Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !!

   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !! #1  

drjay9051

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
260
Location
Morriston, Fl. 40 miles west of Ocala. More cows
Tractor
Kioti DK 40 HST
So I needed new blades for my Caroni TL 1500. Replacement blades (OEM) were $2.99 each at Agri Supply, thats about $270 for all 88 of them !!

I contacted Flail Master they had blades for $.62 each. Big difference. They sent out sample blade and length, width seemed good.

Just got the pack of 88 yesterday.

I go out to replace the blades and a small problem. The hole for the bolt is too small or is the bolt for the hole too big.

Agri Supply description is 3/8 bolt. I assume this was a 3/8 hole. The FlailMaster blade hole is right at 3/8" which is the spec I described over the phone. No fault of Flail Master. The hole in the original blade is 7/16. My first thought was drill out the holes a bit. I tried, just too much with what I have at home (bits etc).

So i'm off to the store to pick up some smaller diameter bolts/locknuts.

Just wanted to share so nobody has similar problem.

One more thing: the OEM blades are just over 1/8 inch thick. The Flail Master blades are 1/16 inch. I am not suggesting Flail Master blades are inferior. Maybe the metal is more durable. I suppose I'll find out.

Again : Flail Master did not make any errors and service was quick. Not sure if the description for OEM blades was incorrect or if I should have realized a 1/8 bolt requires a larger hole. Here is the link to bolt description. I assumed it referred to bolt hole.

Type A&F Caroni Flail Rotor Blades | Agri Supply, 49410
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !! #2  
So I needed new blades for my Caroni TL 1500. Replacement blades (OEM) were $2.99 each at Agri Supply, thats about $270 for all 88 of them !!

I contacted Flail Master they had blades for $.62 each. Big difference. They sent out sample blade and length, width seemed good.

Just got the pack of 88 yesterday.

I go out to replace the blades and a small problem. The hole for the bolt is too small or is the bolt for the hole too big.

Agri Supply description is 3/8 bolt. I assume this was a 3/8 hole. The FlailMaster blade hole is right at 3/8" which is the spec I described over the phone. No fault of Flail Master. The hole in the original blade is 7/16. My first thought was drill out the holes a bit. I tried, just too much with what I have at home (bits etc).

So i'm off to the store to pick up some smaller diameter bolts/locknuts.

Just wanted to share so nobody has similar problem.

One more thing: the OEM blades are just over 1/8 inch thick. The Flail Master blades are 1/16 inch. I am not suggesting Flail Master blades are inferior. Maybe the metal is more durable. I suppose I'll find out.

Again : Flail Master did not make any errors and service was quick. Not sure if the description for OEM blades was incorrect or if I should have realized a 1/8 bolt requires a larger hole. Here is the link to bolt description. I assumed it referred to bolt hole.

Type A&F Caroni Flail Rotor Blades | Agri Supply, 49410

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Hello and good afternoon drjay,



AS the side slicers are only 1/16 inch thick I will suggest that you purchase
88 fender washers to fit between the replacement side slicers to take up the
slop that will be evident when you install them without a fender washer.

The side slicers for the Caroni are hardened steel and unless it is stated
in the catalog these side slicers are not hardened.

These blades will wear much more quickly with your mowing conditions.


If you can I would send them one of the originals-preferably a new one
for them to match up only because of the mounting stations hole diameter
and because the two replacement sice licers will only equal the width of one of
the original Caroni Side slicers.

I would also be sure to ask for the original knive back from Flailmaster.


I am not trying to spend your money drjay, I just dont want to see you having
any problems as they are the thinner side slicer that the Mott Mowers used for turf grass

leonz
 
Last edited:
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !! #3  
Ordering errors aside, you got what you paid for. About 1/2 the knife the OEM supplied.
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !!
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Ordering errors aside, you got what you paid for. About 1/2 the knife the OEM supplied.

I cannot disagree. When I saw the price of the OEM blade it struck me as excessive. That is why i went with Flail Master. The blade I received is described as fine cut. It does cut quite finely, think golf course. I'd imagine that by the end of the summer my bahia will have pretty much chewed the blades.

Lesson learned. Flail Master does have "heavy duty" thicker blades.
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !!
  • Thread Starter
#5  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Hello and good afternoon drjay,



AS the side slicers are only 1/16 inch thick I will suggest that you purchase
88 fender washers to fit between the replacement side slicers to take up the
slop that will be evident when you install them without a fender washer.

The side slicers for the Caroni are hardened steel and unless it is stated
in the catalog these side slicers are not hardened.

These blades will wear much more quickly with your mowing conditions.


If you can I would send them one of the originals-preferably a new one
for them to match up only because of the mounting stations hole diameter
and because the two replacement sice licers will only equal the width of one of
the original Caroni Side slicers.

I would also be sure to ask for the original knive back from flailmaster.


I am not trying to spend your money drjay, I just dont want to see you having
any problems as they are the thinner side slicer that the Mott Mowers used for turf grass

leonz

Leonz:

Thanks for the input. Too late. Blades are on. They cut quite nicely but likely will not last too long.

Lesson learned. I am looking at the Flail Master catalog and they do have heavy duty blades. Mounting holes are oblong but not a problem as long as bolt fits.

I should have compared thickness of OEM to Flail Master replacement before ordering.

The worst part is the 3 hours it took to remove and replace the blades. I'm wondering if next time around I can replace the bolts with something like a lynch pin or the connectors that look like big safety pins (no clue what they are called)? Possibly clevis with cotter pin ?

Anyway, no vibration, slack between knives not a problem as when it is up to speed they don't move around . Grass looks like a golf course
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !! #6  
I am glad the replacement side slicers worked.

A metric cotter pin and key is more of a pain than the nut
and bolt mounting method you have now drjay as you also
have to hold on to the head of the cotter pin to unbend it,
(Been There Done That) with lots of )(*&^%$#$%^&*(
and banged fingers.

I am glad it worked and you are happy with the condition of the turf.
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !! #7  
I updated my 74" Ford 917H with FlailMaster HD T-knives/hangers/brackets three or four years ago (some call them scoop knives). I used a driver-drill with a socket end to speed up the job. If that "golf course cut" isn't actually necessary, you should be able to replace the 88 side slicers with considerably fewer T-knives next time.

Thought it might be time to give mine the first sharpening last year. Lifted the mower, only to discover they still looked like new. I've got rocky hillside pasture, so these T-knives seem pretty tough. Not being fine cut knives, rough treatment is expected. As such, the "oblong" hole acts to absorb shock. This in turn helps extend blade life.

//greg//
 
   / Flail mower blade replacement: Observations !!
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I updated my 74" Ford 917H with FlailMaster HD T-knives/hangers/brackets three or four years ago (some call them scoop knives). I used a driver-drill with a socket end to speed up the job. If that "golf course cut" isn't actually necessary, you should be able to replace the 88 side slicers with considerably fewer T-knives next time.

Thought it might be time to give mine the first sharpening last year. Lifted the mower, only to discover they still looked like new. I've got rocky hillside pasture, so these T-knives seem pretty tough. Not being fine cut knives, rough treatment is expected. As such, the "oblong" hole acts to absorb shock. This in turn helps extend blade life.



//greg//
Thanks for info, Greg
 
 
 
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