Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[IslandTractor]

Dethatching with a flail mower. Just another use of an already great piece of equipment. This is a vrisimo version but they should all basically do the same.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nvTvdzh2TO0

The only problem is the major hassle of changing knives twice. Major PITA.

 

[Thomabear]

The only problem is the major hassle of changing knives twice. Major PITA.

Depends on the blade change design. With a quick change system you are looking at an easy 20 minutes.

 

[IslandTractor]

Depends on the blade change design. With a quick change system you are looking at an easy 20 minutes.

True.

 

[IslandTractor]

Depends on the blade change design. With a quick change system you are looking at an easy 20 minutes.

True. On the Caroni and I presume with other flails that have 50+ knives to change it would take an hour or more even with air tools. Also uncomfortable to do with mower mounted.

 

[leonz]

True. On the Caroni and I presume with other flails that have 50+ knives to change it would take an hour or more even with air tools. Also uncomfortable to do with mower mounted.

Yup its that time again,

I have to order 64 three inch dethatching blades
to replace all the ones I took off the Lawn Genie.

Most of them were 25 years old and they had to go
as they cout no longer dethatch adequately as the
corners were worn to the point they looked like
boat oars and you cannot dethatch well with
a knive like that. (butts ugly as click and clack would say)



It will be interesting to see if we get snow on friday as
they say we are supposed ot get a snow whipping-as of yesterday.


My Mathews flail mower is so nice, :^) it requires no tools
to change side slicer knives or install and remove the
dethatching blades.

The spring secured knive hangers are an absolute dream
to use AND if you want you can leave the dethatching
blades(It makes the lawn a bit naked at times when
you are mowing ant hills etc.

I have to remove the landing gear and have it repaired
as after thirty three years of use the metal landing gear
has fatigued and bent the axles in and the cross member(axle)
has sagged.

I love the worm height of cut adjustment.

It is very easy to use and maintain as all I need to do is
tip it on the hopper basket to lubricate it and run the
threaded rod worm gear all the way in and out to lubricate it.

 

[DavesTractor]

Dethatching with a flail mower. Just another use of an already great piece of equipment. This is a vrisimo version but they should all basically do the same.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nvTvdzh2TO0

Nice video. The Vrisimo mowers are so smooth and quiet. I run a Vrisimo Super Series 120" in our park/orchard, although I have never dethatched.

 

[mjstef]

I really like this guys add on wheels. I think i would have used bigger ones but it's a start!

"Don't just mow your field grass or weeds. . ..mulch it with this Liberty 6' Flail Mower with hydraulic offset and custom mounting for John Deere I-Match or Quick Hitch system. Comes complete with grass and weed blades. I've also custom built casters for the mower for smoother operation. ALL flail mowers come with skids for ground contact (reason unknown) which causes the mower to dig into the ground, especially on turns creating tension on the 3 point system. These custom casters remove all the tension and create a much better cut. I'm only selling this mower because I'm moving up to a larger tractor and mower. This is a great unit. Come see it in operation" 6' Flail Mower

 

[IslandTractor]

I really like this guys add on wheels. I think i would have used bigger ones but it's a start!

"Don't just mow your field grass or weeds. . ..mulch it with this Liberty 6' Flail Mower with hydraulic offset and custom mounting for John Deere I-Match or Quick Hitch system. Comes complete with grass and weed blades. I've also custom built casters for the mower for smoother operation. ALL flail mowers come with skids for ground contact (reason unknown) which causes the mower to dig into the ground, especially on turns creating tension on the 3 point system. These custom casters remove all the tension and create a much better cut. I'm only selling this mower because I'm moving up to a larger tractor and mower. This is a great unit. Come see it in operation" 6' Flail Mower

There is something fishy about that ad. He calls it a Liberty brand in one place and later calls it a Frontier. He has added casters which is pretty weird and the photos make the mower look new but he says he's moving up to a different mower. Sounds to me like it could be a Chinese mower with a dubious small time dealer. If it actually is a JD Frontier then it's a good deal but I have doubts.

 

[DavesTractor]

Those casters would just dig grooves, and then you must ask why even have a rear roller? It looks like he did a nice job with the modification, but I can't see how the concept would be helpful. I have seen factory flails with large pneumatic tires in the back instead of the roller, and that works.

 

[mjstef]

Those casters would just dig grooves, and then you must ask why even have a rear roller? It looks like he did a nice job with the modification, but I can't see how the concept would be helpful. I have seen factory flails with large pneumatic tires in the back instead of the roller, and that works.

I agree although in our hard dry ground here the wheels likely wouldn't groove much if any. If i find what i want i will likely take the roller off as it would just get the crap knocked out of it due to our rocky conditions. I'll fab up some casters and use a solid tire like on a brush hog......

 

[DavesTractor]

i AGREE ALTHOUGH IN OUR Hard dry ground here the wheels likely wouldn't groove much if any. If i find what i want i will likely take the roller off as it would just get the crap knocked out of it due to our rocky conditions. I'll fab up some casters and use a solid tire like on a brush hog......

We have no rocks and loamy soil. It sounds like you have a good idea for your conditions. A steel roller would not fair well in rocky conditions.

 

[IslandTractor]

We have no rocks and loamy soil. It sounds like you have a good idea for your conditions. A steel roller would not fair well in rocky conditions.

I mow with a flail in New England. The roller certainly gets dented but it doesn't seem to affect function at all. Removing the roller would allow debris to be ejected out the back at high speed so I would avoid removing it if possible.

 

[Utopia Texas]

I just set up and used my new Caroni 72" today and it did a great job out in the field on wild winter oats about 10" tall and very green and mushy. My only dissapointment was that unlike a rotary mower that creates a whirlwind under the deck and straightens grass run over by the tractor tires the flail mower missed some of the winter oats flattened by the tractor tires and I had to re-mow some areas. Also when I adjusted the rear roller, upper third point of the hitch and the skids to be about 1" above the ground the skids covered the grease nipples for the rear roller. Otherwise I am impressed with the unit and look forward to see what it will do on the common and coastal bermuda specific to the Texas Gulf Coast when Spring is in full gear.

 

[IslandTractor]

I just set up and used my new Caroni 72" today and it did a great job out in the field on wild winter oats about 10" tall and very green and mushy. My only dissapointment was that unlike a rotary mower that creates a whirlwind under the deck and straightens grass run over by the tractor tires the flail mower missed some of the winter oats flattened by the tractor tires and I had to re-mow some areas. Also when I adjusted the rear roller, upper third point of the hitch and the skids to be about 1" above the ground the skids covered the grease nipples for the rear roller. Otherwise I am impressed with the unit and look forward to see what it will do on the common and coastal bermuda specific to the Texas Gulf Coast when Spring is in full gear.

I see that tire tread phenomenon sometimes but usually when grass is wet or very green. Not as big an issue when dry or shorter.

 

[LouieJunior]

Have my new Caroni flail mower. It is too early here to mow very much, but I'm anxious to put it into use. Need to assemble a few things and fill the gear box this weekend. The user manual deals mostly with safety and maintenance -- not much on usage. Here are my questions so far...

Roller rides on the ground -- how far off the ground should the shoes be?
My bush hog has a float function at the top link. Should I use something similar with the flail?
What advantage would a hydraulic top link provide while flail mowing?
Is all cutting done at 540 rpm? I seldom bush hogged at this high an engine speed.

Thanks!

 

[LouieJunior]

Need to assemble a few things and fill the gear box this weekend.

Another question... The manual actually says fill the gearbox. My other PTO implements (Bush Hog and Stump Grinder) have a side vent hole to which one fills. I don't see one of these on this gearbox. Am I to fill it to the top?

 

[leonz]

Have my new Caroni flail mower. It is too early here to mow very much, but I'm anxious to put it into use. Need to assemble a few things and fill the gear box this weekend. The user manual deals mostly with safety and maintenance -- not much on usage. Here are my questions so far...

Roller rides on the ground -- how far off the ground should the shoes be?
My bush hog has a float function at the top link. Should I use something similar with the flail?
What advantage would a hydraulic top link provide while flail mowing?
Is all cutting done at 540 rpm? I seldom bush hogged at this high an engine speed.

Thanks!

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


First, I want to welcome you as the newest Member of the Flail Mower Nation.

You level the flail mower using a bubble level on the gear box.

The skid shoes are there to do one thing and that is prevent
damage to the flail mower rotor- when the flail mower is level
the skid shoes will be at least one inch off the ground-understand
that when you lower the rear roller location you increase the cuttting height
and reduce the efficiency created by the knives when the mower is operating.

A hydraulic top link would still have to be used with a bubble level on the gear box.

All cutting is done at 540 rpm with the engine speed set for the 540 rpm PTO speed.
any slower and the cut will look like *&^%$.

The flailmower is cuttting more material more efficiently than any rotary mower
because it has so much more cutting edge exposed to the work.

Your bush hog is only using one blade at a time when mowing, every side slicer on
the flail is cutting at all times.

 

[leonz]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Under no circumstances are you to fill it full as it will blow out the vent and blow out the seals.

YOU have to have a vent in the top of the gearbox.

Forgive me but its late- the top plug should have a
dip stick and it should show this in the manual.


I can forward more manuals if you are still having issues with their packaged manual.

Send me a PM with your E-mail and I will send them to you.

We have many threads about fixing the bubbling oil issue with metric pipe fittings
screwed into the oil filler hole.

NOW you can simply fill it to the recommended level and just be sure
to check it occasionally while mowing as it will bubble out.

Happy mowing

 

[LouieJunior]

Forgive me but its late- the top plug should have a
dip stick and it should show this in the manual.

I can forward more manuals if you are still having issues with their packaged manual.

Thank you for all of your helpful answers!

I will locate the dip stick today when I get everything unpacked and inspect the gearbox. The manual says to "fill the gearbox with oil HD 80 W 90" -- but I do see a dip stick in the parts diagram further back.

 

[powerline]

Anyone have any experience with the John Deere 360 flail..look like it is a 5 footer and Quick hitch compatible. Made in Mexico it seems.