Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I think that's typical for any Government usage. I bought my Alamo SH88 at auction (Maine Turnpike Authority unit) and the blades look exactly the same as yours. Which new blades did you go with from Flailmaster? I'm trying to decide between the "Extreme duty" and the "heavy forged". I've got lots of ledge and boulders I zing over. Also thinking about getting rid of the clevis and cotter pin and going with the bolt and nut: just seems like it'd be a lot quicker.

I went with the FM-7 blades. I was talking to someone who used to work on these mowers, and he said the lighter blades do better against rocks because they bounce off easier and don't get damaged. They're also thinner so when they do become dull they're sharper than the thicker blades when dull. I had the "extreme service" blades on my Ford 917 for helping clear brush, but this time I went with the FM-7 because I have a brush saw and it will be a one-time deal clearing the rest of the brush. I'd stick with the clevis pin and cotter pin. If the threads get damaged you will need to replace the nut and bold. The clevis pin can be reused with a new cotter pin which is cheap. It took me about 1-1/2 hours to remove and about 2-1/2 hours to install the new blades, only because I needed to straighten some lugs that got bent in. If you use the clevis pin I have some advice: There is a small hole on the sides of the mower that line up with the clevis pin holes in the lugs. Use that and push the pin in from the outside to give easier access to the cotter pin.

My extreme service blades did well against the rocks, so I'm sure you'll be fine with those. I considered the forged blades but something steered me away from them. I can't remember what steered me away, but I remember there was a reason I didn't get them. My new FM-7 blades did great against the tall grass yesterday. I don't regret getting them over the thicker ones and saving some money.

 

[sodamo]

David, is this the adapter you've got for your FEL?

Adapter To Convert Full Size Universal Quick Tach To Quick Hitch 3 Point Cat 1,2

QUOTE]

Pretty much like this, just homemade from the 2 components.

 

[Fallon]

David, is this the adapter you've got for your FEL?

Adapter To Convert Full Size Universal Quick Tach To Quick Hitch 3 Point Cat 1,2

QUOTE]

Pretty much like this, just homemade from the 2 components.

I made one as a snow plow mount. Worked well until the plow sold with the old tractor. I just welded a QH to a SSQA plate. Probably should have painted it. Made for a nice way to lift & flip the flail for easy maintnance. Used it for moving & loading other impliments as well. Have a spare SSQA plate & QH to make another, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Fallon]

I made one as a snow plow mount. Worked well until the plow sold with the old tractor. I just welded a QH to a SSQA plate. Probably should have painted it. Made for a nice way to lift & flip the flail for easy maintnance. Used it for moving & loading other impliments as well. Have a spare SSQA plate & QH to make another, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

View attachment 610005View attachment 610006

Missed the plow photo...

 

[LandofCheese]

I'm a flail mower noob and looking for help on this one, I picked up a 60" Mott mower cheap but I'm afraid that i messed up and the gear box isn't for 540 pto speed more like 1000 pto speed, I know the Knifes are dull but it just doesn't seem to work all that well at my tractors 540 pto speed. but i'm not an expert on flail mowers (I've read though much of this thread over the years but still no real hands on experience) I'm thinking the unit is a Mott J60 if it needs 1000 pto speed, is it all in my head? I also believe that the gearbox has been replaced at sometime in the past.

So does anyone know how many rotations the knife drum should go with one revolution from the pto shaft on a normal 540 unit?
also shouldn't the gearbox have a vent somewhere?

 

[Molalla1]

I'm a flail mower noob and looking for help on this one, I picked up a 60" Mott mower cheap but I'm afraid that i messed up and the gear box isn't for 540 pto speed more like 1000 pto speed, I know the Knifes are dull but it just doesn't seem to work all that well at my tractors 540 pto speed. but i'm not an expert on flail mowers (I've read though much of this thread over the years but still no real hands on experience) I'm thinking the unit is a Mott J60 if it needs 1000 pto speed, is it all in my head? I also believe that the gearbox has been replaced at sometime in the past.

So does anyone know how many rotations the knife drum should go with one revolution from the pto shaft on a normal 540 unit?
also shouldn't the gearbox have a vent somewhere?
View attachment 610171View attachment 610172View attachment 610173View attachment 610174View attachment 610175View attachment 610176

If you are running it with that LS you have listed in your sig . . . PTO is only 17.5 hp . . . that's a 5' flail . . . maybe a little short on hp.

 

[whirly]

I'm a flail mower noob and looking for help on this one, I picked up a 60" Mott mower cheap but I'm afraid that i messed up and the gear box isn't for 540 pto speed more like 1000 pto speed, I know the Knifes are dull but it just doesn't seem to work all that well at my tractors 540 pto speed. but i'm not an expert on flail mowers (I've read though much of this thread over the years but still no real hands on experience) I'm thinking the unit is a Mott J60 if it needs 1000 pto speed, is it all in my head? I also believe that the gearbox has been replaced at sometime in the past.

So does anyone know how many rotations the knife drum should go with one revolution from the pto shaft on a normal 540 unit?
also shouldn't the gearbox have a vent somewhere?

It IS for a 540 PTO. As stated before your HP may be a little lacking but if your tractor will rev higher than the PTO speed, you can run the Mott up to 700 RPM without any problem. I'd suggest you try inching the tractor RPM up by 100 at a time to see if it helps. You may also try raising the blades by lengthening the top link. That will cut higher and an extra inch less for the mower to cut may help also.

 

[Molalla1]

It IS for a 540 PTO. As stated before your HP may be a little lacking but if your tractor will rev higher than the PTO speed, you can run the Mott up to 700 RPM without any problem. I'd suggest you try inching the tractor RPM up by 100 at a time to see if it helps. You may also try raising the blades by lengthening the top link. That will cut higher and an extra inch less for the mower to cut may help also.

Agree, but if the grass is tractor hood high . . . you may have to crawl along, or as whirly suggested pour the coal to it, and still crawl.

 

[D2Cat]

On this mower do the flails turn to opposite direction compared to one with the pulleys on the other end of the gearbox?

 

[Lnk]

Looks like the rotor spins same direction as your tires. Try taking a half width cut and see if it does better, if it does, you are trying to cut too much for your tractor hp. What are you cutting? Really high or thick grass? That takes the most hp.