Building a New Mower

[rdean]

I made a mower for my 1951 WD Allis Chalmers Tractor in 2006 and over the years I have made some improvements and repairs but I knew the mower was getting kind of weak in the knees. I thought I should have a closer look and thought I would just need to do some minor repairs to the frame and be ready for a few more years of use.
I wasn't ready for what I found.




I guess I should be glad that the mower didn't fall apart completely so it is time for a new frame.

This mower is just shy of 8 feet wide and rides on two 12" wheels in the front and is attached to the tractor in the rear. I have 3 acres of lawn to mow usually once a week during most of the year but for the next few months probably only once a month.
That's 17 years of use so I think I got my moneys worth and proven the design is sound.

This is where I am now after hours of cutting and welding and $260 of steel.



The 3 spindles all overhauled with new bearings and a paint job.


The mower has 5 idler pulleys so I cleaned them up, replaced the bearings and gave them a new paint job.



Next is cutting out for and drilling the holes for the spindles.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[SLK001]

I have 3 acres of lawn to mow usually once a week during most of the year but for the next few months probably only once a month.

Yep, that much mowing, you had to be from Florida! Nothing like mowing the lawn the day before Christmas!

 

[Nutfarmer]

You had your money's worth. To change out the bearings in the idle pulleys did you have to drill out the rivets and split them?

 

[rdean]

I think I originally had to drill out some to split them but some came with bolts. Over the years I have replaced these bearings several times so I am not sure how they came.

Thanks
Ray

 

[rdean]

I cut the slots and drilled the mounting holes for the spindles today. Things are looking up as the blades miss hitting each other by about a 1/4".
This shows a couple of shots of the blade belt routing.




I removed the three spindles and the idler pulleys and welded in the pulley arbors. I think I am done welding on the top of the deck and will do some scraping and wire brushing tomorrow. I still have to turn the deck over and do all the welds on the other side. I also have to add some 1/8" X 1 1/2" flat steel to the bottom for the top panels to attach to but I don't have that material and the supplier is closed on Wednesdays.

Maybe I will have time to get some done on my engine project.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[f350ca]

Looking good.
I rebuilt a John Deere commercial mower a few years back. Had to patch a few rust holes. Sand blasted it, then coated the underside with box liner. Seams to be holding up pretty good, and the grass doesn't seam to stick to it. A lot tougher than paint at least.

Greg

 

[rdean]

I have heard of that before and apparently it works quite well so I may try that.

Today I turned the frame over and finished all the welds underneath.
Tomorrow I will pick up some flat steel to make the supports for the fill panels and may start welding them in place.
Its a 50 mile round trip and the wife wants to buy groceries

 

[rdean]

Well that was Thursday and I forgot to hit the "Post Reply" button on the above thread but I did get some time to cut, drill, and weld on some of the supports.
Today I finished the supports and painted the under side of the frame.
I will flip it over tomorrow and paint the top side but still a lot left to do.


The majority of the welding is done and that doesn't bother me one bit. I used to be able to make some nice welds but now between the sore back and shaky hands not so good. It's not going to fall apart and a thick coat of paint makes it look better.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[rdean]

Got the top painted today with 3 coats.


Tomorrow I will start on mounting the spindles if the paint is dry enough.

Thanks for looking

Ray

 

[Chris Hamel]

Looks good. Like the orange. Hope the bright orange doesn't outshine the old tractor.