Vertical sickle mower ideas or models?

48C-MAN · May 15, 2013

The trails in my woods are being invaded by gooseberries and was wondering if any sickle mowers are able to cut in the vertical position to cut these sharps critters back. Model numbers to look for would be great if there are any. Thanks

RayP(MI) · May 15, 2013

That would put any pitman driven machine out of the running. JD 350 has a different drive system and MIGHT work, but I'm not betting on it. Never tried to run mine vertical.

showcrop · May 15, 2013

the farmer that I worked for as a kid mowed with a seven foot belly mount on his Ford 8N. At each corner he raised it to clear the grass off while turning. it came up to vertical then right back down while running.

Lazy WP · May 15, 2013

Both New Holland, and IH had "balanced head mowers". They were pitmanless, and can be run vertically. Not sure of the models, but I think IH were 1100 series?

Mike (WA) · May 15, 2013

I had a Massey Ferguson "Dyna-Balance" that was belt driven- I think it would cut in upright position. As stated below, the pitman arm type would not work, so that will narrow your search quite a bit.

Keith Molden · May 15, 2013

Ford 515 3 point mowers are belt driven dynabanaced and can mow vertically. I have one for sale in S.E. Ohio

Brian G. NY · May 15, 2013

Unless........you have a very short pitman arm.
Back in the fifties (when I was a teenager) a neighbor farmer had one of these Dearborn mowers on an 8N Ford and he used to keep his hedgerows "trimmed-up" pretty good with it.
He later got a D-17 Allis with an 82S side-mount mower which also mows vertically.
I have a WD-45 with the 82S mower. I've cut the mower bar down to 5-1/2' to make it more maneuverable around scrub apple trees and such.
There are many modern mowers out there that will mow vertically but they are mighty "pricey"!

Bob · May 15, 2013

Yes, DEERE 350 or 450 pitmanless mowers will cut at ANY angle the cutterbar can be lifted to, it will even run/cut when locked in the transport position as in the photo.

Brian G. NY · May 15, 2013

Most highway mowers are run by a hydraulic motor like this one that belongs to our local county highway dept.
They are rugged and can also mow vertically.

D beatty · May 15, 2013

Allis made a pitmanless pull type mower back in the early 70s. The head was driven with V belt. It would cut with bar standing up.

2x4 · May 15, 2013

side mowers on the 9Ns could do it also.

Dean · May 15, 2013

Though I am unaware of any sickle bar mowers intended to cut while in a vertical position, most (all?) such mowers using an eccentric mechanism rather than a pitman arm can operate with the bar in any position.

NH 451 comes immediately to mind.

Dean

johndeerefan · May 15, 2013

Yes the NH 451 can. Not to mention it is a great little mower that is virtually indestructible. Believe me, I know.

Brian G. NY · May 15, 2013

Allis made the "Twin-Wheel" mowers and one of their selling points was that they could cut up to 90 deg vertical and 45 deg below horizontal.
This is a later 80 series mower. The original #7 Twin-Wheel" mower debuted in 1956.

Paul from MN · May 15, 2013

I have the Massey Dynabalance. It will NOT cut in the upright position. When upright the head of the mower gets blocked by the shoe.

Hammer house · May 15, 2013

I have A older model #37 JD 7ft. sickle mower belt driven, it will not run upright position. It will break the pitman stick.

Hammer Man

Geo-TH,In · May 15, 2013

I too have many places where I cut the bushes, brush and trees back. Let me introduce you to Max and Maxine. Max was made from using a 33 inch snapper deck and a 6.5 hp briggs. Maxine, 30 inch craftsman deck, was a $25 craigslist find. The tranny was bad. They will cut up to 1 inch branches of any kink. Max looks dangerous and is if you get in front. Very little if anything comes back at me. I run Max with a loose belt, so it will slip when I run it into something that is too big. I made Max about 5 years ago, use him every spring, like the last few days. Had to replace the $5 belt last fall. He can cut up to 10 ft off the ground. I have less than $50 invested in both. All are made from old used materials.

George.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2013

mine will cut at any angle

jCarroll · May 15, 2013

John Deere model 50

John B. · May 15, 2013

Any of the mowers that have a wobble box that drives the sickle will cut at any angle. I had a pull type IH 1100 mower. I wanted a pull type so I could use it with any tractor new or old with a 540 rpm PTO. Hydraulic lift is convenient but not necessary.

D beatty · May 15, 2013

Thats the one we had . Ours had a little heavier drive line and hitch on back because we pulled a John Deere crusher behind it.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2013

Most of the old McCormick/IH "balanced head" sickle mowers could be used vertically; they were belt driven, like the Model 100...

VicS · May 15, 2013

80R I think it was the best sickle bar mower made.

GVSII · May 16, 2013

Just think- two guys actually getting some work done with those "little Fords"

495man · May 16, 2013

MF 41 Dynabalance will cut in vertical position.

MF used to have a promo video showing one used to trim the sides of a hedge!

Vertical sickle mower ideas or models?

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