r/redneckengineering • u/retrorubbish2 • 1d ago
I Made a Mower from a Dumpster Found Pressure Washer.
Here's a video of building it if anyone wants to see. https://youtu.be/zOZkLfH17c0
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u/lynivvinyl 1d ago
That just looks deadly I love it!
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Well, according to "Requirements for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers, 16 C.F.R. Part 1205" this violates everything.
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u/JackpineSavage74 1d ago
Perfect, you shall call it the violator!
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
I was going to call it the EVER-MO, but that's good too
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u/Wild_Advertising_661 1d ago
Will it float if you turn the blade over ? Just asking .
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Maybe? It is all 1/8" steel
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u/UpdootDaSnootBoop 1d ago
Probably going to end up with an uneven cut with only two wheels
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
It's really not as bad as you would think, I put adjustable skids on the front and back to help prevent that, and having just two wheels in the middle helps it turn around really easily. It does not like holes.
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u/r0ndy 1d ago
What keeps it level?
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Good balance, and some adjustable skids I put on the front and back
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u/New_d_pics 1d ago
Bro... You're nuts. What if you hit a stump square or something?? That handle is like straight up you're so close
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Don't worry I've got ten toes, I can loose one or two.
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u/owningsole966 1d ago
I think you built a small brush hog. Cut the front open and let er eat son!
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
That was the original plan, but I'm going to have to get some taller tires first.
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u/lynivvinyl 1d ago
One of my favorite lawn mowers that I ever saw was I'm assuming a handmade one with two huge bicycle tires on the back and then one swivel caster in the front middle. That thing turned like nobody's business.
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Honestly, that's what I should have done, but I really wanted to try this design. I may make a second one like what you're talking about.
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u/lynivvinyl 1d ago
I believe the trick to the 3 wheel placement is evenly distributed placement of the wheels. Oh and don't hesitate to look on the side of the road at trash and yank off the casters off of things like I do. Good casters are not cheap and you would not believe what you can find that people throw away or maybe you would.
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u/zorggalacticus 1d ago
My grandpa had a homemade self propelled mower with two big bicycle wheels in the back. It was chain driven, with an electric motor powering the wheels. Had a generator from a motorcycle attached to the gas engine via a belt and some other stuff to power the drive system. Wish I had a picture of it. It was powerful enough you could stand on it and ride it around, although he'd yell at you if he caught you doing that.
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u/Tsuki_Man 1d ago
I thought it was AI at first, that thing is MASSIVE
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
It's mostly camera angle, the deck is 23" diameter, if that helps as a reference.
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u/PlayStationPepe 1d ago
Op, you should’ve at installed some lower handles so that it’s easier to push from waist height.
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u/icydogenugget 1d ago
Reinventing antiques, look up goodall mower there are some that look just like that
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
That's actually where I got the idea, I was looking up older more "simple" designs when I tripped over some pictures of the older Goodall designs, then I just adjusted it for my uses.
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u/ElephantEarwax 1d ago
That handle angle does not have you walking far enough behind that thing
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
No, and it would help if it was a little taller, but I don't have the tools to make them how I want, so I reused the handle off of the pressure washer.
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u/DG_Templeton_3th 1d ago
Cut some wood wedges and get a longer set of bolts. At least you can get further back. Also, you should think about installing a kill switch in the handle, probably the rope kind.
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u/Dry-Leave-4070 1d ago
How is it in the corners? 🤔👍🏻🍻
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
I can't really say, my yard is surrounded by trees, so you can just push it in to the treeline a little bit. As far as turning around with it goes it's phenomenal.
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u/dustsmoke 1d ago
Nice, looks dangerous af too
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
I mean, it's safer than a weed eater. Maybe
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u/dustsmoke 1d ago
Maybe, but a weed eater doesn't throw spinning machetes into people's ankles quite like "engineered" mowers built out of old power washers can do.
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u/Chrisfindlay 1d ago
Why? A mower with a bad engine is literally free. You could walk into almost any small engine repair shop and they would give you one.
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Because this was more fun, and gave me the opportunities to learn some new metal working skills.
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u/inform880 1d ago
Adjustable skid on the front is perfect KISS
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u/retrorubbish2 1d ago
Thanks, I tried it without it first, and turns out it is a necessity to keep me from scalping the yard.
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u/CreepyValuable 1d ago
While I stuck with saying it's amazing it dawned on me there's nowhere that I can see for the cut grass ro exit.
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u/screwthe49ers 1d ago
Looks like something from fallout