Now that the seasons are over (construction, firewood, hunting, etc.) my free time will be turning toward my mowing invention. Still trying (not very hard yet) to get the motor I picked up running. It does produce a spark now, but I haven't hooked up any fuel yet to hear it make some noise. That is the next step. Next week maybe. I have given the mower a look over, hasn't been used in 25 or so years, but everything still works. It has been kept under cover all these years. The only stipulation to getting it was that it did not return.
My basic design is a small 2 but preferably 4 wheel car, with the motor on the deck and the sickle bar mower attachment underneath. When in operation, the cutter bar should be at tie level, with an angle downward toward the ditch. The only way to achieve this will be to make the cutter bar side of the mower go up and down some how to clear the track obstacles and the crossings. It will need to be towed, I am thinking with the Brookville in low gear.
It is going to be crude, but if it works it will save many hours of labor intensive trimming. If it doesn't work, back to the drawing board. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
