Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[electrycmonk]

Curious & legit question folks:

does anyone have any really good quality pictures of a flail on a swing arm for ditch work?

I’d like to look at the details of the hinge designs and locations. As well as the piston locations & hoe the PRo shaft is safely extended.

web search is “meh” so far… I’ll keep digging later this weekend…

thanks in advance y’all!

 

[TMGT]

Curious & legit question folks:

does anyone have any really good quality pictures of a flail on a swing arm for ditch work?

I’d like to look at the details of the hinge designs and locations. As well as the piston locations & hoe the PRo shaft is safely extended.

web search is “meh” so far… I’ll keep digging later this weekend…

thanks in advance y’all!

What pictures are you looking for exactly? My mower isn't attached to the tractor right now but I do have these pictures from my last mowing.

 

[K5lwq]

Here is a few of mine.

 

[ShowroomShine]

Picked up a Bush Hog FH188 flail today to replace my Alamo SH74. The mower has been sitting for probably 10+ years but looks in good complete shape.

What can expect performance wise between the Alamo and the FH188?

Also what do I need to do other than the obvious to get this mower back up to operating condition?

Anyone have a link to a manual for this mower?

 

[dan4jeepin]

I got a Bestco 60" medium duty flail which I used for the first time last weekend. I was in a hurry and it was a hot day so by the time I got it out of the crate and hooked up to the tractor I didn't feel like adjusting it much and just went with where the roller, skid etc were at. Overall it cut good for the height of the grass/weeds but when I looked at it once I was done it was fairly uneven. You could see a line about 2 inches taller left on each pass.

So how should it be setup? If I'm sitting on level ground should the roller and skids touch? Should it be level front to back or tilted? I tired looking at the manual but it didn't really seem to have much in it.

​

 

[kenmbz]

Roller should touch. Need to make sure roller is set at the right height to cut, can use a tape measure.
Check lift arms to make sure level side to side.
Make sure roller on same holes both sides, skid too. Skid should not be digging into ground so may need to adjust front up.
Other on here can give you more advice if any of this does not look like the issue. Mine came with the skid and roller up to make it easier to ship. So had to adjust both.

 

[dieselscout80]

Picked up a Bush Hog FH188 flail today to replace my Alamo SH74. The mower has been sitting for probably 10+ years but looks in good complete shape.

What can expect performance wise between the Alamo and the FH188?

Also what do I need to do other than the obvious to get this mower back up to operating condition?

Anyone have a link to a manual for this mower?

Here is it is.

They basically a updated Ford 917.

 

[Menagerie-Manor]

I got a Bestco 60" medium duty flail which I used for the first time last weekend. I was in a hurry and it was a hot day so by the time I got it out of the crate and hooked up to the tractor I didn't feel like adjusting it much and just went with where the roller, skid etc were at. Overall it cut good for the height of the grass/weeds but when I looked at it once I was done it was fairly uneven. You could see a line about 2 inches taller left on each pass.

So how should it be setup? If I'm sitting on level ground should the roller and skids touch? Should it be level front to back or tilted? I tired looking at the manual but it didn't really seem to have much in it.

​

If you look at their online videos they recommend that the top link pin should be slightly behind the lower pins and make sure to level the mower (left to right) with the adjustable down link. The roller is adjusted to suit conditions and the skids should be raised above a level surface as they are designed to only skid across uneven ground. Also take a pic of the drive belt label before they burn up, makes it easier when searching for replacement since Bestco only lists replacement belts by mower model not belt size. My original belts lasted only a few hours despite several adjustments.

 

[dieselscout80]

Alamo says this:
7. SETTING THE MOWER
After the mower is attached to the tractor’s 3-point hitch, but before the universal slip joint is installed, and with the mower on the ground, adjust the top link of the hitch to make the mower gearbox input shaft parallel to the tractor PTO shaft.

This relationship provides optimum operation of the universal joints in the driveline.

A driveline that is not parallel to the PTO will result in vibration due to the characteristic of a universal joint that results in the output end speeding up and slowing down twice each revolution of the universal jointed shaft.

Adjust the top link whenever the cutting height is changed.

Properly setting the cutting height is essential for efficient and safe operation. A properly set mower will make a more uniform cut, distribute clippings more evenly, require minimal tractor work, and follow the contour of uneven terrain.

 

[ShowroomShine]

I picked up a used Bush Hog FH188 flail. Upon getting it greased and oil changed I started it up and noticed some “clanging” in the mower. I ran it for a few passes and then looked under it, I noticed that it looks like the blades are hitting the deck right at the front edge in an even pattern all the way across. The rotor looks straight but I have not tried your string trick.

I’m guessing it could be the wrong blades were installed at some point? They are scoop type, but don’t look exactly like the ones for this model. When I pull one of the blades outward from the rotor to the deck housing it may have enough clearance to slide a business card between the blade and housing.

Any ideas?