Flail Opinion
- Thread starter bullwest
- Start date
greg_g
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,086
- Location
- Western Kentucky
- Tractor
- JD3720 Cab, 300X loader with 4-in-1 bucket
I have a 74 inch 917H, and would love to help. But there's no way to put a value of that machine on the basis of those 3 photos. I'd have to check for slop in the bearings, see if the shafts and roller were true, evaluate wear on the roller bar and skids, condition of knives or hammers, et cetera.
What I can do is relate my own used flail experience. My 917H cost $150 at an implement auction. It was sitting on the ground so there was no way to test the bearings and bushings. Didn't have a PTO shaft or belts anyway. Some of the knives were missing, and at least 75% of them needed replacing. The knife hangers were all at least 50% grooved and in need of replacement too. But at $150 I thought it was worth the gamble to take it home, mount it on a tractor, and give the shafts and bearings the test of fire. I spun it with a temporary PTO shaft, and - to my relief - everything was straight and solid.
So that meant - to me - that it was ok to spend more money on it. After a new PTO shaft, knives/hangers/hardware, straightening the skids, replacing a few missing nuts and bolts, a new banded belt - I had an almost new/old 917H. It still needs a paint job, but at the moment I think I've got ~$600 invested. Once I get it blasted and painted, I'm speculating that it might bring upwards of $1000 from someone who actually knows what a flail mower is. I say that, because around here hardly anybody outside the highway department uses them, so the term is not used very often.
//greg//
What I can do is relate my own used flail experience. My 917H cost $150 at an implement auction. It was sitting on the ground so there was no way to test the bearings and bushings. Didn't have a PTO shaft or belts anyway. Some of the knives were missing, and at least 75% of them needed replacing. The knife hangers were all at least 50% grooved and in need of replacement too. But at $150 I thought it was worth the gamble to take it home, mount it on a tractor, and give the shafts and bearings the test of fire. I spun it with a temporary PTO shaft, and - to my relief - everything was straight and solid.
So that meant - to me - that it was ok to spend more money on it. After a new PTO shaft, knives/hangers/hardware, straightening the skids, replacing a few missing nuts and bolts, a new banded belt - I had an almost new/old 917H. It still needs a paint job, but at the moment I think I've got ~$600 invested. Once I get it blasted and painted, I'm speculating that it might bring upwards of $1000 from someone who actually knows what a flail mower is. I say that, because around here hardly anybody outside the highway department uses them, so the term is not used very often.
//greg//
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leonz
Super Member
I am totally with Greg on this one if
you can inspect it and run it
and handle the repairs then decide,
but the 917s are good flailmowers
and parts are available.
_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
you can inspect it and run it
and handle the repairs then decide,
but the 917s are good flailmowers
and parts are available.
_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
flusher
Super Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
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- 7,538
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- Sacramento
- Tractor
- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
I need to acted asap, whats your opinion on this Ford 917 90" flail for $800
Should be easy to check out if it's still hanging on that tractor. Check all the grease fittings to be sure it's been lubed recently (no hardened grease on the zerks). Check the belts for signs of misalignment. Then do some mowing and judge the quality of the cut.
Good luck.
leonz
Super Member
Just be very sure to crank out that top link before you activate the Power Take Off,
otherwise the flail mower will nose dive into the sod.
The flailmower is supposed to be riding on the skids of the flail mower and not the
way it looks in the photos.
_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
greg_g
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,086
- Location
- Western Kentucky
- Tractor
- JD3720 Cab, 300X loader with 4-in-1 bucket
Yup. Pretty clearly the OE skids have been removed. Replacements are hard to find and expensive when you do. But I would never operate mine without them. If you end up buying that, I'd have some fabricated before first use.
//greg//
//greg//
leonz
Super Member
PLease look at the Flail-Master - Mower Replacement Parts, Commercial Riding Mower Parts, Rotary Cutter Parts, Blade grinders, Trimmer Line, Mowing Accessories - Flail Master - Flailmaster - web site and the Caroni S.p.a. - Costruzioni meccaniche home page to see what they look likeand it will be easy to do, I would check with flailmasterto see if they have a skid that would work first before I started the smoke wrench.
_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:
leonz
Super Member
That would be the fastest way if they can get them quickly,
otherwise I would actually call Wengers and ask if they
may have set of used ones in thier inventory then Flailmaster
and ask if they have them in inventory.
Either way you will have a great mower if you buy the Ford or the
Caroni FRTM1900 with the Hydraulic Side Shift. If you do not buy
the side shift now you can always add it later.
The FRTM1900 has a two position hitch mounting system without
the side shift.
_________________________________________________________________
"Once you go flail you never go back":thumbsup::licking::drool:
otherwise I would actually call Wengers and ask if they
may have set of used ones in thier inventory then Flailmaster
and ask if they have them in inventory.
Either way you will have a great mower if you buy the Ford or the
Caroni FRTM1900 with the Hydraulic Side Shift. If you do not buy
the side shift now you can always add it later.
The FRTM1900 has a two position hitch mounting system without
the side shift.
_________________________________________________________________
"Once you go flail you never go back":thumbsup::licking::drool:
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