Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[IslandTractor]

IslandTractor,

What you described, says that is a forward cutting flail, in that the shaft is turning the same way as the wheels on the tractor, and grabbed the log and pulled it under. I call that forward, when the top of the grass is cut first.

Reverse to me is when the shaft is turning opposite the directions of the wheels. Have I got this backward?

I don't think we are in agreement on which way the flail is moving. The log is jammed towards the back of the tractor, which is the front of the mower. I'm saying that the flail rotor is turning the opposite way from the tractor wheels. Now we just need to get our terminology coordinated. I was using the term backward to mean "reverse" as in reverse tilling.

 

[J_J]

I don't think we are in agreement on which way the flail is moving. The log is jammed towards the back of the tractor, which is the front of the mower. I'm saying that the flail rotor is turning the opposite way from the tractor wheels. Now we just need to get our terminology coordinated. I was using the term backward to mean "reverse" as in reverse tilling.

After looking at the situation again, I am in agreement with you as to the direction of the flail turning, which is opposite the tractor wheels direction, and that it is turning in reverse. Now is this the normal way a flail turns, or is this particular one built to turn in reverse, or can you switch direction?

 

[Aguanga]

After looking at the situation again, I am in agreement with you as to the direction of the flail turning, which is opposite the tractor wheels direction, and that it is turning in reverse. Now is this the normal way a flail turns, or is this particular one built to turn in reverse, or can you switch direction?

My ebay / Betst flail turns the same as Island's Caroni - reverse or oposite the direction of the tires... Can't say if it's standard rotation, but from what I've read/seen it seems to be more common this way.

 

[brandoro]

My LandPride turns opposite the rotation of the wheels when driving forward.

 

[tatra805]

i have no clue how my betst / geo / multi-brand flail turns....

but i do know its on its way and will be here on wednesday.....



Took the jump last week.

4ft with the y knives. Delivered including pto shaft for 1000 USD.

Bought it in Germany. Might seem high but this is europe.
Exactly the same one in green (GEO brand) goes 1500 USD in Czech and slovakia itsef wins the race with a pricetag of 2940 USD for the red colored one as i bought.

 

[tutorbell]

Looking at Alamo's site, their Super Heavy Duty flail seems to be forward (same as tractor tires) rotation. Looks like the Mott was set up this way as well. Some of the flails on Alamo's site seem to have reverse rotation as an option. Vrisimo's 3-point models seem to be forward rotation as well.

Okay, I have a theory...maybe the American flails tend to be forward rotation and the European designs tend to be reverse?

 

[J_J]

tutorbell ,

Thanks for the info. One can never know enough. It would be nice if anyone with a flail mower would chime in and state the direction their flail is turning, and if it has a reverse, and any advantages if any. I am assuming that the flails that have the flail axe, etc, would only turn in the direction that would allow them to axe cut.

 

[tutorbell]

FYI - One way to tell which direction your flail rotates is to see which side of the belt the idler tensioner is on. While standing on the side of the flail, draw an imaginary line between the two drive pullies. If the idler contacts the belt in front of this line, the flail is forward rotation. If the tensioner contacts the belt in back, the flail is reverse rotation.

If your flail doesn't have an idler pulley, this won't help you, and you'll just have to figure it out for yourself.

In general, models that can be reversed (such as the New Holland 918H) don't have an idler pulley, and are typically tensioned by adjusting the top drive pulley up or down in slotted holes. The Betst flail is set up with this type of adjustment as well, I believe.

 

[jmfox]

By looking at the hammers, my bobcat flail spins up in the front.

jmf

 

[J_J]

jmf,

Then that would be reverse rotation/cut, correct.