Caroni Flail Belt Failure

[IslandTractor]

IT, I agree with all your points. It was way too early for normal belt failure.
I would like to ask all the Caroni flail users to check for heat on the belt cover and post the users findings. I mentioned mine was hot to the touch right from the get go. I have a temp probe I'll use when I get back up and running.

My cover gets "warm". Not hot in the sense that I can leave my hand it it comfortably but it clearly warms up during use.

 

[IslandTractor]

I had thot that the Caroni flail drum turned the same direction as the tractor tires. Is yours a counterrotating flail? The positioning of the tensioner on the rearward side of the belts seems to indicate so.
larry

I have not specifically checked but I think it may be counterrotating. If you look at the two pictures below you'll see that an old rusy angle iron was pulled out of the ground and wrapped around the mower. It looks to me like it must have been counterrotating in order to wrap in this direction.

Just in case you are wondering, there was no damage to the mower and I just needed to unwrap the angle iron to get mowing again.

 

[sunspot]

My cover gets "warm". Not hot in the sense that I can leave my hand it it comfortably but it clearly warms up during use.

Mine was at a point that after a count of five, it was very uncomforting. I'm not sure if we both mean the same thing. I'm going to give a WAG at 120 degrees.

 

[Foozle]

Mine was at a point that after a count of five, it was very uncomforting. I'm not sure if we both mean the same thing. I'm going to give a WAG at 120 degrees.

I'll check again, but I believe mine is too hot to leave my hands on it for very long. Everyone's tolerance is different so a temp probe is probably the best way to tell objectively.

 

[IslandTractor]

Mine was at a point that after a count of five, it was very uncomforting. I'm not sure if we both mean the same thing. I'm going to give a WAG at 120 degrees.

I cannot recall how long I had my hand on the cover I just know the experience did not cause me to yowl or leave blisters. Maybe this is the excuse to get one of those $40 laser guided infrared remote temp devices from HF. I've always wanted one but could never justify it. Now I can say it is for preventive maintenance!

 

[sunspot]

Maybe this is the excuse to get one of those $40 laser guided infrared remote temp devices from HF

Now you have me thinking. I have an indoor/outdoor remote temp gauge. I can put the remote unit on the housing for about ten minutes and get a reading.

Or I have the same excuse for buying a new tool

 

[SPYDERLK]

Now you have me thinking. I have an indoor/outdoor remote temp gauge. I can put the remote unit on the housing for about ten minutes and get a reading.

Or I have the same excuse for buying a new tool

An excuse to use the tool, but it will be a result of academic value only. The issue is that if the housing is warming to the point that it is hot to a mans hand its either a hot day in the sun or there is a lot of power being wasted as heat by the belts. It could be that the belts arent reasonably length matched or just arent tight enuf, or it could be poorly matched pulleys. If the pulleys are not well matched the belts will fight each other. Leave the cover open a little while and watch the belts run while someone cycles the tractor throttle. Chances are youll see the problem.
larry

 

[IslandTractor]

An excuse to use the tool, but it will be a result of academic value only. The issue is that if the housing is warming to the point that it is hot to a mans hand its either a hot day in the sun or there is a lot of power being wasted as heat by the belts.

You are correct but I had ordered one from Amazon anyways. Never hesitate when you have an excuse to buy a new tool...the justification could evaporate at any time.

 

[Eagleview]

sunspot , i remember when you first mentioned your loose belts and i said to check the idler pulley for binding to make sure the spring was able to keep the idler tight . Did you check this ? To others who bought flails with Y knives and are having issues with them , this is why i said cast P hammers would be the best choice for your intended aplications . I think you can ad a straight blade to the center of the Y blades to mow a little neater .

 

[davitk]

Also, as mentioned before, I'm getting this groove pattern in the grass when finish mowing.

If you mow straight back/forth, the grooving looks great, IMO. Bit if you really want to clean things up, nothing is going to match a rotary finish mower.