Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Jack Yuan]

Last week I somewhat reluctantly became a member of the "Smoked My Belts" club. I knew this task was going to tax my belts:


View attachment 476658

This area hasn't been mowed in 3+ years and has hundreds of albizia seedlings, which I need to kill. Before I realized there were so many, my plan was to just cut off and poison the stump.
I was able to get mowed up to the fence, down to the big dying albizia on the left.
But late in the day, I just wanted to do a bit more and about 30+ ft past the tree got into stuff about 6 ft tall and really thick. My technique had been to back over, flail raised, forward, repeat a bit lower. Well, I just bit too much. Squealing and smoking, it just wouldn't clear and I was too slow to disengage PTO. I probably should have quit half hour sooner. By the time I got back to the tractor shed it was still smoking, and not a pretty sight once I got the belt cover off. Off the 4 belts, only 1 might be recognized as a belt.

Ordered set of replacement belts from Betstco next day. Unable to determine what to get locally.

Joy at the PO this morning, belts arrived.
Got them installed, adjusted, shot some grease into the zerks and mowed a few hours . Regular mowing, not this project as it has been raining and needs to dry a bit. Really, really prefer tractor mowing to either the Craftsman or Scag. Probably because we really don't have lawn, but acres of mowed pasture.

Need to decipher the various codes on the belts to determine local replacement, maybe even those Kevlar ones Leonz speaks so highly:
Supposed to be metric and fit SPB pulley

CHAOYANG
GB/T1171/06
527 88091407

B 1016 Li
1059 LW

2015--04 (guessing this is manufacture date)


View attachment 476661

we factories normally choose Three-V brand belt (BX 17x1016 with teeth) which is proved working well on this mower. Normally, we don't choose this brand belt, it only save nearly 0.4USD per belt, but it is more easily to be burnt.

Another thing is, I don't suggest to use B version belt which is flat and not good for release heat on working belt, I always choose BX version belt which is with teeth.

 

[sodamo]

Thanks Jack

 

[Permaculturist]

Well, I pulled the trigger on a brand spankin' new Berti TA/S 220 with a spare set of belts and 5 replacement hammers ('P' hammers weighing in at 1.8kg each) with spare nuts & bolts this morning. I was going to take my 1985 M35A1 (deuce and a half) for a ride to pick it up, but they only want $125 to deliver it, and my fuel will cost me more than that. So.. I'll take lots of pictures when I get it, and roll some video when I get it set up and running. We're expecting rain for the next 4 days or so, which will be real fun to wait out when I have this new toy to play with.

Thanks for the help. This thread was very valuable in making my decision, even though I only got to page 249.:thumbsup:

 

[powerscol]

we factories normally choose Three-V brand belt (BX 17x1016 with teeth) which is proved working well on this mower. Normally, we don't choose this brand belt, it only save nearly 0.4USD per belt, but it is more easily to be burnt.

Another thing is, I don't suggest to use B version belt which is flat and not good for release heat on working belt, I always choose BX version belt which is with teeth.View attachment 477074

I first I thought you would not normally run a tooth belt on a smooth pulley, then got to thinking about the surface area - it should run cooler, or am I thinking wrong as usual? Just wondering.

 

[Jack Yuan]

I first I thought you would not normally run a tooth belt on a smooth pulley, then got to thinking about the surface area - it should run cooler, or ami I thinking wrong as usuall? Just wondering.

Yes you are thinking right, also this is the comparison result after I sold thousands flail mowers with flat surface belt and teeth surface belt. So now I only choose teeth belt.

Generally, there are many points about how to expand belt life.
1. The center line of upper pulley and lower pulley should always be parallel when working. Then this could keep the belt tension to be stable when working.
2. The pulley should be smooth and correct size as design, then belt will not rubbed by sharp pulley surface.
3. The upper pulley and lower pulley should be assembled vertically in line.
4. Often check out the bolts on power lock, it is easy to be loose because of the vibration when working. Also you should tighten bolts on power lock symmetrically. Otherwise it could make the pulley a little slant from the shaft center line.
5. Drill enough holes and correct position on pulley cover, to release the heat out when working.
6. Use better brand belt. Good brand belt has good quality, it can cover some fault of mower itself, but not all.
7. Belt life is also related to working condition, small power belt cannot do hard work job, so communicate more with who will sell you flail mower, choose correct mower.

It sounds unfair for customers, because customers cannot check out many points before he buy and see his mower.

 

[Greenland South]

The field is 24 acres. I know that because I drove around it with the GPS. I have about 6 acres left to do. The GPS said I did 26km and 9 hrs 45 min. A must is noise cancelling headphones and good tunes.
On Monday I had an imature Bald Eagle following along feasting on all the mice I was exposing.
I learned you should mow in such a way that you can stop and get a fresh beer on the way by. I did it in sections and spent a bit of non mowing time going back to the camp to get cold beers. I'll be smarter next year.
This was actually a fun way to spend some time.

 

[Steave]

The field is 24 acres. I know that because I drove around it with the GPS. I have about 6 acres left to do. The GPS said I did 26km and 9 hrs 45 min. A must is noise cancelling headphones and good tunes.
On Monday I had an imature Bald Eagle following along feasting on all the mice I was exposing.
I learned you should mow in such a way that you can stop and get a fresh beer on the way by. I did it in sections and spent a bit of non mowing time going back to the camp to get cold beers. I'll be smarter next year.
This was actually a fun way to spend some time.

The way you described it I can just picture your mowing experience. Sounds like a great way to spend a day. I often carry AC/DC, ZZ Top and even George Jones with me mowing and of course the beer isn't to far away.

I use Google measure for finding distances and acreage measurements. Get on maps, find your area, right click and follow instructions. Can be used on maps or satelite images. Pretty handy.

 

[Greenland South]

The way you described it I can just picture your mowing experience. Sounds like a great way to spend a day. I often carry AC/DC, ZZ Top and even George Jones with me mowing and of course the beer isn't to far away.

I use Google measure for finding distances and acreage measurements. Get on maps, find your area, right click and follow instructions. Can be used on maps or satelite images. Pretty handy.

Not great photos of the eagle, I took them through the windshield.

 

[Steave]

Thanks for the pix. Now when you crank your tractor you'll have a friend watching you hoping you'll stir up something for lunch. Maybe you'll get to see a good rabbit chase. We have plenty of hawks in the area but only a few eagles in the surrounding counties. With a lot of help they are making a comeback.

 

[gregharr55]

Hello guys. Long time lurker here. U guys have talked me into a caroni. My tm 1900 bcs should ship next week. Thanks for al the good info!!
Greg