Work Car 1009 ("ROWMOW1") - Official Work Thread

[Mike Fox]

Maybe I can come up with another Mack seat, or an old recliner.

[Dave Buczkowski]

Ahh, don't forget a drink holder and maybe an awning for shade for Bill while he pushes.
KD

[Mike Fox]

Shade? Now we are getting fussy.

[Bill Reidy]

Maybe I can come up with another Mack seat, or an old recliner.

I think a La-Z-Boy would be most appropriate.

[Matthew Gustafson]

Awesome project you got going there Mike. I cant wait to see when its finished.

[Mike Fox]

As well as the rest of us. Mowing is the most labor intensive thing we do during the summer. And that labor is getting older. Every little bit will help. This will certainly be a start.

[Mike Fox]

Rowmow 1 has been getting a little more attention this week. I have made (almost) a crank handle for the winch and have fixed one of the hitches that were made at the museum. It was welded incorrectly due to my poor markings.

I have been messing with the motor mounting still. I have gotten the belt too tight so everything moves while the motor is running. I am going to downsize a pulley to see if that loosens the belt enough. If not, I'll move the motor again.

Lastly, I took my little bottle jack and tried turning the car around. The balance is off quite a bit but I managed to turn it completely around and set it back down on the wooden rails I have with no trouble. I am going to make up a jacking plate with a "receiver" welded to the plate so the jack will stay in the center while turning.

[Mike Fox]

Still poking along. Been doing some painting and other things getting it looking good.

I still have a few more things to make up, but nothing major. A guard or two and that turning plate, which is next. Oh, and I think I'll make an extension handle for the mower lift arm. It will keep the operator from leaning out to raise and lower the arm. I'll know better when I get the seat mounted.

I have made a storage box and got things ready to mount the "captains chair" on top of it, then brought the metal parts in to warm up and paint.

When things finally warm up again this spring, a quick coat of paint to the mower itself (I can't get that thing inside) should finish things up.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Mike,

     Thanks for the update, looking forward to seeing it.  One question I have (you may have already done this) - is the arm sprung in case it hits something it can't cut through?  That would prevent the arm, mounts, etc from getting bent.   

Stewart

[Mike Fox]

No. The only "spring" to the mower is the rubber mount the rear is mounted to. Just like it would be on the tractor. The operator will need to pay attention. I don't know of any sickle that would have that type of spring action to it, and still be able to function. I have removed a pressure spring that holds the bar down. This should help, and makes the bar a lot easier to lift.

[Mike Fox]

Got a lot done in a couple of days. It has been warmer so spending time on the mower is bearable.

Took a couple of photos. First is the turning plate. This is 1/8 inch steel plate with a 2 inch diameter piece of pipe welded to it to act as a receptacle for the bottle jack. The pipe is directly below a frame cross member which will provide extra support. The car is very unballanced, but using this location before I made the plate, I was able to turn the car by myself.



Before I made the plate, I built this box and put the seat on. The lid opens and tips ahead for storage.



The only other thing I think I have to build is the guard over the belt, the metal frame of which can be seen in the lower right of the seat picture. Then it will be nothing more than waiting for painting and the roads to smooth up some.

[John McNamara]

Wow! A cushy seat with spring mounting!

-John

[Dave Buczkowski]

Mike;
It looks great. Not to be critical but I don't see the drink holder and shade canopy for the operator.
Dave

[Mike Fox]

Dave, I'll put one on the string trimmer for you.

[Eric Larsen]

Mike.  Don’t forget the bee-proof canopy.