ATV trail mower adapted to 453 Bobcat

I picked up a Bush Hog 42" brush mower for free and adapted it to my 453 Bobcat. I didn't take any before pictures but this mower had been sitting in the weeds at a neighbors house for at least 5 years so it was rough looking. Engine needed the carburetor rebuilt, a new recoil starter and centrifugal clutch. Mower spindle needed new bearings/seals, the pulley end welded up, turned and rekeyed for a new pulley. Replaced the leading edge of the deck that had rusted away. Made brackets to add wheels to the leading edge and to mount it to a skid steer quick attachment plate.

In the future I may replace the engine with a hydraulic motor or a larger electric start engine.


I mowed with it before I painted it and it went right thru some two foot tall grass and 1" diameter brush(Multiflora rose and Bush honeysuckle). After the paint cures I'll see how it does on the back side of my lake damn parts of it are too steep to run any other type of mower on. I know that with the tracks on the Bobcat I can go down the damn because I use the toothed bucket to push brush off it a couple times a year.

Looks good might have to try that too

antfarmer2 said:

Looks good might have to try that too

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Nice job OM, i like the price you paid too
The one thing that stands out is the oil drain plug, not a lot of people think about that when they build something and slap an engine on it.
What HP is that engine? looks about the same as i have on a ride on mower, 11hp vertical shaft. If it has a ring gear on the fly wheel you can slap a starter on it, but it may be an older model.

Tazza said:

Nice job OM, i like the price you paid too
The one thing that stands out is the oil drain plug, not a lot of people think about that when they build something and slap an engine on it.
What HP is that engine? looks about the same as i have on a ride on mower, 11hp vertical shaft. If it has a ring gear on the fly wheel you can slap a starter on it, but it may be an older model.

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It's the original 8hp motor that was on it when I picked it up. No ring gear on the flywheel on this one. I did add the extended oil drain.
I received a 10hp electric start engine this week so when I get time I'll be adapting it to the mower.

OldMachinist said:

It's the original 8hp motor that was on it when I picked it up. No ring gear on the flywheel on this one. I did add the extended oil drain.
I received a 10hp electric start engine this week so when I get time I'll be adapting it to the mower.

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Nice upgrade. Shame the people that build these things don't think about it like you did, it would save so much mess.
Let us know how the extra 2 HP goes.