Welcoming Avivii - flail mower

[AVIVIII]

Thanks for the welcome, guys. Sorry I missed most of the conversation, busy weekend....

I've got a 96" flail and two 90" brush cutters. I just got the fittings in the mail to get the brush cutter going, so I'll be able to give you a little comparison soon.
From the other thread:

This is the first time I have used a flail mower and I LOVE it. Nothing flies out, it doesn't throw you around if it hits something, and a much nicer cut. It does an awesome job on tall, thick grass and stockier weeds. It does pretty well with small bushes and undergrowth. I've got TONS of of Multiflora Rose on the hill, some of the bushes are 10'+ tall and more than 30' around. I went after one of them with it and the flail mower wasn't thrilled, but it did it. I had to let it clear is throat a couple times, but never had to get off the machine to unclog it or anything.

What I can tell you from the 2 hours that I have used it so far: The PT flail mower has a large number of knives that are surprisingly thin pieces of metal, 2 per link that form an upside-down "Y", no hammers or solid/heavy pieces. These are connected with a single link to small rotating drum. I'll take some pictures tonight if it isn't still raining. It runs soooo smooth. I have run it over some uneven surfaces and between the front wheels, the gauge wheels, and the draft control it seems to always error on the side of cutting too long. I've got a couple spots I'll try and make it scalp and we'll see how it does.

I've got the day off on Wednesday, so hopefully I can do some mowing and take some video.

If anyone wants to see something on the mower, let me know!

 

[woodlandfarms]

You can cut in draft mode. Don’t activate the float and just push your lift tilt dump all the way forward. The mower will just move on its wheels.

 

[AVIVIII]

You can cut in draft mode. Don稚 activate the float and just push your lift tilt dump all the way forward. The mower will just move on its wheels.

I've been doing all the mowing so far in draft mode, it very much helps with traction traversing the slope.

One thing I found out real fast is that if you do happen in to bump it into float while also in draft mode, you lose steering!

 

[woodlandfarms]

yup, the big bypass happens when you do both for sure. I would not mow a slope in float. just accept you are not going to get a fine of cut. But draft works great on the flats.

 

[AVIVIII]

I'm definitely still happy with the way the draft control works. Every once in a while i still pick the deck up a little bit for that extra traction!

I wasn't able to get the new hydraulic fittings on the rotary mower, turns out i need some bigger/proper wrenches. and a bushing. and a hydraulic line....

But, I snapped a few pics of the flail mower while I was moving stuff around today:



I am pretty surprised at how flimsy the knives are! I guess the low mass is what saves them when they bounce off of a rock...

I also pulled out the knuckle boom mower to check all the lines:

Looks like it is all there.
Am I correct in assuming that the two female fittings attach to the lines for the quick-disconnect lock? Is that lever used for all hydraulic implements? Grapple, plow angle, etc?

 

[MossRoad]

The Quick Attach hoses are operated by what's called the AUX PTO on my PT425. It's the lever down by my right knee, and is the 3rd spool in the valve bank that controls the FEL joystick. It normally operates the QA device for hooking and un-hooking any attachments from the FEL arms. It is also used exactly as you guessed, for powering things like the grapple, power-angle on the snow plow, etc...

So, you hook up the implement, use the knee lever to lock it in with the QA, set your parking brake, make sure it's engaged by driving back and forth a couple inches, get off, disconnect the two QA hoses and connect them to the atttachment. A total of about 30 seconds. :thumbsup:

 

[woodlandfarms]

Let me add to your experiencce. While you are swapping around connectors, swap one side male and female. Meaning have one male and one femaile on your machine. This way you and anyone who gets on your machine knows how it connects.

Second, one of the first mods most of us did was to extend the locking arm up a bit. Especially on the 1850 If you get a grapple or a back hoe (get a grapple btw, best best best implement ever).

The third mod I would make would be to raise the vent on your Deutz Engine. Increase the cooler airflow.

Oh, and get a large size of wrenches from HF. Unless you are loaded.

 

[MossRoad]

Then we can talk about adding an electric solenoid diverter valve to his machine so he doesn't have to disconnect the QA hoses, or reach for his knee to open and close the grapple. Man, I love spending other peoples' money!!!

 

[woodlandfarms]

Where is Ken S when you need him? Don't forget adding the reverse circuit for the PTO so you can unstick your post hole digger.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah, he's got the gift! :laughing: