Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[CCWKen]

View attachment 430308

Is this belt ok? It's what's on my Mott. Id like to have a backup in case the current one breaks. This is what's currently on it. More photos to come but I can only send one photo per post from my phone for some reason

It only has one belt? I wouldn't use a cog belt unless it has cog pulleys. The cross section is smaller and you may need all the strength you can get.

My old 72" Barracuda uses three belts. But it does overdrive to something close to 2.5 x PTO.

 

[leonz]

As long as the belt is the proper size for the pulleys and the length it will last until it breaks.
after that you can buy the standard Kevlar V belts.
this type of tooth belt has a high strength for normal use as a true cog drive belt has wide toothed pulleys..

 

[GManBart]

Well, I assembled the new Phoenix/Sicma 87" in the trailer and unloaded it today. Got it mounted to the tractor, and was lucky enough that without even cutting the PTO shaft, had 3" of clearance, so it should be good. I only mowed with it for less than an hour, but I can't imagine going back to a rotary cutter at this point. I left a few areas untouched today, and I'm going to get my wife to make a short video while I go through the tall grass/weeds. You can take it right down until the blades leave lines in the dirt....wow.

It's definitely not too much for the tractor to handle power wise, or weight wise, but if it were much heavier I'd probably want to add some front counterweight...not much, maybe 1-200lbs.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Bart, that Sicma/Phoenix looks great! Are you using it on the Massey 241?

Looking forward to the video.

Now you've got the gears turning in my head, and I'm wondering if the same model would be too much for my DK50SE. It has about the same gross HP as your Massey, but about 38 PTO HP (which is less than yours). It runs my 6' Rhino 172 rotary cutter easily.

 

[KenB2920]

Ok, so I'm gonna need s new belt on the mott

 

[GManBart]

Bart, that Sicma/Phoenix looks great! Are you using it on the Massey 241?

Looking forward to the video.

Now you've got the gears turning in my head, and I'm wondering if the same model would be too much for my DK50SE. It has about the same gross HP as your Massey, but about 38 PTO HP (which is less than yours). It runs my 6' Rhino 172 rotary cutter easily.

Thanks...I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Yep, I'm running it with the 241. I'm guessing you could run it with 38hp PTO but you might have to go a touch slower in heavier stuff. In weeds/grass I almost wasn't sure it was working until I looked behind me....right down to the ground. It certainly didn't seem to put much strain on the engine.

I could never get a cut anywhere near as low and even with my Rhino SE6...often took multiple passes when the grass was long, and it only got worse if it was damp.

 

[GManBart]

Here's the first video with the Sicma/Phoenix TE220 (87" cut). I think I need to adjust the roller height a little bit, but as you can see, it has no problem going through weeds a couple of feet tall.




The quality might be better here:

https://youtu.be/4h6uBp8X-Ts

 

[leonz]

[video][/video]

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I love it when a plan comes together, welcome to the Flail Mower Nations Gman Bart.

All you need now is a wet well grinder and your knives will last you a very long time like mine.


Leon

 

[GManBart]

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I love it when a plan comes together, welcome to the flail mower nations Gman Bart.

All you need now is a wet well grinder and your knives will last you a very long time like mine.


Leon

Thanks! I was very happy with how well it handled the tall stuff. I don't normally let it get that long, so I'll be able to go quite a bit faster in the future.

 

[KenB2920]

Here's the first video with the Sicma/Phoenix TE220 (87" cut). I think I need to adjust the roller height a little bit, but as you can see, it has no problem going through weeds a couple of feet tall. http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/...6-0495-45D4-9FE2-EA8897BC9D05_zpsjpt4fpe3.mp4 The quality might be better here: https://youtu.be/4h6uBp8X-Ts

Cool video.... My new knives come tomorrow for my ford and I should get a new belt for my mott this week. I'll try and throw a video up as well.

Your speed in this video didn't seem to be all that bad to me.

 

[IslandTractor]

Here's the first video with the Sicma/Phoenix TE220 (87" cut). I think I need to adjust the roller height a little bit, but as you can see, it has no problem going through weeds a couple of feet tall.




The quality might be better here:

https://youtu.be/4h6uBp8X-Ts

Nice mower. I see from the photos you posted that you elected to set up the mower to be midline. After you use it for a while you might reconsider that. One efficiency issue with mowing is not overlapping too little or too much. I find with my Caroni mounted midline that I essentially have to guess where to put the front tire to get a minimal but adequate overlap. However, with my mower offset, I know that putting the left front tire exactly at the border of previously cut and uncut grass, I will get a few inches overlap and my offset right mower will take the biggest possible "bite" out of the unmown area. This works best when mowing in squares or circles rather than back and forth obviously as it isn't that easy to judge exactly where to put the right front tire on the return trip. I've sometimes thought I should make up a guide wire or something for the right side but as I generally mow in big continuous loops I just always turn right.

 

[IslandTractor]

Here's the first video with the Sicma/Phoenix TE220 (87" cut). I think I need to adjust the roller height a little bit, but as you can see, it has no problem going through weeds a couple of feet tall.




The quality might be better here:

https://youtu.be/4h6uBp8X-Ts

Nice mower. I see from the photos you posted that you elected to set up the mower to be midline. After you use it for a while you might reconsider that. One efficiency issue with mowing is not overlapping too little or too much. I find with my Caroni mounted midline that I essentially have to guess where to put the front tire to get a minimal but adequate overlap. However, with my mower offset, I know that putting the left front tire exactly at the border of previously cut and uncut grass, I will get a few inches overlap and my offset right mower will take the biggest possible "bite" out of the unmown area. This works best when mowing in squares or circles rather than back and forth obviously as it isn't that easy to judge exactly where to put the right front tire on the return trip. I've sometimes thought I should make up a guide wire or something for the right side but as I generally mow in big continuous loops I just always turn right.

 

[GManBart]

Nice mower. I see from the photos you posted that you elected to set up the mower to be midline. After you use it for a while you might reconsider that. One efficiency issue with mowing is not overlapping too little or too much. I find with my Caroni mounted midline that I essentially have to guess where to put the front tire to get a minimal but adequate overlap. However, with my mower offset, I know that putting the left front tire exactly at the border of previously cut and uncut grass, I will get a few inches overlap and my offset right mower will take the biggest possible "bite" out of the unmown area. This works best when mowing in squares or circles rather than back and forth obviously as it isn't that easy to judge exactly where to put the right front tire on the return trip. I've sometimes thought I should make up a guide wire or something for the right side but as I generally mow in big continuous loops I just always turn right.

Yeah, I was thinking along those lines when I set it up, but figured I'd give it a try midline to start....easy enough to change. I was mostly eager to try it out and knew it would work that way

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I was hoping the video would keep going so we could see you run over that tree and chop it up with the new flail.

 

[GManBart]

I was hoping the video would keep going so we could see you run over that tree and chop it up with the new flail.

LOL....that's why I was giving my wife the "cut" sign to stop recording

 

[KenB2920]

New blades!!!!

 

[KenB2920]

 

[KenB2920]

 

[smilinjak]

Mister Island tractor I just found this thread so started at the beginning. I saw that you posted in 2008 , some 7 years ago. Do you still have the same mower you had then? if so what, if any problems have you run into? I am considering a Caroni 16oo B. I have a lot of trees to go around and many of them are close together so want the more compact width. Would you buy a caroni again?
Smilinjak

 

[IslandTractor]

Mister Island tractor I just found this thread so started at the beginning. I saw that you posted in 2008 , some 7 years ago. Do you still have the same mower you had then? if so what, if any problems have you run into? I am considering a Caroni 16oo B. I have a lot of trees to go around and many of them are close together so want the more compact width. Would you buy a caroni again? Smilinjak

Yep. I have the same Caroni 1900. Yes, I'd buy it again.

Problems: 1) First set of belts lasted only a couple seasons. Second Kevlar set (Gates) is still fine. 2) clevises that hold the blades break pretty easily. There are discussions in this thread about using modified Flailmaster clevises which last a lot longer. 3) gearbox burps oil through the vent cap but other than the mess that is not a big deal.

Just make sure you keep the bearings greased and be prepared to replace a few blades each season and the Caroni will serve you well. Not as maintenance free as a bush hog but you get a much nicer cut and it is far safer to use around people and dwellings.