Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Looking at a Ford 917 Flail mower that is set up for fine cut. Are the blade drums the same for the 917's with the fine and coarse cuts? Can this be converted over to a coarse cut by just installing new coarse cut blades?
Thank you.

Yes, the rotors are the same. You will only use 1/3 of the stations. I believe there is also a difference in balance weights bolted to the rotor (there is a page from the manual someone posted somewhere in this thread to show that). You can go with the airplane wing blades or you can go with the side slicers. When I got my 917 I went with the "extreme service" side slicers from flailmaster (M-105319M), but also considered the "heavy duty" side slicers (FM-7). I am turning 20 years worth of CRP land back to usable land so I wanted something stronger than the airplane wings. I may order a set of the wings when I need to mow areas that need to look good. The airplane wings do leave a better finish than the side slicers.

 

[Fallon]

Yes, the rotors are the same. You will only use 1/3 of the stations. I believe there is also a difference in balance weights bolted to the rotor (there is a page from the manual someone posted somewhere in this thread to show that). You can go with the airplane wing blades or you can go with the side slicers. When I got my 917 I went with the "extreme service" side slicers from flailmaster (M-105319M), but also considered the "heavy duty" side slicers (FM-7). I am turning 20 years worth of CRP land back to usable land so I wanted something stronger than the airplane wings. I may order a set of the wings when I need to mow areas that need to look good. The airplane wings do leave a better finish than the side slicers.

I've mangled around half a dozen of my side slicers on my 917... well head, football sized rocks... They cut well up to around finger sized brush. Much beyond that & they just gnaw off the bark unless the material is soft or brittle.

 

[MGHarper]

Anyone out there with experience with Ventura Ditch Bank Flail mower. I'm considering the 181E to pair with a NH Powerstar T4.75 for cutting about 20 acres, roadsides, trails and around a 3 acre pond.

 

[whirly]

I have a similar mower but with the gearbox inboard of the belts. The Ventura Ditch Bank Flail's outboard gearbox allows the full mower to extend past the rear wheels as opposed to the inboard which does not. Ventura's design is much better.

 

[mred2]

Looks like a good mower. I think this type of mower will be used more and more in the future. But read all you can on them before you buy. You must run the PTO at full speed and mow slow. But I know I already love mine.

 

[MGHarper]

I've been studying up on it for a while and one of the things I really like is the more extended reach. Does needing to run the PTO at full speed create any issues for you?

 

[mred2]

No, as almost all new tractors require you to run the engine at 22 to 26,000 rpm. You start off slow, engage the pto and increase engine rpm. The ground speed (to me) will not be as fast, but does a better job. Others on here that have had their mowers a lot more years can tell you more on that. But I have no problem losing a little speed to get a better cut.

 

[retiredfarmer]

I am quite impressed with the heft of the Mott 72 Fine Cut mower I picked up. However I am now considering a Coarse Cut flail mower to use in thick material instead of my rotary cutter.

I have seen Alamo mowers with the rear gauge wheels, and I am curious. Are these wheels in addition to the rear roller, or used in place of the rear roller. If the rear wheels are on an Alamo mower 74 or 88, do you need the rear roller?

 

[Fallon]

I am quite impressed with the heft of the Mott 72 Fine Cut mower I picked up. However I am now considering a Coarse Cut flail mower to use in thick material instead of my rotary cutter.

I have seen Alamo mowers with the rear gauge wheels, and I am curious. Are these wheels in addition to the rear roller, or used in place of the rear roller. If the rear wheels are on an Alamo mower 74 or 88, do you need the rear roller?

I believe they are in addition to. My 917 had rear wheels in addition to the roller. The frame for wheels & tires had been long removed & rusted to pieces before I got it.

 

[whirly]

I've been studying up on it for a while and one of the things I really like is the more extended reach. Does needing to run the PTO at full speed create any issues for you?

The only problem you might have would be minimum forward speed in 1st gear @2160 RPM. In tall and thick foliage you can either bog down the mower or slip the belts if you can't slow down. I switch to an HST tractor for just that reason.