Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[shaeff]

Says it's a 307A bolt right on the head, a quick Google search provides:

Carriage Bolts | Zinc Plated 307A Steel in #10-24

 

[Catman8]

I'd spring for new bolts and nylock nuts. Certainly not grade 8. I don't recall if mine are grade 5 or lower. Never had significant wear on the hanger bolts. Do be careful to get just the right length though. Any threads not protected by the nut will be trashed and
make removal a *****.

I stoped by the NewHolland dealer and the bolts are 1-1/4"x3/8" grade 5 with nylon lock nuts, the bolt I took a picture of earlier was only grade 2 and was not the correct bolt. So tomorrow I will change the direction of the blades and see if I can cut some grass.


I see the other bolts do show the threads sticking past the nut and your correct, they are all messed up and don't come off that easy.


I changed the gear oil and it started leaking at the seal, so the previous owner must of had some thick gear oil in there. The NewHolland dealer sold me two quarts of this and said this stuff won't leak.


Leonz, thanks for posting that manual and thanks to everyone else who posted, you guys are all very helpful.

 

[Fallon]

I stoped by the NewHolland dealer and the bolts are 1-1/4"x3/8" grade 5 with nylon lock nuts, the bolt I took a picture of earlier was only grade 2 and was not the correct bolt. So tomorrow I will change the direction of the blades and see if I can cut some grass.
View attachment 500460

I see the other bolts do show the threads sticking past the nut and your correct, they are all messed up and don't come off that easy.
View attachment 500466

I changed the gear oil and it started leaking at the seal, so the previous owner must of had some thick gear oil in there. The NewHolland dealer sold me two quarts of this and said this stuff won't leak.
View attachment 500464

Leonz, thanks for posting that manual and thanks to everyone else who posted, you guys are all very helpful.

I did some similar pourable grease in mine with some 90wt mixed in. Filled about half full, about as full as you would for oil, although its a bit hard to tell with thick grease. Worked fine for a season so far. As old & beatup as the mower is i expect the gearbox to outlast the rest of the mower

 

[def38]

I did some similar pourable grease in mine with some 90wt mixed in. Filled about half full, about as full as you would for oil, although its a bit hard to tell with thick grease. Worked fine for a season so far. As old & beatup as the mower is i expect the gearbox to outlast the rest of the mower

Those of you with gearbox bearing and seal issues, can't these gearboxes be fitted with new bearings and seals at a reasonably low cost? Aren't the bearings and seals readily available from a bearing house or even mail order?

I assume most of the gearboxes call for Hypoid EP gear oil, 80w-90 to 75w-140, GL-5, available most anywhere. My motorcycle uses this oil in the transmission and final drive. I ad a bit of molybdenum disulfide to the gear oil to reduce heat of friction and provide wear reduction.

I'm not a flail owner or user yet but I will be this summer so, I'm bolstering my knowledge base.

 

[IslandTractor]

Those of you with gearbox bearing and seal issues, can't these gearboxes be fitted with new bearings and seals at a reasonably low cost? Aren't the bearings and seals readily available from a bearing house or even mail order?

I assume most of the gearboxes call for Hypoid EP gear oil, 80w-90 to 75w-140, GL-5, available most anywhere. My motorcycle uses this oil in the transmission and final drive. I ad a bit of molybdenum disulfide to the gear oil to reduce heat of friction and provide wear reduction.

I'm not a flail owner or user yet but I will be this summer so, I'm bolstering my knowledge base.

There is nothing specific to flail gearboxes in regard to leaking or use of grease rather than oil for gearbox lubricant. In fact I'm pretty sure that almost all this information comes from decades of experience with leaking bush hog gearboxes. Not a big deal to use grease. Any lubricant will do. These gearboxes are not fine machinery.

 

[Dan in MN]

Well crap on a stick...the guy with the Alamo flail I linked a bit ago finally got back into town and called me back, turns out it's only an 80". I thought it was at least an 88" and possibly 96", not a big enough upgrade to go from the 68" I sold to an 80". Helluva deal for someone, but not what I'm looking for...I knew somehow it was too good to be true...

 

[IslandTractor]

Well crap on a stick...the guy with the Alamo flail I linked a bit ago finally got back into town and called me back, turns out it's only an 80". I thought it was at least an 88" and possibly 96", not a big enough upgrade to go from the 68" I sold to an 80". Helluva deal for someone, but not what I'm looking for...I knew somehow it was too good to be true...

Think it through carefully. An 88" would be only a 10% increase. A four hour mowing job with the 80 would take about 3:38 or 22 minutes less with an 88" mower. Compare that to 4:42 minutes with the 68. And, that looks to be a great deal on an 80" top quality mower.

 

[Dan in MN]

Good news...the guy called back after he went out and measured, he was wrong and it is an 88".. Not the 96" I was hoping for, but can't pass that up for the price.. :thumbsup:

 

[Fallon]

There is nothing specific to flail gearboxes in regard to leaking or use of grease rather than oil for gearbox lubricant. In fact I'm pretty sure that almost all this information comes from decades of experience with leaking bush hog gearboxes. Not a big deal to use grease. Any lubricant will do. These gearboxes are not fine machinery.

Yup, generic issue & fix for impliment gearboxes. As far as cheap, it's a matter of perspective. $70 is a lot for seals but isnt isn't to bad compared to an impliment until you consider I paid $100 for the whole flail.

 

[IslandTractor]

Good news...the guy called back after he went out and measured, he was wrong and it is an 88".. Not the 96" I was hoping for, but can't pass that up for the price.. :thumbsup:

Score!! That's about the best deal on a used flail I have heard of. Near new condition 88" Alamo for ?$1600. If he were closer I'd have ditched my trusty Caroni for that one.