Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers
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greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
If you want to rough cut an area that has a lot of rocks on the surface - is there a set up on a flail mower that will be more tolerant of hitting hard objects?
Haven't mowed in 20+ years because the rocks are large enough that in the past you had to use a large shield to run a bush hog, and the blade edges are pretty well gone when you finish. Rocks are sandstone, not particularly hard, but large enough to scare the beegebbers out of you when you hit one. (Sandstone outcrop of a major fault for the geologically inclined.)
Haven't mowed in 20+ years because the rocks are large enough that in the past you had to use a large shield to run a bush hog, and the blade edges are pretty well gone when you finish. Rocks are sandstone, not particularly hard, but large enough to scare the beegebbers out of you when you hit one. (Sandstone outcrop of a major fault for the geologically inclined.)
IslandTractor
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Yes but the explanation is a little counter intuitive. Flails can have either "knives" (1/16-1/18 inch hardened steel bent L shapes) or "hammers" (cast or forged steel and much heavier than knives). For hitting rocks, the knives actually do better as their momentum is less and they bounce back rather than trying to drive through the rocks. There are also different mounting systems and the best for hitting debris is the type that has the knives mounted to a shackle which is then mounted to the mower. That gives the knife two pivot points (at the shackle and at the mount) which helps get it out of harms way.
If you hit a lot of rocks you will get less life from a set of knives but you won't damage anything (other than occasionally losing a shackle and knives). Replacements end up costing about 5-10 bucks per station (two knives, a shackle and bolt) so it is neither extremely expensive nor cheap to replace these things given there are usually about 25-30 sets on a flail.
I hit a fair number of rocks (granite usually) and I just got around to replacing about a quarter of my knives at the end of my third summer. Knives that are not lost (due to broken shackles which does happen) can also just be reversed for extra cutting life.
I only have personal experience with the Caroni TM1900 but most other flail companies make similiar rough cut flail types. Just make sure you don't get a finish flail (lots of knives and not on shackles).
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greasemonkeyok
Veteran Member
Thank you, that makes sense.
Around here, the highway right-of-way mowers appear to have the knife on a chain, but I haven't looked closely enough to verify that. Could be on a shackle.
We have used a six-foot bush hog in the past, but you have to carry a bag of shear pins, wear body armor, and make sure no-one is within 1/8th of a mile.
On another line of thought, I have considered welding teeth on the stump-jumper and grinding some of the low-lying rocks down to below cutting depth. Those are the ones that send your blood pressure through the roof.
Around here, the highway right-of-way mowers appear to have the knife on a chain, but I haven't looked closely enough to verify that. Could be on a shackle.
We have used a six-foot bush hog in the past, but you have to carry a bag of shear pins, wear body armor, and make sure no-one is within 1/8th of a mile.
On another line of thought, I have considered welding teeth on the stump-jumper and grinding some of the low-lying rocks down to below cutting depth. Those are the ones that send your blood pressure through the roof.
dcyrilc
Elite Member
I've watched them change ours at the shop. We use the knives on a shackle.
IslandTractor
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Be careful. This is what I yanked out of the ground when I decided to pull up a "little" rock that I kept hitting with the mower.
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spo307
Gold Member
the appearence of a chain on flail mowers are clevis ( shackle looking ) with either a bolt and nylon locking nut or a clevis pin with a cotter pin .i have changed out many of theses. easy to do my alamo 88 has 42 sets of blades, i think ?lol
IslandTractor
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Yep, I mistakenly called them shackles (old sailor) but the industry term is clevis. Mine has bolt and nylon locking nut.
When I change my knives, about half the time I decide the clevis needs changing too and I always use a new bolt and lock nut.
DirtHauler
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I have two customers fields that I mow every year with my Caroni flail that are very rocky (seems I'm the only fool who'll do it!). I carry spare clevises, bolts/nuts and blades just in case. I have broken clevises in the past on these fields and have had to search for missing blades afterwards. I wouldn't dare use a rotary in these conditions. The other great thing about a flail is they tend to find things that you never knew were there! But they also do a nice job.
Notice the "little" rock peeking out of the grass to the left of my tractor?
Notice the "little" rock peeking out of the grass to the left of my tractor?
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DirtHauler, thanks for the pics. I have a 74" flail mower (BETST), and I have kind run out of things to do with it as my County won't let me clear some additional brush for expanding my lawn. I think i am gonna keep it though because I may get permission to clear and area and the flail would be a major tool during that operation.