Bought a Flail Mower

[Jarrett]

I bought a used flail mower this past weekend. It's a Mott Model 88 Utility. It's in pretty good shape. I gave $700 for it. All but one bearing feel smooth with no play. The bad bearing is the one on the end of the extension shaft at the drive pulley. The housing for that pulley is broken as well. Everything turns freely. It has some rust on top where grass/straw/debris was left sitting, but it's still structurally sound. I've already placed an order with flailmaster for the new housing/bearing assembly, as well as a belt & new blades.

 

[Big Bri]

Nice, I'm sure you'll get some good use out of it. can't beat the price

 

[psj12]

I'm looking for a decent deal on a medium duty flail in the 6 to 8 ft range. All I see on Ebay is torn up, worn out old units that are overpriced.

 

[flyingcow]

i bought a used NH918H flail a couple of yrs ago. Bearings and everything seems tight. just getting around to ordering new knives(128) for it. Run it for a 30 minutes when i got it home, missing knives. Shook a little bit. Paid $900.00 for it. Going to have about $600.00 in parts for the knives. For my own use, 20 hours a yr. Hopefully it works well. I'm getting anxious to have it up and running

 

[ninefinger]

Picked up an old Mott "hammerknife" a year or two ago. Seems like it has 88 blade stations. I changed the gearbox oil out, put new knives and belt on and have been very happy with it. I just cannot cut fast with it but it cuts well. It started leaking oil out the front seal and to remedy that I drilled a small hole through the square head fill plug, I guess pressure was building up but with the hole the front seal does not leak. I have a QH and do not know if it was the problem or not but with my top link the mower would not float like it should so when I mow I use a chain for the top link and all works as it should.

 

[jgbanshee]

flyingcow,
I have the same mower. Mine vibrates too on the ground and worse when I raise it. Did you order blades, bolts, nuts, spacers, and clips? I hope replacing blades will help.

 

[flyingcow]

flyingcow,
I have the same mower. Mine vibrates too on the ground and worse when I raise it. Did you order blades, bolts, nuts, spacers, and clips? I hope replacing blades will help.

It was missing more knives than i first thought. Also, some of the knives were broken off. I talked to guys that operate this same mower, mowing roadsides, and they told me it doesn't take much to knock it off balance. It's going to be a couple of weeks before i get the parts and have time to put them on.

 

[IslandTractor]

I know everyone seems to trust the US manufacturers more but a lot of us have had very good luck with Caroni flail mowers which cost about half or less of what new US flails cost and are not much more than what you guys are paying for used flails plus reconditioning. The TM1900 is a 6ft medium duty rough cut flail that can be had for about $2K delivered via AgriSupply. They carry all the parts too and are very responsive. Caroni is a fine Italian equipment manufacturer that produces some of the OEM attachments for a variety of tractor manufacturers. Take a look.

 

[Dead Horse]

Has anyone here heard of a Seppi flail mower? I have an 8 ooter with very heavy knives. It does a good job on finish cutting and will chop up saplings up to 3 inches in dia.

I just replaced the belts, it has five of them. I have had it for 12 years and it has served me well. This year I have to replace the pillow block bearings in the roller.

I like the idea of a chain rather than a solit top link. The mower does float a lot better using a chain. I can see where some situations put too much stress on the roller, with a solid top link.

I would like to buy a larger, lighter flail mower for finish cutting grass, but agree that the used ones are an unknown problem waiting to happen and the new ones are too expensive.

I need to buy new knives for the Seppi, anyone have an idea where I can get them?

 

[ninefinger]

Dead Horse, give Flailmaster a call (1-800-251-4020) . Try to get Noel, she really understands these machines. Do not know if they have what you need but it is a good place to start.