Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Xfaxman]

So maybe this is wrong but....I lower the 3 point all the way so roller in on the ground. I don't lock the black knob in front of the seat at all but just set it so my implements drop slowly. Once the roller is on the ground, I lift the front of the mower using the top link cylinder until the skid fronts are about an inch or so up off the ground. In this manner I mow flat, hilly, ditches where possible and everything needing mowing and the mower just floats along over hill over dale. The grass looks very good afterwards, even the tallest Reed Canary grass I cut often.

thoner7, I don't see any "skid fronts" on your mower:

Dropbox - flails - Simplify your life

Here are some pictures. I have the roller on the highest setting. You can't see the bubble on the belt guard but, it's set to be level.

The problem is my property is quite hilly with abrupt changes in grade, so I scalp the ground all the time, and there's no way to really avoid doing that. I included some pictures of that too.

You guys must be mowing football fields

 

[Ricn]

I would think runners are necessary otherwise scalping can happen much more easily. I know if mine are flat, not tipped up about one inch, I get serious scalping when turning the tractor back around or even making wide turns like around trees etc...

 

[thoner7]

I don't see any "skid fronts" on thoner7's mower:

View attachment 665575

The bottom leading edge of the frame has some skid flanges built in. In the picture they are probably 2, maybe 3 inches off the ground. I've gone higher than others bc I'm always scalping and trying to minimize it.

 

[Xfaxman]

The bottom leading edge of the frame has some skid flanges built in. In the picture they are probably 2, maybe 3 inches off the ground. I've gone higher than others bc I'm always scalping and trying to minimize it.

I was comparing it to pictures of other brands that I have seen with skid flanges farther forward:

Maybe you could add something to make it work better.

 

[Ricn]

Ok, I see the skids now in the photo Xfaxman just posted. Is this your mower and if so, those skids should work if you let the mower float along meaning, do not lock the 3 point from going up and down freely. Keeping the nose off the ground is essential using the top link or scalping will happen on turns.

 

[thoner7]

Those shoes are quite substantial, mine are not that big. Mine is a Ford 917 if you care to look it up.

I do have a lock knob under my seat however, it's stuck and doesn't turn. I've never used it so maybe it's seized up or maybe I need to do something else to adjust it?

I've always let the mower float up and down while driving. I actually think letting it sink down may be part of my problem now.

 

[Ricn]

Humm, flail mowers are designed to carry their weight mostly on the back roller, not on the 3 point. In my experience, and having mowed with the mower just off the ground the cut is uneven resulting in a poor looking mow job. I have raised it on occasion when mowing some thick blackberries not knowing what was lurking in them, old steel, rocks etc...If your 3 point is in float, I don't see how the mower can sink like you mention as it is all the way down already and if the front is tilted up via the top link there should be no scalping because of that. Your top link looks to be a manual, not the cylinder type like I have so how can the mower sink down? If you have a top cylinder then perhaps the hydro fluid is leaking off? That will drop the mower for sure.

 

[ericm979]

The lowering speed knob isn't going to help. The 3pt is always in float- the cylinders just push it up, they don't keep it from being pushed up. If you lower the 3pt all the way and crank the lowering speed knob down, it will still move up and down with the terrain. You just won't be able to lower it again after you raise it.

 

[Fallon]

Humm, flail mowers are designed to carry their weight mostly on the back roller, not on the 3 point. In my experience, and having mowed with the mower just off the ground the cut is uneven resulting in a poor looking mow job. I have raised it on occasion when mowing some thick blackberries not knowing what was lurking in them, old steel, rocks etc...If your 3 point is in float, I don't see how the mower can sink like you mention as it is all the way down already and if the front is tilted up via the top link there should be no scalping because of that. Your top link looks to be a manual, not the cylinder type like I have so how can the mower sink down? If you have a top cylinder then perhaps the hydro fluid is leaking off? That will drop the mower for sure.

Half the weight goes on the roller, half on the 3pt lift arms.

I always mow with my hydraulic toplink in float. You can get the same results removing the toplink (hard to lift it off the ground when you are done though) or replacing the toplink with chain.

The mower will hinge on the lift arms as the tractor goes over bumps. It will still scalp at the top of small steep hills as the tractor has cleared them but the mower hasn't, but not to often. I manually lift the 3pt as I hit the top of stuff steep enough to be an issue. As the toplink doesnt do anything in this scenario I can easily adjust cut height with just the 3pt lever.

 

[Ricn]

For me, the speed knob, if adjusted correctly, keeps my implements from hitting hard on the ground, I like them to drop gently. Yes, the 3 point goes up and down as it should when mowing regardless of how tight or loose the because, the speed knob has doing to do with float once its all the way down. Some use chains instead on their top link but I have found chains do not stop scalping as the mowers front edge is not lifted up and off the ground and I hate using the 3 point up and down feature all the time, rather set things using the hydro top link that keeps my mower in its correct angle; put a cold one in the cup holder, light a cigar and just drive never looking back. I guess there are many ways to use a flail mower, what I am doing just works the best for me. Yesterday and this morning, I mowed 7 acres and it looks great now. My new neighbors, who don't have a tractor yet, are quit pleased.