Fabricating a tow mower

MNGB

MNGB

Tractorologist
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I've been thinking about building a tow behind mower for a couple of years, one thing that kind of held me back was I wanted to build one that was 48" wide and all the usable decks I had were 42". A couple of weeks ago I decided to get going on it using a 42" deck off a Sears Suburban, I like the Sears decks they are strong well built decks that mow very nice. Started by removing the lift and attach mechanism then fabricated some rear wheel mounts with several holes to adjust the cut height, used a pair of 4.1 X 3.50 X 4 wheels I had laying around. Then on to building a hitch and engine mount and its coming along that's as far as I've gotten.
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I remember a guy who built one from a Suburban deck some years back. did a great job, didn't look home built at all. looked exactly like it could have come straight from Sears/Roper, as it sat.

Ive toyed with the idea several times. I have a couple of engines in the shed that should work, and I have a JD LT166, that Im on the fence about what to do with.... the deck is awesome shape on this, rest of machine "not so much". Don't know whether to fix it up or part it out, its collecting dust at the barn 30 miles away so I ain't tripping on it around here. I have had the engine running "hot wire" style/ so I know that's ok. but jury's out on transaxle, all 4 tires are rotten and have gaping holes in them.... so I'd need to find a set of those at least, so I can try out the trans... plus replace all the fuel lines, evict the mice from under the cover, and (what the PO thought it needed, I dont believe so) maybe a fuel pump. He had a electric version rigged up on it.
I know someone who needs an engine around the size of the one on the 166, and that deck is so clean looking.... the part out and scrap idea is sounding better.....
 
Many years ago my dad built an offset tow behind with a Sears Suburban deck just like you are doing. He used it for 4 seasons and it worked exceedingly well. Then he scored a deal on a low hour nice Deere 430 diesel with enough deck he didn't need the tow behind any longer. I'm sure its still sitting right where he finished mowing - 20+ years ago, with good sized trees all around it now. :-(
 
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Gtractor said:
Many years ago my dad built a tow behind with a Sears Suburban deck just like you are doing. He used it for 4 seasons and it worked exceedingly well. Then he scored a deal on a low hour nice Deere 430 diesel with enough deck he didn't need the tow behind any longer. I'm sure its still sitting right where he finished mowing - 20+ years ago, with good sized trees all around it now. :-(
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Close to MNGB? I see a deal in the making... Either save him some work or better yet SPARE PARTS!!!
 
Gtractor said:
Many years ago my dad built a tow behind with a Sears Suburban deck just like you are doing. He used it for 4 seasons and it worked exceedingly well. Then he scored a deal on a low hour nice Deere 430 diesel with enough deck he didn't need the tow behind any longer. I'm sure its still sitting right where he finished mowing - 20+ years ago, with good sized trees all around it now. :-(
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Go save it Kris! Your Dad built it!

DAC
 
Have been working on the mower off and on the past days and getting some things done, the hitch-engine mount is about 80% complete went and picked up an engine this afternoon guy didn't know much about it but it turns over has compression and looks pretty good and he gave it to me so I don't think I went wrong. set the engine in place to see how it looks and its going to work fine.

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Looking good. Nice work. Only draw back I see with every tow behind and even some belly mounts is the to tractor wheel flatening the grass down just before you want to cut it off. Lot of time will leave streaks in the lawn. Lot depends on the type of grass you have also.
 
chieffan said:
Looking good. Nice work. Only draw back I see with every tow behind and even some belly mounts is the to tractor wheel flatening the grass down just before you want to cut it off. Lot of time will leave streaks in the lawn. Lot depends on the type of grass you have also.
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Yep your right Roger, but I'm not build this for mowing the lawn more to mow where looks aren't so needed and for something to do
 
I hadn a Bolens QT16 with 48" deck I sold a year ago I wish I had back. The deck would raise up to about a 6" cutting height and worked perfect fo keeping the pasture leveled up. Have the 42" bar mower for on the BCS tractor for any real tall cutting.
 
This afternoon I went back and got the Simplicity 7012 I made a deal on yesterday, I need a set of rear wheels for the 3416 I have and the fellow wanted $50.00 for the wheels or $75.00 for the tractor it has a Kohler K301 12 hp in it so guess what I decided. After I got back I drained what little oil was in the B&S I got yesterday them put 1.5 Qts of 30 wt oil in it removed the airfilter got a set of jumper cables and tried the starter it spun over so I squirted some gas into the carb and it started and ran until the gas was gone, some mouse nest came out so removed the flywheel tin and there it was not completely full but enough got it removed discovered the little devils had chewed all the insulation off the spark plug lead but the wire was intact so I wrapped lots of black electrical tape on it the installed some slip loom then another good wrapping of take then secured all with some zip ties. Tomorrow will try another test run

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MNGB said:
This afternoon I went back and got the Simplicity 7012 I made a deal on yesterday, I need a set of rear wheels for the 3416 I have and the fellow wanted $50.00 for the wheels or $75.00 for the tractor it has a Kohler K301 12 hp in it so guess what I decided. After I got back I drained what little oil was in the B&S I got yesterday them put 1.5 Qts of 30 wt oil in it removed the airfilter got a set of jumper cables and tried the starter it spun over so I squirted some gas into the carb and it started and ran until the gas was gone, some mouse nest came out so removed the flywheel tin and there it was not completely full but enough got it removed discovered the little devils had chewed all the insulation off the spark plug lead but the wire was intact so I wrapped lots of black electrical tape on it the installed some slip loom then another good wrapping of take then secured all with some zip ties. Tomorrow will try another test run

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If only they had bitten the lead while it was running!
 
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