Flail Mower -Any help with this Problem?

[JackMentink]

I recently bought a flail mower that when I got it home and put all the blades on, and I spun it up to speed, I realized the blades hit the bonnet under the mower. In looking at it I realized the blades are factory blades, so they should not be the problem. I'm thinking it is either the bearings are bad or the cutter shaft is bent.

I took enough of the blades off to where I can spin it, and most of the ones hitting are near the middle and the pulley end. I watched the cutter shaft and it does not apear to woble when it goes around.

I also took and tried to move the ends of the shaft to check the bearings and they don't really wiggle or move.

I am at a loss, any body have any ideas? The unit is a 88" heavy duty Alamo flail with brush blades.

 

[tallyho8]

The holes in the blades, links or holders could be worn and enlarged giving it enough slack to hit.

The bearing on the pulley side could be worn and you don't feel slack because the belt is holding it tightly upward/ You must remove the belt to wiggle the shaft to see if there is any slack in the bearing.

 

[Craig Clayton]

Dear Sir
I sent you a lengthly suggestion but when I posted cyberspace ate it, Happy trails said the exact same thought process.
Craig Clayton

 

[JackMentink]

The holes in the blades, links or holders could be worn and enlarged giving it enough slack to hit.

The bearing on the pulley side could be worn and you don't feel slack because the belt is holding it tightly upward/ You must remove the belt to wiggle the shaft to see if there is any slack in the bearing.

have you guys ever had a flail where the bearings went bad and it caused the blades to hit the bonnet ?



Jack

 

[stravis]

Last year I lost a rotor bearing all together. The shaft was still in place and before I noticed it was gone I turned it on. Even with that much play in the rotor, the knives didn't hit the bonnet. I don't know about Alamo, but for my John Deere 25a flail, JD sells several different types of knives. Some of them might not fit my unit. Point being, yours might be factory knives, but are they the correct factory knives?

The only other thing I can come up with is, is your bonnet bent toward the rotor shaft at all? It doesn't take much to bend that sheet metal. If that turns out to be the case, it could be as simple as bending it back out.