Flail Mower RX

[leonz]

You know your having a bad day when:


The 64 dethatching knives you have on your flail mower look like tongue depressors
and you need to replace them.

 

[DocDryden]

i concur

 

[Member]

I was just about to post a new message asking about how sharp flail mower knives should be.

I just purchased a used John Deere 25A. It's turning out to be a bit more of a project than I was hoping, the rotor bearings are disintegrating. I have taken it all apart (it was easy because it has lived indoors all of its life) and luckily the rotor shaft and bearing carriers appear to be fine.

While I have it apart I'd like to resolve all of its issues so that it will hopefully be trouble free for at least the next couple years. The flail knives are pretty dull, almost blunt. They're not rounded off at the corners, just not sharp at all on what would be the cutting edge. How sharp is a new John Deere 25A flail knife, the kind that looks like a duck foot?

Thanks!

 

[DocDryden]

I plan to install a few new blades on my 25A. Here is a few photos of my new blades, I hope it helps.

 

[Member]

Mr. DocDryden, that was extremely helpful, thank you!

You do live up to your tag line, that's for sure.

 

[Halftrack]

Arn't DETHATCHING knives suppose to look like tounge depressors? I could see a problem if they are shorted than the cutting knives. Just wondering out loud.

 

[leonz]

Aren't DETHATCHING knives suppose to look like tounge depressors?
I could see a problem if they are shorted than the cutting knives.
Just wondering out loud.

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Hello Halftrack,


Derthatching blades/knives are supposed to have square edges when new and when
they look like tongue depressors (after you have flipped them over to expose the new
edge its time to send them to the smelter BECAUSE THEY ACT LIKE COLD BUTTER KNIVES
AND THEY SIMPLY bounce off and barely slit the ground

It is preferable to dethatch with only the dethatching blades only in the
knive stations after the sod has been mowed.

 

[leonz]

I was just about to post a new message asking about how sharp flail mower knives should be.

I just purchased a used John Deere 25A.
It's turning out to be a bit more of a project than I was hoping, the rotor bearings are disintegrating.
I have taken it all apart (it was easy because it has lived indoors all of its life) and luckily the rotor
shaft and bearing carriers appear to be fine.

While I have it apart I'd like to resolve all of its issues so that it will hopefully be trouble free for at least
the next couple years.

The flail knives are pretty dull, almost blunt. They're not rounded off at the corners,
just not sharp at all on what would be the cutting edge.

How sharp is a new John Deere 25A flail knife, the kind that looks like a duck foot?

Thanks!

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Hello Member,


I want to welcome you as the newest member of the "Flail Mower Nation".
We are a happy lot of flailmower owners and we are only a PM or Posting
away with your questions.





As you have found an excellent mower- I will tell you to invest in a set of new "scoop knives"

The hardened knives require you to use a wet grinder to fix them properly and the other issue

is gauging the cutting edge as the new "scoop knives" will give you a continuos level cut across.

If you cna invest in a wet well kitchen knive grinder you will be home free and if you decide to invest
in a flail mower with side slicer knives you will be in heaven as you can keep thew same beautiful edge for years.

The mower will give you a great cut but a bit of a waffle effect on the grass and you can remedy that by
mowing at right angles if you have the time or overlap in opposite directions.


The "scoop or shovel" duck foot blades are a dual puropse knive for for brush and grass.