Side cutter for milling machine

1. A side cutter milling assembly for a milling machine having a frame, a milling drum housing that is removably attached to the frame, a milling drum that is mounted for rotation within the milling drum housing, and a primary drum drive assembly that is adapted to rotate the milling drum, said side cutter milling assembly comprising:

(a) a drum housing comprising:

(i) a main portion which is adapted to be installed on the frame of the milling machine in place of the milling drum housing;

(ii) a side portion that is offset to one side of the milling machine;

(b) a side cutter milling drum that is mounted for rotation within the side portion of the drum housing;

(c) a side cutter drivetrain that is adapted to be operatively attached to the side cutter milling drum and the primary drum drive assembly.

2. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 1 comprising a side cutter primary conveyor which is adapted to convey material milled by the side cutter milling drum.

3. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 2 :

(a) which includes a side cutter secondary conveyor;

(b) wherein the side cutter primary conveyor is configured to convey material milled by the side cutter milling drum to the side cutter secondary conveyor.

4. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 2 which includes a storage skid comprising:

(a) a base portion for supporting the drum housing and the side cutter milling drum;

(b) an upstanding conveyor support portion for supporting the side cutter primary conveyor.

5. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 1 wherein the side cutter drivetrain is adapted to be operatively attached to the primary drum drive assembly on the opposite side of the milling machine from the side portion of the drum housing.

6. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 5 wherein the side cutter drivetrain includes a drive shaft and suitable bearings for mounting the drive shaft across the width of the milling machine within the main portion of the drum housing.

7. The side cutter milling assembly of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the frame and the milling drum housing include bolt holes that are adapted to be aligned so that bolts can be used to removably attach the milling drum housing to the frame;

(b) the main portion of the drum housing is adapted to be bolted to the frame using the same bolts and bolt holes as are used to mount the milling drum housing to the frame.

8. A method for modifying a milling machine having a frame, a milling drum housing that is removably attached to the frame, a milling drum that is mounted for rotation within the milling drum housing, and a primary drum drive assembly that is adapted to rotate the milling drum, said method comprising:

(a) removing the milling drum housing and the milling drum from the milling machine;

(b) replacing the milling drum housing with a drum housing of a side cutter milling assembly, said drum housing comprising:

(i) a main portion which is adapted to be installed on the frame of the milling machine in place of the milling drum housing;

(ii) a side portion that is offset to one side of the milling machine;

(c) mounting a side cutter milling drum of the side cutter milling assembly within the side portion of the drum housing;

(d) installing a side cutter drivetrain of the side cutter milling assembly across the width of the milling machine within the main portion of the drum housing of the side cutter milling assembly;

(e) operatively attaching the side cutter drivetrain to the side cutter milling drum and the primary drum drive assembly;

(f) installing a side cutter primary conveyor of the side cutter milling assembly so that said side cutter primary conveyor is configured and adapted to convey material milled by the side cutter milling drum.