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ki0eh
05-12-2015, 12:16
I would really like to be able to access an area with a DR Mower that is across about a 100' wide stream knee deep in summer - i.e. too deep to ford with the mower running. (akin to the A.T. crossing of the Pleasant River in Maine near Gulf Hagas) I'm not a paddler, and having trouble with the thought of somehow straddling the mower on a tippy canoe. Any ideas?

couscous
05-12-2015, 12:57
Raft?
Inflatible boat?
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ChrisJackson
05-12-2015, 13:00
I'm stumped. Best I can come up with is disassemble main components, pack them in a canoe as low as possible, paddle across, reassemble. I know you said you're not a paddler...but maybe hire one? May be a great time to become a paddler :) It's fun. Good luck, be careful.

Starchild
05-12-2015, 13:30
A raft should work, perhaps a piece of plywood on top to divide the mower from the raft.

BirdBrain
05-12-2015, 13:39
Sheet of plywood strapped to 2 bicycles. Profile viewed from front or back would look like a huge letter H. Would require a bit of bracing and blocking. Bicycles in neutral and pushed by one person per bike.

Walkintom
05-12-2015, 14:04
Bag it and drag it.

ki0eh
05-12-2015, 16:03
What we have done before is gone in a gate to a point about 3 trail miles away which is a good long time to run a mower. Having an idea to lash 2 Grumman type canoes together, tie off with something like 150' of line to one side (against the prospect of losing the entire assemblage downstream), 4 guys might be able to lift the mower high enough and then take corners to guide it across the stream. Keep the ideas coming...

couscous
05-12-2015, 22:08
What are the banks like? Know anyone with a trail rated Jeep?

Just Bill
05-12-2015, 23:56
Too big for a Zip line rigged with a come-a-long? Don't many of the trail crews have that kind of equipment available?
If you can make the span without too much sag that may be easiest- even if you have to use a cheap wally world raft (or 2) to partially float it and take some weight off the cable center?

Coach Lou explained how they used a few sets of hoists and zip line rigs to build stairs at Harriman.
Gotta imagine the mower is lighter than some of the rocks they wrangle.s

Sorry to state the obvious- too damn big for a push mower?

couscous
05-13-2015, 16:17
Do you have the 14.5hp unit - 33" wide, 42" tall, 78" long that weighs 334#?

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WalkingStick75
05-13-2015, 19:16
A large inner tube and a bicycle pump.

fehchet
05-13-2015, 19:22
Wait until the river freezes. Pre-position for the spring.

Tuckahoe
05-13-2015, 19:36
I am sure this can inspire you --


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32s4qCCFnmk

Malto
05-14-2015, 05:42
A large inner tube and a bicycle pump.

This would be my approach. A large truck inner tube with a sheet of plywood would certain hold the weight. The nice thing about the tire is that it is compact and would allow people to directly hold the mower for stability. I suspect the truck stops down on 81 would have a blown tube for free or cheap. If this is in our area, let me know if I can help.

rocketsocks
05-14-2015, 07:07
Would love to see you film this, whatta ya say? :D

rocketsocks
05-14-2015, 07:10
indecently, I'd pull the muffler, and plug it, just in case the PT boat turns into a submarine.

rocketsocks
05-14-2015, 07:11
Oops...same with the carburetor, blank it off, save ya a ton of issues.

Francis Sawyer
05-14-2015, 09:21
Or you could use hand tools and just forget about the power equipment. Good workout. Friendly to the environment, all that good stuff.

RED-DOG
05-14-2015, 10:02
I am assuming that you live near the property, why is it so important to get a mower across why not an weedeater, with an weedeater you can use a raft or canoe or something else.

just use a weedeater it will make your life alot easier.

BirdBrain
05-14-2015, 10:33
I am assuming that you live near the property, why is it so important to get a mower across why not an weedeater, with an weedeater you can use a raft or canoe or something else.

just use a weedeater it will make your life alot easier.

Looks like we need some energy equations here.

1) Work done by transporting mower across stream + work done by mowing = x
2) Work done by transporting weed whacker across stream + work done by weed whacking = y
3) Which is less, x or y?

Malto
05-14-2015, 11:09
Looks like we need some energy equations here.

1) Work done by transporting mower across stream + work done by mowing = x
2) Work done by transporting weed whacker across stream + work done by weed whacking = y
3) Which is less, x or y?


You out forgot the most important factor of all.....

Satisfaction of solving a problem, or "why, because we can!"

rocketsocks
05-14-2015, 11:19
I totally get the why because we can, but a sithe though harder would sure build as much character as building some floating paddle boat of sorts, but not near as much fun.

BirdBrain
05-14-2015, 11:51
You out forgot the most important factor of all.....

Satisfaction of solving a problem, or "why, because we can!"

You just crushed my entire line of thinking. The fun of fiddling trumps any logic or reason. My stove building is proof of my agreement.

moytoy
05-14-2015, 11:53
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/540514b1e4b0132427c58de6/540d35e8e4b04c699fc41a66/540d363fe4b04c699fc41abf/1416807431205/L3+with+mower.JPG

Starchild
05-14-2015, 13:49
Looks like we need some energy equations here.

1) Work done by transporting mower across stream + work done by mowing = x
2) Work done by transporting weed whacker across stream + work done by weed whacking = y
3) Which is less, x or y?
Floating it across is very energy efficient, now designing the float craft and getting the mower on and off, well that's in the engineering. Also factor in the chance of catastrophic failure including loss of craft and mower and possible energy intensive recovery efforts.

Cosmo
05-15-2015, 21:48
Lashing the canoes together is pretty straightforward. Use a couple of 6ft or so 2x4 lasted to the thwarts. Deck it over with a few planks. Use ramps to get the mower up onto the canoes. The trick it getting the rig into and out of the water. Rig is surprisingly stable on the water since it's about as wide as it is tall. Carried an old gas powered fridge out of Upper Goose Pond cabin this way. Hardest part was getting it to the water.

Cosmo

perrymk
06-17-2015, 15:29
Perhaps a fishing pontoon (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/classic-roanoke-8-inflatable-pontoon?a=1170285&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=CI&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=WX2*0294421000000&gclid=CNaTpIu7l8YCFdccgQodjbMAWQ) raft?

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Rolex
06-17-2015, 17:08
I think I would try some PVC pipe with end fittings. Like 12 inches in Diameter or bigger with a 4x6 foot or so Piece of Plywood top. Make it with three or even 4 tubes underneath. Redneck Pontoon boat.

rocketsocks
06-17-2015, 17:57
I think I would try some PVC pipe with end fittings. Like 12 inches in Diameter or bigger with a 4x6 foot or so Piece of Plywood top. Make it with three or even 4 tubes underneath. Redneck Pontoon boat.
Not that that wouldn't work or be a bad ass pontoon boat. But 12 PVC schedule 40 pipe weighs 9.94 lb.s per linear foot...pretty heavy boat all said and done.

rocketsocks
06-17-2015, 17:59
I would really like to be able to access an area with a DR Mower that is across about a 100' wide stream knee deep in summer - i.e. too deep to ford with the mower running. (akin to the A.T. crossing of the Pleasant River in Maine near Gulf Hagas) I'm not a paddler, and having trouble with the thought of somehow straddling the mower on a tippy canoe. Any ideas?

Get a goat.

ki0eh
06-17-2015, 18:52
Get a goat.

We once used pack llamas at this location. They were easier to handle than their handler who hasn't come back.

ki0eh
06-17-2015, 18:58
I hadn't checked the thread in a while. The mower weighs about 340 lbs and this stream crossing is the nearest road approach to about 7 miles of mowable trail.

Slosteppin
06-22-2015, 20:23
It seems to me that building a bridge would be the best long term solution for that much mowing. Most of our trail gets mowed twice a year. That means four crossings of this stream with the mower each season. Several times we have floated all our tools and material down stream from the nearest road access.

Old Grouse
06-22-2015, 20:26
Get a goat.
That's just silly! How is a goat going to handle a DR mower?

rocketsocks
06-22-2015, 20:40
That's just silly! How is a goat going to handle a DR mower?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfgewfDBw4uO3Vh7Emw56_RKSXGI8Lx iWsoIY5FKzLgBZ__1UG:i181.photobucket.com/albums/x272/chacotuason/cars/2561409_1_full1.jpg

piece a cake :D

MuddyWaters
06-22-2015, 20:58
Sled.
http://www.shappell.com/sleds.html

I know people that hunt in swamps that tow all their gear behind ATV thru shallow water on a sled.

I saw a guy one time, use one to get ATV across a creek. (back when ATVs were smaller 25 yrs ago)

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shelterbuilder
06-22-2015, 22:00
Assuming that you have access to 2 canoes (and a few 2x4's), this seems like the simplest (and the most stable, least likely-to fail catastrophically) solution to the problem. Trying to rig a zip-line that would hold a 350 lb weight WITHOUT developing a huge amount of sag is next-to-impossible unless you climb more than 70 feet above the waterline, and the size and weight of the cable (rope would stretch out too much) AT THAT HEIGHT ABOVE GRADE is clumsy, to say the least. Inner tubes can be punctured too easily, but a couple of canoes in good shape (lashed together with some 2x4's and maybe even a sheet of plywood across the 2x4's for a deck) seems to have the best chance to get the mower across. Perhaps 1 person guiding each corner, and a "bull-rope" tied off on each bank and attached to the "raft" fore or aft...just in case.... Make sure that your people are NOT directly downstream of the raft, in case it starts to swing around.

ki0eh
06-22-2015, 22:47
Shed looks interesting as the sloped end would appear to minimize problems of loading and unloading that may inhibit actual realization of the canoe idea. It looks like the Kodiak XL would displace about 0.4 m^3 = 400 L which is 400 kg of water. Since the rig is 340 lb and sled is 30 lb so ~400 lb with neutral density fluid and Earth gravity and 2.2 lb/kg it's possible the assemblage might actually float with a safety factor of ~2 if my late night reasoning is correct. Or until a wave or tip swamps it.

My colleague pointed out another aspect: "If the plan is to mow all the way from where we parked the vehicles last year to Nickel Falls and back it doesn't matter where we start as we will still have the same distance to cover."

MuddyWaters
06-23-2015, 01:07
Shed looks interesting as the sloped end would appear to minimize problems of loading and unloading that may inhibit actual realization of the canoe idea. It looks like the Kodiak XL would displace about 0.4 m^3 = 400 L which is 400 kg of water. Since the rig is 340 lb and sled is 30 lb so ~400 lb with neutral density fluid and Earth gravity and 2.2 lb/kg it's possible the assemblage might actually float with a safety factor of ~2 if my late night reasoning is correct. Or until a wave or tip swamps it.

My colleague pointed out another aspect: "If the plan is to mow all the way from where we parked the vehicles last year to Nickel Falls and back it doesn't matter where we start as we will still have the same distance to cover."

the big jet sled magnum one displaces 4000 lbs, 71x44x16" weighs 39 lbs.

Buttercup01
06-23-2015, 01:28
Build large pontoons from beer cans and duct tape. Tape the Dr to the top and find a buddy that is drunk enough to sit on top and row. By the time the pontoons are complete, you can bet that someone will volunteer.

Dogwood
06-23-2015, 02:27
I know an Olympic Shot Put thrower.

http://www.olympic.org/athletics-shot-put-men

Weedwacker - Javelins are thrown in the Olympics too.

Dogwood
06-23-2015, 02:37
You must have the 14.5 HP MODEL. I had a 10.5 Pro. If memory serves me right yours is about $2600-3000. Don't let it fall into the drink. LOL. Good luck. Can't get away with a weedwacker with brush cutting/sapling cutting trimmer heads?

Dogwood
06-23-2015, 02:42
Easier to get two men and two Weedwackers with brush cutting heads + some go go juice across. Is it not?

Dogwood
06-23-2015, 02:44
Goats! Yes goats. Tie 3-4 up on lengthy tethers. Haul a cooler with plenty of campfire refreshments across the river instead.

mcgrabo
06-23-2015, 07:11
couple of inner tubes tied together, with a piece of plywood on top and a rope. bring the rope to the other side of the brook 1st. wrap it around a tree, in case the current is stronger than you think. have someone cast your float off. to be really secure, have a rope tied off at the starting point.

vamelungeon
06-23-2015, 07:22
Rube Goldberg would be proud of this thread.

ki0eh
06-23-2015, 08:45
Rube Goldberg would be proud of this thread.

A few years ago we cleaned up a trailside dump site with a skyline. The dirt road we were next to (and moving the old chest freezers etc. onto) had a slight downgrade. Muscle power was going a bit too slowly moving the dumped appliances up to the unload point, so after the first one it was determined that a Toyota pickup coasting downgrade in neutral on the dirt road would motivate the mainline at an acceptably controllable speed.