This is a mower idea I've been tinkering around with for few days...it's electrically driven for now, 120 VAC, yes I'll run off a generator and yes, it's probably not enough motor for regular grass cutting, 1/2 HP. I plan to do the "weed eating" with it if it comes close to working for now. Later I'll probably swap out the 1/2HP motor for an 18 or the 26 HP gas motor I have. Then Ill change the pivot so I can rotate the belts to 90* so the arm will still swings up and down on the same plane. The actuators are 24 VDC, 20A max rated. I think the actuators are rated at 500 Lbs each. It has two 22 inch disc with three disc mower blades set at exactly 120* apart for a total cut width of 50 inches. Everything is out of free or salvaged scrap parts but the steel.
For wiring the actuators you do this for reversing action with a momentary DPDT switch
http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO:-Wire-a-DPDT-rocker-switch-for-reversing-po/
or find/buy/order one of these,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PNIJM2/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I opted for the first option as I already had some laying around...
Next I plan to add more actuators to "tilt or lower" the section that's flat on the table top so I can take it down flat to ground level. Then build a mount to try put it on the back of the lawnmower I plan to use it with for now until I get the UTV built.
For now I've been testing the actuators with (2) 12V 7.5 Ah batteries ( new salvaged) wired 24V running off 18 gauge HF test leads. I've figured out a way that when the actuators are not operating that I could charge the batteries from the lawnmowers 12V system at 12V and when the actuators are energized, it disconnects from the mower and reconnects the batteries 24V when ever the actuators are running. The other option I have is to just use the 40A 24VDC battery charger ( salvaged) I have and run it off the generator.
This is an effort in..."I think I can do this and make it work, just to see if I can do it." Not to mention having a light weight side mower would be nice to have a round the farm. It might cut down on the walking and weed eating around here. I'm trying to get away from spraying so much weed killer. I spray it 50-100 gallons at the time when I spray depending on if I spray every ditch bank and fence line.