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The mini-tractor is a multifunctional machine. In addition to cultivating the land and transporting goods, the equipment copes with preparing hay for the winter for animals, and also helps care for lawns. To perform all these works, a rotary mower for a mini-tractor is used, which is an additional equipment of the unit.
Types and purposes of rotary mowers
Only in general terms it is believed that a mower is needed for cutting grass and is simply attached to a mini-tractor. In fact, there are varieties of such equipment. By purpose, a rotary mower can be:
- The model for chopping vegetation is used as a lawn mower. Using this equipment, grass is mulched.
- Models for cutting grass and laying it in shafts are called haymowers. The equipment is used when preparing hay for animals for the winter.
That's not all the differences. The equipment is divided according to the method of attachment to the mini-tractor:
- Models attached to the back or front of the tractor using a PTO are called trailed. They are usually designed to mulch vegetation.
- Side-mounted models are called semi-mounted.
- There are mowers that are front-mounted to a mini-tractor. The rear linkage is most often used. They are called hinged.
There are also single- and double-rotor equipment. The first type of mower folds the cut grass to one side. Double-rotor models make a swath of grass between two rotors.
The last difference is the way it is connected to the tractor to transmit torque. There are two options here: from the drive or the running wheels.
Rotary mowers are produced for mini-tractors with different technical characteristics, which naturally affects their cost. For home use, the owner wants to buy equipment that is cheaper and at the same time high-quality. In this case, you need to take a closer look at domestic and Belarusian models. Mowers are designed to work in clogged areas with uneven terrain.
How does a rotary mower work?
Among mowers, this equipment is the most popular on the market. Craftsmen have learned to collect for homemade mini tractors rotary mowers due to the simplicity of their design. The popularity of this type of equipment is due to its high performance and reliability of use.
In the diagram you can see the device of the working unit. In general terms, the equipment consists of a steel frame on which the discs are fixed. Their number depends on the model.Knives are attached to each disk using hinges. There are from two to eight of them. While the equipment is operating, the disks begin to rotate at high speed. At the same time, the knives fly out and cut the grass. This simple design of the mower allows for quick repairs if it breaks down.
Overview of types of rotary mowers
What a rotary mower on a mini-tractor is is already clear. Now let's take a closer look at several models that differ in the type of attachment to the mini-tractor.
Semi-mounted mounting models
Semi-mounted equipment consists of a frame on which disks are mounted. The main focus of the mechanism is on the wheel, thanks to which the discs rotate at the same height above the ground, and the knives evenly cut the grass. The entire weight of the mower falls on the same wheel and longitudinal beam. Part of the load falls on the towing bracket. Drives the mower PTO of the mini-tractor. During transportation, the equipment is lifted hydraulically.
For a clear example, let's look at the AgroService SB-1200 model, which is designed for mowing tall grass and other plants with soft stems. The grip width of the discs is 1.2 m, and the minimum cutting height of the grass is 40 cm. The cost of the mower can reach up to 200 thousand rubles.
Mounting type models
The most popular among farmers are mounted mowers. They simply connect to the mini tractor and are easy to maintain. The modern market offers consumers more than a hundred models designed for coupling with units of different power.Mounted models are characterized by the presence of 1–5 working units. During rotation, the disks smoothly move towards each other. This allows the knives to cut grass of any thickness evenly and easily.
Among the popular models is the DM 135. The mower from the American manufacturer was originally designed to work with the Dong Feng tractor. However, the versatility of the equipment allows it to be used with the Ural or Scout. The model is in demand for hay harvesting by owners of small livestock farms. Knives made of special steel are capable of cutting plant stems up to 1 cm thick. The cutting width is 1.5 m. The cost of new equipment starts from 70 thousand rubles.
The video provides an overview of DM 135:
Trailed type models
Trailed mowers are safe to use and can work with low-power mini-tractors. The mechanism is driven by the traction of the wheels. The equipment is characterized by low vegetation cutting and mulching. Mowers are used to care for lawns, lawns and other large areas of grass. The cutting mechanism is not afraid of hitting small stones, and the protective casing will prevent hard objects from flying out from under the knives.
Among the variety of this type of equipment, the J 23 HST model can be distinguished. The mower is characterized by a working width of 1.2 m. There are 3 discs installed on the frame, each of which has 4 knives. The cost of equipment starts from 110 thousand rubles.
Making your own rotary mower
Due to the high cost of attachments, craftsmen are accustomed to making most of them themselves. The easiest to manufacture is a homemade rotary mower for a mini-tractor, which can be assembled without drawing up complex diagrams and drawings.
To work you will need sheet metal, a profile, bearings and a welding machine. First, the frame is welded. A profile is suitable for this, and if you don’t have one, you can take a corner, rod or pipe. The structure will be attached to a mini-tractor, so the length of the sides of the frame will be about 40 cm.
The main working unit - the disks are cut out of sheet steel. The bottoms of old steel, but not rotten, barrels are good for these purposes. The discs are attached to the frame on rotating axles. They are made from sections of pipe or rod with bearings pressed onto the ends. In this case, the mounting sockets for the bearings need to be welded on the frame itself and the disks.
The knives are also attached to the discs using an axle. The cutting elements are made of hardened steel or can be removed from agricultural equipment. The torque will be transmitted to the disks by a belt drive, so you need to put a pulley on the axle. Coupling with the mini-tractor occurs through a three-point hitch. Moreover, the unit must have hydraulics to lift the mower during transportation.
Such a simple rotary structure, assembled for a mini-tractor with your own hands, will have a working width of up to 1.1 m. For safety and increased service life, all working units are covered with a metal casing.
