He Mows Grass In Air-Conditioned Comfort

He Mows Grass In Air-Conditioned Comfort MOWERS Mowers (31H) 27-3-27 "I built this zero turn riding mower equipped with a 5-ft. deck two years ago. It has air conditioning and a deck that automatically raises or lowers according to mowing conditions," says Robert Judice, New Iberia, La. The mower is powered by a 34 hp Kubota diesel engine and is all hydraulic-driven. It rides on 15-in. wheels on front and smaller golf cart wheels on back. Each of the front wheels is driven by a separate Charlin motor. The deck is offset about 10 in. to the left side, allowing Judice to get close to a ditch or building. The right side of the deck is even with the right front wheel. He used 1/8-in. thick sheet metal to build the cab. The hood came off an old International Harvester 2 plus 2 tractor. The frame is built from 2 by 3-in. sq. tubing. A hydraulic reservoir is located under the left fender. The fuel tank is under the right. The cab is insulated with the same type of insulation material used in tractors. The seat is a boat seat that hinges backward. The diesel engine, which originally had been used to operate a water pump, powers three hydraulic pumps that are hooked together. Two of the pumps operate the hydraulic motors that drive the front wheels, and the third powers a motor that belt-drives the mower blades. All of the pumps are located under the cab's floorboard, which lifts up for easy access. The machine is equipped with a unique "blade sensor". It works on the pressure side of the hydraulic motor that drives the deck and powers a cylinder that raises and lowers the deck. The sensor allows the deck to lower automatically, depending on the length of the grass being cut. When it reads that the pressure on the deck cylinder is too high, it backs oil up into the cylinder, which then raises the deck slightly to relieve the pressure. "I really like the air conditioned cab. It gets so cold inside the cab that the windows fog up," says Judice. "The evaporator coil is off an old Ford car and is located in back, just above the rear window. The compressor and condenser came off a Subaru car. I was told that the engine runs a little hot, so instead of locating the condenser in front of the radiator, I mounted it on the side of the cab. I use an electric fan to cool the condenser." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Judice, 5317 Daspit Road, New Iberia, La. 70563 (ph 337 229-6375 or 337 229-8180).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.