flail mower, hammer mower?

[wikidsupra87]

Picked up a mower, looks like a rototiller. Owner says it's a Woods 5ft. It is 5ft but all the stickers and placards are gone. Is there a website with pics that I could use to identify the mower. Thanks Eric.

 

[J_J]

Picked up a mower, looks like a rototiller. Owner says it's a Woods 5ft. It is 5ft but all the stickers and placards are gone. Is there a website with pics that I could use to identify the mower. Thanks Eric.

Post a picture on here and give us a try. Do a search for Woods 5 ft.

http://www.woodsequipment.com/default.aspx


Since you said it looked like a tiller, then it must be a flail mower.

http://www.woodsequipment.com/flailshredders.aspx?id=10495&ekmensel=ff8c4a46_21_0_10495_3

 

[kthompson]

I just looked at their web site and only found much larger flail mowers. Or they call them flail shredders. But they could have had 5 foot and dropped it or I just missed seeing them.

 

[leonz]

Picked up a mower, looks like a rototiller. Owner says it's a Woods 5ft. It is 5ft but all the stickers and placards are gone. Is there a website with pics that I could use to identify the mower. Thanks Eric.

=========================================================



the flail mower shredder will have serial numbers stamped on it and the gear box or a plate with all the information identifying it look on either side of the mower or under the cover where the belts are located on the side.


The beauty of flail mowers is balance, knives that fall away if they impact something and zero worries about throwing something while mowing.

Another plus is being able to mow wet grass too with lots of power.


The side bearings will be easy to replace and find anywhere as well.

The main bearings in our Matthews flail mower lasted for over 20 years before they required replacement


If the V belts are at all checked/cracked they need to be replaced.

Buying the Gates green heavy duty belts is money well spent as they will last a long time and hold up very well.



You will not have any trouble finding hammer knives or mower knives for the mower either as they are all standardized by size.




I would contact woods directly or the local Woods dealer and spend some time talking about your mower to obtain a manual for the unit so you have part numbers.

leon

 

[herd]

Good info leonz, I am thinking about a flail myself, and I was wondering if they are ''stump jumpers" and also how big can they shred. I am wanting to clear and keep clear my land of the small oak, cherry, etc saplings that spring up each year. This is in an area that I had clear-cut in 2007. tks

 

[IslandTractor]

Good info leonz, I am thinking about a flail myself, and I was wondering if they are ''stump jumpers" and also how big can they shred. I am wanting to clear and keep clear my land of the small oak, cherry, etc saplings that spring up each year. This is in an area that I had clear-cut in 2007. tks

If you had land clear cut in 2007 then even a moderate duty flail should have no trouble with subsequent growth. The stumps are a different issue. Flails don't have "stump jumper" plates like bush hogs. A flail will therefore try to cut into a tall (greater than about 4-6 inches off the soil) stump (it might stall the tractor) and it is possible that the stump will snag the trailing roller tube that all flails have which could easily result in significant damage (banana shape) of that roller. On the other hand, if the stumps are just a few inches high then the flails will simply whack at them and roll over without any real drama.

 

[Big Bri]

Island,
what does that rear roller really do? i don't understand the reason for it.
thanks

 

[IslandTractor]

Island,
what does that rear roller really do? i don't understand the reason for it.
thanks

Basically it determines your cut height. A flail can be operated with the rear roller off the ground by using the 3pt hitch to adjust height of cut but to get the most even cut it is best to lower the 3pt arms until the rear roller takes the weight of the mower and then adjust the angle of attack with the topping lift which gives you some fine control over cut height. The mower essentially pivots on the rear roller so it cuts a more consistent length of grass. The roller height has some adjustment in ti but it is not the sort of thing you would fiddle with each time you mow. Same basic principle as having most of the mower weight on the wheels of a finish mower or bush hog rather than having it raised in the air controlling cutting height only with the 3pt.

As noted, you can run the mower perfectly well with the roller off the ground but you will not get as low a cut and you will not get as smooth a cut (the mower will raise and fall depending on the tractor). It does make sense to use the mower with the roller off the ground if you are indeed cutting in an areas with unknown stumps/rocks etc with the idea that you can get a first pass cut down to 6-8 inches or so and then, once you've identified the size objects that you might roll over with your tractor but would still snag the rear mower roller, you can then lower the roller and mow around those objects safely.

 

[Big Bri]

island, so when i cut with my flail, which is a caroni i leave v shaped marks in the dirt when i mow that would mean i should lower the rear roller. i have been using the 3ph to adjust height to avoid it but by lowering the roller i should be able to lower the 3ph all the way down and not get that v in the dirt. if that right i think i'll go and adjust it for the next time i cut.
thanks

 

[J_J]

What do you mean about the[ V ] marks in the dirt. Your flails should not be touching the dirt. The roller is designed to keep you from scalping hills. Do you have pictures of your flail digging in.

 

[IslandTractor]

Big Bri, I know what you are talking about. JJ is correct that your flails should not be that low. There are two possible adjustments. First (easiest and temporary) is to tighten/raise the topping lift so the front of the mower comes up. As the pivot point is all the way at the end of the mower, that will raise your blades as the blade rotor is forward of the rear roller. That will fix it immediately when you are in the field. However, as that also means the mower cannot float on the topping lift, it is not the ideal solution.

The proper solution is to lower the rear roller. On the Caroni the rear roller pivots and you can choose between about five settings. I think most of the mowers are shipped with the roller in the "up" position (closest cut) to save space. Mine is set that way and I have not yet lowered it but I probably will soon. There are two bolts on each side that need to be loosened. The roller bracket pivots on the lower bolt so that just needs to be loosened. The upper bolt for the bracket also is part of the skid attachment so you'll need to remove that and then replace it after pivoting the roller downwards. I may not be doing a good job of technical writing here but believe me it is quite obvious once you look under the mower. Photos below may help.

 

[Big Bri]

What do you mean about the[ V ] marks in the dirt. Your flails should not be touching the dirt. The roller is designed to keep you from scalping hills. Do you have pictures of your flail digging in.

jj, my flails have been hitting the dirt, so i guess i know i need to lower the roller. should i also lower the side skids on the flail or do those matter?
thanks

 

[IslandTractor]

Side skids are not necessary at all. Mine just hang up on brush. I note that Caroni considers them an option but AgriSupply orders them on all the mowers it imports. I suppose in some circumstances the skids might be useful but I haven't found them to do anything except get in the way and get bent.

 

[J_J]

You probably need a level surface to set up the flail. Your roller should be set so your cutting height is correct when hooked up to the tractor, and should be horizontal to the ground. You could probably set it up and forget it, if you use chains for the drop limit. The skids should not touch the ground when mowing.

 

[Willl]

The skids should not touch the ground when mowing.

??? Should they be set just above cut height ?, by how far ?

 

[Big Bri]

island, in the last pic you put up of the mower, the mount where the top link goes. Mine is a little different, my slot goes horizontal not up and down like yours. this is how mine was shipped. should i change it?

 

[Big Bri]

j j, if i have my mower on a concrete slab with the roller touching the ground how much room should be from the ground to the flail that that is hanging down?

 

[J_J]

That should be your cutting height of the grass/weeds. 5 in, etc whatever you want. You can always cut high by lifting at any set point.

 

[Willl]

That should be your cutting height of the grass/weeds.

So you mean it should match your 'tooth/cut' level ?

((Haven't got my own flail yet, but soon.))

 

[J_J]

Yes, and you can change that at any time by raising or lowering the 3ph.