Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[IslandTractor]

It's important when using bolt and nut to use a bolt that is barely big enough when the nut is on. Any threads outside the nut will be damaged and will make removing the nut a PITA.

 

[Steave]

It's important when using bolt and nut to use a bolt that is barely big enough when the nut is on. Any threads outside the nut will be damaged and will make removing the nut a PITA.

With the Nylock nut it wouldn't have but a tiny bit of Nylon doing the work with the short bolts but I guess they would still work. Mine are the interference threads and tight the whole length of the nut. I like using Nylock nuts on tractor implements. Had to purchase some 1" Nylock for a scrape blade, didn't like them so much then. $$$

I agree with the bolt just barely long enough.

 

[IslandTractor]

With the Nylock nut it wouldn't have but a tiny bit of Nylon doing the work with the short bolts but I guess they would still work. Mine are the interference threads and tight the whole length of the nut. I like using Nylock nuts on tractor implements. Had to purchase some 1" Nylock for a scrape blade, didn't like them so much then. $$$ I agree with the bolt just barely long enough.

When I say just barely long enough, to me that means the nylock is fully on the bolt but there isn't more than a thread or two sticking out.

 

[Ozarks Landowner]

Well I've been using my mower the last couple of days. The first couple of fields had been sprayed with roundup and were mostly dead or dying. Cut really well and looks to have covered my seed really well with a nice layer of mulch.

The last field of two acres would be the real test as it was a field of Sericia, Buckbrush, Lots of Passion Flower and some kinds of grass That had not been mowed for three years. There was even a few small saplings of persimmons and sassafras. This field had not been sprayed as it was too high to get sprayed good. When I spread seed with my 3-point spreader the Passion Fruit vines got wrapped up on the pto shaft really bad. I really thought I would have problems with the Passion Flower vines while mowing but did not have a single wrap up on the rotor.

I didn't get completely finished however as the pto shaft broke in half. Got it back to the shop and found that it had been broke before and welded back together. I will fix it in the morning and finish up the field. I did manage to get a very large Copperhead before it broke though.

I am trying to figure out how to put a video on here of it running a little.

 

[Ozarks Landowner]

Here is a video but for some reason the quality is not very good. I will try again tomorrow.

 

[PRCWI]

Are the heavy duty knives the same shape and size as the others and mount the same. I'm hoping to be at least a year away from needing new knives but not sure which way to go. My Mott 72 might not even accommodate other knives ?? Just trying to get a few ideas when I do have to replace them. Thanks. Oh yeah mine has the bolt and nut setup with the interference threads (not the Nylock) and so far so good. You have to loosen the nut with a wrench almost all the way off. That's easier than loosing them though.

Overall dimensions are the same except thickness, they are thicker and heavier so you need to buy a full set to transition to keep everything balanced, more expensive up front but I rarely lose teeth now.

 

[PRCWI]

It's important when using bolt and nut to use a bolt that is barely big enough when the nut is on. Any threads outside the nut will be damaged and will make removing the nut a PITA.

Mine have some threads exposed (a couple rounds) I've never had an issue.

 

[CADplans]

It's important when using bolt and nut to use a bolt that is barely big enough when the nut is on. Any threads outside the nut will be damaged and will make removing the nut a PITA.

Actually, difficulty removing the nut is a good thing,,, right? :laughing:

As far as the nylocks, or crimped nuts, they are supposed to be a one use, then throw away nut.
Second or third use will almost insure the nut will fall off.
New nuts are cheap, compared to lost blades,,,,, and flat tires!! :confused2:

 

[Steave]

Here is a video but for some reason the quality is not very good. I will try again tomorrow.

Thanks for the video I really like that pull behind flail. I'll be watching the CL and farmers bulletin to see if any pops up. You would think there's a few around since modern farming equipment mostly have built in or built on stalk choppers. I don't see any farmers pulling flail choppers anymore.

 

[Steave]

Overall dimensions are the same except thickness, they are thicker and heavier so you need to buy a full set to transition to keep everything balanced, more expensive up front but I rarely lose teeth now.

Thanks for the info. As I've mentioned before mine cuts well but I could see how the heavier knives would/should offer an advantage over the lighter ones. All the information and know how everybody has offered by next years cutting season it'll be Look Out Grass here comes Super Mott. unch: I might even paint the ole thing.