Off-set mowing options

[Rowski]

I have found a 3pt flail mower. It's a smaller one, 48" cut. The owner claims its a Rhino, older maybe 10 years. I have to go look at it and see what shape it is and how much the guy wants for it. The guy says he hasn't used it much since he bought it new and hasn't used it in a few years.

My thought was to make this 48" flail mower into an offset bank mower either driven hydraulically or pto. I'll have to look at it first and see.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[pekabu]

Please do. I've been kinda tinkering with the same idea.

 

[Rowski]

Looked at a used flail mower yesterday. It tag says its a Rhino built by Mott, model# CP48. Has a 48" cut. Seems to be in good used shape. Looks like its been grease often. The owner doesn't have the manual. The unit looks like it weights about 300 lbs, not heavy duty but not light duty either. Flails look to be used and may need replacing. The owner claims he purchased some "trash blades" that don't work well, so he says. Owner says the unit has about 250 hrs of mowing on it.

He's asking $300 as is.... Good price???

I can't seem to find an owners manual on line??


My idea is to make a mounting system (3pt) so it can be off-set. The mower coarse height adjustment would be made via 3pt. The fine height adjustemnt would be made by adjusting the rear roller. The mower angle adjustment (above and below horizontal)by hydraulic cylinder. The mower would be driven hydraulically due to the complex drive train to drive the mower.

Anybody see any problems??

 

[MicroPilot]

Could you ask the current owner to hook it up so you could see it work? $300 sounds good to me, even if it needs a little work, these things new go for $2,500+.

 

[pekabu]

That sounds like a really good price if it's in decent shape. I have been looking for one and beat up ones (though usally a little bigger) go for twice that easily.

Also, Mott I think was bought by Alamo, or was it the other way around? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I have seen a lot of Mott/Alamo flails on eBay and such.

 

[Rowski]

Well... I bought it... $300.

Used it on my NH2120 (35 PTO hp). for a few passes. Seems to run well bearings are quite and tight. The knives are a bit dull, they should be replaced. so the cut was not as good as it could be. It did seem like it cut goldenrod, very small saplings, and spiria (sp??) fairly well. Came with an owners manual and an extra set of knives. The knives are a different style. It has a fine cut style cutter shaft.

So far I'm pleased. Its the right size for what I want to do. It seems very small on my tractor but I think when it hangs out to the side about 4 to 5 feet it will look different and effect the tractor differently.

I did find a place that sells knife parts. To install new knives and knife mounting hardware will be about $120ish.

So now it its off to design a hydraulic drive system, 3pt hitch mounting, lifting system (vertical to bellow horizontal), and maybe even siding device to allow mower to slide out even further than next to the tractor. Hope to be around the $2000 mark for making this offset style mower.

I'll post some pictures of the mower on the 3pt. I didn't have camera with yesterday.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

 

[Rowski]

Here's a picture of what it looks like. This one looks in better shape and cost $600 more. My paint is in not as nice shape but the underneath looks just as used.