Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Hofzer]

Hello all:

I recently purchased a Ford 917 (22-184) and am waiting on side slicers from Flailmaster to replace the worn out duckfoot cutters. It's all greased up and running smooth. It seems I have to have the roller all the way down and my top link extended a bit (belt drive housing is flat to sloping away from the tractor) to keep it from scalping behind my Kioti CK3510SE. I thought it might be a bit much for the machine, but the only time its bogged down is when it found thick plastic mulching my property's pervious owner left for me. It can produce quite the rooster tail in orchard grass with the trash door off!

I have seen it recommended over and over again, usually by leonz, to pick up a kevlar belt. After spending a good deal of time searching by part number (137203) and by specs (57-58" B-size/type, 2-band) I haven't been able to find one that seems right. Messick's offering is priced like Kevlar, but looks to simply be an OEM replacement.

Does anyone have a link or suggestion on a local store that may have a proper kevlar belt. Also, is the original belt actually the BX-type, since it appears to be cogged?

Thanks for the help, I've spent a good deal of time reading over this and 917-specific threads. Cheers!

 

[Xfaxman]

Hello all:
---------------------------------------------
Does anyone have a link or suggestion on a local store that may have a proper kevlar belt. Also, is the original belt actually the BX-type, since it appears to be cogged?

Your location is not filled in, so don't even know what country you are in.

There are a lot of online sellers: https://www.google.com/search?q=kev...t.&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

And eBay: 58" kevlar B belt | eBay

 

[Hofzer]

...

Thanks. It looks like your efforts produced the same results as mine. Lots of singles. I'm trying to find a 2-band belt. It that possible, or do I need to just get a matched pair of singles?

 

[Xfaxman]

Search with the part number found a few sellers: Ford 137203 mower v belt. - Image Search

 

[Skagit]

Thanks. It looks like your efforts produced the same results as mine. Lots of singles. I'm trying to find a 2-band belt. It that possible, or do I need to just get a matched pair of singles?

Just go to any farm equipment dealer and they can get you most any banded belt you want.

 

[electrycmonk]

Hello all:

I recently purchased a Ford 917 (22-184) and am waiting on side slicers from Flailmaster to replace the worn out duckfoot cutters. It's all greased up and running smooth. It seems I have to have the roller all the way down and my top link extended a bit (belt drive housing is flat to sloping away from the tractor) to keep it from scalping behind my Kioti CK3510SE. I thought it might be a bit much for the machine, but the only time its bogged down is when it found thick plastic mulching my property's pervious owner left for me. It can produce quite the rooster tail in orchard grass with the trash door off!

I have seen it recommended over and over again, usually by leonz, to pick up a kevlar belt. After spending a good deal of time searching by part number (137203) and by specs (57-58" B-size/type, 2-band) I haven't been able to find one that seems right. Messick's offering is priced like Kevlar, but looks to simply be an OEM replacement.

Does anyone have a link or suggestion on a local store that may have a proper kevlar belt. Also, is the original belt actually the BX-type, since it appears to be cogged?

Thanks for the help, I've spent a good deal of time reading over this and 917-specific threads. Cheers!

My 917 came with an actually new belt when I got it... I’ll try (during daylight this weekend) to rotate it to see if the writing is still on it for ya. I don’t recall the brand name of it either.... I didn’t write it down in my notes when I got it - bummer for both of us. BTW my posts with photos about this unit ....(scratches head) I want to say are back around the 6200-6600 post count?

 

[Hofzer]

Thanks all. I've had no trouble finding standard replacements, hence the part number in my original post. I've just seen kevlar belts recommended and tought someone might have found one for this mower, since its a common one. I'll just keep a standard replacement handy.

 

[arto98607]

.........................snip........................... It that possible, or do I need to just get a matched pair of singles?

I did not bother with matched pair $ingles, just got two standard belts for my 917L (which I think is clearly a different model than your 917).

Seems to work fine and why not - it's just a mower!

 

[Fallon]

I did not bother with matched pair $ingles, just got two standard belts for my 917L (which I think is clearly a different model than your 917).

Seems to work fine and why not - it's just a mower!

There definitely are some noticably different versions of the 917. Pretty noticeable differences but similar vintage, quality & engineering.

I got 2 single belts from the same batch. Pretty sure they were Kevlar, but it's been a few years. I'd recommend just getting a pair from the same batch & calling it a day rather than hunting a much more rare (and probably expensive) dual belt. If you get different length belts the tighter one will take all the power & wear out or snap, leaving the remaining belt to a quick death as well. Belts on a mower aren't super precision though, so as long as they are pretty close you'll be fine.

My new $7k Peruzzo flail came with 4 single belts on it. I haven't touched them in the 3ish years I've owned it. I put new single belts on the 917 because the ones on there were belts you would expect on a $100 beat to hell mower. Only had to touch em when I replaced the rotor bearings.

 

[Skagit]

Thanks all. I've had no trouble finding standard replacements, hence the part number in my original post. I've just seen kevlar belts recommended and tought someone might have found one for this mower, since its a common one. I'll just keep a standard replacement handy.

You don't need kevlar belts, just run a good quality banded ag belt like the one you have. Banded belts are very robust, there are 12ft mowers with 3 rib B58 belts, as long as your pulleys are aligned you should have no issues.