Thanks for the heads up dieselscout. Is the floating lower link a useful feature? How so? What are other differences between the 907 and 917? Is the 917 a newer model than the 907? Any information/recommendations you have regarding the 917 and its use is appreciated. I'm new to the flail world. I thought of one other question just as I was finishing. At what height do you set your rear roller? If I'm not mistaken, there are 3 height options for the roller.
If it's the 917
H (there are several 917 variants) note that there are two sets of pin holes (four total) on each pair of lower link brackets. With no pin(s) inserted, the link moves several inches up and down. This aids in positioning them while attaching to the rear lift links on your tractor. You can then re-pin after connection, depending upon the angle at which you want the mower to operate. If you want it rigid, use four pins (one above, one below each mower link). If you want it to rock either backward or forward during operation, use only on pin per wide (either above or below the mower links). Or none if that suits you. I use two per side personally, and leave the floating job to my tractor rear lift links.
Another approach to using those hole sets is - once mounted to the tractor -
(a) insert 4 pins for lifting and carrying the mower to/from the mowing area
(b) remove pins to permit float while mowing. Remove 2 for a little float, remove all 4 four full float.
How you ultimately elect to use them is generally a simple matter of trial and error relative to the conditions under which you're mowing.
I've got a 20-some page version of the owner manual, but the file won't upload here. I can email to you a PDF copy. The 907 and 917 share a lot of parts, but I can really only speculate that the 907 is consumer grade and the 917 is commercial grade. I say that because one of the things they
don't share is the drive belt. The 907 takes single V-belts, the 917 takes a banded double V-belt. That would then
suggest a lighter duty transmission and drive pulley system.
I set my rear roller in the lowest of the 3 holes, which in turn gives me the highest gross cutting height. YMMV. Regardless of the roller setting, fine tuning of the cutting height is done at the toplink. FWIW, knives are best reshaped and sharpened on a bench grinder. But if/when I am in a hurry, I do any necessary touchups on the carrier, using an air powered in-line air grinder fitted with a coarse emery bit
//greg//
