Flail Mower Kubota B7100 & flail - does this look ok?

[biffo]

Here is a photo of the mower as used for 15 minutes today, I had most of the set-up prepared yesterday and just made final tightening of the fixing today. I was very keen to just run the mower today as I had never heard/seen it run, so just getting to the point of trying it out was high on the priority list.

It works extremely well to my eyes and ears, quiet, smooth and efficient, can't really ask for more (except maybe the correct set of arms!). It's the first time I have used a 3 point link and the first to tow a mower, my previous experience was with the mmm for 2 years.

The differences as they appear to me are - on a highish cut it took off the top of the grass and rolled the lower part flat. Once the cut was lowered it cut everything was very uniform and even spaying the finely cut grass out of the back. I have left the back open to ensure that not too much grass collects in the mower. It appears to use less power than the 3 rotor Kubota mmm. This was after mowing some thick/lush 12" high grass that would have slowed the mmm considerably, but had little effect with the flail. So for us as we are here only every 3 or 4 weeks or so it is a massive advantage.

Turning was difficult, due in part to no front weights (bought some today and will bring them with on our next visit). Have attached a 53# concrete block to the front, a little inelegant but made a fair difference. Will be fitting a set of 100# weights later.
I also felt that the agility even with the correct weight on the front will be no where as good as a mmm, so the mowing pattern has to change to allow for that.

Going back to turning and taking a point that Bill made. When turning, the mower was part of the problem of losing some steerage. This was seen by stopping in mid turn and lifting the mower, it would jump about 9" sideways every time even though the turns were quite gentle.

Overall I am very pleased and feel it's the right choice for our use, the rear roller will make a big difference as there are thoudands of cattle hoof prints in the ground and I hope they will in time disappear.

Have taken all that has been advised so far and decided to try to implement most of the things suggested by Monday, I don't get a lot of time to sort this out as we are here for such a short time and there's plenty to do elsewhere.

One thing that was in the parts catalogue is an optional front wheel set, I wonder if it will smooth out the turning problem by taking some of the weight off of the tractor and smoothing the turn out?

From the photo below it's possible to see that that the attachments are now on 2 & 3, so the next step is to try to invert (thanks) the brackets to see if it is possible to fit to 1 & 3.

The rear mower arms are a problem. Out of the photo (sorry) they end between the front arms. It appears the correct position is outside of these arms. If I try (without altering the angles of the bends) to fit them at 1&3 they will cross over, so until I can get them to my friend they have to live where they are but maybe adjusted with bolts and washers to the best position for the front arms on 1&3.

The vertical lifting arms on the tractor are bent, but have to say that's how I bought the tractor with them so. That doesn't mean that they wont get worse but so far it is the same as before.

The lower lifting arms can't splay out further due to brackets at their start point, the purpose of which is to locate and activate the lift for the mmm, so once that's removed (next week) they will travel a bit further before the check link stops them.

If you have read this far you are heroic, but I do feel that all of you have helped so much in making me see it as it is with some great advice

Thank you

Jamie

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

My flail has the front wheels and it doesn't help it turn. I even shortened the top link to put more weight on the front didnt help. My manual says to adjust the top linkto put more weight on the roller.
Bill

 

[rambler]

My brother in law has a 7100.

Your tractor is wrong - it does not have the correct lower arms on it.

The correct arms are shorter & have bends to them. As many small very compact tractors have, the arm come back a bit from the tractor to clear the tires, then bend outward, and then bend again to be parrallel with the first section of the arm. (Common design for tractors under 20 hp...)

I do not know where those arms come from, but they are all wrong for a 7100. Shorter & bent. No wonder you mentioned in a different post that your 3pt moves up a little fast!

--->Paul

 

[biffo]

My flail has the front wheels and it doesn't help it turn. I even shortened the top link to put more weight on the front didnt help. My manual says to adjust the top linkto put more weight on the roller.
Bill

Bill, have you got around the difficult turning problem or is there a driving method that you use when you want to turn?

Thanks
Jamie

 

[biffo]

My brother in law has a 7100.

Your tractor is wrong - it does not have the correct lower arms on it.

The correct arms are shorter & have bends to them. As many small very compact tractors have, the arm come back a bit from the tractor to clear the tires, then bend outward, and then bend again to be parrallel with the first section of the arm. (Common design for tractors under 20 hp...)

I do not know where those arms come from, but they are all wrong for a 7100. Shorter & bent. No wonder you mentioned in a different post that your 3pt moves up a little fast!

--->Paul

Paul, I can't say 100% that the arms are correct but they were the arms that came with the tractor and as it is old has probably been through a few different owners?
Having asked a Kubota specialist ( I have seen their collection of used parts which is quite extensive for this model ) they say they are correct as far as they know.

Have to say though that people with your experience often see things as they should be, my first thought on trying to set this mower up was to question the length if not the shape of the lower tractor arms.

It's obvious that the mower sits too far behind the tractor, it's the reason for starting the thread, but working out if the Kubota mower attachment brackets are too long or if the Kubota tractor arms are too long/wrong shape is the difficult bit now.

Is there a chance at any time of a photo of the lower arms from your brother in law's tractor, and the length from bearing centre to bearing centre too?

Thanks for taking the time

Jamie

 

[Ductape]

I did a little googling.......... and to me your lower three point arms look consistent with pictures I've found of other B7100s. I suspect they are a little longish on the 7100 to be able to lifta full sized cat. 1 attachment high enough to get it off the ground. You can look at the pics and judge for yourself whether or not theylook the same length as yours. I think the real key is to put a little more weight on the front of the tractor..... if you have to, add the maximum Kubota allows.

 

[KennyV]

Your mower mounting points are set up wrong... If you correct this is your choice.
As for turning:
Do you have a rollingpin? (used in baking)... If you try to turn it while applying weight you will soon notice the problem.
A flail mower has a long roller that supports the mower. To turn sharp you will need to raise some of the weight off the roller. Dragging the roller around sharp turns is the main reason for roller end bearings failure, lots of thrust load.
To turn, (with everything properly set up), a slight lift will work. You will also have to incorporate adequate front counter-weight.
Flail mowers are hard to beat used within their design limits. KennyV

 

[biffo]

Have looked at the photos above and those B7100 lower tractor arms appear to be the same, or if not then very close to what I have.
It made me google the original original tractor that this flail was sold for, a B1700 and have to say that the arms look the same on those too.

The roller is a problem in turning I can see that now, maybe it would be a good idea for Kubota to fit a multi-section roller to their flails as is seen in some large grass rollers, this would make turning on the roller so much easier?

I'll try the lifting on turning later today, I can now see that it would remove much of the problem.

Thanks to all

Jamie