Anyone recognize this Flail mower?

[ponderingjunkman]

So this junker followed me home from the Hudson Auction. The engine is seized and it needs some blades. But I scored it for $35- yes, a gamble! I have an engine ready to go on it, and need another project:confused2: Does anyone know year, make, and model?? Just wondering... This info would be interesting, but not necessary! Thanks!!

 

[teg]

I can help you but you must be living up to your name :thumbsup: It looks like it might be the first one ever made Let us know how the project goes...

 

[leonz]

You lucky dog I want it;

You appear to have a towed motorised Mott mower with an electric start Wisconsin Engine minus the battery and battery retainer.

That flail mower model was towed in 1-2-3-4-5 mower wide tows behind tractors and Jeeps as a matter of doing business killing brush.


I would not change the Wisconsin engine just repair it as it is sized properly for the mower width and rotor operating speed, and please remove the absolutely hideos butts ugly rusted pink panther paint job and return it to its former yellow glory sir if you would.

You will need to add belt guards as the flailmower was built before guarding became mandatory in the late 1960's


Please be sure to replace the shock absorber as well as it did its job of protecting the frame as the mower engine is very heavy by itself and it also protected the flailmower wheel frame.

 

[Danner]

Posting to tag this thread.

That's quite a contraption you have there. Please keep the pictures coming :thumbsup:

 

[fluggies4]

It's an old Mott model HS that has had "modifications" done to it.

 

[ponderingjunkman]

Thanks very much for the info!! I will surely take pictures of the resurrection process! Any thoughts as to guards? Thanks!!

 

[leonz]

Thanks very much for the info!! I will surely take pictures of the resurrection process! Any thoughts as to guards? Thanks!!

About guarding for your mower;

You need to guard the blower housing and exposed shaft of the Wisconsin engine first as they cannot be exposed.


You would be able to build a steel mesh cage to cover the engine where you can cover the blower end and prevent a hand from entering from the top or sides.



You have a combination drive with a drive line, V belt pullies and and a snubber pulley.

First you need to build a frame to mount the guard for the driveline itself.

The guard needs to be to be made of solid sheet metal creating a 3 sided box to cover the driveline from the engine to the steel weldment where the pulleys are located.

You will need to install two pieces of strap iron along the bottom of the sheet metal box to secure the box to the mower at the steel plate where the pulleys are located and cover the drive line.


The belt pulleys need to be fulley covered and you can weld small pieces of angle iron to the plate to anchor the sheet metal guard.

I would use a fine thread Allen bolt tapped into the tabs welded on the steel mounting plate and use blue Loctite to secure the fine threaded bolts.

I would use grade 8 Allen bolts and Allen lock washers as they are easier to use and will not break or get worn off like hex head bolts can.

 

[ponderingjunkman]

Thanks for the great ideas, Leonz! The guards will be much safer- but are there other reasons for guarding? For example, will weeds get wrapped up and fowl the belt? Just wondering

 

[leonz]

Reasons for adding the proper guarding:


1. Rug rats of the two and four legged variety

2. weeds and brush getting caught within the blower housing
plugging the cooling air flow- Be sure to remove ALL I mean ALL
the tin work to get rid of any mice nests and dirt that is baked
on the cooling fins.

3. reread number one again.


4. insurance and umbrella liability if the neighbor kid is fascinated by
spinning objects like pin wheels and assuming your pulleys and blower
housing are just like pin wheels.

5. reread number one again


6. the potential for a fire hazard/brush fire from debris geting wedged in and
around the pulleys

7. IF IN ANY WAY YOU CAN PLACE A FINGER OR A HAND UNDER OR THROUGH
YOUR GUARDING AFTER YOU INSTALL IT THE THE CLEARANCES ARE TOO
LARGE AS NO BODY PART NO MATTER HOW SMALL SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF
TOUCHING THE PROPELLER SHAFT OR THE STUB SHAFT IN FRONT OF THE
FAN SHIELD WHICH IS EXPOSED.

a. This engine may have an updated fan shroud housing that may cover the
stub shaft; you can find out if it does quickly if the Identification plate is
still intact or if you can forward a picture of the engine to them to identify
it.

Find a good tin knocker/sheet metal shop, and leave the mower with them after you give that thing a good cleaning and have them make a box guard
for everything from the bell housing back to the pulley weldment.

You can install grease hoses from the pulley bearings to the the exterior of the box guard and simply secure them with loom clamps with the bolt heads
tack welded to the box and use nylock nuts to secure the grease hoses within the loom clamps.

After you get it home you can tear the motor down and rebuild it at you leisure. And most likely it has an oil bath air cleaner and that will be the best ir cleaner for the flail mower.



I would not, I repeat not use the old fuel tank as most likely the the brazed fitting exiting the tank to the carbureator has a hair line crack in it I have been there and done that with a 30 year old briggs tank.

You will need to install a new gravity feed tank and bracket or if possible see if a replacement tank is available from the Wisconsin Engine folks or purchase a good substitute from them to replace the old tank


Reread number one again.

Please remove the disgusting paint job and repaint it with the Mott Mower yellow to bring it back to its original beauty.

 

[ponderingjunkman]

Thanks again for the additional info, leonz! I very much appreciate your effort and knowledge! Do you suppose there were any guards on the front and back for the blades?