Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[aarolar]

Good question. In ten years of mowing in fields with plenty of rocks, I've never had a blade "wear out" and never even reveresed them much less sharpened any but that is largely due to the fact that I lose blades regularly and replace them. The original Caroni supplied metric clevises are engineered with a shoulder to be the weak point and they do break when hitting a big enough rock. When a clevis breaks you lose the knives. I don't know if I have any of the original clevises left so I doubt I have any original knives. I now use 3/8" clevises from Flailmaster. Good news is that none of them has broken after a rock strike. Bad news is that the knives break if the clevis doesn't. Over the past ten years I have probably gone through at least 60-70 knives but all because of loss in the field.

I am pretty sure my experience is only relevant to folks in rocky post glacier regions of New England. If I had to guess I'd say that a set of knives would last 4-5 years in the north and maybe 3-4 years in the south before needing to be reversed if you are mowing grass and brush rather than rocks.

Sounding better all the time if I can get two seasons per set I'd be tickled, I called today and they are moving one from another store to my local one. Sound be here in a week or so if I like how it looks I'll probably bring it home with me.

 

[aarolar]

And done...

 

[CADplans]

Flail mower mod question,,,
Has anyone ever added a set of gauge wheels to a flail mower?

If I wanted to try to use the flail for grass mowing,, I need a better gauging method.
This mower has the same problem, no front gauge wheels.

All newer finish mowers use four gauge wheels,,,hmmmmmm,,,,

When I make left turns, my flail digs in,, just like the finish mower without gauge wheels.

I did check, I have over 500 pounds of ballast fluid in each rear tire,,
so, I doubt adding weight would solve the problem.
Do I have to DIY without any pics to follow?

I guess I could try mowing, only making right hand turns,,, :laughing:

 

[Fallon]

Flail mower mod question,,,
Has anyone ever added a set of gauge wheels to a flail mower?

If I wanted to try to use the flail for grass mowing,, I need a better gauging method.
This mower has the same problem, no front gauge wheels.

My 30 year old Ford 917 came with a factory set of gauge caster wheels behind the roller. Rusted to pieces & not serviceable at all by the time I got it. Roller works fine for my pasture work so I've never thought about new rims, tires & whatever else. The frame is there though, off hiding in the weeds if I ever want to mess with it.

I think some other flails had factory caster wheels behind the roller. The roller is enough for most people, so they aren't a popular additional option/expense.

Tapered ends on the roller or even just lifting it when doing tight corners would help.

 

[CADplans]

Tapered ends on the roller or even just lifting it when doing tight corners would help.

I want a gauge wheel on the FRONT of the mower,,,
I agree, the gauge wheel on the back would do nothing,, the roller is perfect for the back.

 

[leonz]

The rear casters aided in turning and preventing the flail mower rotor from being
damaged by a sudden drop, mow at a higher height to avoid damaging knife sets
on unknown ground and allowing it to be backed easier while mowing.

If you want a new flail the Vrisimo folks offer a 2 or 4 wheel caster option with and without
a rear roller if I remember correctly.

It takes a lot of work and machining but you can purchase caster weldments for bush hogs and mount them
on the tube that is used to create a solid weldment in the front.

The caster weldment can be adjusted using washers to raise and lower the front and rear gauge wheels.

 

[Xfaxman]

Flail mower mod question,,,
Has anyone ever added a set of ​(front) gauge wheels to a flail mower?

If I wanted to try to use the flail for grass mowing,, I need a better gauging method.
This mower has the same problem, no front gauge wheels.

All newer finish mowers use four gauge wheels,,,hmmmmmm,,,,

When I make left turns, my flail digs in,, just like the finish mower without gauge wheels.

-------------------------------------------

I guess I could try mowing, only making right hand turns,,, :laughing:

If both mowers dig in on left turns, there is something wrong with your 3 point linkage.

Post pictures of the linkage and with it dug in.

 

[shaeff]

I looked through google images for a few minutes, found a pic o gauge wheels on the front of a flail:

 

[IslandTractor]

If both mowers dig in on left turns, there is something wrong with your 3 point linkage.

Post pictures of the linkage and with it dug in.

Agree. Check to make sure the 3PT isn't tilted. Easiest to do on a clearly flat surface and raising the 3pt until the rear roller is just a couple of inches off the ground. The roller should be parallel to the ground. Make adjustments if needed.

Also, make sure your skids are not set too low. The skids have one and only one function and that is to "protect" the blades when the mower is set down all the way with the 3PT or dismounted. Frankly it is hard to imagine how blades could be damaged just sitting on the grass or even asphalt. I have my skids set at the highest possible setting so they never gouge or even contact turf when mowing.

I don't have any problem with gouging on turns. I do tend to mow in spirals so am typically making 90 degree rather than 180 degree turns but even with 180 degree turns I don't get gouging. I do mow fields, not lawns, so my cut height is about 3" or so not closer. I also have my rear roller set low (pushing the rear of the mower up) so I actually control exact cut height with my 3PT. It is set so I can drop it all the way down in front and cut fairly close (2") or I can raise it a bit (2 on a 1-10 range for the 3PT control lever) and get my preferred 3" cut. I can raise it higher (3-5 on the 10 range scale) when I encounter thick lush grass to keep from bogging the engine, and I can raise it quickly to 10 to lift the mower over a rock or stump. Raising it to 10 lifts the rear roller completely off the ground obviously and though I haven't checked, I think the rear roller comes off the ground at about 5 on that 10 range scale. Final point is that I use the hydraulic topping lift to also control the pitch of the mower but I tend to do that only at the time I mount the mower and rarely make adjustments in the field.

 

[CADplans]

If both mowers dig in on left turns, there is something wrong with your 3 point linkage.

Post pictures of the linkage and with it dug in.

I do not own a rear finish mower with 4 gauge wheels,,, yet,,,
I doubt they added them just to increase cost,,,