Zero Turn Reversed Tractor Mower

1994 - Volume #18, Issue #3, Page #23

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You've never seen anything like this low-profile reversed tractor mower built out of an Allis Chalmers CA tractor.
"It's unbelievably easy to operate. I've never seen another mower with a 65-in. cutting deck that's so maneuverable and that makes such quick work of any kind of around-the-farm mowing," says builder Charles Thor, Hutchinson, Minn.
He reversed the controls on his Allis CA tractor, including the seat, steering, brake, clutch and shift levers, and built a mower deck from scratch that's pto-driven by an automotive rear end mounted vertically above the deck. There's a slip clutch bepto shaft and the car rear end on the mower deck protects the pto if the mower ever hits an obstacle. The two outside blades on the 3-bladed mower are belt-driven.
Thor replaced the original front and rear tires with 20-in. truck tires on back - with rims widened 2 in. - and put 10-in. trailer tires on front. The smaller tires changed the running speed of the tractor. Previously, 1st gear was too slow for mowing and 2nd gear was too fast. The smaller-size wheels slowed down the tractor so 2nd gear now works ideal for all types of mowing, says Thor. Truck tires also do less damage to lawns than lugged tractor tires.
Large fenders enclose the rear wheels so they don't damage the many evergreens Thor has to mow around, and he also put a shroud over the top of the mower deck for safety and to keep out dirt.
"Because of the narrow wheel front, the tractor turns around in its tracks. Lets us cut right around trees like a sheep. No need for trimming after we're done mowing except for areas that we can't fit into with the tractor mower," says Thor.
To reverse the transmission, Thor flipped the ring gear over so the tractor now has 4 speeds in reverse and 1 forward. He also swapped the axle housings from right to left, which shortened up the length of the tractor's wheelbase several intches.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Thor, 16378 State Hwy 15, Hutchinson, Minn. 55350 (ph 612 587-2380).

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Zero Turn Reversed Tractor Mower HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Mowers (38) 18-3-23 You've never seen anything like this low-profile reversed tractor mower built out of an Allis Chalmers CA tractor. "It's unbelievably easy to operate. I've never seen another mower with a 65-in. cutting deck that's so maneuverable and that makes such quick work of any kind of around-the-farm mowing," says builder Charles Thor, Hutchinson, Minn. He reversed the controls on his Allis CA tractor, including the seat, steering, brake, clutch and shift levers, and built a mower deck from scratch that's pto-driven by an automotive rear end mounted vertically above the deck. There's a slip clutch bepto shaft and the car rear end on the mower deck protects the pto if the mower ever hits an obstacle. The two outside blades on the 3-bladed mower are belt-driven. Thor replaced the original front and rear tires with 20-in. truck tires on back - with rims widened 2 in. - and put 10-in. trailer tires on front. The smaller tires changed the running speed of the tractor. Previously, 1st gear was too slow for mowing and 2nd gear was too fast. The smaller-size wheels slowed down the tractor so 2nd gear now works ideal for all types of mowing, says Thor. Truck tires also do less damage to lawns than lugged tractor tires. Large fenders enclose the rear wheels so they don't damage the many evergreens Thor has to mow around, and he also put a shroud over the top of the mower deck for safety and to keep out dirt. "Because of the narrow wheel front, the tractor turns around in its tracks. Lets us cut right around trees like a sheep. No need for trimming after we're done mowing except for areas that we can't fit into with the tractor mower," says Thor. To reverse the transmission, Thor flipped the ring gear over so the tractor now has 4 speeds in reverse and 1 forward. He also swapped the axle housings from right to left, which shortened up the length of the tractor's wheelbase several intches. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Thor, 16378 State Hwy 15, Hutchinson, Minn. 55350 (ph 612 587-2380).

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