Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Ozarks Landowner]

Sorry, not your post, I was responding to the problem Dan in MN is having mowing long grass.

I agree with your assessment for Dan's troubles. To me that's the only thing it could be.

 

[CADplans]

I agree with your assessment for Dan's troubles. To me that's the only thing it could be.

Dan said he actually counted the revolutions at a low speed,,
then adjusted for the speed increase, he had 540 RPM.

My FM will cut at 300 just as nice as at 540 RPM,,
the only reason I rev up the engine is to cover more land per minute.
I do not think it is speed unless the belt is slipping, and the drum is not turning the correct speed.
If it were the belt, Dan would have smelled it,,,



on another note,,,
I like those hammer knives,, I would want them If I was mowing a lawn. :thumbsup:

I mow so much lawn, I may try to find a smaller FM with hammer knives for the lawn.

I already have 4 big lawnmowers,,,, DO I NEED ANOTHER?? :confused2:

The JD 855 and 60 inch RFM arrived after I took this pic,,

My daughter and I mowing a little field that should have been flailed!!

You can see what it looked like in the previous pic,,

It was just daddy and daughter having some fun,,,

 

[IslandTractor]

Dan said he actually counted the revolutions at a low speed,, then adjusted for the speed increase, he had 540 RPM. My FM will cut at 300 just as nice as at 540 RPM,, the only reason I rev up the engine is to cover more land per minute. I do not think it is speed unless the belt is slipping, and the drum is not turning the correct speed. If it were the belt, Dan would have smelled it,,, on another note,,, I like those hammer knives,, I would want them If I was mowing a lawn. :thumbsup: I mow so much lawn, I may try to find a smaller FM with hammer knives for the lawn. I already have 4 big lawnmowers,,,, DO I NEED ANOTHER?? :confused2: The JD 855 and 60 inch RFM arrived after I took this pic,, My daughter and I mowing a little field that should have been flailed!! You can see what it looked like in the previous pic,, It was just daddy and daughter having some fun,,,

Nah, you don't need a flail, you need two flails. Daddy daughter mowing is the way to go!

 

[gregharr55]

I know i saw this in one of the posts but could not find it. Those of u with caroni flail mowers, in which hole do u run the rear roller? I remeber also it was discussed about lack of access to the grease fittings. Anyway thanks in advance. Btw i am totally satisfied with my mower. Thanks again for the good advise!

 

[leonz]

Spinning as fast as my 430 case tractor will spin them. How fast do they need to spin?

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Normally 2,200+ rpm at the blade tip edge.

 

[IslandTractor]

I know i saw this in one of the posts but could not find it. Those of u with caroni flail mowers, in which hole do u run the rear roller? I remeber also it was discussed about lack of access to the grease fittings. Anyway thanks in advance. Btw i am totally satisfied with my mower. Thanks again for the good advise!

I can check but I greased the rear roller yesterday and had no trouble getting to the zerk. I do recall that when I took delivery about 10 years ago the zerks were not accessible so I lowered the roller to??the lowest setting (which raises the rear of the mower). Haven't had any issues since.

 

[Ozarks Landowner]

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Normally 2,200+ rpm at the blade tip edge.

Leonz you seem to be the one who knows the most about this airfoil deal so I'm asking you. Do you know for a fact without a doubt that the knives open up to get a horizontal cutting edge when spun at said rpm? With the flail running You should be able to video yours and give us an answer.

As I stated mine are not according to the video I took but I sure can't tell it in the cut of the field. It looks evenly cut when done. Granted I'm not trying to cut a lawn or anything either. Maybe for some reason I'm not getting mine up to speed . Haven't had a tach on my tractor for years but if I bring the rpm's up all the way it should be a little over 540 pto.

 

[Catoosa]

I would bet they do not open up, the added weight of the horizontal section will keep them straight and against each other when spinning.

 

[IslandTractor]

I would bet they do not open up, the added weight of the horizontal section will keep them straight and against each other when spinning.

That's what I would think too. 2000 rpm would generate substantial centrifugal forces that should easily overcome any aerodynamic lift. At least that's my guesstimate.

 

[IslandTractor]

I can check but I greased the rear roller yesterday and had no trouble getting to the zerk. I do recall that when I took delivery about 10 years ago the zerks were not accessible so I lowered the roller to??the lowest setting (which raises the rear of the mower). Haven't had any issues since.

Gregharr55: turns out it is the second to bottom hole that my rear rollers are set at. Greasing is no problem and I can cut down to an inch or so.