Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Racenut]

How is this flail mower holding up for you? I'm trying to make a choice for one, and I am a little leery too regarding the brand.

So far it's been flawless. But, I only have about 10 hours of real use on it so far. But I opened it up to inspect and all looks good. Added a lil grease and ready to go again.

 

[Craig_GA]

So far it's been flawless. But, I only have about 10 hours of real use on it so far. But I opened it up to inspect and all looks good. Added a lil grease and ready to go again.

Great to hear... After some further investigation, I ended up ordering the NOVA MFZ-135 last week and it arrive on Monday. I finally had a chance today to pop the top off the crate. I plan to Loctite all the non-adjustment related fasteners and make sure everything is tight (also some gear oil and grease) before loading it up and taking it home.

The communication with Nova Tractor (Jack) was great and the unit arrived to Georgia faster than I expected.

 

[Doorman63]

Great to hear... After some further investigation, I ended up ordering the NOVA MFZ-135 last week and it arrive on Monday. I finally had a chance today to pop the top off the crate. I plan to Loctite all the non-adjustment related fasteners and make sure everything is tight (also some gear oil and grease) before loading it up and taking it home.

The communication with Nova Tractor (Jack) was great and the unit arrived to Georgia faster than I expected.

Please update when you can!

The Nova Tractor flail is high on my list.

 

[Kodiak45]

Just got me a flail today. Anyone know what model this John Deere flail is? What type of blades are those?
Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Lnk]

Just got me a flail today. Anyone know what model this John Deere flail is? What type of blades are those?
Any help is much appreciated.View attachment 748067
View attachment 748068
View attachment 748069

My guess would be a 25a. Never seems that blade arrangement though. Not a Deere expert though they do interest me. Someone way more knowledgeable than me will be along shortly. Congrats

 

[toolslinger]

I've seen those blades on crop choppers. So hacking away at corn stalks and the like in a field, rather than lawn. No real experience though...

 

[leonz]

Look for an ID plate as soon as possible.

At some time in the past the caster wheels were removed.
The strips of metal hung on the piece of bar stock are ment to
act as debris shields/shutters when used in a front mount.

It very well could be an Oliver flail crop shredder as the knives
are secured with a long rod within the rotor weldment as none
of the knife mounts are exposed.

 

[JWR]

Look for an ID plate as soon as possible.

At some time in the past the caster wheels were removed.
The strips of metal hung on the piece of bar stock are ment to
act as debris shields/shutters when used in a front mount.

It very well could be an Oliver flail crop shredder as the knives
are secured with a long rod within the rotor weldment as none
of the knife mounts are exposed.

You are probably right. I have never seen that type of one-sided bent-style knives all supported by a common rod inside (apparently.) Alternating rows of left pointing vs right pointing. Pretty interesting design. Like you, I am guessing it is pretty old and not something currently sold. And for sure if he is going to use it he needs to come up with castor wheels of some kind! [A whole lot cheaper than adding a roller.] The post holes are still there and look serviceable -- probably just a matter of measuring the diameter of the holes and searching around for castor wheels to do the job.

 

[arto98607]

It's been a long wet spring here in the Pacific Northwest and I've had to postpone my field mowing due to too wet ground.
Finally managed to do first mowing of our field May 13th, but had to do a second run about a week later and it's finally looking half decent now.

It's an old 5' Ford 917L Special with side slicers - perhaps another flail mower with hammer flails & more tractor HP would have done better job with only one mowing?

Anyway, my tractor is Ford 1310 (manual gearbox) with only 19 hp engine and this mower otherwise seems to be a perfect match with it.






Any opinions - should field "hay" like that require two flail mower runs?

 

[leonz]

It's been a long wet spring here in the Pacific Northwest and I've had to postpone my field mowing due to too wet ground.
Finally managed to do first mowing of our field May 13th, but had to do a second run about a week later and it's finally looking half decent now.

It's an old 5' Ford 917L Special with side slicers - perhaps another flail mower with hammer flails & more tractor HP would have done better job with only one mowing?

Anyway, my tractor is Ford 1310 (manual gearbox) with only 19 hp engine and this mower otherwise seems to be a perfect match with it.



View attachment 748128 View attachment 748129 View attachment 748130


Any opinions - should field "hay" like that require two flail mower runs?

Hello Art,

Judging by the pictures you were so kind to upload to show us
your field I would suggest that it needs a second haircut.
Traveling in the opposite direction or simply mowing in a spiral
and in so doing you can avoid dead grass and sod.


Leon

 

[JWR]

It's been a long wet spring here in the Pacific Northwest ...

Anyway, my tractor is Ford 1310 (manual gearbox) with only 19 hp engine and this mower otherwise seems to be a perfect match with it.



View attachment 748128 View attachment 748129 View attachment 748130


Any opinions - should field "hay" like that require two flail mower runs?

I am impressed with your job as-is. Also that the 1310 handles the 5ft flail well. Only you know how smooth you really want that field. If it is an open meadow (as it appears to be) I don't see any reason to mow it closer. As with most ground if you mow it multiple times it gets better/cleaner each time. If you want it smoother I'd wait a week and mow again and just do that until you are happy with it. "Half way to wall" each time (!)

 

[Lnk]

You are probably right. I have never seen that type of one-sided bent-style knives all supported by a common rod inside (apparently.) Alternating rows of left pointing vs right pointing. Pretty interesting design. Like you, I am guessing it is pretty old and not something currently sold. And for sure if he is going to use it he needs to come up with castor wheels of some kind! [A whole lot cheaper than adding a roller.] The post holes are still there and look serviceable -- probably just a matter of measuring the diameter of the holes and searching around for castor wheels to do the job.

Look behind the knives in that first picture, looks like a roller, unless I am mistaken.

 

[arto98607]

Thew biggest issue after the first mowing was the hay that got bent over by the tractor tires....

I did the second run in the opposite direction and it worked out pretty good.

 

[JWR]

Look behind the knives in that first picture, looks like a roller, unless I am mistaken.

Good catch -- you are right. I failed to see that. If you look real close it is slightly visible in the last picture too. Makes you wonder which (wheels vs roller) was the original configuration. Or maybe the machine was made to accommodate either one.

 

[leonz]

Flail mowers/flail crop shredders can have gauge wheels
in front or the rear to help keep the mower level from
front to back to protect the flail mower rotor.

 

[Fallon]

Good catch -- you are right. I failed to see that. If you look real close it is slightly visible in the last picture too. Makes you wonder which (wheels vs roller) was the original configuration. Or maybe the machine was made to accommodate either one.

My old Ford 917 came with a roller & caster parts. Caster rims were toast & removed before I got it. All rusted out. Never fixed them & just removed the mounting frame for them. Pretty sure all that was OEM. Used the roller that had been welded fixed many many years before I got it.

Not sure of the value having both, but some came that way.

 

[dieselscout80]

The rear casters/gauge wheels are for higher cutting heights than the rest roller is capable of cutting and rougher terrain due to the larger diameter.

 

[Kodiak45]

Good catch -- you are right. I failed to see that. If you look real close it is slightly visible in the last picture too. Makes you wonder which (wheels vs roller) was the original configuration. Or maybe the machine was made to accommodate either one.

Yes, it does have a standard roller like most flails. I’m going to try and get some gauge wheels for it. The blades are toast and will require a good sharpening before I use it next. I love not having windrows and I can’t wait to see the quality of cut with sharp blades

 

[Skagit]

The rear casters/gauge wheels are for higher cutting heights than the rest roller is capable of cutting and rougher terrain due to the larger diameter.

This ^^^^

Also typically you only see rear wheels on crop shredders. For normal use as a flail mower the rear roller works better.

 

[JWR]

Yes, it does have a standard roller like most flails. I’m going to try and get some gauge wheels for it. The blades are toast and will require a good sharpening before I use it next. I love not having windrows and I can’t wait to see the quality of cut with sharp blades

Do you have a source for new blades? I've found new knives for my antiquated Alamo flail are very inexpensive. If yours are too, it might pay to replace them rather than to try to sharpen them. That way the whole batch would represent a full set of spares for you which could be sharpened as needed.