Grass wrapping around disc mower (Krone Active mow)

twin_beacon

We recently bought a new Krone Active mow, 8 foot disc mower (non conditioner).

We cut a few acres of light stalky silage after we got it, all went fine. This evening I was trying to cut a field we reseeded this year, this is the first cut off it. Heavy crop of very green leafy grass, some of it is lodged. Long story short, I didn't get it cut, as grass kept wrapping around the disk nearest the tractor. There is a guard behind the disk, with around an inch of clearance between the two. When it started to wrap around the disc, it would clog very fast and the slip clutch would kick in. I wanted to take off the guard and see what happened, but the aul lad wasn't a fan of the idea! Does anyone here have a similar mower, or has anyone experienced a similar situation?

Its possible I was driving too slow, as I cut the first 50 yards fine, then out to see if I needed to adjust the top link (was grand), then when I moved off again this started to happen.

This is where I was having the trouble. Its getting cut tomorrow, even if it means using the old 5 foot 6" rotary!

FintanMcluskey

What way is each disc rotating?

I believe there is a different set up for spreading or leaving a more formed swarth to prevent tractor driving on cut grass on those active mow. It can change direction of rotation of the discs

Does manual mention anything about adjusting rotation?

twin_beacon

The first disk on the bed turns clockwise. I don't see anything in the manual about adjusting the rotation.

FarmerDougal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058204374/grass-wrapping-around-disc-mower-krone-active-mow

Your catching the previous row. Have you the fin on the outside to swath it in for heavy grass? Have same mower happened me in a very heavy backsward

twin_beacon

I didn't even make it a full lap of the field, I was trying to open up the field. yea I've the fin attached alright.

mr.stonewall

Check that the flails are ok and not with with any bend or kink. When flipped over sometimes with a slight bend it can be worse with the this way.

Try new blades on this disc and the other is check the blade for this disc is a clockwise. If it was the opposite it could be catching grass in that guard

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117764674#Comment_117764674

https://kroneaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AMR-series-Operator-manual.pdf

Page 66

https://www.krone-uk.com/english/products/mowers/rear-mounted-activemow/windrowing-or-spreading/

Which way is it set up?

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765736#Comment_117765736

Looking at the wear on the flail holder clips it looks like the bed A from the Krone manual. Had never seen one like this before

FintanMcluskey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765904#Comment_117765904

If it is in the A set up its already swathing the grass as opposed to spreading so my theory is rubbished.

Not sure how long it takes to change it to B rotation though, it seem to only require the hub to be rotated to drive off the opposing drive gear. But I would be cautious to verify the timing before starting the unit

twin_beacon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765736#Comment_117765736

Ok I see what you mean now, I don't actually know which way they are spinning, I'll check this evening.

Phone call to the dealer this morning, he said its ok to remove that guard and thats is a common enough complaint in very heavy green crops. I'll have another go at it this evening.

Easten

Check that the correct blades are on the machine. I had a similar problem with a lely mower and didn't cop it until after I changed the blades. The blades that were on my mower were about 10mm longer and the clip hole was also wider than the correct blades.

jimmy G M

Make sure you have it well revved, at least 540 rpm. Happened here once with our krone, father was mowing, started off cutting at 1700 RPM on the tractor with intention of increasing up to the rated speed of c.2000, when he got used to it.... heavy grass, clogged... You might need to tighten the slip clutch as well if it has slipped a lot.

MasFer

I had a similar problem with my mower (Samasz) in heavy grass. From talking to dealer and experience forward speed is critical.

I have seen in heavy grass, if I stay in my 'normal' gear tractor maybe under a little bit of pressure, but mower is happy and doesn't get blocked. Drop down a gear and she can block.

So keep her lit and see how you get on!!!!!!!!!

twin_beacon

Removed the guard, no blockages after that. The disks are spinning in the "A" direction according to the manual.

Poor aul massey knows its behind it! Missed a few bits here and there, first proper meadow I've mowed in a long time.

jimmy G M

What tractor are you mowing with?

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117768249#Comment_117768249

Nice dense rows for a non Conditioner, must been big crop

twin_beacon

Mowing with a Massey 4245.

Yea, very heavy crop. The field was reseeded earlier this year, it was fit to cut around two weeks ago. All thick leafy grass.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058204374/grass-wrapping-around-disc-mower-krone-active-mow

If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay for the Krone AMR 240 as thinking of upgrading from a 5'6" rotary mower myself.

I'm guessing around the 8k mark ?

Tileman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117769500#Comment_117769500

What do u think of the 4245. Looking at one here at moment.

twin_beacon

We upgraded from a 5'6" rotary too, although we hadn't really used it in years. We paid a bit over 8k for the Krone.

The 4245 is great, its 21 years old now. We bought it second hand when it was 4 years old. It hasn't done any heavy work for us, we get a contractor to do the slurry, so the usual stock man jobs, feeding bales, topping, spreading fert and moving cattle. We've a loader on it, it has the power shuttle and slopped bonnet.