Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Gypsyman]

Could you maybe explain what happened to the rear roller and what failed?

 

[leonz]

A couple of questions about belts on my Caroni TM1900 72” flail:

What should the belt tension be? I am looking at buying the Gates tension gauge but the Caroni’s manual doesn’t specify.

Where do you shop for same lot or ‘matched’ belts?

Thanks

Hello Jethro,

When we refer to the belt tension it is the amount of flex that is allowed and created after the adjustment of the V belt.

Please invest in the Gates V belt tension gauge as it will give you the correct tension required to transmit the amount
of torque needed to spin the flail mower rotor to 2,200 RPM+-.

Now about V belts, you can easily obtain the matched set of V belts if you insist that they have the same lot number that is melted or painted on the belts carcass, otherwise DO NOT buy them if they have different lot numbers!!!!!
The V belt with the different lot number will wear and stretch differently and that is one thing you do not want because the tighter V belt will be under greater stress from use.

 

[leonz]

I have a flail mower question, but first the details.

I have had a woodmaxx flail mower for about 4 years now and it has been great. About 2 years ago, the roller came off and I got it repaired, no big deal. A month ago it came off again, but this time I know what I did to cause it, so lesson learned.

I repair it again. This time it came off 1.5 days later. I couldn’t wait, so I just cut without the roller on and it cut fine.

I have a hydraulic top link on my tractor.

Do I even need to use the roller?

The most important thing is to keep the flail mower level from front to back by using a small bubble level and lock the lower link draft control to maintain the cutting height.
You have to decide whether you like how the mowing job looks without the roller and whether you want a striped lawn.

 

[TractorTYMe]

My Betstco FH-AGL165 ditch bank mower had both cylinders fail after 60h use. Took it to a local hydraulic shop, they diagnosed it as piston was install backwards from factory......wearing out seals prematurely. $861 it got honed, piston assembled correctly and countersunk port holes.

 

[John_Mc]

Now about V belts, you can easily obtain the matched set of V belts if you insist that they have the same lot number that is melted or painted on the belts carcass, otherwise DO NOT buy them if they have different lot numbers!!!!!
The V belt with the different lot number will wear and stretch differently and that is one thing you do not want because the tighter V belt will be under greater stress from use

Good luck. You can insist all you want, but if you are trying to buy matched, same lot number belts from many retailers around here, you'll either get a blank look, or be told "they don't sell them that way any more", or hear that "what we have is what you see on the shelf."

 

[LouNY]

That is one reason that I prefer to go with banded belts

 

[John_Mc]

That is one reason that I prefer to go with banded belts

I agree. If you can find them in your size and they fit your pulleys, they are the way to go.

 

[leonz]

Good luck. You can insist all you want, but if you are trying to buy matched, same lot number belts from many retailers around here, you'll either get a blank look, or be told "they don't sell them that way any more", or hear that "what we have is what you see on the shelf."

Hello John_Mc:,

If the person behind the parts counter does not know what and why
a V belt has a lot number on it the counterperson needs to be educated
as to why V belts have lot numbers and will continue to have lot numbers
as lot numbers are used as a quality control method.

They are either lying or do not know what they are talking about; and I am
going to assume the later explanation being they have no idea what they
are talking about-because V belts have had lot numbers burned into the
carcass for decades.

Lot numbers refer to the rubber batch that was created and molded over
the woven nylon and kevlar webbing IN THAT BATCH that was wound
together to create the inner core of the V belt before the rubber was poured
around it so it can be traced back to the spools of kevlar or nylon thread as well.

If their attitude is EHHHHH; so what, go to a Gates or Goodyear distributor
for V belts.

 

[leonz]

My Betstco FH-AGL165 ditch bank mower had both cylinders fail after 60h use. Took it to a local hydraulic shop, they diagnosed it as piston was install backwards from factory......wearing out seals prematurely. $861 it got honed, piston assembled correctly and countersunk port holes.

One more reason to buy Maschio or Del Morino Ditch bank flail mowers.

 

[Macinnis]

Could you maybe explain what happened to the rear roller and what failed?

I *think* the edge of the mower was being pulled to tough to one side of the other. I have a lot of en even ground, mostly terraces.

I initially thought I was losing the roller due to turning to tight and or the terrace issue was catching a side. Again, hydronic top link, so it’s not going to give like it should. This is kinda the entire question…hydronic top link and the need for a roller.

Thanks!!!