Anyone have an Alamo flail?

[Builder]

Finally found a flail that might work for me. I wanted 8', but can't find one in good shape anywhere. It's an Alamo 7.5' that's in decent shape at a good price. Looks like it was made in late 90's. Driveshaft is centered, not offset, which is another feature I wanted. Even has a set of rear tires & wheels.

Anyone have real world experience with them?

 

[gwdixon]

I have an old one. Make sure you can get ALL of the parts for it before jumping the gun. I couldn't find one bearing and the correct belt for a total rebuild. It was modified to work but should not have been necessary.

There are several suppliers so just Google your model number and see what comes up.

BTW, they run and cut great when in good shape. Not a lot of vibration either.

 

[bullbreaker]

Anyone have real world experience with them?

Builder
Heres link to couple more for sale.Probably to small for what your thinking about.
ALAMO Hay and Forage Equipment, Used ALAMO Hay and Forage Equipment, ALAMO Hay and Forage Equipment For Sale At TractorHouse.com - Page 1
Boone

 

[sodamo]

Alamo seems to be our County's flail of choice. They get quite a workout doing alongside the roads.

 

[brain55]

I used to work for an equipment dealer that sold them. They seemed well built to me. We sold everything from small 3-pt mount PTO units to large hydraulic boom mowers and combinations with both. I don't remember any issues where I thought they were subpar.

Brian

 

[Builder]

Okay. I'm officially a flail owner. Got the Alamo EHD 88. Looks like an 88" cut (obviously). Little smaller than I wanted, but finding an 8 footer around here was like a needle in a haystack. The few I found were $2-$3,000 used.

driveline turns freely. 80% of the paint is still on it. Can't see any knives missing, although they look "thin"-almost like they're worn/rusted to the point of being thin (or maybe that's the way they are-thin). Belts look OK. All labels still on it. Driveshaft has slip clutch and it even has a set of adjustable rear tires out back. Rear roller looks good & straight. Obligatory wasp nests neatly installed underneath with complimentary wasps. :laughing:

$600. I only had to drive 50 miles each way to get it. Took more time to pull it up on my trailer with a come along than drive either way.

 

[gwdixon]

Geez...what a steal! Congratulations.

 

[leonz]

Okay. I'm officially a flail owner. Got the Alamo EHD 88. Looks like an 88" cut (obviously). Little smaller than I wanted, but finding an 8 footer around here was like a needle in a haystack. The few I found were $2-$3,000 used.

driveline turns freely. 80% of the paint is still on it. Can't see any knives missing, although they look "thin"-almost like they're worn/rusted to the point of being thin (or maybe that's the way they are-thin). Belts look OK. All labels still on it. Driveshaft has slip clutch and it even has a set of adjustable rear tires out back. Rear roller looks good & straight. Obligatory wasp nests neatly installed underneath with complimentary wasps. :laughing:

$600. I only had to drive 50 miles each way to get it. Took more time to pull it up on my trailer with a come along than drive either way.

=========================================================

I am glad you find one,


A couple how too's and where fore's:



You will probably want to drain the gear oil and replace it with new oil.
the grain most likely has a magnet in it to catch small metal bits.
If it were me I would use the kendall 90 or 140 weight in the squirt bottles.

look at the belts a bit closer and you will find that they may or may not be digging into the molded part of the belt and if the belt rubber starts to fall off as you run you hand along the belts these belts are checking and cracking even though they are in one piece. This is due to belt wear and ozone in the air. I have had belts break all the way to the cover layer that is at the top of the pulley and not break all the way through and still work.


If you buy replacement belts to have on hand be sure they have the same lot number as they are weaved and molded in batches.

If its a web belt with 2-3-4 V belts it is a very strong belt to begin with.


I will assume the tires are solid wrapped no flat ones like most of them in shredder service.


You may want to disassemble the slip clutch to see how much of the clutch is left and replace the wear surfaces.

If you use some alcohol to clean it it will not have an effect on the clutch as it will evaporate.


About the knives-if they are designed to have a flat guage edge on the bottom if it is grass knife, my grass knives have two cutting edges which taper to the narrow width base (which is a gauge) and there is none (Knife comes to a point) its time to sell the bad knives for scrap-dont worry about crying at their funeral -I have 30 year old knives that I have not scrapped yet-stiil in the old feed bucket-I will use them for really bad brush areas and save my good knives for the turf.


The mathews knives have two cutting edges for their shredders and you may want to use them instead of the Alamo type blades-if you change them.

have fun

 

[Builder]

I need to set aside a day to go through this thing and get it healthy again. I just hope there's nothing too expensive to fix. Looks like it had very little use.

More damage from wet leaves sitting on top of the sheetmetal than anything.