Mott Flail Mower

Rocky Hoffler · Feb 20, 2015

Just picked up a Mott Flail mower its about 7 ft. wide over all I believe Alamo is the parent company but this one has a trailing wheel on each side sorta like a rotary cutter I haven't seen this before it could be an older one but still in good condition any ideas

gwdixon · Feb 20, 2015

Photos would do wonders.

Clarify "any ideas". Idea about what?

Rocky Hoffler · Feb 23, 2015

I picked it up yesterday it's a Mott model 74 flail just been sitting not used for a while when I asked for any ideas I mean anything you can offer about this unit value, age tell me why it has rear wheels like a rotary style mower I have never seen this on a flail before. any info

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

Not sure why it has wheels. Dont know much about flails. I had an older mott a few years ago, picked up for $200 and spend about $100 and some time on it and painted it. Sold for $600. It was a 5' model.

I would think if everything is mechanically sound on the unit its probably worth $400-$500 in my area. Some people just like flails better and are willing to pay. They arent popular in my area.

ishiboo · Feb 23, 2015

I believe the wheels were used so you could turn it sharp and not have the edge of the roller dig in to the ground. Because the tractor pivots at the rear wheels, without lifting a flail when you do a sharp turn, the mower moves sideways and the roller can dig in.

I have a 5' Mott similar to LD's story, bought it cheap, had to put about $100 into flails and a PTO seal though.

Value would depend on what it is. I am guessing that is a finish flail since it has the wheels, maybe $400ish? If it's a rough cut flail I'd think it would be worth more as they have a lot more uses.

Poopdeck Pappy · Feb 23, 2015

With those rear wheels, I would think that you could use a chain for a top link, which would allow the mower to follow the contours of the ground independent of the up and down movement of the tractor's rear end. Set at a proper length, the chain would still allow you to lift the entire mower off the ground.

Could be a VERY handy setup especially for someone who has a long of varying contours in the land.

ishiboo · Feb 23, 2015

Poopdeck Pappy said:
With those rear wheels, I would think that you could use a chain for a top link, which would allow the mower to follow the contours of the ground independent of the up and down movement of the tractor's rear end. Set at a proper length, the chain would still allow you to lift the entire mower off the ground.

Could be a VERY handy setup especially for someone who has a long of varying contours in the land.

How are they any better than the rear full-length roller on a flail mower? In addition, the farther away the wheels and/or roller are from the flail rotor itself, the more it will scalp changing terrains... a flail has the roller behind the mowing rotor, so it would drive into something a good foot and a half before the wheels ever got to it?

A 3-point hitch already allows up-down movement to follow a contour with a fixed toplink. A chain toplink seems like it'd be a horrible idea for a flail or most PTO implements, it would be able to rotate forward, screw up the PTO, scalp, etc.

Poopdeck Pappy · Feb 23, 2015

ishiboo said:
How are they any better than the rear full-length roller on a flail mower? In addition, the farther away the wheels and/or roller are from the flail rotor itself, the more it will scalp changing terrains... a flail has the roller behind the mowing rotor, so it would drive into something a good foot and a half before the wheels ever got to it?

His mower already has a rear roller on it. Someone else already suggested that perhaps the rear wheels, properly set, would allow turns without the rear roller digging in. It might also reduce side pressure on the roller's bearings.

ishiboo said:
. . . A chain toplink seems like it'd be a horrible idea for a flail or most PTO implements, it would be able to rotate forward, screw up the PTO, scalp, etc.

No more risk than any pull-type implement with gauge wheels. And with a 3 point implement mounted with a traditional top link, you have to be careful not to cross dips, etc. that are too deep of a "V" shape; otherwise, you will bend or break something.

By the way, I didn't design and build this implement. I was just offering a theory of why it would have gauge wheels on it and what some of the possible benefits were..

leonz · Feb 23, 2015

Rocky Hoffler said:
I picked it up yesterday it's a Mott model 74 flail just been sitting not used for a while when I asked for any ideas I mean anything you can offer about this unit value, age tell me why it has rear wheels like a rotary style mower I have never seen this on a flail before. any info

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I want to welcome you as the newest member of "The Flail Mower Nation"

ALAMO is not the parent of The former Mott Mower Corporation which sadly no longer exists.

About your mower are you planning on selling it or using it?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOW:

The rear wheels are there to keep the mower level horizontally. The rear roller is it is still there prevents the mower from gouging the turf or nose diving and damaging the flail mower rotor or knives.

I hope the rear roller is still intact-if not you need one and bearings and possibly the bearing housings that bolt on
to the side weldments.

it need work and a hot bath-yes a hot bath with the covers removed as there are grease fittings that are buried under rubber dust and grease.

If you could post more pictures of the flail mowers rotor that would be great for me to see-please use good lighting if possible when taking the pictures/images.

ishiboo · Feb 23, 2015

leonz said:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I want to welcome you as the newest member of "The Flail Mower Nation"

ALAMO is not the parent of The former Mott Mower Corporation which sadly no longer exists.

About your mower are you planning on selling it or using it?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOW:

The rear wheels are there to keep the mower level horizontally. The rear roller is it is still there prevents the mower from gouging the turf or nose diving and damaging the flail mower rotor or knives.

I hope the rear roller is still intact-if not you need one and bearings and possibly the bearing housings that bolt on
to the side weldments.

it need work and a hot bath-yes a hot bath with the covers removed as there are grease fittings that are buried under rubber dust and grease.

If you could post more pictures of the flail mowers rotor that would be great for me to see-please use good lighting if possible when taking the pictures/images.