BCS Flail

[Simon R]

Greased all the points which needed greasing. I did it whilst the machine was at full throttle and with the blades running to get the grease working instantly. Not a squeak, rattle or vibration from it today. Although the bailer twine looks bad it was free moving around the shaft but was still removed. There is very slight play (about 1/8th of an inch) in the shaft but thats it.

 

Looks like you caught it in time then...

[Matthew Arnold]

Looks like you caught it in time then...

 

Yep. I was using it yesterday going through 6 foot high nettles and 3 foot high brambles and it didnt struggle half as much as it did before.

[APC]

Dr mowers far better imo you get a closer cut scags when we tried them tend to flaten the nettles remove all the leaves then the stems spring back up

 

With a flail head on or a rotary?

[Matthew Arnold]

Dr mowers far better imo you get a closer cut scags when we tried them tend to flaten the nettles remove all the leaves then the stems spring back up

 

We have a DR mower. We've got the 13hp version with a brush deck and a lawn deck. We made a big mistake with the lawn deck as it doesn't like working on odd slopes and it goes through belts like i go through beer. The brush deck just had a new blade after 18 months of hard use and it is coming up for a new skid all round.

Edited October 13, 2011 by Matthew Arnold

[Matthew Arnold]

Leant it to the team in Dorchester.....Got a phonecall yesterday. They were mowing heavy wet tussocky grass (the thing it hates) which had 2 inch thick blackthorn interspaced between it. Sounds like the chain drive has gone as the pto will engage the gears will rotate but no movement from the flail head so will be taking it apart tomorrow morning to check the chain hasnt just bounced off. Hoping the chain hasn't snapped or the shaft has snapped (happened last time when colleague hit roll of barbed wie hidden in grass).

[Matthew Arnold]

Managed to fix the flail head with a new chain and replaced the slip clutch shoes too. We have the slip clutch on there just incase we hit anything really subtantial (big stumps, rubble, wire,etc). Checked the bearings whilst it was in bits and got a new bearing on the way for the other end of the flail head as it wont hold grease like it should even with the new gasket.

[Matthew Storrs]

In general what do you make of the BCS flail for long grass, brambles etc?

[Matthew Arnold]

In general what do you make of the BCS flail for long grass, brambles etc?

 

Long grass depending on the tussockyness it is ok . It loves brambles providing they are flattened before hand.

[Brushcutter]

I must try this flail attachment. We have a BCS with the scissor grass cutting bar and the flail. The flail has been used once then it was deamed rubbish and put away. How good is compared to say a DR rough terrain mower or a brush cutter? Cutting longish grass, young bramble nettles. Mainly nettles.

[Matthew Arnold]

Currently running it on higher octane fuel and it has made a massive difference. The revs are more constant and it doesn't struggle as much on wet grass. It is greased at the start of the day and at the end to make sure it is well and truly lubed. Had the cylinder head gasket replaced as it started to leak a bit of oil as one of the bolts had been overtightened from a previous strip and degrease.