Types and subtleties of choosing a mower for a mini-tractor

The mower is a popular type of mini tractor attachment and is widely used in agriculture. The demand for the unit is due to its versatility, high efficiency of the work performed and ease of use.

Mowers replaced hand scythes in the middle of the last century and immediately became one of the most popular agricultural implements. The mechanization of the process greatly facilitated the hay harvesting process and saved farmers from hard manual labor. Initially, mowers worked in conjunction with full-size tractors, but with the development of scientific and technological progress and the appearance of small-scale mechanization for agriculture in the form of small-sized models of mini-tractors and walk-behind tractors, the scope of the equipment has expanded. And if earlier mowers were used exclusively for harvesting hay, now they are entrusted with a number of other duties.

The implements are often used for mowing lawns, lawns and tennis courts, for removing small and medium shrubs from home gardens and fields, as well as for laying cut grass in neat swaths and removing weeds. Moreover, before harvesting beets and potatoes, the mower is used to cut the tops, thereby preparing the plantations for the work of potato diggers. Mowers are also used for harvesting grain, for removing weeds before cultivating virgin lands and as a chopper for branches.

A mower for a mini-tractor is presented in the form of a mechanized unit connected to the tractor's power take-off shaft. The device has a rather simple design, due to which it rarely breaks down and serves for a very long time. All types of mowers are repairable enough and do not experience problems with the availability of spare parts. Moreover, due to the lack of complex components and assemblies, some craftsmen make them on their own. Thanks to their compact dimensions, the mowers do not cause problems during transport and do not take up much space during storage.

Modern models are often equipped with options that make working with the unit even easier and more convenient. So, some models are equipped with a grass pick-up, a special box for its storage and a hydraulic unloading system that releases the container if it is full. This machine is useful for mowing large areas such as golf courses and alpine lawns. And also among the additional options, the presence of a tedder can be noted. Such a tool allows not only mowing the grass, but also shaking it at the same time, which prevents the risk of hay stagnation and eliminates the need to purchase a rake-tedder.

The modern market offers a huge selection of mowers, among which there are both expensive multifunctional devices of world brands and budget models of little-known manufacturers. For example, the most inexpensive sample can be purchased for 30 thousand rubles, while serious units cost 350 thousand rubles and more. Buying used tools will cost much less: from 15 thousand rubles and more, depending on the type of unit and its condition.

The classification of mowers for a mini-tractor is made according to several criteria, the fundamental of which is the type of construction.According to this criterion, two categories of devices are distinguished: rotary (disk), segment (finger) and flail.

Rotary models are the most popular type of equipment and are designed for mini tractors from 12 to 25 hp. with. The unit consists of a steel frame, discs welded to it and a support wheel. Each disc is equipped with several knives, which are fixed by means of pivot joints. Disc mowers easily cope with areas up to 2 hectares, do not require special maintenance and are easy to repair. The principle of operation of the equipment is as follows: the power take-off shaft of a mini-tractor transmits torque to the pulley through an angular gearbox, after which rotation is transmitted to the disks through the support wheel. At the same time, the knives begin to rotate, mow the grass and lay it in neat swaths.

Rotary models can be single-row or double-row. In the first case, the mowed grass is laid to one side of the machine, and in the second - in the middle, between the rotors. The disc mower can be mounted both from the front and from the rear, and is carried out in three ways: mounted, semi-mounted and trailed. The first two methods are the most common, and such models are easy to configure and aggregate. Rotation of the rotors in them occurs due to the power take-off shaft. Trailed mowers are wheel-driven and are used with low-power tractors.

The advantage of rotary mowers is their high maneuverability, which makes it possible to mow grass in close proximity to trees and bushes. The advantages include the ability to adjust the angle of inclination of the discs, which makes it possible to work on hills with a slope of up to 20 degrees and areas with difficult terrain. And also among the advantages they note the high performance of disk equipment, an acceptable cost and a long service life. The disadvantages include the rapid failure of knives when stones and solid debris fall under them, the impossibility of using in fields overgrown with thick-bore bushes and low efficiency of work at low speeds.

The segment models are designed for mowing lawns and making hay. They represent a structure made in the form of a frame with 2 bars fixed on it and sharpened plates located between them. The principle of operation of segment mowers is fundamentally different from the principle of operation of rotary mowers and consists in the following: the torque of the power take-off shaft is converted into a linear-translational motion of the working knives, which begin to move according to the principle of scissors. This moves one torch from side to side while the other remains stationary. When the tractor is moving, the grass falls between the two knives and is evenly cut off.

The segment mower can be either rear-mounted or located in front of the mini-tractor. The working knives are easily dismantled and in case of breakage they can be easily replaced with new ones. On the sides of the segment models, special skids are installed, which allow you to adjust the cutting height of the grass stand.

This is due to the ability of knives to completely repeat the relief of the site, moving in close proximity to the ground. Another advantage of the segment models is the absence of vibration during operation. This greatly facilitates the use of the equipment and allows the operator of the mini-tractor to work in more comfortable conditions. The disadvantages of the models are considered their inability to fold the cut grass into neat swaths, and, in comparison with rotary devices, rather low functionality.

The flail mower is a front-mounted structure mounted on the rear three-point hitch of a mini-tractor and is designed for tractors with a capacity of over 15 hp. with.The model is distinguished by high productivity and is capable of processing up to 6 thousand square meters per hour. m of area. Thanks to the possibility of installing different types of knives, as well as the floating attachment system, it is possible to mow grass on uneven areas. The cutting height of the grass stand is adjusted by raising or lowering the three-point hitch, by means of which the mower is attached to the mini-tractor.

The modern agricultural machinery market presents a large assortment of mowers for mini-tractors. Below are the samples that are most often mentioned in consumer reviews, which means they are the most demanded and bought.

• Rotary rear-mounted model of Polish production Z-178/2 Lisicki intended for mowing low-growing grass on rocky terrain, as well as in areas with a transverse and longitudinal slope of the slope up to 12 degrees. The tool can be aggregated with mini-tractors with a capacity of 20 hp. with. The grip width is 165 cm, the cutting height is 32 mm. The weight of the model reaches 280 kg, the working speed is 15 km / h. The price is 65 thousand rubles.

• Segment mower Varna 9G-1.4, manufactured at the Uralets enterprise, has a cantilever-mounted design, operates from a power take-off shaft through a belt drive and weighs 106 kg. The cutting height of the grass is 60-80 mm, the working width is 1.4 m. The attachment to the tractor is carried out thanks to the universal three-point hitch, the working speed is 6-10 km / h. The price is 42 thousand rubles.

• Flail mower made in Italy Del Morino Flipper158M / URC002D MD weighs 280 kg, has a working width of 158 cm and a cutting height of 3–10 cm. The model is equipped with heavy universal knives, can be aggregated with mini-tractors CK35, CK35H, EX40 and NX4510. It costs 229 thousand rubles.

When choosing a mower for a mini-tractor, it is necessary to determine its purpose and the amount of work that it will have to cope with. So, for the maintenance of lawns, alpine lawns and golf courses, it is better to purchase a rotary model. These areas are usually clear of stones and debris, so the mower discs are safe. If the mower is purchased for harvesting hay, then it is better to buy a segment model with the ability to adjust the cut and powerful steel knives. For clearing the area from weeds and bushes, the flail frontal model is perfect, which will quickly and effectively rid the area of ​​dense thickets.

For an overview of a rotary mower for a mini-tractor, see the following video.