Ford 917 Flail Need Main Rotor!

[wirlybird]

Hi all,
Picked up a 917 Ford flail yesterday for a few hundred bucks. Overall in solid condition and the bearings all seem to be tight and everything rotates freely.
No for the not good! The main rotor is damaged. You can see in the pictures where someone tried to weld to hold it together but it is a little bent and likely not repairably.

So, what options? I'll start looking for a replacement drum.
Is this something a machine shop/welder can rebuild?

Also looking for an Owners Manual. So far my search has brought up Parts manuals only!
Thanks for any advice on this.

 

[dieselscout80]

How wide is your 917?

A place like Flail Master in TN may have one?

 

[wirlybird]

How wide is your 917?

A place like Flail Master in TN may have one?

This one is the 76 inch cut.

 

[DJ54]

You might try placing a "Want to buy" ad on TractorHouse: https://www.tractorhouse.com/ Look top right, when the page opens. You'll need to register, and leave contact info. Then, give a good description of what you're looking for. Brand, model number, size, and part number is a BIG help. If you don't have a parts manual for it, can probably look it up at New Holland Ag. New Holland

Normally, when I've posted there, I've gotten responses within an hour, to up to 3 days. And I believe they have a "Satisfaction Guarantee" clause, on their sellers. I've probably bought 8-10 different parts using that, and have been pleased with what I got.

 

[dieselscout80]

Where are you located at?

 

[wirlybird]

Where are you located at?

Tulsa Oklahoma area.

 

[leonz]

Check with the folks at Flailmaster or Messicks.
With that much damage on that flail mower I know for a fact it was abused.
I would ask for my money back before I even drained the gearbox and invest
in a NEW Vrisimo 6 foot flail mower with front gauge wheels OR purchase a rear
mounted flail mower at a municipal surplus auction.

 

[wirlybird]

Check with the folks at Flailmaster or Messicks.
With that much damage on that flail mower I know for a fact it was abused.
I would ask for my money back before I even drained the gearbox and invest
in a NEW Vrisimo 6 foot flail mower with front gauge wheels OR purchase a rear
mounted flail mower at a municipal surplus auction.

Sorry but you DON'T know "for a fact" it was abused. There is no other damage. The main body/frame is straight and only typical surface rust.
Rear roller, all bearings etc. are all good.
The damage to the rotor occurred when they hit a pipe that was low enough for the tractor to go over but it hit the rotor and bent it. Someone tried to weld it up it years ago.
We bought it knowing the rotor was bent. For what we paid we can part it out easily if needed.
We've located another one in far worse overall condition but runs and spins smoothly. We'll swap out the main rotor and go from there.
Thanks for the input.

 

[Sportsman762]

The part number is BU81622. It is discontinued by CNH. it was previously $1621. Buying the parts unit would most likely be the best option, assuming no other damage was done to the unit when it snapped. Catastrophic damage like what is on your unit had to have required some significant force. I would check it carefully to make sure nothing else got damaged prior to putting any more money in it.

 

[wirlybird]

The part number is BU81622. It is discontinued by CNH. it was previously $1621. Buying the parts unit would most likely be the best option, assuming no other damage was done to the unit when it snapped. Catastrophic damage like what is on your unit had to have required some significant force. I would check it carefully to make sure nothing else got damaged prior to putting any more money in it.

Thanks. I haven't found any other damage or indications of damage. Frame is in surprisingly good condition even just considering age. Aside from the surface rust it is solid and undented/damaged.
I've pulled the main rotor and the bearings and end plates all were in good shape. Bearings had grease and are not loose. Even the bolts were in decent shape and without much rust.
We'll see how it goes once we have the donor machine!

 

[leonz]

I hope you do not have trouble with it but with that much damage it was abused.

 

[wirlybird]

I hope you do not have trouble with it but with that much damage it was abused.

I hope so also. Will update on progress.

 

[ponytug]

Sorry but you DON'T know "for a fact" it was abused. There is no other damage. The main body/frame is straight and only typical surface rust.
Rear roller, all bearings etc. are all good.
The damage to the rotor occurred when they hit a pipe that was low enough for the tractor to go over but it hit the rotor and bent it. Someone tried to weld it up it years ago.
We bought it knowing the rotor was bent. For what we paid we can part it out easily if needed.
We've located another one in far worse overall condition but runs and spins smoothly. We'll swap out the main rotor and go from there.
Thanks for the input.

From the picture that you posted, it "looks" repairable by a good welder, but as you have donor machine, I don't know how cost effective it would be. It will depend on welding costs in your area. I might also ask the welder what they might charge to build a new rotor. That looks like it is just plate welded to an axle. Or buy a new rotor from someone else and have the welder fit it to yours.

Did you look at this older thread for ideas?

value leader EF155 flail mower rotor replacement.

the rotor pulley snapped on my EF155 flail mower. I contacted Betstco in Oregon , they can't supply a replacement, I would have to buy a new mower. I attempted to drill out the plug welds and remove the stub shaft from the rotor only to find that it is also welded around the inset face then...

www.tractorbynet.com

All the best,

Peter

 

[wirlybird]

From the picture that you posted, it "looks" repairable by a good welder, but as you have donor machine, I don't know how cost effective it would be. It will depend on welding costs in your area. I might also ask the welder what they might charge to build a new rotor. That looks like it is just plate welded to an axle. Or buy a new rotor from someone else and have the welder fit it to yours.

Did you look at this older thread for ideas?

value leader EF155 flail mower rotor replacement.

the rotor pulley snapped on my EF155 flail mower. I contacted Betstco in Oregon , they can't supply a replacement, I would have to buy a new mower. I attempted to drill out the plug welds and remove the stub shaft from the rotor only to find that it is also welded around the inset face then...

www.tractorbynet.com

All the best,

Peter

It might have been weldable but when it hit the pipe it actually bent the rotor just a little, right in the middle there.

My friend took the rotor to his "buddy" who has a big machine shop to see about making a new center tube for the rotor.
He said he could do it but it would be expensive, prohibitively I guess, then getting it balanced would be costly also if you can find a place locally to do it.

The donor one apparently spins well, no vibration and is quite. We'll see when we get up there to see it.

 

[ponytug]

I'm not too surprised at the repair being more expensive. Newer rotors seem to be more akin to drive shafts with mounts added for blades, which is probably a stronger design for a given weight, but a bit fiddly to do in a one off.

Good luck!

All the best,

Peter

 

[wirlybird]

I'm not too surprised at the repair being more expensive. Newer rotors seem to be more akin to drive shafts with mounts added for blades, which is probably a stronger design for a given weight, but a bit fiddly to do in a one off.

Good luck!

All the best,

Peter

Yes, for sure. This rotor is three long sections which make up the round rotor and the mounting bars so it's not one solid round tube with the mounting bars added.