Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

Okie Again · Sep 25, 2019

Made the jump.
I have ordered the FM-62H Flail Mower (62") with hydraulic side shift from WoodMaxx and it shipped today. I should get it next week. I know I have to have the quick connects for hydraulic to install those when it gets here. My question is about the Hydraulic oil. I have not done anything with it before. Do I need to fill the unit before I hookup or bleed the lines somehow? I assume the instructions will tell me but I want to have things on hand I will need before it arrives. After I get it set up and try it out I will post my thoughts on it.

jonsstihl · Sep 25, 2019

for the oil, your tractor will fill it when you use the hydraulics but you need to check the fluid level in the tractor after having cycled the flail's hydraulic cylinders a few times.

Fallon · Sep 25, 2019

jonsstihl said:
for the oil, your tractor will fill it when you use the hydraulics but you need to check the fluid level in the tractor after having cycled the flail's hydraulic cylinders a few times.

Usually cycling a cylinder 3-4 times will get the air out, sometimes it may take a dozen cycles to get things working properly. It will be really jumpy & jerky as it pushes the air out so dont be near anything that moves. Just work the valve back & forth after hitching up & it sorts itself out.

dieselscout80 · Sep 28, 2019

TheFarmerInAdell said:
This is the picture I was thinking of. I see blades in every other hole. They should be in every 3rd hole. As you said, moot point. It probably cut better this way because of the increased overlap.

My 917 has the airplane wing knives and wonder if I could set it up with a knife in every other hole like in that picture?

TheFarmerInAdell · Oct 2, 2019

dieselscout80 said:
My 917 has the airplane wing knives and wonder if I could set it up with a knife in every other hole like in that picture?

You could, but you might push the balance a bit. If you have the time to invest in it you could try and see how much it vibrates that way. You may have to adjust the balance weights on the rotor. It's just a few small pieces of steel bolted on.

bruceha2000 · Oct 2, 2019

Okie Again said:
Made the jump.
I have ordered the FM-62H Flail Mower (62") with hydraulic side shift from WoodMaxx and it shipped today. I should get it next week. I know I have to have the quick connects for hydraulic to install those when it gets here. My question is about the Hydraulic oil. I have not done anything with it before. Do I need to fill the unit before I hookup or bleed the lines somehow? I assume the instructions will tell me but I want to have things on hand I will need before it arrives. After I get it set up and try it out I will post my thoughts on it.

jonsstihl answered your specific question. The other thing you will need is a quart of 80-90 gear oil for the transmission on the flail. You will also need a number of different wrenches than the instructions indicate. I think the 2 they mentioned are for filling the transmission. I replaced the 2 lower nuts and bolts on the rear flap with clevis pins so it is easy to open the flap for inspection, etc without tools.

Okie Again · Oct 3, 2019

thanks Bruce good idea on the rear flap. I had WoodMaxx send me the gear oil so I am good there. Picked up the fitting for the hydraulics also. It looks like my transmission and hydraulic share the same oil.

My Kubota L3200 barely got it off the truck. I have forks attached to my bucket and flat it would not lift the mower. Driver said it was 900 lbs the manifest says 848 lbs. I was able to tilt it up and then it cleared the truck bed. Slowly backed away the lowered the bucket. Once about a foot off the ground with more tilt I was able to lift a little. Hope to have it ready to try out this weekend.

ronjhall · Oct 3, 2019

Okie Again said:
thanks Bruce good idea on the rear flap. I had WoodMaxx send me the gear oil so I am good there. Picked up the fitting for the hydraulics also. It looks like my transmission and hydraulic share the same oil.

My Kubota L3200 barely got it off the truck. I have forks attached to my bucket and flat it would not lift the mower. Driver said it was 900 lbs the manifest says 848 lbs. I was able to tilt it up and then it cleared the truck bed. Slowly backed away the lowered the bucket. Once about a foot off the ground with more tilt I was able to lift a little. Hope to have it ready to try out this weekend.

View attachment 623458

My B2910 had no problem unloading my WoodMaxx from the truck. That’s the difference with dedicated pallet forks. I used bottom crate to make dolly for the mower.

bruceha2000 · Oct 3, 2019

I'm sure dedicated pallet forks would make a big difference. With bolt ons, you are WAY far from the "pin".
Also, Kubotas aren't known for stellar lift capacity.
For yours:
Lift to full height (at pin): 1,131 lbs
Lift to full height (at 500mm/20 in): 855 lbs.
20" with bolt on forks isn't even to the edge of the bucket and you have all the weight past that. I'm surprised you managed to get it off the truck.

Pallet forks aren't real expensive, I'd invest in one if I were you (I did because I AM me

) I have used them to get attachments off trucks, I cut logs to 8' in the woods and bring them back to the house on the forks, I stack my split wood in racks (1/3 cord) I custom made where the wood dries and I can move them up to the porch landing where I can pull the wood as needed from inside the porch (2 door onto the enclosed porch) and I've dug out rocks in my field and moved them to the rock piles started most likely 150+ years ago by others. You will find plenty of uses for forks if you get them.

Okie Again · Oct 4, 2019

bruceha2000 said:
I'm sure dedicated pallet forks would make a big difference. With bolt ons, you are WAY far from the "pin".
Also, Kubotas aren't known for stellar lift capacity.
For yours:
Lift to full height (at pin): 1,131 lbs
Lift to full height (at 500mm/20 in): 855 lbs.
20" with bolt on forks isn't even to the edge of the bucket and you have all the weight past that. I'm surprised you managed to get it off the truck.

Pallet forks aren't real expensive, I'd invest in one if I were you (I did because I AM me ) I have used them to get attachments off trucks, I cut logs to 8' in the woods and bring them back to the house on the forks, I stack my split wood in racks (1/3 cord) I custom made where the wood dries and I can move them up to the porch landing where I can pull the wood as needed from inside the porch (2 door onto the enclosed porch) and I've dug out rocks in my field and moved them to the rock piles started most likely 150+ years ago by others. You will find plenty of uses for forks if you get them.

without a doubt I will eventually want to get pallet forks, but without a quick connect FEL was trying to get by until I am ready to make the change to a Quick Connect. I may look at pallet forks that pin on.