Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[leonz]

The majority of us use 2 inches in cutting height which is the first hole.

You need to use the john deere mounting straps and hangers otherwise
your going to have problems as this flail mower rotor is designed to
use the mounting straps for the knife hanger D rings.

I want you to succeed not fail my friend.

You are a member of the flailmower nation and
an owner with the best type of all purpose grass
and brush mower in the world.

All you need to do for now put down a good tarp, drain the gearbox, flip the mower over,
use an air chisel to break the nuts and flip the knives over to the opposite side and then
replace the nuts and bolts after you flip the knive pairs over to the good edge.

I am not trying to spend your hard earned money.

If you use a smoke wrench you will need to replace the mounting straps
as the heat will weaken them.

Saying that, having all new hardware and a new knife set will last many many years.

 

[Kodiak45]

The majority of us use 2 inches in cutting height which is the first hole.

You need to use the john deere mounting straps and hangers otherwise
your going to have problems as this flail mower rotor is designed to
use the mounting straps for the knife hanger D rings.

I want you to succeed not fail my friend.

You are a member of the flailmower nation and
an owner with the best type of all purpose grass
and brush mower in the world.

All you need to do for now put down a good tarp, drain the gearbox, flip the mower over,
use an air chisel to break the nuts and flip the knives over to the opposite side and then
replace the nuts and bolts after you flip the knive pairs over to the good edge.

I am not trying to spend your hard earned money.

If you use a smoke wrench you will need to replace the mounting straps
as the heat will weaken them.

Saying that, having all new hardware and a new knife set will last many many years.

That is why I asked, so I don't have to learn the hard way by trying something! You are absolutely correct on the torch heat weakening the straps, as that would be tough to avoid. I am pretty sure I have an air chisel in a kit I bought, but I've never used it. I didn't realize that an air chisel would bust through a bolt/nut. I'll have to give it a shot. That would be much better than using a grinder/cutting wheel as I have been lucky for many years without being hurt by one and being ignorant on the dangers, but after I saw some horrific stories, I tend to shy away from using them unless absolutely necessary.
So the other side of the blades can be used without needing to sharpen them? I didn't realize that style blade was reversible.

 

[leonz]

Yes, you can use the other side of the side slicer knife.

All the side slicer knives stamped and ground today can be
flipped over to use the other edge.

Sadly, these excellent side slicer blades are no longer produced.
I am working on that though.

 

[hunt4570]

So, if you were to cut the clevis, or the bolt.. couldn't you just use a set of bolt cutters? I would think this would be the easy way to do it.As long as you intended to replace clevis'/bolts anyway.

 

[Kodiak45]

I don't think I can get to the bolt with cutters, but if I were going to cut the clevis, that would definitely be the preferred method. From what Leonz said, I should keep the factory clevis and replace the bolts in order for it to work as intended.

 

[leonz]

I don't think I can get to the bolt with cutters, but if I were going to cut the clevis, that would definitely be the preferred method. From what Leonz said, I should keep the factory clevis and replace the bolts in order for it to work as intended.

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Hello mgraham112,

The clevis(knife hanger) is actually a D ring that rides inside the strap for the knife hanger.
if you can break the nuts and bolts off with the chisel.

Saying that, it may be less aggravating to use a nut splitter or 2 of them with 1/2" drive
hand ratchets if you have bait like pizza and beer for a helper.

The reason I suggested rolling it over after you emptied gear box is to eliminate issues
with rust particles in the eyes(been there done that).

 

[KenB2920]

around 3mph.

Well depending on the height of grass and how wet it was, that could be too fast. When I cut taller stuff I don't go faster than 2-2.5mph. That's tall weeds.

If it is thick grass that has any height to it. 8"+ then slower speeds have to be taken.

I don't know the cause of it but I smoke the belt on my ford .....

As for my mott, regardless of HP it can only cut so much at a time.

Think of a grown man vs a baby. Small tractor vs big tractor. A grown man has a huge appetite but can still only fit so much food in his mouth at a time.

 

[Blade Breaker]

Hi,

I am currently using a rotary mower and a side disc mower to mow road ditches and waterways. I get all I can with the rear mower then switch to the disc mower to reach up the ditches in the steep parts. I have been looking for something that would mow behind the tractor like the rotary but also extend out and reach up and down the steep areas so I don't have to keep switching mowers. I found this and it looks like it would work for me. Anyone have any experience with this?


Diamond rear swing flail

Rear Swing Flail Mowers – Diamond Mowers

I did see the highway dept. Mowing with one of these today. The cut quality looked great and he was moving along pretty fast. Doesn't sound like anyone here has owned one so still not so sure about the durability but it says something to see it in service. Leaning towards trying one.

 

[leonz]

I did see the highway dept. Mowing with one of these today.
The cut quality looked great and he was moving along pretty fast.
Doesn't sound like anyone here has owned one so still not so sure
about the durability but it says something to see it in service.
Leaning towards trying one.

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

Good evening Blade Breaker,

My flailmower is 35 years old, many ot the flail mower owners here on
the forum have units that are much older.

There are many good used flailmowers available on tractor house
and you may wih to go that route as they are not units used by
municipalities and were trade ins or being sold on consignment.


It all depends on whether you want new or used, how much time you have to mow,
the power your tractor has at the PTO AND whether it is has a hydrostatic transmission
which will rob power if it is much below 30 horse power.

The major issue is what kind of finish do you want and whether or not you will be using it
for heavy brush also which will dictate whether you want a mower with either the scoop knives
that cannot recut clippings to shred them finer, or side slicers which are an excellent dual purpose knive.






.

 

[Blade Breaker]

Thanks for the note but I am looking at the swing flail mower from diamond. The ability to mow behind the tractor and then swing out like a disc mower is what I am looking for. Only this one and another brand that was mentioned earlier can do this that I have found. The diamond looks much heavier duty than the others which are smaller. Diamond offers smooth and rough knives. Smooth would work for long and short grass and leave a nice finish.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with a swing flail mower from diamond? Sounds more like a commercial grade unit which is what I want. Not buying used just was mentioning that I seen the highway dept using one and it looked good.
Thanks

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

Good evening Blade Breaker,

My flailmower is 35 years old, many ot the flail mower owners here on
the forum have units that are much older.

There are many good used flailmowers available on tractor house
and you may wih to go that route as they are not units used by
municipalities and were trade ins or being sold on consignment.


It all depends on whether you want new or used, how much time you have to mow,
the power your tractor has at the PTO AND whether it is has a hydrostatic transmission
which will rob power if it is much below 30 horse power.

The major issue is what kind of finish do you want and whether or not you will be using it
for heavy brush also which will dictate whether you want a mower with either the scoop knives
that cannot recut clippings to shred them finer, or side slicers which are an excellent dual purpose knive.






.