Flail Mower Caroni Flail Mower - Hydraulic Shift Kit

[texbaylea]

I purchased a Caroni TM1900BSC flail mower from Agri-Supply and like it for my mowing needs. Right now I am running it at the highest setting for the high grass and light brush - will set it lower when I have it all knocked down to that level.

Now for the reason for this post! I also ordered the hydraulic shift kit to allow adjustment of how far the mower sticks out beyond the right tire. It came today.

THERE WERE NO INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS!!!! ALSO THERE ARE NO PRE-DRILLED HOLES TO MOUNT IT!

Where and how it mounts are fairly obvious but it would be helpful to be given some idea idea of exactly where is the best place to mount it.

I called Agri-Supply and found out I got one of the first two units they got in and they just shipped it right out. Agri-Supply promised to contact Caroni to get more information. A detailed photo of a mounted unit at least would be helpful.

It is raining right now so that is why I am not out there fiddling with it.

I have 3 remote valves but only 2 have connections at the rear. I will be working to add a third set of QDs at the rear.

I will post more as this develops.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think I saw a photo of the installed kit on one of Caroni's marketing pamphlets on line. Not detailed enough to make up for the lack of directions however. I imagine they have instructions in Italian but have not gotten around to translating those.

I have the same mower and so far haven't figured out how I would use the hydraulic shifter. It is a great idea to be able to shift the mower a foot or so to the right. On my tractor the mower sits offset to the right side anyway so I'm not quite sure how I would use additional shift. The standard set up for me sticks out to the right about 15-18 inches beyond the right rear tire. In fact, the 75" mower doesn't quite cover the left rear tire. It actually makes mowing very easy as I just go clockwise and keep the left front tire just barely in the previously mowed area.

I only have about four hours mowing experience with mine so far. I'm using it more like a bush hog than a finish mower but it gives a finish mower like cut. Pretty amazing to turn a collection of bushes into something that resembles a golf course fairway in a few seconds. Mine is set at the lower level. Seems to work very well although it is more likely to hit junk. I've ripped an old car fender into confetti, chewed up a tire pretty well and wrapped an old vehicle frame around the mower drum so far. No harm to the mower but it took a while to disentangle the mower from the frame.

 

[texbaylea]

I really like mine. At the higher setting it does leave some stragglers behind but I can accept that for a while. I have about 10 hours on mine but right now we have a reroofing project going on and the tractor is in heavy use hauling off the detritus.

We have a lot of small oaks I am preserving while I am taking out the cedar and yaupon. I figure that the shift kit will help me dodge the stuff I want to save. Plus letting me reach farther under the trees.

I think that I saw the same brochure and plan to work from that if Agri-Supply cannot get me better.

I have some big C-clamps to hold the unit in place while I drill the necessary holes. It looks like the kit will set the mower about 6" further back. Will have to check the PTO shaft overlap carefully as it will change over a large range.

Vernon

 

[MarkV]

Hey guys I was wondering if you can answer a question for me. If one wanted to off set the mower without the hydraulic shift kit can it be done manually? I read where Island Tractor’s mower is off set 15 to 18” already so I assume the shift kit would off set it even more. Can it be set manually as much as the shift kit allows and left that way?

Thanks,
MarkV

 

[IslandTractor]

Hey guys I was wondering if you can answer a question for me. If one wanted to off set the mower without the hydraulic shift kit can it be done manually? I read where Island Tractor痴 mower is off set 15 to 18 already so I assume the shift kit would off set it even more. Can it be set manually as much as the shift kit allows and left that way?

Thanks,
MarkV

Yes, I think it would be a simple exercise of moving the hitch pins to the left side (facing forwards) and then reattaching the mower. The PTO shaft is slightly offset to the left normally so that when you shift the mower to the right it will be slightly offset to the right. The toplink structure also unbolts and is then rebolted to the left side. I haven't done it but it looks like it involves about a half dozen bolts would take only about 30 minutes longer than hooking the mower up. Maybe less time with air tools.

Photos give you an idea of what is involved but I don't have a photo that shows the top down view. Sorry about the oil spill from the gear box. Overfilled.

 

[texbaylea]

MarkV
Only the TM versions have the options of two different offsets with about 8" difference between them. You would have to go to the Agri-Supply and look at the technical data on the flail mowers. There are drawings showing the offsets but be prepared to convert from metric to SAE to understand them. Part of why I decided to get the shift kit was I keep forgetting about how much the mower sticks out on the right side. Haven't done any major damage to anything - YET.

Vernon

 

[texbaylea]

MarkV

I did not fully answer your question. The rails on the shift kit are 50" long but I figure the available amount of shift is less than 24". I have not unpacked the kit yet but will get a measurement on the cylinder when I can.

Vernon

 

[GreenMtns]

Hi Vernon


I received the kit last Friday. I e-mailed Agri-Supply about the lack of instructions and they e-mailed a set from Italy.
I mounted it yesterday. It only took about an hour.

It is easy if you lay all the mounting hardware out before you begin. You will need a 19mm wrench and socket. (A 5/8 wrench or socket will do) The 8 short bolts will bolt the tower down. The long ones and locking nuts are for the rail bracket. The left side of the rail bracket is located on the far left side of the mower (looking froward). You will need a 1/2" drill bit. I first removed the tower. Then I placed the rail set on the mower and held the front rail up with a jack at the right height. I then drilled the top holes on each side and bolted it it in place. Then I finished drilling the others and bolting them down. One of the flat edged washers had to be ground a little to fit behind the front guards. At this point you are 90 % done. The red bracket they call the "CONTRAST PLATE "is bolted to the inside of the left most 3pt bracket with the included bolts. All that is left is to mount the hydraulic cylinder between the "CONTRAST PLATE " and the right side of the rail bracket.

On my tractor the out side tire to tire measures 60". The mower will offset about 28" to the right full offset. When retracted it is still somewhat offset but only about 12".

It is really a well thought out setup. I like the mower very much. But the real plus is the customer service I have received from Agri-Supply. They have been with me every step of the way. Agri-Supply is run the way all companies should be run.

Here are a couple of clickable images of the mounting.






AL

 

[GreenMtns]

Hi IslandTractor

I see by your picture you found as I did that Agri-Supply fills the gear boxes and preps the products they sell. When I received mine I read all the warnings about it not having grease or oil in it so went ahead and put the proper amount in. Then I tried out the mower. Out came the oil all over the gear box.

I should have checked before putting in the oil but experience is a great teacher.

Al

 

[IslandTractor]

Hi IslandTractor

I see by your picture you found as I did that Agri-Supply fills the gear boxes and preps the products they sell.

Yep. However I found that even after checking the level, when the oil level was between the two marks, that it continued to overflow when it got hot. It has stopped doing that now but the oil level is reading just at the lower hatch mark. I guess I'll just watch it and keep it at that lower level.