Buying Used Flail Mower - Things to watch out for?

[BillP2]

Found a used Caroni TL1200FSC, allegedly used one season.

Questions:
1. In general, what should one look at when buying used flail?
2. Any comments specifically for the TL1200FSC?

Thanks in advance.

 

[leonz]

If its been abused the side slicer knives will see a lot of wear and tear and possibly broken knives.


1. ask why this finish flail mower is for sale
a. ask how fast they mow with it.
2. ask for the opportunity to run it or see it run when mowing
a. it should sound like a high end vacuum cleaner when mowing as it will be at a 2 inch cutting height
3. look at the skids to see what condition they are in
4. look at the knives to see how dull they are
a. ask to remove the V belt guard to examine the V belts on it-if the rubber flakes off in your hand it needs V belts
b. if the V belts are too tight you will not be able to push them NOT GOOD for V belts

NOW; if the flailmower knives are higher than 2 inches off the ground it will not mow well as the flail mower cannot create
the amount of pressure gradient needed(suction) to lift the clippings up and over the flail mower rotor and it will not cut all that well.

The imported V belts do not last as long as the Kevlar V belts
5. ask if the owner uses the correct PTO engine speed for the mower to run the flail mower at 540 RPM
6. check the oil level in the gearbox
7. ask if Agrisupply help them set it up to get it ready to mow
8. if the grease seals are blown in it from using too much grease the grease will be evident in the flail mowers interior housing as it will be stuck to the side weldments and the bearing housings

Parts are available, V belts and bearings are metric in true size and are generic-the key is the V belt quality of manufacture

If they have a slip clutch PTO shaft that may be the entire issue as the slip clutch will slip before the V belts will and the
V belts will not have burned in half if it was stalled while mowing.

 

[BillP2]

Leon, thanks for the detailed response about things to check.

Your response likely tells me that the "F" series rotor is not for me.

NOW; if the flailmower knives are higher than 2 inches off the ground it will not mow well as the flail mower cannot create the amount of pressure gradient needed(suction) to lift the clippings up and over the flail mower rotor and it will not cut all that well.

I want to good cut and mulching, and hopefully no clumps, from the flail versus a rotary, but I do want to cut in the 4-6 inch height, as this is in a field of perennial ryegrass.

Thanks for adding to my education on flails, and saving me from buying the wrong mower.