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 backwardsating 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 backwardsating 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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