Mott Flail Mower T-38 Refinish

[Talntedmrgreen]

I can't call this a restore...the unit is complete and in great shape, and I did nothing mechanical to improve it, but simply wanted to get it back in a OEM looking finish. Club member mowinman2 helped provide 95% of the OEM decal images and dimensions, and I was able to find one he was missing through exhaustive investigation. There aren't too awful many of these units out there, it seems. In searching for one, it took me longer to find, and I found fewer of them than, my Earthcavator.

mowinman2's experience with his...this really got my enthusiasm flowin

http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=121783&SearchTerms=mott,flail

When I brought her home, from Nothern IN

http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=123297&SearchTerms=Mott,Flail,Mower

So, Nate @ Vintage Reproductions kicked out the decal kit for me (the Radio decal is for another project), and I finally found some time amidst other outdoor projects to partially disassemble, sand, touch up and repaint. Old Cat Yellow is always on hand, and looked close enough to the pics I have of OEM colors.

Could the 8hp engine be a factory rebuild? The serial number is ground off, and a foil tag with a new # is in it's place. It runs great!

I also noticed that mowinman2's Mott has an older, 3-bolt carb Briggs, which is likely the original, and appears more era-correct.

All done...ready to cut. I was impressed at the HD build of this implement. With the engine, it has some serious weight to it. I'd like to fabricate an offset hitch, so I can mow the ditchbank adjacent to my place, while driving on the bike path beside it on a tractor.

[bowhunt4life]

What would you use this for? Canary grass, tall weeds??

[Talntedmrgreen]

Everything! Around here, roadside and crp in the fields. Going to be my new trail cutter at deer camp.

[bowhunt4life]

Whoa you are retiring the weedcutterOO

[ka9bxg]

I have one that is at my brothers place.It came with a red 7 hp engine on it.It has worked well since 1982.Dad used it as a finish mower when the 42in deck fell apart. It did a great job on the weed feild here when I bought the place.It had not been cut in over 20 years.Was slow going but got the job done.

[Talntedmrgreen]

Can't retire the Weedcutter, but can make my trails twice as wide in one pass, if I offset this unit...the 40" cut is a little narrow for quiet cruising in the golf cart, plus, when the weeds are covered in dew, you get soaked on the cart.Forgot a decal!

Robert, I think the red Briggs was original. Pretty sure mine is a replacement, but it sure has a boat load of power.

[pungo]

Thats purty! May be where an old expression came from, "Flail the Hail out of it"

[perry]

very cool , does it work good ? . I have a bolens and ford brochure's with a flail mower attachment on it . one might even be a front mount.