Front mount flail mower from mid PTO

[Paul Allwood]

While the cutter drum is off being balanced I made a start on the body of the mower. There's still a few things to be done to make the press easier to operate, but it works, and it's still faster, neater and stronger than welding.

4 x 90 degree bends done.



4 x 45 degree bends to go....tomorrow.

 

[Paul Allwood]

I finished bending the main body panel today, plus a smaller piece to take the length up to 1,400 mm - longest I can fit in the press is 1,200 mm.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

What are you doing for the roller?

 

[Chanceywd]

I finished bending the main body panel today, plus a smaller piece to take the length up to 1,400 mm - longest I can fit in the press is 1,200 mm.

View attachment 177877

View attachment 177878

View attachment 177879

I'm impressed by the skills you have on the bending and overall fabrication.
What do/did you do for a living to accumulate all these skills?
I worked in trades and spent my last 25 or so working as basically a millwright of sorts and had to be able to fabricate, install or repair anything thrown at you in a monofilament plant.
But I could only wish I had you for a neighbor to be the extra set of hands and learn more in retirement.

Bill

 

[Paul Allwood]

@North Idaho Wolfman - here's a pic of the roller - post #48 above shows how I made it. I copied what I saw on a video by Greenhill Forge.



It will go here under the gearbox.



I'll also make 4 x 12" diameter castor wheels, one for each corner in front and behind. My plan is to let it ride on the 4 castor wheels and set the roller just a little higher so it can still do it's anti-scalping job over the rough bits, but ride on the castors so I can still steer.

 

[Paul Allwood]

I'm impressed by the skills you have on the bending and overall fabrication.
What do/did you do for a living to accumulate all these skills?
I worked in trades and spent my last 25 or so working as basically a millwright of sorts and had to be able to fabricate, install or repair anything thrown at you in a monofilament plant.
But I could only wish I had you for a neighbor to be the extra set of hands and learn more in retirement.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I really appreciate your comments.

I worked in a small engineering factory for all of my school holidays from the age of about 14 up to 21 during 3rd year at University. This was mostly pretty basic fabrication. There were times when I had to catch 2 buses to get there then the same home and I barely made more than the bus fares, but it was great experience. I studied chemical engineering at University then worked as an engineer in gas appliance research and development for 35 years, finishing with the last 15 years as R&D Engineering Manager. Fort the last 25 years I was really lucky to work with some pretty clever people in a company that believed very strongly in in-house manufacturing so there were always people coming up with novel ways of doing things.

Mostly I've seen how a lot of things are made in factories in Australia, Europe and China. When I look at something my theory is that if someone can make it then why not me ? Then I mostly make it up as I go.

I no longer work, medical retirement since late 2021 due to ongoing battles with PTSD from 25 years as a volunteer firefighter.

I reckon I'd be pretty happy to have you for a neighbour too, but I think I'd be the one doing the learning.

Thanks again.

 

[Chanceywd]

Thanks Bill, I really appreciate your comments.

I worked in a small engineering factory for all of my school holidays from the age of about 14 up to 21 during 3rd year at University. This was mostly pretty basic fabrication. There were times when I had to catch 2 buses to get there then the same home and I barely made more than the bus fares, but it was great experience. I studied chemical engineering at University then worked as an engineer in gas appliance research and development for 35 years, finishing with the last 15 years as R&D Engineering Manager. Fort the last 25 years I was really lucky to work with some pretty clever people in a company that believed very strongly in in-house manufacturing so there were always people coming up with novel ways of doing things.

Mostly I've seen how a lot of things are made in factories in Australia, Europe and China. When I look at something my theory is that if someone can make it then why not me ? Then I mostly make it up as I go.

I no longer work, medical retirement since late 2021 due to ongoing battles with PTSD from 25 years as a volunteer firefighter.

I reckon I'd be pretty happy to have you for a neighbour too, but I think I'd be the one doing the learning.

Thanks again.

Very interesting history, thank you for sharing.
I have a thought/saying , "if it was built by a man, it can be repaired by one"!

Bill

 

[Paul Allwood]

Very interesting history, thank you for sharing.
I have a thought/saying , "if it was built by a man, it can be repaired by one"!

Bill

Yep, I'd agree with that.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

New style front mount flail mowers have done away with the caster wheels as they are incredibly problematic.
They just use a rear full roller, and yes you can steer with the roller on the ground.

 

[Paul Allwood]

New style front mount flail mowers have done away with the caster wheels as they are incredibly problematic.
They just use a rear full roller, and yes you can steer with the roller on the ground.

Interesting. Do you know what is normally the problem with the caster wheels ? Do they still use skid on the sides ?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Most have no skids at all just the rear roller.
But you're not going to hurt anything by putting that or a couple anti scalp wheels on the front.

The problem with the casters is they don't caster under a lot of condition then they actually cause the mower to dig into the ground.

On and FYI the rear roller should be on the ground when mowing, this keeps things from flying at you.

 

[Paul Allwood]

Most have no skids at all just the rear roller.
But you're not going to hurt anything by putting that or a couple anti scalp wheels on the front.

The problem with the casters is they don't caster under a lot of condition then they actually cause the mower to dig into the ground.

On and FYI the rear roller should be on the ground when mowing, this keeps things from flying at you.

I'm wondering what stops the caster wheels from working. I was basing the idea in part on zero turn mowers that have two drive wheels and two front caster wheels thinking that the caster wheels must work at least in this application.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm wondering what stops the caster wheels from working. I was basing the idea in part on zero turn mowers that have two drive wheels and two front caster wheels thinking that the caster wheels must work at least in this application.

A lot less weight and further forward.
If you look at old front mount flail mowers you see they had the casters out about a foot in front of the mower deck.
I'm not saying it won't work, it's just that they found it better not to use them.
Think about this, a rear mounted flail does not use casters.

 

[Paul Allwood]

A lot less weight and further forward.
If you look at old front mount flail mowers you see they had the casters out about a foot in front of the mower deck.
I'm not saying it won't work, it's just that they found it better not to use them.
Think about this, a rear mounted flail does not use casters.

Thanks - all food for thought.

 

[Paul Allwood]

The end plates for the body are now cut out. I'll drill all the holes then weld them onto the body.

 

[Yooper]

After you get your vertical mill start saving up for a laser or water jet .

 

[Paul Allwood]

After you get your vertical mill start saving up for a laser or water jet .

I think a CNC table for my recently-purchased plasma cutter might be more likely.

 

[Bee-Positive]

I think a CNC table for my recently-purchased plasma cutter might be more likely.

 

[Paul Allwood]

View attachment 177964

I wouldn't get the popcorn just yet.

 

[Paul Allwood]

One end plate is fully welded on, the other is tack welded in place.





Some days I think my welds look a bit more like welds than others....









Other days my welds look a line of bird sh!t....