Need help please with a flail gearbox conversion from Grillo to BCS, see Video

marnebcs · Aug 8, 2017

Hello everyone,

probably someone can help me on this topic.

I had the luck to get a barely used cerruti flail-mower tr650 that comes from a Grillo.

It is in perfect condition and for sure it won't fit my BCS 740.

In particular it's the gearbox of the flail that gives me problems.
It is a Reduco R035 gearbox with an overrunning clutch that allows free spinning in the wrong direction for a BCS.

I opened the box to see what's in there and if there is an obvious part I can flip or switch to change the direction in which the overrunning clutch works.
No surprise to me, that due to a lack of experience with gearboxes, I was not able to spot something like this.

So does someone know if the direction of overunning clutches in general can be changed?

I made a video of the output-shaft from the gearbox, that freespools counterclockwise. You can hear the "click", when the clutch engages, can anybody see from the video if this clutch can be switched?

BTW I know, that even it is possible, the flail will turn in the "wrong" direction, i.e. it rotates the same direction like the 740's wheels when mowing, but from what I've learnt it only affects the size and spread of the clippings, which I don't mind as long as I can smash shrubs.

Many thanks guys!!!!

leonz · Aug 10, 2017

Greetings,

I want to welcome you as the newest member of the "Flail Mower Nations"

So sorry to see your going through this. you should be able to just flip the scoop knives 180 degrees to use the mower.

marnebcs · Aug 11, 2017

Many thanks for your reply, I would love to switch the knives to solve my problem.
But the the flail has Y-knives which just won't turn because the overrunning clutch works in the wrong direction for my pto, so the flail won't spin.

leonz · Aug 12, 2017

AHHHH, at least you have the side slicer knives. Please send Joel at Earth Tools an Email and he should be able to help you with it.

Here is a link to the company, send them an e-mail and they will let you know what needs to be done if its possible to change the rotation.

Benzi & Di Terlizzi, PTO drive shafts, gearboxes, ...

I would still send Joel an e mail through his Earth Tools web page though.

marnebcs · Sep 18, 2017

So just to tell how the story continued.

As I come from the other side of the pond, I wanted to avoid annoying Joel with my issues, because it means time and no gain for him. Probably I'm in need for serious advice another time and then I will play that card.

So I went to my next farm machinery dealer. And gave him the gearbox with demand for ordering another gearbox or to find out if it's possible to switch.

To my surprise the phone rang a week later and they told me, they where able to switch the direction of the freespool and the working direction! Yiiihhhaaa :cool2:. 50$

The next issue was to fit that flail to my BCS. Here Joel's site was real helpful, there he claimed that the pto adapter, which makes it possible to fit old BCS implements to new BCS tractors may fit some older grillo implements as well.
Bingo, I would have loved to order it through earthtools but as they are 5000 miles away, it somehow seemed weird.

So I choose a national dealer for the delivery, Joel is absolutely right, it fitted! Excellent just another 110$. So finally I was able to fit that grillo flail implement on my BCS today :drink:

So to finish this thread:
Cerruti flails can be fitted to BCS tractors, but be aware, mine came with a Grillo fitting, which made it able to convert to a BCS.

On Reducco R035 gearboxes it obviously is comparable easy to switch working- and overrunning clutch directions. Praise for industrial grade stuff!

I used it today for an hour and while I'm familiar with some heavy machinery, I was seriously impressed, what a tiny 25" flail can do on 13hp.
It really powdered anything I threw at it, even 1ydｳ hardwood branches @1-2" where converted to dust in a few moments, I expected it to get stuck, stall the engine or just to rush over it, the cerruti just didn't, no matter what I did.
This flail now will give my chipper a break on small stuff.

Now I see why flails are on the expensive side of implements. They are very capable, fast and seem to do an excellent job when it comes to shredding organic matter to smallest particles in seconds.
Yes I'm really impressed as I expected to get a better lawnmower or a toy but this thing really is productive.

Topic solved! Oh boy how I much I like that flail!

freedomlives · Oct 30, 2017

Out of curiosity, because I'm hunting around for something to clear brush, any idea how the Cerruti flail compares to the Berta? I'm also in Europe, so I've got the whole used market over here to look through, and hope to find some deal...