Flail Mower New Caroni Flail

[IslandTractor]

It looks like you can lower the roller and raise the skids to allow it to ride on the roller.

Exactly. If the skids are touching the ground at all during mowing they are set too low. The skids really have no purpose other than possibly to protect the mower from ground contact when sitting at rest.

 

[skipperbrown]

IMO the weak link in the caroni flail is belt slippage and the resulting broken belt. I have smoked several PIX (stock) and Gates belts so far and have gone back to a brush cutter for heavy mowing. This has been a disappointment for me. I mainly mow food plots and if you only mow 2 or 3 times a year, this flail may not work for you. It simply cannot handle large doses of 5 to 6 ft thick weeds or thick mature wheat/oats. At $35/$40 per belt set, it starts to get expensive. However, it does a nice job on knee or thigh high grass at no more than 4 mph. At least thats been my experience.

I pulled the belt cover off of mine so I can monitor when the belts start to smoke. I have a 6' flail w/ 3 belts. I recommend having a second set on hand in the event you break one or more.

 

[IslandTractor]

Have you tried a set of linked Gates belts? I'm still on my second set of individual belts but while the originals did last three seasons, they burned up in the sort of high density mowing you described. My plan is to use linked belts next if this set has a short life.

 

[psj12]

Are the linked belts known to be more durable?

 

[IslandTractor]

Are the linked belts known to be more durable?

I don't have any data. However, the way that these belts tend to disintegrate is when they slip and then heat up and burn. Individual belts can slip more easily than linked belts so I'd think that linked belts would be more durable. Again, that is just my thinking and I haven't seen any reference to back it up.

 

[skipperbrown]

I assume a linked belt is one that is attached to the other belts? Where does one find this strange belt and how much does it cost?

I always burn up the interior belt first.

 

[IslandTractor]

Look up the size in a Gates catalog. I don't have one with me but for common sizes you can get dual or triple linked belts. As I recall they had the right size for the Caroni TM1900. The triple linked belts are more expensive than buying three single belts but are used in some situations where slippage is an issue.

 

[psj12]

Gates calls them "Powerband" here is a link. Gates Predator? PowerBand® Belts

 

[IslandTractor]

From the link provided by psj12: "PowerBand belts were developed by Gates for drives subjected to pulsating loads, shock loads or extreme vibrations where single belts could flip over on the pulleys. A high-strength tie band permanently joins two or more belts to provide lateral rigidity. This keeps the belts running in a straight line in the pulley grooves."

 

[beppington]

The skids are really not necessary ...

Would you recommend just removing them? (I'm buying the Caroni 6-footer this week or weekend)