Ditch and Bank Mowers -- Too Fragile for Regular Use?

[TerryR]

My five-year-old ditch and bank mower seems to be falling apart. This spring the gearbox failed, and took a week or two to get repaired. Today it literally came apart -- the pivot assembly where the mower head attaches to the swing arms broke:

The pivot shaft broke where it was welded into the frame assembly:

I wonder whether a welding shop could repair it? Don't know yet whether a replacement part is available. In either case, getting it out and back in looks like a project.

 

[5030]

I like the cricket.. Is he optional? Looks to me like you'll have to have a new shaft machined. Welding IS NOT the solution.

 

[RjCorazza]

What brand is that flail ?

 

[TerryR]

What brand is that flail ?

It's Peruzzo Fox Cross 1600.

 

[TerryR]

I like the cricket.. Is he optional? Looks to me like you'll have to have a new shaft machined. Welding IS NOT the solution.

I think he came to inspect the damage.

I don't understand "welding is not the solution." The shaft seems fine, it just broke off the bracket it was welded into. Though it looks like the penetration was not uniform all the way around the shaft, given that the break is deeper on one side than the other.

There is a hole in the bracket that the shaft goes through, and it was welded on the back side. You can see the broken weld on the end of the shaft. It's not very visible in the photo of the bracket.

 

[Peter 315]

I would take it to a welding shop and have them weld it back together..

 

[RjCorazza]

It's Peruzzo Fox Cross 1600.

I noted the Peruzzo color, but was hoping you wouldn't say Peruzzo. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but Peruzzo is the flail I decided upon. There are a million complaints about poorly made Betsco, Nova, Farmers Helper etc, but this is the first problem I've read about on Peruzzo.
I'm not a welder, so I can't offer an opinion. Good luck on the repair regardless.

 

[Torvy]

What kind of regular use are you giving it?

I have another brand on order. I looked at the Elk Cross pretty hard, too.

I would expect them to be more likely to break than one with fewer moving parts. In my case, I have a total of about 3 acres of easements to mow when the utilities don't get around to it. Also have just along my driveway and the actual ditch. Looking at maybe 3-4 times a year.

 

[Peter 315]

If you had a new shaft made with it longer where its welded maybe 1/2 an inch you could plate the backside and make it stronger. But it might break somewhere else..

 

[TerryR]

What kind of regular use are you giving it?

I mow three acres of field, mostly steep with lots of trees, and half a mile of road side twice a year. This broke while mowing in the field.

 

[TerryR]

If you had a new shaft made with it longer where its welded maybe 1/2 an inch you could plate the backside and make it stronger. But it might break somewhere else..

Yes, I've been thinking having it longer so it protrudes through the hole a bit might be good. I'm surprised it wasn't made that way. It was just welded on the back side, flush with the back of the plate. I need to be sure there's room there for it to come through.

 

[murse72]

I have a Maschio Giraffa since 2017. I use it to mow around ponds , down roads , and some times general mowing. I have never damaged this unit. I have bent my lift arms on my tractor when I was not watching what I was doing but the mower is in perfect shape.

 

[workinonit]

I have a rotary ditchbank cutter that I wouldn't even consider doing straight line mowing with for the very reason you posted this thread. Mine is super heavy and if you aren't careful it will flip a tractor in a heartbeat. I just don't think these types of cutters are made for that use. But then you wouldn't catch me doing any type of 3PH work with a stupid loader hanging on the front of my tractor either. But that's just me.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have a rotary ditchbank cutter that I wouldn't even consider doing straight line mowing with for the very reason you posted this thread. Mine is super heavy and if you aren't careful it will flip a tractor in a heartbeat. I just don't think these types of cutters are made for that use. But then you wouldn't catch me doing any type of 3PH work with a stupid loader hanging on the front of my tractor either. But that's just me.

I’ve been mowing with the loader attached for over 30 years and wouldn’t go through the hassle of removing it to mow. If I did that, I’d have to attach/detach the loader 30-40 times per year! Lol. I find it to be really handy for knocking tree limbs down, pushing fallen trees out of the way. Sure beats having the cab damaged. I even use it to stabilize the tractor on steep angles. The bucket can also be used to carry chains or other extra tools.
On new customer fields, the bucket can be lowered and curled upwards to a few inches above the ground to feel for stumps, rocks, etc.

 

[workinonit]

I can see that. I don't mow anything that has any surprises in it so that's a non-issue for me. I just find it cumbersome to maneuver with. I put mine on or take it off 4 to 5 times a week at times. I can put it on or take it off in 5 minutes. Mine is easy and fast.

 

[K5lwq]

I mow regularly with a ditch bank flail and have not had any issues yet. However, there is no doubt a heavy duty rotary mower is more robust and is less maintenance. I do enjoy mowing with my flail though.

I do have a question for Terry. Do you have a float option for your rear remotes and do you mow with that cylinder in float? I could see where that kind of damage could happen over time if it can not float to follow the ground.

 

[Hay Dude]

I can see that. I don't mow anything that has any surprises in it so that's a non-issue for me. I just find it cumbersome to maneuver with. I put mine on or take it off 4 to 5 times a week at times. I can put it on or take it off in 5 minutes. Mine is easy and fast.

So is mine, but 5 minutes (mine would be more like 10) x 50 times off & on would be 500 minutes of time or about 8-9 hours.
Plus the risk of damaging the fittings, a line, etc.

I actually look at having the loader attached to tractor as a plus, a protection, a convenience.

 

[5030]

But then you wouldn't catch me doing any type of 3PH work with a stupid loader hanging on the front of my tractor either.

Loaders aren't stupid, operators are. I admit mine gets in the way but I always remove the bucket which is always the issue. Being old, my depth perception is sometimes off and with the bucket on, I tend to run into things expensive.

 

[2manyrocks]

I mow three acres of field, mostly steep with lots of trees, and half a mile of road side twice a year. This broke while mowing in the field.

How many hours of use on this flail--maybe 30?

Machine shop or welding shop depending on who can do the work needed.

 

[workinonit]

I guess I grew up running tractors before loaders were a thing. To this day a tractor to me still feels awkward with a loader on it. I use it when I need it which is quite a bit but when I don't need it I don't want it on my tractor.