I know the OP sold his Rammy, but I thought I'd post my experiences for anyone who finds this thread searching like I did since there's almost nothing on the web from people who have one. We needed something to mow the roads ( I use that term loosely) at our cabin. We're talking woods 2-tracks and It's very rocky terrain here and nothing with a blade would cut it (pun intended). I'm on my 3rd season mowing with it. Put it on a 1998 Polaris Xplorer 400 and like the OP, was super disappointed when it couldn't lift the mower. Installed EPI "plow" springs which are supposed to be 30% stiffer than stock and still no go. I HAD to make this work. I cut PVC pipe the length of the exposed shock rod and then slit it lengthwise in two pieces so I could slide it between the springs. I then zip tied the halves together over the shock rod effectively locking the front suspension. Cut the zip ties and it's back to stock. Takes less time to block the springs than it does to hook up the mower. As to the OP's concern about stressing something else by locking the suspension, keep in mind you rarely are actually carrying the mower. It's always on the ground while mowing and if you're really worried, you can travel with it on the ground too and hardly ever have to lift it. To the question of overheating. The quad is hardly working. You're in low range at a walking pace. As long as you keep the radiator screen free of grass clippings, overheating isn't a problem. It is a little tough steering on an older atv or any without power steering, but I'm not in the best of shape and I get by fine. My biggest complaint is the steel roller at the back. On rough, rocky terrain like we have, it pounds over every little imperfection. This would be no issue on a smooth lawn, but that's not what I'm dealing with. I really want to figure a way to replace the roller with some pneumatic tires to ease some of the banging around. Couldn't go with a tow-behind because there are many times I have to lift the mower over rocks while mowing. It's far from perfect, but I couldn't find another option for what we're dealing with.
this is why I stated before here that many folks have replaced front shocks with solid bars, be them of steel or?? to be able to hold up weight on there fronts(mostly for plowing snow, or way back when, they were trying to push front end loaders on atv's, which never worked out)
it can get things done, but there is no changing the fact your adding a lot more stress to the atv's frame and drive line, when you make something ridged, there is no GIVE
and not all ATV will cool the same when running at slow speeds, some do better jobs than others,
as many larger CC motors and ATV's in general rely on air to help with cooling them, and if you run them slow, they will over heat, all the more so if your working the atv harder going slow up hills un even terrain, and or pushing /pulling something heavy!
its just what itr is!
as for why they don;'t really sell Fail mowers for tow behind set ups for atv's
is a saftey issue as well as like stated there is No 3 point hitch to raise when needed
when your on an atv as to a tractor, your sitting way lower and higher odd's of debris coming out of mower and hitting you
on a tractor you sit way higher and many times are in a cab as well!
one can MAKE something work for sure, and it may last a while, , but there honestly a better tool for using a fail mower than an atv, IMO its just hard on them!
and if your really creative and have some skills in designing and fab work! and want to make your set up better
as for the bar hitting rocks
what you can do , is fab up some HD spring mounts for ALL wheels on the mower, one's that will allow the mower to float on the springs and this will allow things to follow the terrain, I would gather some cheap places to get springs would be a auto salvage yard , say springs from a small compact car
once you get the mower to float, you can repeat the set up for springs for the bar!
it wouldn;t be perfect still, but would be a big improvement IMO
the reason most OEM"S don;t do so, i
no bash here just saying!
well, they expect owners are mostly using on flat smooth ground, so they have no reason to make for uneven rocky ground!
another suggestion, might be put up an add for some free fill dirt, and as you get it, spread it out over the un even spots and or cover rocks with it, as once fixed it will make life so much easier on all things , you and your equipment in the long run!
if you have NO means to spread fill dirt
wait till you get a bunch and rent a skid steer for a 1/2 day, (or better yet, have a neighbor or friend come and do it for you if you have any with machines) , they are generally not that costly, and in the end you will be a happier guy with a smoother road to use and mow!
