1. Not to change the subject but I'm new to the message board and
thought this would be the best thread to post my question.
2. I just purchased a usedd 917H. I think its about 25 years old or so
but still has some shine on the paint!
3. It spent the last 20 years just sitting in a barn so its in very good shape.
4. However, being in Michigan, the blades are pretty rusted and need attention.
5. I mowed 4 acres with it yesterday just cuz I was too excited to try it out rather
than wait for new blades! Anyhow, I can't believe I didn't buy one of these years ago?
6. I absolutely love it dull blades and all. The problem is, I could write a book about all the
stuff I don't know about these things.
7. On the ID plate it says, as I recall 2274 something?
8. I think its a 74 inch cut as the dimensions of the unit is 79 inches wide N/I the belt housing.
9. My blades are shaped like the delta-wings on a B58 Hustler. I don't know what these are
called or what they are designed for.
10. They hang from what looks like a D-ring. Can I replace just the blades or do I need
to do the rings and keepers at the same time?
11. Can I sharpen them?
12. Are they a knife-edge or do I just square the leading-edge off?
It has 3 rows of 11 blades.
Thanks for any input I can get on this!
Mark
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Hello Mark, Welcome to the forum.
Glad to see that you know the B-58 Hustler,
I am a fan/novice/ of the Lockeed SR-71 in
its various configurations.
I want also to welcome you as the newest
North American member of the Flail Mower Nation
as we are maintaining a world wide membership.
1. No worries, you have come to the right place to ask questions about
your integrally mounted Ford 917H Flail Mower.
a. NOW as far as your new implement is concerned;
when you have the time please check to see if it has
a trash door that can be removed to allow you to mow
tall heavy brush-if it does you have a big bonus in this implement.
2. Many of the forum members have the 917H as mowers
3. A visit to the car wash or washing it with a steam jenny or a hot high pressure washer
with it after mowing season will provide you with many years of use.
4. The blades are rusty, but it does not mean they are damaged or dull.
5. many of use have give up or sold our rotary cutter or finish mowers and
use only the flail mower.
6. Please visit the 100 plus pages on the forum here on flail mowers by
typing flail mower in the search box to learn more about flailmowers.
7. Model 22 74-inch cut
8. You have what is referred to as a scoop knive.
9. you only replace the D rings/bolts/nuts etc. when they are broken or damaged
from impacting an object.
10. They can be sharpened but as they are hardened the cutting edge will last a very
long time.
11. you can sharpen them but to maintain the edge and to prevent losing the temper of
the metal you should use a wet well kitchen knive grinder as the water keeps the
grinding wheel and knive edge cool while resurfacing it at the proper angle.
12. see above 11.
When you remive the V belt guard you will see a lotof rubber dust and you needto scrape this away ans wash it with some hot water from ahose if possible to be sure the grease fitting or fittings are exposed on the pulleys and side weldment to enable you to grease them occasionally.
The flail mower rotor bearings should only be greased every six to seven hours of mowing with 5 -7 pumps of grease, no more than that. The rear reoller should be greased with tor three shots of grease at every mowing to keep these bearings well lubricated.
When you remove the V belt cover you will see that the V belt or belts are cracked and the rubber is coming off into your hands as dust. The belt or belts need to be replaced with new ones. The Kevlar V belts will absorb and shed shock loads better than the black rubber belts and are not very expensive. Also please note that if you need two belts that you MUST be sure they come with the same lot number as the threading will be identical and this prevents premature V belt failure.
Be very sure to use Blue Loctite on the nots holding the V belt guard in place or Nylock nuts replacing the original nuts holding the V belt guard in place.
You can purchase replacement parts from clean cutter, flail master or Ford New Holland for your "new to you" flail mower.
Be sure to run the flail mower at the 540 RPM engine speed on the engine tachometer to assure the best mowing and reshredding of the clippings.
The great advantage of a flail mower is the units ability to reshred the clippings but a scoop knive cannot fo this as well as a side slicer knive. The scoop knive is a compromise between the side slicer and the hammer knive used for Heavy brush and land clearing.
Now as far as sharpening I would not worry too much about it
unless you have a lot of rocks that are heaved up by frost.
As you live in Michigan, do you live near Ithaca or Bay City in The Thumb?
Happy Mowing and welcome to the Flail Mower Nation
Only 18, 885+- mowers to go.
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Once you go flail you never go back!!!!
Pronovost or not at all!!!