Flail Mower Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace?

   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #1  

nanaman

New member
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
9
Location
Virginia - Northern Neck
Tractor
NH 5610S
For you experienced flail mower users, do you sharpen or just replace your mower knives.

nanaman
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #2  
Depends upon your workload and wallet. Replacing rather than sharpening is more expensive in terms of cash outlay, but cheaper in terms of time invested. I have more time than money, so I sharpen mine. I keep a new spare to compare alongside those that are destined for the grinder. When the dull ones approach 1/2 the size of the new one, then I replace them.

//greg//
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #3  
I"ll echo greg's comments. And add, usually i sharpen them on the mower either by standing the mower upright by lifting it with the loader if not attached to the tractor, or by unhooking the pto shaft and toplink and using a comealong to pivot the mower on the lift arms. Note that in either case a safety chain is attached to the loader bucket or ROPS so that a serious oops doesnt occur.
Then grip each knife with a pair of vice grips and touch them up with a 4 inch angle grinder.
Of course one wants a good face shield long sleeves and gloves also.
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #4  
Its only 3 bolts to remove on my JD LX4, so I remove the blades and put them on the bench grinder and do a good job of sharpening them. Takes all of a hour if you take your time.
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks all: I will try to sharpen the knives to see if the time needed makes it worthwhile.

nanaman
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #6  
For you experienced flail mower users, do you sharpen or just replace your mower knives.

nanaman

Don't forget you can also just flip them over/reverse them when one side gets dull. That probably takes longer than grinding them in place but doesn't take long especially with an air ratchet.
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #7  
Don't forget you can also just flip them over/reverse them when one side gets dull. That probably takes longer than grinding them in place but doesn't take long especially with an air ratchet.

That's what I need to take the time to do. The current edge is shot on most of them. I'll probably touch them up while I have them off.
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #8  
Lift the mower attatched to 3pt, secure with jack stands, I use a 4" grinder you just have to shine them up no need to take a lot of material, every two sharpening s I reverse the blades, and repeat the process.
 
   / Flail Knives. Sharpen or replace? #9  
Lift the mower attatched to 3pt, secure with jack stands, I use a 4" grinder you just have to shine them up no need to take a lot of material, every two sharpening s I reverse the blades, and repeat the process.

About 90% of my knives are worn into a nice rounded end rather than square. That side is pretty well shot. It was that way when I bought it. The back side still looks pretty good. Just need to turn them around and shine the other side.
 
 
 
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