Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[JWR]

I was able to learn some information on the mower today. I reached the regional distributor who was very helpful. He directed me to the local parts dealer, who was able to provide me with a PDF manual and give me an idea about parts availability and ball park costs. He also checked what the price for a new unit would be- approximately $12K.

Apparently, though it is an older unit, the SMO 200 is a current model. The working width is 79" and it weighs around 1,300 lbs. It sounds like my L48 might be a little light, though the horsepower is in the range (40-85), it is at the lower side of the range.

I am a little concerned about the overall weight. Kubota's specs on the weight are a little confusing the way the max weight on the end of the 3 point hitch arms is 3,748 lbs, but the max implement weight is 880 lbs. I guess I do not understand why there is such a huge disparity between the two spec numbers.

Anyhow, I am going to go look at the machine tomorrow morning, with my trailer. He will have the mower on his tractor to demo it for me, so I should be able to get a better feel for what the required capability might be. If there are any words of wisdom to share, I would be interested in hearing them.

Thanks again everyone for the input,
Doug

I think you are on a good track -- looking at it carefully, in person, see it demo'd, you will know plenty by the time you buy or don't buy. With everything said so far I'd say you CAN use this flail mower OK. Not a real robust tractor for the mower BUT it may still be very useful as a combo. My impression is you handle enough equipment that you can buy this SMO, try it out for a while, see if it is a keeper for you, and if not you are not out a whole lot by reselling it. Not likely to get hurt a lot. So... I say go for it. [Based of course on what you see first hand and the demo.]

 

[Doug Vee]

Are you going to be using the mower/tractor and different locations? If you are using it primarily in one location I wouldn't be too concerned about the weight. 95% of the time it will be setting on the ground being dragged by the tractor.

D2,

Good point. I will be using it in one location, maybe it isn't too big of a deal.

Thank you,
Doug

 

[Doug Vee]

I think you are on a good track -- looking at it carefully, in person, see it demo'd, you will know plenty by the time you buy or don't buy. With everything said so far I'd say you CAN use this flail mower OK. Not a real robust tractor for the mower BUT it may still be very useful as a combo. My impression is you handle enough equipment that you can buy this SMO, try it out for a while, see if it is a keeper for you, and if not you are not out a whole lot by reselling it. Not likely to get hurt a lot. So... I say go for it. [Based of course on what you see first hand and the demo.]

That is what I am thinking too. Before I put much money into it, see if the combination is happy. If it is, then great, maybe fix it up a bit. If not, then peddle it.

Thanks again,
Doug

 

[blitzen]

Hi Doug, if you don't mind can you say what they are asking for the SMO 200? TIA--Dave

 

[leonz]

Hi I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I have a Seppi offset orchard mulcher that takes the SMW hammers and am looking to replace them and the bolts and nuts that hold them in place. I have bought from flail Master in the past but they are out of business and was hoping that someone had a place they were getting hammers from. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Please send an e-mail to Seppi in Ohio with pictures to identify
the flail shredder you have before you go any further as your flail
shredder requires the cast hammers.


www.seppi.com

 

[Doug Vee]

Hi Doug, if you don't mind can you say what they are asking for the SMO 200? TIA--Dave

Blitz,

Sorry it took a while to get back to you. I went to pick up the mower. I paid $0.38 per pound for it. Actually, I paid $500 for it and it weighs about 1,300 lbs. Pretty much salvage cost.

The gearbox sounded fine while running, everything turned nicely, except the rear roller. It will require new bearings. One hammer was missing, so it vibrated somewhat. For what I paid for it, I think I have a lot of room to make it a good implement for a pretty reasonable price.

Besides the roller bearings, the next item coming will be remote hydraulics to operate the side shift. I will utilize the backhoe supply/return plumbing to supply control valves. I would like to have a least two circuits, maybe 3. I have seen one pretty nice set up on youTube where he set up the control valves to be easily removable for when the backhoe is installed. Just disconnect the hoses from between the backhoe plumbing and the valves, then lift valves off of the mounting point with the short hoses.

Anyhow, thank you all for the input.
Doug

 

[Molalla1]

Blitz,

Sorry it took a while to get back to you. I went to pick up the mower. I paid $0.38 per pound for it. Actually, I paid $500 for it and it weighs about 1,300 lbs. Pretty much salvage cost.

The gearbox sounded fine while running, everything turned nicely, except the rear roller. It will require new bearings. One hammer was missing, so it vibrated somewhat. For what I paid for it, I think I have a lot of room to make it a good implement for a pretty reasonable price.

Besides the roller bearings, the next item coming will be remote hydraulics to operate the side shift. I will utilize the backhoe supply/return plumbing to supply control valves. I would like to have a least two circuits, maybe 3. I have seen one pretty nice set up on youTube where he set up the control valves to be easily removable for when the backhoe is installed. Just disconnect the hoses from between the backhoe plumbing and the valves, then lift valves off of the mounting point with the short hoses.

Anyhow, thank you all for the input.
Doug

Doug, I'm sure you did just fine . . .

 

[blitzen]

Please send an e-mail to Seppi in Ohio with pictures to identify
the flail shredder you have before you go any further as your flail
shredder requires the cast hammers.


www.seppi.com

Thank you for your reply, I am in contact with Seppi, and they are getting me set up with what I need!

 

[Doug Vee]

I have the new to me Seppi SMO 200 mower in the shop now. I thought the first thing to do was drain the gearbox....simple thing to do right?

I think I found a drain plug, though it is not at the lowest point of the housing. So I got out the old suction gun, which apparently the suction gasket is so old it won't pull vacuum anymore.

Also not evident is a level plug. Oh, and the PDF manual I have does not include anything about the gearbox, except to make sure there is 80/90 weight in it before using.

Does anyone have experience with this gearbox? I have removed belt driven gear boxes from my John Deere belly motors to drain, so maybe that is how this box is meant to be drained? Gearbox images:

I am not sure, but this is maybe the drain plug?

Thanks again,
Doug

 

[leonz]

You need a 12 point box end wrench.

The oil seal looks to be damaged. I guess for now you could use corn picker grease.

The gearbox vent should be checked to make sure its open as it looks like it was walloped at some point.

 

[Doug Vee]

You need a 12 point box end wrench.

The oil seal looks to be damaged. I guess for now you could use corn picker grease.

The gearbox vent should be checked to make sure it’s open as it looks like it was walloped at some point.

I have plenty of 12 point box wrenches. You seem to imply removing a bolt to drain the gear lube. Are you suggesting removal of the bolt on the bottom of the housing?

During the demo, oil vented from the vent, I suppose indicating over full. I pulled the fill/vent plug, and it sure looked overfull to me. I assume roughly half full, or maybe a little over half full would be plenty of gear lube. I could use a piece of wire for a dipstick i guess.

Also, the plug was loose, and the gear lube was the color of butterscotch. I assume water ingress due to the loose plug. That is the main reason i want to change the gear lube ASAP.

Thanks for the input,
Doug

 

[Doug Vee]

I am starting another thread concerning my Seppi SMO 200. Check it out if you like.

Doug

 

[John0829]

I got my Mott 72" fine cut out to use and found one of the bearings in the roller had gone south. It is an older style with the bearings inside the roller that unfortunately Flail Masters is not carrying anymore. So now the search begins to find replacements, FAFNIR 1106KPPB Z. Yeah I will replace both sides to be safe. BUT the problem is the only ones I have been able to locate so far are priced at nearly $500 for two bearings that should be, IMHO, around $100 each and the spacer for the side with the bad bearing is $125 which is nothing but an extra thick washer.

At these prices I will have more in a hand full of parts than I paid for the whole thing. I may decide just to scrap it, if I cannot find better prices, since I have NEVER been happy with the cut. Here is a pic (before I put the belt shield back on) of it after I replaced the seals in the gear box, replaced the knives and painted it a while back.

 

[LouNY]

I got my Mott 72" fine cut out to use and found one of the bearings in the roller had gone south. It is an older style with the bearings inside the roller that unfortunately Flail Masters is not carrying anymore. So now the search begins to find replacements, FAFNIR 1106KPPB Z. Yeah I will replace both sides to be safe. BUT the problem is the only ones I have been able to locate so far are priced at nearly $500 for two bearings that should be, IMHO, around $100 each and the spacer for the side with the bad bearing is $125 which is nothing but an extra thick washer.

At these prices I will have more in a hand full of parts than I paid for the whole thing. I may decide just to scrap it, if I cannot find better prices, since I have NEVER been happy with the cut. Here is a pic (before I put the belt shield back on) of it after I replaced the seals in the gear box, replaced the knives and painted it a while back.
View attachment 862719

and here is $55

 

[lazaroo]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking for a bit of advice, any recommendations for a flail mover that would suit 35HP (CK3520SE)? I'm in Canada (Alberta specifically) and I'm having a hard time finding much - I was leaning towards a TMG Industrial 60” Flail Mower but having read a few threads on here about them it seems like a should stay clear.

I won't be using it a great deal, maybe once every 2 months, clean up around an orchard and then knocking down a wildflower meadow twice a season.

Thanks.

 

[John0829]

View attachment 862724

and here is $55
View attachment 862727

Thanks for the info. Google found the $174 bearing this afternoon when I had time to search, I like the price of the KRRB bearing much better. The dimensions appear to be identical but I have not been able to determine if it is lubed though the inner race same as the KPPB. Still researching...


Well after several hours I finally figured out the KRRB lubes though the outer race so while it will fit there will be no way to lubricate it. Makes no sense to me there is that much difference between the pricing simply because one lubes though the outer race and the other though the inner race.

 

[John0829]

Want to give a big to Carrie at Flail Master, she called me this morning to say she had located the bearings (10 actually) and at a better price point than I had found so far. She expects to have them in hand by weeks end and to me next week.

She went out of her way to help where many others would have said it was obsolete and dropped it. Highly recommend you check with them if you need parts.

 

[JethroB]

Want to give a big to Carrie at Flail Master, she called me this morning to say she had located the bearings (10 actually) and at a better price point than I had found so far. She expects to have them in hand by weeks end and to me next week.

She went out of her way to help where many others would have said it was obsolete and dropped it. Highly recommend you check with them if you need parts.

I too have had very good service from Flail Master. I believe too that it was Carrie that was so much help.

I replaced the rear roller bearings on my Caroni last year. I wound up getting the bearings from Agri Supply to ensure a proper fit. $104 each. Having no experience replacing bearings it was frustrating. Getting the old outer races out PITA. The freezer trick installing the new ones was great! They dropped right in.

 

[dieselscout80]

She has helped me multiple times too and always has great service.

 

[saxtonhill]

I too have had very good service from Flail Master. I believe too that it was Carrie that was so much help.

I replaced the rear roller bearings on my Caroni last year. I wound up getting the bearings from Agri Supply to ensure a proper fit. $104 each. Having no experience replacing bearings it was frustrating. Getting the old outer races out PITA. The freezer trick installing the new ones was great! They dropped right in.

Last year I also had to replace my Caroni roller bearings.i may have a big mistake which remains to be seen. I found a set of sealed bearings that fit perfectly that were only about $30 each. Fingers crossed.