Flail Mower New member. New owner JD 25 A Flail mower. Help!

[Molalla1]

Molalla, thanks for your reason for buying a flail mower. That's a good one. Got to keep the fur babies safe. We have an Aussie/ Healer mix that is always trying to herd and isn't intimidated or careful enough around vehicles. I have to be very aware of where he is at all times because he will cross my path in a heartbeat.[/QUOTE]

Yes, mine are Aussies and they like to herd everything.:laughing:

 

[shaeff]

Thank You.

No problem! Have you had a chance to run it yet?

When I first hooked mine up I was not all that impressed. After tweaking the flail and my tractor's adjustments, I was blown away at the difference. I had cut my field with a brush hog, it left all sorts of clumps and windrows of grass everywhere.

After cutting my whole field with the 25A, I'll never brush hog it again unless I'm clearing the very dense overgrowth at the edges. It looks that much better!

 

[docsfarm]

No problem! Have you had a chance to run it yet?

When I first hooked mine up I was not all that impressed. After tweaking the flail and my tractor's adjustments, I was blown away at the difference. I had cut my field with a brush hog, it left all sorts of clumps and windrows of grass everywhere.

After cutting my whole field with the 25A, I'll never brush hog it again unless I'm clearing the very dense overgrowth at the edges. It looks that much better!

This essentially mirrors my experience as well.

 

[Ribz]

shaeff, Sadly I have not been back on it for several days. I hope to get parts ordered this week. You said above, "I'll never brush hog it again unless I'm clearing the very dense overgrowth at the edges. " Why not use the 25A on that too?

Good to hear more real world experiences doc.

 

[2458n]

Small spring & "C" clip are all that the PTO requires. Sorry for repeat.

 

[shaeff]

shaeff, Sadly I have not been back on it for several days. I hope to get parts ordered this week. You said above, "I'll never brush hog it again unless I'm clearing the very dense overgrowth at the edges. " Why not use the 25A on that too? Good to hear more real world experiences doc.

The 25A isn't well suited for heavy clearing like a brush hog/rotary cutter. The flail will lay down thicker brush and simply strip the smaller branches and leaves from the main stalk so it's naked. The knives aren't heavy enough to shred 1" + brush.

A rotary will cut/shatter that kind of stuff, a flail with hammer knives will do the same (and leave a nicer finish cut), the 25A is good for woody brush under 1" diameter, and excellent at tall field grass and the like.

 

[docsfarm]

shaeff, Sadly I have not been back on it for several days. I hope to get parts ordered this week. You said above, "I'll never brush hog it again unless I'm clearing the very dense overgrowth at the edges. " Why not use the 25A on that too?

Good to hear more real world experiences doc.

My FM4188 is rated to 2" material, so I do clear a lot of dense overgrowth at the edges of my property... but it has been neglected in some areas for quite a while. There are places with autumn olive nearly 20' tall and 8" at the base. Chainsaw and grapple

 

[Ribz]

I have an update. 36 new scoop blades, hangers, D rings and lock nuts are on the way from Flailmaster. Special thanks to Carrie for providing much appreciated assistance. After I mentioned that FM is highly recommended on a site that I participate in, she immediately asked if it was TBN. She visits here as well. I held off ordering new bolts and will try to locate some of the allen head cap bolts recommended by Leonz. I should have the parts by the weekend.
A note on suppliers… In addition to Flailmasters, I also contacted Hardhitter and Cleancutter. There were some pricing differences that I found interesting. Each of the three items varied in pricing from each company. One was cheapest on the hanger while another was cheaper on the ring. As a package and including shipping, total cost varied about twenty bucks. Flailmaster offered free shipping which brought them closer to the others, but ultimately FM got the nod for, 1: USA manufactured knives. 2: knowledgeable, friendly, customer service. 3: Free shipping. Carrie let me know that should I need bearings in the future, they have those as well. I asked her not to wish that on me.
I’ll try to remove the old hardware this week so I’m ready to install the new parts when they arrive. With any luck, I should be mowing with it before too much longer.
I am missing an endplate on the back and the remaining one was bent all to hades. Should I begin mowing without them and leave the cover down, or will the new knives hit the cover without the small endplates? What about tying the cover up and mowing? I thought I remembered reading that many remove the cover completely, but not sure if that applied to the 25a. What’s the thinking on that?

 

[Catoosa]

The rear guard on my JD was missing when I bought it, never bothered doing anything about it. Have no idea if it really does anything other maybe keep stuff from being thrown out the back. Mine does spit out allot of grass clippings, I wouldn't want to be very close behind it. Also if it's windy and you are mowing down wind all that stuff that is being thrown out the back will get blown right over the top of you. If you can salvage yours I would say keep it.

 

[Ribz]

Wow. Was that fast shipping! Got my parts today.

Questions I have...

The allen head cap bolts are coated with some kind of dark material. When I install these, should I fill the hole with heavy grease or maybe silicone to keep it from getting packed with stuff harder to remove than grease or silicone?

I bought a set of hex head sockets so I can use a ratchet or breaker bar on the heads of the cap head bolts. Should I use a torque wrench and tighten to a specific .lb pressure?

Will the job go faster if I remove all 36 first, or work station to station removing old and installing new as I go?

Thanks