2 things different I did on mine.. 1. I cut the sheetmetal off all the way across to the wheels... and back, so the blade sticks out 2 1/2 inches making the mouth bigger. Then bent and welded in a 1/2inch solid bar to the new opening , down to the wheel bolt holes with some 1/8" plates 2. I sharpened the tips of the blade. This allows everything to get chopped without interfering with the sheetmetal body and it works super fast. It seems dangerous as hell cause it shoots grass out to the right but doesnt bother me unless I run over poison ivy and I get covered with it.
Thats a small small engine too. Can you imagine if it was a bigger engine. I was thinking about doing this everything time I get a call for an overgrown yard
Bend that front lip up further to completely expose about an inch of blade at the center along with others suggestions to change to a stick blade, it will deal better with saplings.
I've cut the same part to the front, but put a hinge on it to mow short grass. With a 7 hp turning a gator blade it's a hoss. I'm gonna try a push bar to keep the tall stuff from falling back on the mower. Big wheels on the front has crossed my mind and now I know itll work.
I did the same thing with an old mower I had to make some access lanes at the property where I dear hunt at in WI. Haven't added the larger wheels yet but I will now.
Anthony, use a stick brush cutter with Oregon's mulching blade to do the job cheap and far more effortless. You will find a lot RU-vid videos showing Oregon's $8 to $10 mulching blade.
I have the same power of that engine to all I need is a gas tank for it then I'm back in business I blew a hole in the the gas tank from running it to hard
The engine has 3speeds on that engine that engine is a bad engine to the bone if I could get that push mower going again I would do it because that push mower was my work horse
On my mower, many years ago, I had replaced the wheels with larger ones. When cutting very tall grass, It will reduce the stress on the mower and makes it much easy to cut. If possible replace the push handle with a longer one. Then when you get much longer brush. Push down on the mower, when you go forwards. This will help reduce some of the brush from fowling on the mower. When you need to lift the front of the mower, the longer push handle will help you from bending too much on your back.
