Flail rotor balancing?

[Shovelhands]

The excavator mounted Flail, I’ve recently purchased, is currently ‘in the workshop’, in need of a few minor fixes.
Which has resulted in the complete assembly being dismantled. I’ve not seen it yet, but dad tells me he’s got it to bits!

Probably going to renew all the bearings on it, and start with a fresh set of hammers, as the ones currently on it are a mix n match of worn, half worn, near new etc...
Dad tells me also that there are a few lugs that need a bit of welding on the rotor....not too much of a problem....

I wasn’t able to try it before we started working on it, and now with it completely dismantled, and coupled with the fact that I’ve got to weld a few lugs on the rotor, I’m thinking it is the right time to get it balanced?

Question is, am I worrying too much? Is it the flails/hammers themselves which put them out of balance? Or is it definitely a job worth doing now? I’d be rather upset if we repaired it all, run it and it shook its head like the Churchill Dog!

Has anyone got any recommendations for firms that do this sort of thing?

Thanks

 

[REStracTORATION]

I'm sure McConnel balance or a flail mower manufacturer do.
I'd get it done now never as easy again
Plus if it's ok when tested then great job, piece of mind

 

[itsalwaysme]

This is a name that is often mentioned in similar threads on here, along way from you though
https://frankalviti.co.uk/services/balancing

 

[bigg6480]

Have you got a lathe you could give in a spin in that’s how we did the flail when I worked in oz.

 

[Kevtherev]

Votex at Hereford do it as does joe turner equipment at Warwick

 

[Shovelhands]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will have a ring round next week

Be nice to find someone local, as it’s either going to be a long drive, or put it on a pallet?

 

[Kevtherev]

Stick on a pallet

 

[agrotron]

I would definitely get it balanced. Do all the welding and fit the new flails then send it for balancing. When they dynamic balance it you need to have the flails on.

I have got a flail topper that I bought second hand and has a slight vibration in it and am hopefully get it in workshop for refurb and get it balanced. I used Joe turner about 15yrs ago to balance a hedgecutter flail but as has been mentioned frank alvanti and vortex both do it now.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Old thread on topic.

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/flail-rotor-balancing.162334/

 

[Dave W]

Stick it on a pallet to frank alviti. First class firm. Will save you time and money in long run

 

[Shovelhands]

Excellent, thanks for the recommendations

I will get on the phone next week, but will need to do a bit of welding to the rotor first, and it sounds like I need to get a set of flails for it first as well. Any recommendations for suppliers of flails? It’s a Berti machine , which incidentally I can’t find a uk dealer for, but appears that there’s a tie up with Teagle? But not sure who supplies Berti branded equipment? I was going to price up the bearings, but will be just as well going to my local bearing shop I expect....

 

[agrotron]

Have used flails direct for a Kuhn flail mower and they have performed well. Worth a try.

 

[sto]

Forget Alviti send it straight to Votex and have it done properly first time!!!

 

[Dave W]

Forget Alviti send it straight to Votex and have it done properly first time!!!

What’s wrong with alviti?

 

[DTW]

Ireland’s Farm Machinery have a guy who specializes in rotor balancing there based at Carrington near Boston

 

[sto]

What’s wrong with alviti?

When someone claims to be able to do a job and it comes back no better or even worse than before it went then when questioned they get really arsey and tell lies which is then followed by a stiff bill.................That's what's wrong.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

When someone claims to be able to do a job and it comes back no better or even worse than before it went then when questioned they get really arsey and tell lies which is then followed by a stiff bill.................That's what's wrong.

What size/length rotor? What were the comparative charges from Frank Alviti and Votex for the same job?

 

[sto]

What size/length rotor? What were the comparative charges from Frank Alviti and Votex for the same job?

£250 off votex for a 1.6m, too ashamed to say how much off Alviti, more than double what I was expecting, put new bearing housings on which weren't needed, the bearings were still tight in the old ones. It would of been something if it was actually balanced when it came back.

 

[Kevtherev]

Grass cutting firm had similar type of thing as well.

 

[Dave W]

£250 off votex for a 1.6m, too ashamed to say how much off Alviti, more than double what I was expecting, put new bearing housings on which weren't needed, the bearings were still tight in the old ones. It would of been something if it was actually balanced when it came back.

There's more to that story you're not telling.
Did it go with new flails on?