flail chopper

[sammydwm]

Have an old Gehl that has pretty much been used up. Was using it as a brush hog with the back flap open but the auger fills up and throws the chain. Then it takes lots off power to cut as everything stays in the flails till it's chewed up pretty fine.
Has anyone ever removed the auger and its pan and run it that way?

 

[Graham of New Zealand]

I have had experience with John Deere and New Holland flail choppers in New Zealand, set up and used as forage harvestors for grass silage so had all auger, blower and spout assemblies on but were also used extensively for mowing hay and brush cutting of woody weeds such as gorse and blackberry, this work being done with the rear flap open but auger and blower operating. Never blocked up and a small amoult of material went through the blower. If you have that blocked off or disabled, then yes I'm sure it would block up. These machines were also supplied as original equipment with no blower or auger and trough assemblies fitted. I think they were called Brush Cutters (thinking back to 1950s) I believe your machine is similar to JD and NH.

 

[Don-Wi]

In the book they show a pan that goes over the auger for use like you describe. We've never had that pan, and have done plenty of rough cutting with ours over the years. We'd take the back door off if we did much with it, but then just keep an eye on the stuff piling up on the back before it became a problem. Could go quite a ways before it'd pile up in most conditions.

If you're interested,I think we still have the operators manual from ours. It got sold last year at auction.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Leroy]

My experience is with the John Deere No. 10 built in the 50's. In the operators manual it saws to do that for chopping back on field. We at first just opened the door and let it blow out the back as we were green choping into a feeding wagon for the cows at the time. Later years no longer feeding cows and the fan and blower housing went to oieces and fan removed and then that auger and pan plus the door were removed and used to mow weeds for several years like that and also chop corn stalks back on field.

 

[Davidj]

(quoted from post at 22:06:24 06/26/17)
Has anyone ever removed the auger and its pan and run it that way?

I have a NH 36 that I'll sometimes take the pan out of for cutting weeds. The auger comes out too but it's a bit of a bear of a job. As long as the auger still turns, it shouldn't built up too often with long grass. It's ok for small patches but I take it out if the Haybine quits and I use it for a back up.

 

[sammydwm]

Well like I said this thing is wore out. Used it to green chop a few years ago and the only way I could get it to hit the wagon was by driving into the wind and that was using an 826.

Thanks for the replies, and sorry Don but I won't need that manual, if it makes it through this year it will probably be going to the scrap yard in the spring.