Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[nova3930]

Well I broke it last night. The worn bearing housing gave up the ghost while I was cutting. Looks like the worn through area resulted in a stress concentration that fatigued. Decided to just go ahead and replace both housings and bearings. The RH housing was only $50 but the broken LH housing has been supplanted by a BushHog manufactured part and is double the price. At least I was able to cross reference and track down bearings for $14/each instead of the $50 NH wants.

View attachment 385573

 

[dieselscout80]

Well I broke it last night. The worn bearing housing gave up the ghost while I was cutting. Looks like the worn through area resulted in a stress concentration that fatigued. Decided to just go ahead and replace both housings and bearings. The RH housing was only $50 but the broken LH housing has been supplanted by a BushHog manufactured part and is double the price. At least I was able to cross reference and track down bearings for $14/each instead of the $50 NH wants.

View attachment 385573

What part number were the bearing you used?

 

[nova3930]

What part number were the bearing you used?

The part number NH gives you is 7501260 which corresponds to Tisco part # 47192.

Backtracking both of those they're listed as replacing 207KRR which is a Fafnir part # which can be cross referenced with Timken.

The Timken equivalent is a 88107, which is used as a wheel bearing in LOTs of cars and can be had for ~$20 at nearly any parts house.

I took it a step further and found the new Fafnir equivalent which is part number 207 Z17 SFA which is I happened to find on evilbay for $14, but otherwise seems impossible acquire. Although I think the Tisco part and the Fafnir part are actually the same part. Excepting the deal I found, the Timken seems to be the best bet...

Which BTW, Fafnir is owned by Timken so 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Not but like 3 companies that make bearings anymore.

What's interesting is that it appears they switched the spec to a sealed bearing somewhere along the way. I'm anxious to see whether the housings have grease fittings or not...

 

[LouieJunior]

I am ready to buy somebody's extra British Metrics cap retro-fit. Didn't leak any oil first several uses -- but now I notice it happening every use. PM me if you have one. Thanks!

 

[leonz]

OUCH!!!!

 

[nova3930]

Turns out the rh housing has been supplanted by the bushhog part too. its nearly triple the price at $140. I decided that for that price the old housing was fine until proven otherwise.

 

[airdaleusn]

Getting ready to do the flail thing, have always used a rotary but getting a little to old and slow to dodge debris, LOL. My tractor is a Mahindra 4035 PST with FEL. I'm down to two flails, the Phoenix 79 TE or the Caroni TM 1900 BSC. I've been cutting with a land pride 6' rotary mostly fields and brush up to 2". This is southwest Missouri which has rocks that have rocks, etc. etc. I would like some suggestions on blades etc. I've read the posts all 169 pages took three days lots of great information, Thanks, are these mowers capable of the above? Or am I flailing around. Sorry couldn't help myself LOL

 

[toddlangel]

I'm looking at an older Mott flail. Anyone recognize this machine? I'm told it is 6 1/2 feed wide with an offset mount. Thanks!

 

[toddlangel]

I'm looking at an older Mott flail. Anyone recognize this machine? I'm told it is 6 1/2 feed wide with an offset mount. Thanks!


View attachment 386335View attachment 386334

 

[airdaleusn]

what is the better mower, a ford 917 or a JD 370 and I have a tractor with 33HP pto. Will be cutting two to three foot overgrown fields and some brush 1 to 2 inches

 

[leonz]

Getting ready to do the flail thing, have always used a rotary but getting a little to old and slow to dodge debris, LOL. My tractor is a Mahindra 4035 PST with FEL. I'm down to two flails, the Phoenix 79 TE or the Caroni TM 1900 BSC. I've been cutting with a land pride 6' rotary mostly fields and brush up to 2". This is southwest Missouri which has rocks that have rocks, etc. etc. I would like some suggestions on blades etc. I've read the posts all 169 pages took three days lots of great information, Thanks, are these mowers capable of the above? Or am I flailing around. Sorry couldn't help myself LOL

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To help with your flailing around:

1. what is the quality of cut you want when you look over your shoulder????

2. The shackle mounted side slicers on the two row rotor are ment for heavy brush
and capable of mowing good sod very well if desired.

3. The side slicer knives on the Caroni are made from hardened steel. I sharpen my
side slicer knives with a wet well kitchen knive grinder from WEN.
This permits you to have a cool grind to prevent the loss of temper on the cutting edge.

I cannot help you with the Phoenix flail mower.

 

[leonz]

what is the better mower, a ford 917 or a JD 370 and I have a tractor with 33HP pto. Will be cutting two to three foot overgrown fields and some brush 1 to 2 inches

You should be asking us if your mule is big enought to handle the JD370 or the Ford 917 first!!!!!!

Yes size does matter!!!!!!

 

[nova3930]

After 2.5 hours and much profanity the mower is back in action. Fooling with bearings when I have no idea as to the location of my bearing puller is a excercise in frustration. Made worse by the fact that the bearing in the worn housing had rusted to the shaft. Finally just had to use a combination of the dremel and cold chisel to score and then break it off, piece by piece.

New housing was drilled and tapped for a grease fitting but I'm not sure why given that the bearings are sealed. Even the one I pulled off the undamaged side was a sealed unit.

 

[nova3930]

After 2.5 hours and much profanity the mower is back in action. Fooling with bearings when I have no idea as to the location of my bearing puller is a excercise in frustration. Made worse by the fact that the bearing in the worn housing had rusted to the shaft. Finally just had to use a combination of the dremel and cold chisel to score and then break it off, piece by piece.

New housing was drilled and tapped for a grease fitting but I'm not sure why given that the bearings are sealed. Even the one I pulled off the undamaged side was a sealed unit.

 

[airdaleusn]

I don't want to get involved in finish mowing a rough cut is fine. I usually don't get into anything over 2 inches in dia. My tractor is rated at 33hp at the pto. Interested in the flail mainly for the safety of use getting more jobs around buildings etc.

 

[leonz]

I don't want to get involved in finish mowing a rough cut is fine.
I usually don't get into anything over 2 inches in dia.

My tractor is rated at 33hp at the pto.

Interested in the flail mainly for the safety of use getting more
jobs around buildings etc.

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If you expect to keep the mule you have your going to have to use a four foot
flail mower with the two row flail mower rotor AND mow more often.

Technically if you have that heavy diameter of brush you would be using a forestry mower.

 

[airdaleusn]

Thanks for the info. I will have to keep looking

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

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If you expect to keep the mule you have your going to have to use a four foot
flail mower with the two row flail mower rotor AND mow more often.

Technically if you have that heavy diameter of brush you would be using a forestry mower.

Not my experience at all. I have a 6 ft 917 Ford flail with 3 rows of cutters. I use it with a 29 horse power kubota. It cuts very well even in knee high vegetation. I haven't cut very thick saplings maybe 1/2" max.

 

[airdaleusn]

Not my experience at all. I have a 6 ft 917 Ford flail with 3 rows of cutters. I use it with a 29 horse power kubota. It cuts very well even in knee high vegetation. I haven't cut very thick saplings maybe 1/2" max.

Thanks for the input, it's really appreciated. Still looking, figuring and looking more, not in any real hurry, but will eventually do something. If it's wrong then another flail mower will be on the market. LOL, I don't sweat the small stuff and everything is small.

 

[Jack Yuan]

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NOW:

Number 1.

IF the flailmower you purchase and use is operated properly and maintained
there is a very slight chance(one percent or less). impacts with garden hose snakes,
smooth electric fence wire and barbed wire are another experience many can
relate to in past experience.





When your tractors wheels are traveling forward (counter clockwise) the flail mower rotor(if you werre looking at it on the left side) as it is rotating IS clockwise.

Number 2.

Technically neither type; BECAUSE the flail mower if properly used is riding on the rear roller
with the flail mower hood close to the ground creating the suction needed to lift the clippings up
and over the flail mower rotor.

Most of the forward discharge flail mowers
(THAT ARE SIDE MOUNTED FOLDING OR BOOM TYPE FLAIL MOWERS)
have a higher front entry for the brush being mowed which allows the
material(potential junk object) impacted to be cast forward more effectively to
prevent the object from being discharged at traffic approaching from the rear.






Number 3.

The European safety standards for mowers of all types ARE much more stringent than
ours ever will be.

A non issue; BECAUSE most the European flail mowers used around pedestrians have the
folding/hinged debris shields in front in the narrow area where the grass enters to be sliced.

Most of these flail mowers that can be mounted in front or the rear have the debris shields
as standard equipment.

A rear mounted integral(three point hitch) mounted flail mower with the properly adjusted
top link will provide you with a very safe brush and grass mower AND you will have a very
low chance of throwing anything forward at the operator AS I explained previously because
the operators seat is above and forward of the flail mower.

Totally agree with Number 3, it seems that European standard is more strict than US in many products, for example, EU standard ask all the rotary parts need to covered, but US not.