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I think your best bet would be to buy a used 3ph tractor model and adapt it to the ventrac hitch... Then you need to convert them 540pto to the ventrac b belt drive at 3600rpm..

I'm not aware of any making a sickle setup for their steiner or ventrac, so you're going to have to get creative. You might try a local farmer or fabricator who builds there's own stuff.. Either way if your not doing the fabbing it won't be cheap.. As far as gearing there are several 6:1 planetary gearsets available or use a combination of belts and pulleys. Try surpluscenter.com, they have lots of stuff that's handy for building custom attachments.

Several years ago some third party in Ohio built and sold a sickle bar mower for Ventrac. See photo. I don't think they are still making it. Mast-Lepley a dealer in Apple Creek, OH, may be able to provide you with more information. mastlepley.com

JackIL

BKBrown said:

I'd love to have a Sickle Bar mower that will fit the 4231 - It would need to be 6' to 8' to reach close to the pond on the inside of my Dam.
I don't want to spend a small fortune and don't (won't) do ebay or paypal.
Is there anything available for the Ventrac - even if it needs to be self powered ????

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If all else fails, you might contact these guys and see if they can fabricate one for you...
Cutthat.com | Sabre Samurai

JackIL said:

Several years ago some third party in Ohio built and sold a sickle bar mower for Ventrac. See photo. I don't think they are still making it. Mast-Lepley a dealer in Apple Creek, OH, may be able to provide you with more information. mastlepley.com

JackIL

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That unit is slick...

BKBrown said:

Thanks guys,

I think I'll ask my dealer if he can get any info on the older units that might fit both Steiner and Ventrac.
I love my 4231 and would love to have a sicke bar made to fit.

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Have you managed to get your hands on one of them sickle-bar mower attachments for the Ventrac?

Yes ! It works great !

BKBrown said:

Yes ! It works great !

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Thanks for the quick reply! Where can I buy this attachment and what is the cost?

That is the tricky part. I actually asked my dealer and one of the Steiner brothers (at Ventrac) to look out for one and let me know if they found one. Ventrac never actually made one themselves, but had one made to fit the Ventrac. They don't sell that attachment now - so, you need to find one used and convince them to sell it.

Dustin Steiner found mine (he is doing missionary work for a while) -- one of the other people at Ventrac might find one for you, or your dealer might ask around and find a used one.

BKBrown said:

That is the tricky part. I actually asked my dealer and one of the Steiner brothers (at Ventrac) to look out for one .....

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Do you know the name of the manufacturer in OH that used to make it? It might be stamped on the attachment somewhere...

JackIL said:

Several years ago some third party in Ohio built and sold a sickle bar mower for Ventrac. See photo. I don't think they are still making it. Mast-Lepley a dealer in Apple Creek, OH, may be able to provide you with more information. mastlepley.com

JackIL

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Called Mast-Lepley Online (Apple Creek OH). They told me Mast Equipment of Walnut Creek OH used to manufacture the sickle bar mower attachment. It was discontinued perhaps for liability reasons. Too bad!

I wonder if they might have any idea where some of those units are ???

I can't see why those would have any more liability than any other sickle bar.

I would think between Ventrac and Steiner there would be a market for them.
I use mine quite a bit.

BKBrown said:

I wonder if they might have any idea where some of those units are ???

I can't see why those would have any more liability than any other sickle bar.

I would think between Ventrac and Steiner there would be a market for them.
I use mine quite a bit.

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The gentleman from Mast at Apple Creek said he had not seen one since 2000, the other gentleman (Junior) conveyed through the receptionist that he has no intention of making them again, too many liability issues. Perhaps some dim but rich customer mowed down Fluffy and blamed the sickle bar? I don't know; people sue for a living nowadays.

The low level guy at Ventrac indicated categorically, they have no plans of making sickle-bar attachments. They can all sort it out whatever way they like, I give up. There are other vendors than Ventrac.

Thanks for your help and info, all the best!

I guess that because some homeowners have these machines (the Ventracs) that they figure they might be more likely to make mistakes than farmers.

I'm glad I found mine and can se it when I need it. Some idiots and lawyers (and judges) have ruined things for most of the reasonable people.

Other than that -- enjoy your Ventrac !