Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[whirly]

I'm new to the "flail" craze. So far, I don't quite get it. I ordered a new set of blades for my Ford 917 today from Flailmaster, at the suggestion of those on this thread. I too was a bit aggravated at the sales tax. Didn't realize I could call and escape that $27. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm looking for a mower to smoothly cut road banks regularly. I got this mower a month ago so I'm dealing with clippings. Hopefully next year I can start early and keep up with growth and not have that problem.

I'm also struggling with the complexity of a Flail versus a Rotary. I see huge maintenance costs in the future. But I can't confirm that since I just started. I'll post back in a couple years after practical application. So far, all I see is Hype.

I suggest you start @ post #1 and read ALL 223 pages. You will find that no one here is trying to get anyone to buy or use a flail. We are here because, for our own reasons, we are tickled spitless with our choice of implements and want to share our experiences and knowledge with others. In another thread you stated you got your Ford 917 free from a friend. If it needs repair then the cost to put it back in good working order is most likely less than what many of us paid for our flails - the flail you have is built like a tank and will take a lot of abuse. If it doesn't work out for you then you can sell it on craigslist and make some quick money.

 

[leonz]

I was not sure if your gearbox had a vent, that is why I said to drain it just
on general principals to prevent it from leaking on the ground.

any bearing provides resistance when it is loaded with grease. If you think the bearing is
grinding its an easy change out. if you can borrow a mechanics stethescope its easy enough
to find out by spinning the driven pulley with out the belt on it.



but wait until your done welding the shell if you use a heliarc unit.


I would not use bondo simply because you need to whack the shroud with a 2 pound
hammer to see if the metal sounds solid (if that is where the issue of corrosion is)
or you have a dull thud if you have a dull thud after smaking the rusty spots you need
to drill and rivet heavy sheet metal to those spots if they are part of the curved mower shroud.

I would rather see you gas weld the bad spots with sheet metal and rivets if needed
as the new or old bearings may be ruined with a heliarc weld due to the electric charge.

I want you to succeed my friend.

leonz

 

[Fallon]

as the new or old bearings may be ruined with a heliarc weld due to the electric charge.

I want you to succeed my friend.

leonz

Its called TIG these days rather than heliarc. And I highly doubt there would be any problems welding on a flail unless you put your ground on the other side of the bearing from where you were welding. I did some TIG work on mine patching bent parts of the hood I plasma cut out. No problems except for a little heat warpage I was expecting.

 

[Kodiak45]

Thanks for the advice. This is exactly why I ask. I'll probably mig weld maybe gasless or not, depends on my wire inventory. I have never heard that about ruining the bearings from welding. That's interesting. I'll go get some sheet metal today on my lunch break. Any idea what gauge/thickness? I've never purchased sheet metal before so I'm not familiar with how think I need to get and still be workable and have support. Thanks again for all the help. If I could get the pictures to post, I'll send some before and after. You wouldn't believe what all I removed from being wrapped around the shaft last night. was a mess.

 

[leonz]

Garden hose snakes are the worst, barbed wire comes in a close second,
smooth baling wire third, monfilment baling twine third, nylon twine fourth,
hemp sisal baling twine comes in at fifth place on the nasty scale.

 

[whirly]

Garden hose snakes are the worst, barbed wire comes in a close second,
smooth baling wire third, monfilment baling twine third, nylon twine fourth,
hemp sisal baling twine comes in at fifth place on the nasty scale.

What you said:shocked:

 

[hunt4570]

Garden hose snakes are the worst, barbed wire comes in a close second,
smooth baling wire third, monfilment baling twine third, nylon twine fourth,
hemp sisal baling twine comes in at fifth place on the nasty scale.

Hey... you have 2 thirds there... come on, pay attention!!

 

[IslandTractor]

Garden hose snakes are the worst, barbed wire comes in a close second,
smooth baling wire third, monfilment baling twine third, nylon twine fourth,
hemp sisal baling twine comes in at fifth place on the nasty scale.

I second the garden hose. I caught one of those while mowing a very dense high field and couldn't tell what was happening. All I saw was something very long slithering very quickly towards me and then under my tractor. The possibility of an anaconda was higher on my list than garden hose at the time. Spent quite a while trying to get it unreeled but finally just got out clippers and dissected the durn thing.

 

[DavesTractor]

I mowed my neighbors field as a favor once. I hit a garden hose and wound it up. After I got done she came out and thanked me and I told her I wound up her garden hose. She said thanks, I meant to do that....she did not understand! The terms "flail" and "wound" are bad if they occur in the same sentence.

 

[sodamo]

I caught barbed wire one time really bad, took an hour underneath with nippers. Wound it so tight I had to unbend it after cutting.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet