown.

Thankfully the local guy who farms it is a pilot also so he only rotates corn in occasionally and then he only puts it on one side.

Many years ago when I first was dating my wife there was corn on both sides and I flew in nearly nightly in my Grumman low wing AA1B and then left in the dark..... felt like I was in a tunnel.

[id10t]

Stereo with some good headphones, a 12v powered cooler hooked off your battery for the beer, a stand/mount or two for a shade umbrella.... Find some scrap plexi pieces big enough and enclose it, hook up a AC unit...