Barbed wire vs Flail

[Torvy]

I did another dumb thing...

Dropped my flail into a corner just to knock down some tall grass. Not even part of the chores I was doing. Of course, there was a bit of old wire laying in wait.

Wrapped it tight on the rotor and wedged between it and the frame. I cut away what I could, but there's 2 or 3 loops in tight.

Put the flail up on blocks and removed the housing. Took the screws out of the gear/pulley so I can pull the rotor and remove the wire.

The bolts holding the rotor are behind the gear. I'm not able to remove the gear.

Anyone have any experience with this?

It's a NOVA BCRM 175. I can post photos if that will help. Thanks.

 

[ptsg]

By gear, you mean pulley? Usually those are locked to the rotor shaft using a taper lock system. Essentially, there is a taper between the locking hub and the pulley that as it gets tighten, the hub will compress and lock to the shaft.

To remove these, you pull all the set screws out and put one on the hole that is meant to pull the hub out. Which will be the hole that has threads on the hub instead of the pulley like the other holes have.

This may or may not be the case in your flail though.

 

[ptsg]

Well, disregard the previous post. From the exploded view, looks like it's just a big ol'nut (#39) on the shaft. I imagine there is a key so the pulley can drive the roter and you may need a puller to pull the pulley out.

 

[Torvy]

Yea, pulley. Mine has a bunch of small bolts similar to your photo with a very small one in the center.

 

[Torvy]

 

[Torvy]

How do I pull it out without damaging something?

 

[ptsg]

Ah nice. Picture really helps. It's a taper lock system but the parts diagram shows something completely different.

Thread 4 bolts on those threaded holes I marked and tighten equally. Eventually, it will pop the pulley out or in, depending on how you look at it.

 

[Torvy]

Thanks, I'll give it a try tomorrow.

 

[2manyrocks]

Don't know how to take that apart, but I do know it's much harder if I try to repair something when I'm tired and frustrated.

Do those parts need some penetrating fluid to soak before you try disassemble?

 

[WranglerX]

Don't know how to take that apart, but I do know it's much harder if I try to repair something when I'm tired and frustrated.

Do those parts need some penetrating fluid to soak before you try disassemble?

Good shot of PB Blaster never hurt...

 

[scootr]

Sorry to hear about this. Frustrating when you are just trying to do good and you get screwed.

 

[Torvy]

Thanks. My own fault for not getting my lazy backside off of the tractor and check first.

Everywhere I planned to mow was already cleared.

At least I don't think I did any permanent damage.

 

[Torvy]

Don't know how to take that apart, but I do know it's much harder if I try to repair something when I'm tired and frustrated.

Do those parts need some penetrating fluid to soak before you try disassemble?

Truth. I was going to Mass anyway, so I didn't want to push any harder. Retirement has lessened my type A a bit. It will waste my time, but I have plenty for now. (As far as I know).

I will put something on them. The unit is only a year or so old. I have been nice to it.

 

[leonz]

I did another dumb thing...

Dropped my flail into a corner just to knock down some tall grass. Not even part of the chores I was doing. Of course, there was a bit of old wire laying in wait.

Wrapped it tight on the rotor and wedged between it and the frame. I cut away what I could, but there's 2 or 3 loops in tight.

Put the flail up on blocks and removed the housing. Took the screws out of the gear/pulley so I can pull the rotor and remove the wire.

The bolts holding the rotor are behind the gear. I'm not able to remove the gear.

Anyone have any experience with this?

It's a NOVA BCRM 175. I can post photos if that will help. Thanks.

Assuming the wire is stuck between the side weldment
and the flail mower rotor-please flip it over on its back so
the entire rotor is exposed.
in doing that you will be able break the wire and
remove it with either a heavy flat screw driver or thin chisel.

 

[Smokeydog]

300year old homestead occasionally find hidden old fencing and wire rope from logging? Haven’t fouled the flail mower yet but have found with rotary cutters wrapping wire tight on spindles. Unwrapping and pulling with vise grips or crowbar with chain hook welded to it. Often have to use another tractor, loader or vehicle. Slide hammer with attachments sometimes helps.

 

[Torvy]

Got the pulley to come off. No lube needed. It would have taken a lot longer without all of the help. Never used a taper lock before.

 

[hayden]

Got the pulley to come off. No lube needed. It would have taken a lot longer without all of the help. Never used a taper lock before.

Jacking bolts are wonderful, and I wish more products included provisions for them

 

[CoyPatton]

Don't know how to take that apart, but I do know it's much harder if I try to repair something when I'm tired and frustrated.

Do those parts need some penetrating fluid to soak before you try disassemble?

May need some heat as well. LIGHT hammer strikes after soaking in penetrating oil shouldn’t hurt either.

 

[crlf]

A completely different approach, which may or may not have been helpful here, would be to get in there with a Dremel wand and cutoff wheels. They're thin and small enough for rather "surgical" applications; the pencil-like wand allows fine control, but the wheels slice through steel pretty damn good.

 

[5030]

Every time I 'wind' one up, I use a cordless (battery powered angle grinder) with a cutoff wheel and remove it that way. Fast and efficient and no disassembly required.

Reminds me of the time I was running a Loftness Stubble beater and ran over a set of bed springs hidden in the weeds. Was running a buddy's V8 Diesel Massey (200+ pto) and when the Loftness digested the bed springs, it literally jumped up off the ground and came to a screeching stop. Took a couple hours and the cutoff wheel to remove all the twisted up steel wire it digested. The Loftness is a big flail machine, 12 foot wide and heavy.

I'd say the picture of that stubble beater begs for a set of new blades. Look shot to me.