Doubled-Up Mowers Cut An 18-Ft Swath

Doubled-Up Mowers Cut An 18-Ft Swath HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Mowers (38) 18-1-23 "It lets me cut hay twice as fast," says Bernie Bertholet, Hartney, Manitoba, about his home-built hitch that lets him operate two International 9-ft. sicklebar mowers at the same time behind his Massey Ferguson 35 tractor. Bertholet combined the two IH 100 pull-type sicklebar mowers by cutting off the axle on the front mower and then mounting the mower on a heavy-duty steel frame (salvaged from an old IH disk) that hooks up to the back mower. A pto shaft off the back of the tractor drives a belt pulley on the front mower. A short driveshaft connects to a stub shaft on the back side of the belt pulley. It drives a roller chain that runs over to a pto shaft on the rear mower. Bertholet built his double mower five years ago. "On flat ground I can go up to 8 mph and cut up to 140 acres per day. I've mowed about 480 acres with it every year with no problems. I've also done some custom work for neighbors. You've got to keep your eyes open when cutting a swath 18 ft. wide, but once you get used to it there's no problem. The rear mower was not modified at all, except to remove the front part of the tongue. Both mowers are still belt-driven. "I got the idea after seeing a commercial double mower. I didn't like it because there was no way to use the mowers independently. I designed my double mower so I can use either of the mowers alone, if necessary. By removing two bolts, the back mower swings behind the front mower for road transport. It takes only about 5 min. to switch from field to transport. "I've built three similar double mowers for my neighbors for $1,200 to $1,500." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bernie Bertholet, Box 239, Hartney, Manitoba, Canada ROM OXO (ph 204 858-2679).

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