Hedge cutter conversion to the right side.

[Gerbert]

Recently I was asked to trim some hedges and brambles for some people that I do some contracting work for already. Looking into used machines overhere they are not exactly cheap nor plentifull. Now then, on your side of the pond every farmer seems to have one so it hit me, can they be converted 180 degrees reasonably?
It would be a big bonus if I can reach up untill 5 meters high to cut small branches. Is that possible within a small budget?
Also, how realistic is it to cut the back of a hedge?
What kind of money would I need to spend to get anything that would do the job, nothing fancy needed, I don't need something to work day in day out but it just may be a niche worth exploring.

 

[Kidds]

Our hedge cutter was built so you can swap it to whichever side you like, wouldn't surprise me if it was a common thing.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Drainage board used to have a big flail that ran both directions on a 180 pivot ,,saved them having to run one way ,think it was a bomford.
You tube Bomford B81 81T

 

[le bon paysan]

I think all hedge cutters used to be on 1 side, european on 1 side( as of old) English and Irish (?) are now on the other side. May have been changed because of the direction of work on the roads. Never a problem when looking over my right shoulder but bloody ached when changed and looked over left shoulder.

 

[Lazy Sod]

As a right handed person, I have always been more comfortable looking over my right shoulder. Baler pickups, mowers always on the right side. The first hedger that i used was a finger bar on a McConnell Power Arm. That was on the right. After a few years I used a contractor with a flail, no more clearing up and and bonfires. Then I bought an old Bomford and my chap did it. After he left I endured 20 years of it until I retired. God I hated that job. Left hand side is literally a pain in the neck.

 

[Dave W]

Most of the older McConnell power arms can be assembled either hand. Not a big job at all

 

[s~~t shoveller]

We have a b81-81 bomford.cuts both sides at the push of a button.4000 quid five years ago .8 meter telescopic reach.seen some cheaper than that fairly recently.

 

[Lazy Sod]

My Bomford Supertrim was bought second hand in 1987 for £750 and sold 4 years ago for £800. I had to alter the axle brackets when I bought it to fit my DB 1490. For the next tractor, I converted it to go on the 3 point linkage and made a longer top link. Later, I put an Accord hitch on it, perhaps that's why it was so much of a pain in the neck.

 

[agrotron]

my first machine was a pa35 McConnell. It was a right hand cut so switched it to left hand. All the mounting plates etc were already there so easy enough. I think I had to alter the length of the couple of pipes going to the head. One of the very few machines that I didnt loose any money on.

 

[Boohoo]

Most of the older McConnell power arms can be assembled either hand. Not a big job at all

Something like a PA93 or you talking older than that? It's more for my own curiosity than anything because the 93 I used to cut with looked like it could be changed from left to right but I was never sure if extra parts would be needed.

 

[Dave W]

Something like a PA93 or you talking older than that? It's more for my own curiosity than anything because the 93 I used to cut with looked like it could be changed from left to right but I was never sure if extra parts would be needed.

PA93 should.
basically anything built around this basic chassis will I think

 

[mixed breed]

PA93 should.
basically anything built around this basic chassis will I think

Except for the pa92

Build to hand and non swappable. Mines a right.
I also bought a cheap 93 left hand, well worn, put new bushes and pins and swapped it to right hand, the hardest part is de/reasembling the motor drive, but in doing so, the rotor is reversed and (for me anyway) the flails were turned to the new edge without undoing all the bolts

 

[Dave W]

Except for the pa92

Build to hand and non swappable. Mines a right.
I also bought a cheap 93 left hand, well worn, put new bushes and pins and swapped it to right hand, the hardest part is de/reasembling the motor drive, but in doing so, the rotor is reversed and (for me anyway) the flails were turned to the new edge without undoing all the bolts

Did you just pick that pic off google at random?

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

Did you just pick that pic off google at random?

Shoddy looking block work

 

[TripleSix]

Did you just pick that pic off google at random?

Shoddy looking block work

Scrrews holding the sheets on are all wrong

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

Planings could do with a rake to tidy up and level off

 

[mixed breed]

Did you just pick that pic off google at random?

I did ah

 

[Dave W]

I did ah

As the clowns above alluded to. That's my shed. I sold that last year. I'll look forward to my copyright payment

 

[Gerbert]

We have a b81-81 bomford.cuts both sides at the push of a button.4000 quid five years ago .8 meter telescopic reach.seen some cheaper than that fairly recently.

I'll have one at that price or better yet something a little smaller for less money.
Stupid that I (or rather other people) didn't think of it a few months ago.
How are they mounted, do you brace them to the rear axle or something?
Mid mounted ones are fairly common overhere but they are not something you just throw on obviously.