Disappointed in my Flail Mower. What's Wrong?

[Wingsy]

As you can see by the attached picture I'm a bit disappointed in this New Holland 918L flail mower I just got. Something has to be wrong. Any suggestions?

I bought it used from a local dealer. I talked to the previous owner and he said he had only used it off & on for two days. He said I would be pleased with it, but surely something is different from what he saw and what I'm seeing. He couldn't use it because the offset was preventing him from mowing between rows of trees. The mowing I did (in the picture) was at its extreme height and speed was at a slow walk, rpm was around 3200. I plan to return to the field today and try different cutting heights.

Before all this I initially tested the mower by cutting a 100' strip in my lawn at a cut height 1 above the shortest and it did an excellent job. But there were no large clumps of grass or straw. That flail absolutely hates straw -- look on the left side of the pic.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

LEONZ pops in and out from time to time with pages of information pushing flail mowers as the answer to every need, sometimes even saying they'll also cut grass. Maybe he'll show up with the answer as to why yours doesn't seem to be doing much of a job mowing grass.

 

[SPYDERLK]

With grass you will need to set fairly low to get a good cut. It tends to lay it down on high settings. Stiffer stuf cuts ok higher.
larry

 

[kuboman]

I would suggest that your cutting height is too high. Unless the grass is really stiff rotary mowers of any style work best at a low cutting height .:thumbsup:

 

[Ductape]

LEONZ pops in and out from time to time with pages of information pushing flail mowers as the answer to every need, sometimes even saying they'll also cut grass. Maybe he'll show up with the answer as to why yours doesn't seem to be doing much of a job mowing grass.

Be careful what you wish for...........

 

[gwdixon]

Have to agree with the "mow lower" folks.

It appears the tires pushed down the grass and the mower wasn't set low enough to clip it. Then a bit later the grass recovered and you are left with tire lines of tall grass.

Go over the same area again and straddle the tire lines with the mower set lower. Post a photo of the results for more evaluation.

 

[Wingsy]

You guys were right, it was set too high. Thanks for the advice.

Set high on the left, set 1 notch above lowest on the right...

 

[thatguy]

You guys were right, it was set too high. Thanks for the advice.

Set high on the left, set 1 notch above lowest on the right...

just curious - what height does it cut best (inches)?

Brian

 

[kycontrols]

Can you post a picture of the mower?

Thanks

 

[knotweed]

Looks like every 3rd blade is missing. Lift mower about waist high, turn off tractor and wait till everything quits moving, lift the back flap ang see if any are missing.

 

[beppington]

I see you got it figured out, but I'll still add:

For best results, the knives must be set to come very close to the ground. I like to lower the flail onto the ground, then lift it just a smidge with the 3PH lever, then turn it on.

Also, that looks like a lot of grass to try to cut to manicured in 1 pass. When there's a large amount of material inside the mower, I think that can fold the knives back & hold them there so they're not able to cut. You probably had enough vegetation to require 2 passes to get a good looking "lawn" result.

Also, with the stripes I see: Did you check to make sure there are no missing knives? If they're all these, it's prob that 2 or 3 knives were being held back & therefore unable to cut.

Also, I don't think a flail has much in the way of upward vacuum like a finish mower, so large amounts of vegetation can sorta bog down the whole process, including pushing down grass that otherwise might stay standing & be cut.

 

[beppington]

You guys were right, it was set too high. Thanks for the advice.

Set high on the left, set 1 notch above lowest on the right...

Don't I still see stripes of un-cut grass?

If so, make sure all blades are there, that there are no huge clumps of stuff jammed under the mower, that there's no fence wire wrapped around 1 or more of your knives, that the knives are all still sharp, & that none of them have gotten bent so the cutting edge isn't hitting the grass.

 

[bluefeet]

Nice discussion, I have this flail mower also New Holland 918L and originally I didn't know how it operated therefore, it sat for quite a long time preferring the rotary mower. Pulled it out the other day and gave it another whirl on my neighbors field who normally keeps it well groomed. This mower is designed for fine cutting i.e. ballfields, golf courses and such never intended for plowing through tall grass or thickets. The cut is excellent but best performance is to keep after it so the grass doesn't get to tall.
Yes, this mower is gooood where you can give it a High N tight haircut.

 

[britbike2001]

I've been running a John Deere 25A and it cuts 5'+ deep over growth into fine little bits turning a massively overgrown field, with saplings, roses and blackberry into a nice smooth field. I don't have the ability to really slow down my tractor to an appropriate ground speed but it still does a great job. I've got the "spoon" cutters on mine. Perhaps that's the difference?

 

[DocDryden]

I've been running a John Deere 25A and it cuts 5'+ deep over growth into fine little bits turning a massively overgrown field, with saplings, roses and blackberry into a nice smooth field. I don't have the ability to really slow down my tractor to an appropriate ground speed but it still does a great job. I've got the "spoon" cutters on mine. Perhaps that's the difference?

What tractor are you using with the 25A?

 

[britbike2001]

It's a non-ag spec Mercede-Benz Unimog. I run everything off of it though.

 

[J_J]

Show us a picture of the blades.

 

[britbike2001]

Although not a picture of mine, this is what they look like. These are attached to the armature with a chain link, so have a great deal of movement.

 

[J_J]

What is your PTO speed?

 

[walter boatwright]

Although not a picture of mine, this is what they look like. These are attached to the armature with a chain link, so have a great deal of movement.

That is not a rough cut blade.It will not cut heavy grass clean as the "Y" blades. That is for cutting lawns ,there it will give a fine cut.