Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Fallon]

I'm not sure that's a 25a, it looks nothing like mine. My 25a has a much more rounded hood, see the pic below.

Kimeran's looks like the Ford 917 that Steave posted earlier.

Here's mine:

The back of the hood looks different than my 719. Some of the other features like the 1 backwards bolt ontop of the belt cover look the same. Need better photos of the whole unit & the rotor to be sure.

At any rate it's kind of moot. Leonz's instructions work for a 719 as well as a JD. Just get the belt number off the old belt to get the right size, or take one in with you (it will have stretched a bit longer than a new one though.

 

[kimaran]

Thank you so much- I looked today and found I see one belt off the pulley - I'll take it apart as you said - I'm a single mom - 51 in November - but I am mechanically inclined and I can do this / all the advice is very appreciated

 

[Alien]

Does anyone know about Victory Flail Mowers? On their website they use the same model numbers as the Value Leader flails. The only difference I can see is they are green and cost about $400 less model for model. Their specs read the same and shipping is included. I did notice that they call the deck material 6 mm which is about .244 inch Valu leader call 1/4 inch or .250. Can .007 make that much difference?

Smilinjak

Exactly the same as our Hayes Brand in Australia.
I have the 1500 and am rapt with it.
No oil leaks or seeps and cuts like a honey.

 

[Steave]

kimaran if you had only one belt broke out of the 3 the rotor should still be turning. You said your rotor wasn't turning so you need to check and see if something is jammed somewhere.

The tensioner spring is somewhat stout and you might have to use a bar or pipe to relieve the tension on the belts to get them off then back on. I think leonz already mentioned replace all three belts.


If your rotor is not turning at all, take your drive shaft loose from the tractor, raise the mower, then see if rotor will turn by hand. You might also have to tie the driveshaft level so it can turn with the gear box on the mower. If not you might have to check farther then post back, somebody might can talk you through what to check. Hope it's just the belts.

 

[powerscol]

I cant tell from the photos, but could her mower have a shear pin a the the mower PTO connection, or possibly at the pulley? Just a thought.

 

[CCWKen]

Looks like more going on with Kimaran's flail than drive belts. The flail rotor should turn with even one belt. I see what appears to be three belts still on the lower pulley. Normally, when they break they're nowhere to be found. Here's a shot of my Caldwell Barracuda three-belt drive. (The tensioner angle has been fixed with a new shaft.) The tension spring is a monster but will go over-center to allow belt changes. A good leverage bar is needed to move it.

 

[kimaran]

I have not looked closer yet I see one belt that appears to be in tact but off the pulley I may not get to it before Saturday
The pto on the tractor and at the gear box turns but not the knives
Hoping it's only belts

I will try to free spin it also
I'm going to order new knives also so I'll need to look close at how to change them and how many I need to order

 

[Steave]

kimaran I free spin my old mott every now and again just where I can look at things and hear what's happening without any noise from the tractor. It's kinda like me old and about wore out. Keep us posted.

 

[leonz]

Hello Kimaron,

you mak have a PTO shaft that has a cotter pin shear pin in one of the yoke ends too so you should see if the yoke ends spin too.

if you order new scoop knives you should plan on getting spare knife hangers and hanger straps too

If you change them all your going to need three dozen scoop knives and new nuts and bolts. Please be sure to purchase fine thread nuts and bolts and blue loctite to prevent them from vibrating apart.

If you have a ratcheting box wrench set great, if not invest in the one wrench size needed for the hanger bolts and a 1/2 inch drive 24-inch breaker bar and shallow 12 point socket and a good 12 point box end wrench to make it easier to remove the bolts and nuts.

If you can afford it purchase these tools from a Snap On Dealer as you will have good hand tools that will always work for you and not break if used properly.

I am not trying to spend you money, I want you to have good tools you can depend on and avoid filling a swear jar if you skin your knuckles and or draw blood.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I want you to have good tools you can depend on and avoid filling a swear jar if you skin your knuckles and or draw blood.

That's the fun part of working on tractors! People at work know when I have been working on my tractor or cars by the bandaids on my knuckles!

 

[CCWKen]

We don't need no stinking Band-Aids! Wash the grease off with lacquer thinner and paint on some New-Skin antiseptic.

 

[CADplans]

We don't need no stinking Band-Aids! Wash the grease off with lacquer thinner and paint on some New-Skin antiseptic.

I have not had my "New-Skin" bottle out in years,,,
Does that stuff ever get too old too use?

 

[whirly]

I have not had my "New-Skin" bottle out in years,,,
Does that stuff ever get too old too use?

Never in your lifetime - "New-Skin" has a half life of 250K yrs :thumbsup:

 

[sidecarist]

You forgot to add the duct tape abrasion protection. Keeps that new skin in place when you have to go back to the same bolt...

 

[Steave]

kimaran I think the busted knuckle conversation was started on your behalf. So if or when you get a busted knuckle by all means don't get you doctoring advice from your other friends on the Flail Nation Network. Good advice on mowers, doctoring I'm not so sure about. :laughing:

 

[Steave]

We don't need no stinking Band-Aids! Wash the grease off with lacquer thinner and paint on some New-Skin antiseptic.

That's a good one. When you wipe it off with lacquer thinner the germs can't get in, they can't catch you.

 

[leonz]

I have not had my "New-Skin" bottle out in years,,,
Does that stuff ever get too old too use?

==============================================================


I don't know about whether it goes bad from age but it never worked for me unless I took a few days off from work.

 

[kimaran]

So it does take 2 belts / one was intact so that's good
Going to order 4 so I am prepared - in side color is yellow so I'm still trying to find the make and or model so I can hopefully locate an owners manual

I watched a YouTube video on changing flails on a 907 I'm wondering if mine is similar

I haven't figured out how to get to the flail yet

 

[smilinjak]

So it does take 2 belts / one was intact so that's good
Going to order 4 so I am prepared - in side color is yellow so I'm still trying to find the make and or model so I can hopefully locate an owners manual

I watched a YouTube video on changing flails on a 907 I'm wondering if mine is similar

I haven't figured out how to get to the flail yet

Looks like there might be a couple or five broken bolt problems around the cover flange. Have you run the PTO with the cover off to see if the drive pulley turns? This would be an opportune time to find out if the PTO shaft and gear box are working. Can't be much help on what make and model you have, I'm not that familiar with flail mowers but can make suggestions for replacing the broken fasteners, those I am familiar with. I have broken lots of them.

Smilinjak

 

[Fallon]

So it does take 2 belts / one was intact so that's good
Going to order 4 so I am prepared - in side color is yellow so I'm still trying to find the make and or model so I can hopefully locate an owners manual

I watched a YouTube video on changing flails on a 907 I'm wondering if mine is similar

I haven't figured out how to get to the flail yet

Not sure if you ID'd ypur flail yet, but that pully setup is identicle to my Ford 917. Just spent the past week finally replacing the rotor bearings & am rebuilding/upgrading the tension rod I broke puttig it back together. At any rate i'm intimatly familiar with those parts. If yours isnt a 917, its a pretty close Ford or New Holland model.

To remove the belts, unscrew the nut on the tension rod so the tension wheel is completely loose. Then grab a belt & pull it to the side while rotating one of the pullies to pop the belt off. If you arent VERY careful you will pinch your fingers. You then do the same manuver to hop the 2nd belt over, then again to get it off. Instalation is just the reverse.

Once you are done tighten the nut on the tension rod. I'd imagine the video on the 709 was similar.

New Holland / Mowing Part Diagrams has a list of parts diagrams
New Holland (22-125) - FORD 97 SERIES MOWER, 7' FLAIL (1/64-12/79) Parts Diagrams 709
New Holland (22-185) - FORD 917 SERIES FLAIL MOWER 88" (3/73-12/76) Parts Diagrams is for my 917