Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TSO]

Still happy with the cut quality on this 918H... It may be 50lbs or so lighter than the HD Mott, but it's still a nice unit. Needs new blades too...

 

[whirly]

Ok, I have a mott but am unsure the model. 193 blades or something like that. It's definitely not the heavy duty one. It's pretty rusted and needs a new roller bearing. With that said, it still cuts great even with the dull blades and is quieter than my ford 907. The pain part is the blades are bolted on and a pain to change.

You brought a lunch? Shhhoooooot, I have an overnight kit !!! Loooong time to change

The ford 907 works well but has no tension spring for the belt. This mower does work better under my 5240 than my 3540. Although it works better under more power, you still have to go sloooooow to get a decent cut. Now I did use the 907 in tough conditions and it worked great even though I broke a third of the blades and hangers

The 907 is beefier than my finish mott. (But it's finish not HD). Changing a whole set of blades is really easy and takes a half hour tops.

I've used TSO's 918H and by far that is heavier duty than both of mine. The blades are monstrous yet leave a great finish. I have still managed to bend and break some of them but still not bad to change. Much easier than my mott.

Now I have not used a mott alamo but have seen them. I can't wait to find one for a fair price and put it to work. They are beefy as well. It will be a good run with the ford. The 918h still has a trash door which I like. Mainly it makes it even easier to change the blades.

With my experience, the wisdom of others, Id like to sell both of mine and pick up an alamo. Then use that in a direct comparison to the ford.

Here is my opinion as I've cut enough acres with all of them to comfortably say:

The mott cut quality is the best but as grass gets thicker and taller the 918h starts to take over the best quality finish. The mott as grass get real thick it throws a lot of clipping to the front of the cutter and almost looks like a huge nest it has to chew up.

The 907 is the easiest and fasted blade change if doing a whole row or set. The 918h is best and fast if only swapping out a couple.

I can definitely out the 907 in rougher conditions than the Mott finish mower but of course no where near as beefy as the 918h

The Mott belt is easiest to change as well.

Arc weld: great story about your dad. This stuff is always good to read.


Oh yeah, this is my first year using a flail but as stated I've now cut lots and lots of acres with them all. Not hundreds, But enough to know.

You have a Utility Model 72 Mott with 92 Hangar stations and 184 blades. The knives should be attached with clevis & cotter pins not bolts. Although not easy to change they are much easier than the bolt/nut combo. If you have the flail at working height (like on a bench) you can change all the blades in about 3 hours with just a pair of needle nose pliers. I've done it twice now and the second time was a little quicker.

 

[Thomabear]

Still happy with the cut quality on this 918H... It may be 50lbs or so lighter than the HD Mott, but it's still a nice unit. Needs new blades too... <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/441117-lets-talk-flail-mowers-forumrunner_20150918_192022-png"/>

Excellent job with the 918H. Your field looks great... I wouldn't worry too much about being told it was a lesser machine (because of 50# weight) than the Heavy Duty Mott. The same gentleman told me that since my Vrisimo was 50 pounds heavier than Mott it is wasted weight just to claim it was heavier. The weight of that complete awesomeness of a flail mower Mott must be right in that small sweet spot... Not to mention that it hasn't changed or required improvements in 50 years....
------> http://www.alamo-industrial.com/ProductManuals/Manuals/197_shd_flail_bltns_man_01-04.pdf

 

[KenB2920]

Still happy with the cut quality on this 918H... It may be 50lbs or so lighter than the HD Mott, but it's still a nice unit. Needs new blades too... <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/441117-lets-talk-flail-mowers-forumrunner_20150918_192022-png"/>

Lol, I actually have your new blades in a box in the garage !!!! sorry for the delay

 

[KenB2920]

Still happy with the cut quality on this 918H... It may be 50lbs or so lighter than the HD Mott, but it's still a nice unit. Needs new blades too... <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/441117-lets-talk-flail-mowers-forumrunner_20150918_192022-png"/>

Lol, I actually have your new blades in a box in the garage !!!! sorry for the delay

 

[KenB2920]

You have a Utility Model 72 Mott with 92 Hangar stations and 184 blades. The knives should be attached with clevis & cotter pins not bolts. Although not easy to change they are much easier than the bolt/nut combo. If you have the flail at working height (like on a bench) you can change all the blades in about 3 hours with just a pair of needle nose pliers. I've done it twice now and the second time was a little quicker. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/441123-lets-talk-flail-mowers-clevis-cotter-pins-jpg"/>

This is my mott

I wish is had cotter pins .... However, each one is bolted on. I had it at a very comfortable working level. Access was not the issue, just the process of removing them was a pain!!! And to this day, I've only taken 25% off because i know of I start it will be the rest of my evening and I won't finish.

 

[whirly]

View attachment 441137

This is my mott

I wish is had cotter pins .... However, each one is bolted on. I had it at a very comfortable working level. Access was not the issue, just the process of removing them was a pain!!! And to this day, I've only taken 25% off because i know of I start it will be the rest of my evening and I won't finish.

My mistake:ashamed:

 

[whirly]

View attachment 441137

This is my mott

I wish is had cotter pins .... However, each one is bolted on. I had it at a very comfortable working level. Access was not the issue, just the process of removing them was a pain!!! And to this day, I've only taken 25% off because i know of I start it will be the rest of my evening and I won't finish.

My mistake:ashamed:

 

[Arc weld]

It's an older model but can you show a picture of how the knives are attached? I'm wondering if someone changed it to nuts and bolts? Mott's take a while to change knives but if you don't use the special cotter pins with a flat side like Whirly posted, it is a royal PIA to keep the pin from turning. The flat sided cotter pins go against the hanger and you bend the long side of the cotter pin out about 30 deg's. Mott used to supply a simple tool for this with a box of knives but a pair of side cutters makes it really easy to do. I'm not sure if your model is the same as the later 72" Heavy Duty model with 2 1/2" cutter shaft but on those you could leave the knives off that are closest to the side plates of the mower so they don't rub on the side plates. You lose maybe a couple inches of cutting width is all.

 

[Arc weld]

I just got an e-mail from Alamo regarding the history of Mott flail mowers. When I have more time I'll try to get someone to post some early advertising for them as well as the patents. The patent for the first hammer knife mower was filed on Aug. 16, 1947 and officially patented on March 18, 1952. Mott Corporation was founded on Mar. 26, 1958. There's Mott's made for most of the early IHC tractors and Alamo also sent a link to other patents Carl Mott had with IHC. I didn't look too closely but think he may have invented the fast hitch. There's reference to a lift mechanism with a rock shaft and also a hyd. arrangement. There is also reference to a patent for tool less knife changing from 1971/72. Alamo has a restored 1950's Mott model 18 on display in their lobby. Pretty cool stuff and outstanding response provided by Alamo.