Flail Mower Hookup Questions -- Chains for lift arms?

jkahan · Jul 27, 2017

Hi folks -- I just bought an 88" Alamo Flail Mower for my Kubota M5040 (with cab). The manual says to use chains for the 3PT lift arms if the 3PT can't "float". Anyone have experience / advice on this matter. Really appreciated. thanks -- josh

bigtiller · Jul 27, 2017

Could that have been a typo? Could they have meant "top link" rather than "lift arms"?

jkahan · Jul 27, 2017

Could that have been a typo? Could they have meant "top link" rather than "lift arms"?

No, the Alamo manual shows chains (instead of rigid lift arms) attached to the side arms.
thanks

Halftrack · Jul 27, 2017

Alamo's intent is to allow the mower to follow the ground contours behind the tractor. If you are working relatively flat ground, it should not be an issue. If you are trying to mow ditch banks, swales, ridges, etc, the mower needs to move independently from the tractor. Some 3 pt hitches have slotted arrangements on the lower lift arms to allow some flexing, if not and your dealing with uneven ground, I would consider the chains.

Steave · Jul 27, 2017

This is correct. "IF" the 3pt can't float is the only time you'd use the chains. Some tractors have down pressure on the 3pt. Most don't. Down pressure is handy for PHD. My Belarus has down pressure but it can float if needed. On a typical 3 pt the arms will raise if no weight is present on them.

Halftrack · Jul 27, 2017

Let's look at this situation. You are mowing a relatively flat field and your rear wheels remain relatively horizontal with the roller of the mower. Then your right rear tire drops into an 8" deep divot. Now that twisting motion is transferred into the 3 pt hitch and the right arm drops and the left remains at level. That twisting motion is absorbed by the ridged 3 pt assembly and possibly bends a lift arm, connecting linkage or snaps the shaft between the top arms. Not pretty. Being in float doesn't matter because your arms act as one unit and don't allow this twist. Perhaps another solution would be a tilt kit with a float position for the cylinder. The Ford 917 model had the floating lift arms built into the hitch and the 918 had slotted lower pin receivers. A 4' or 5' flail does not have the leverage that an 8' model has, so the lift chain suggestion is warranted.

Steave · Jul 28, 2017

Halftrack said:
Let's look at this situation. You are mowing a relatively flat field and your rear wheels remain relatively horizontal with the roller of the mower. Then your right rear tire drops into an 8" deep divot. Now that twisting motion is transferred into the 3 pt hitch and the right arm drops and the left remains at level. That twisting motion is absorbed by the ridged 3 pt assembly and possibly bends a lift arm, connecting linkage or snaps the shaft between the top arms. Not pretty. Being in float doesn't matter because your arms act as one unit and don't allow this twist. Perhaps another solution would be a tilt kit with a float position for the cylinder. The Ford 917 model had the floating lift arms built into the hitch and the 918 had slotted lower pin receivers. A 4' or 5' flail does not have the leverage that an 8' model has, so the lift chain suggestion is warranted.

Lift arms will float up unless your tractor is equipped with a down pressure 3pt. This is to allow for your wheels to drop off in a hole without bending the lift arms. When one side of the lift arm is forced up, (such as the wheel dropping in a hole) the other side is forced up also then the roller stays horizontal with the the rear wheels.

jkahan · Jul 28, 2017

Hi again -- thanks for all the info -- really really appreciated... for what it's worth, my dealer advises me NOT to replace the down-arms with chains because I will be mowing hilly, lumpy terrain (my 3PT arms do "float" somewhat in that there is no active down pressure besides the weight of the implement).

On a related note, I always use chains to control side to side movement because Kubota's rigid check-rods (or whatever they are called) are way to restrictive.

thanks again.
-josh

jimmysisson · Jul 28, 2017

Parallel to rear wheels but not necessarily flat on the ground. The chains allow the flail (esp wide ones) to follow the ground left-right.
Jim

Steave · Jul 28, 2017

jimmysisson said:
Parallel to rear wheels but not necessarily flat on the ground. The chains allow the flail (esp wide ones) to follow the ground left-right.
Jim

Good point. I should have included that. My Belarus (Russian) tractor as I mentioned has down pressure but you have to be careful with it or you'll surely break something. Also I was pulling a turning plow with it and while letting the turn plow down into the ground it raised the rear wheels and lost traction until I shifted into "Float Mode" . It helps a little with a PHD.

jkahan I think your dealer is correct about you don't need the chains. I use stabilizer bars that come on my ford tractor for side to side play. I agree with you they are almost to tight but I guess they were designed for the tractor so that's what I use. It also has chains that allow for more movement if the stabilizer bars are not hooked up.