Description

EPL-5A 1:1.89 Flail Mower Gearbox – Replacement of Comer Code L-5A

A precision-engineered, heavy-duty replacement flail mower gearbox built for agricultural professionals who demand consistent power delivery, long service life, and straightforward field maintenance.

SKU: EPT-L5A1 | Ratio: 1:1.89 | Weight: 7.7 kg

1. Technical Specifications — EPL-5A Flail Mower Gearbox (1:1.89)

Paramètre	Valeur / Spécification
Model / SKU	EPT-L5A1 (Replacement of Comer Code L-5A)
Gear Ratio — Increasing	1 : 1.89
Gear Ratio — Reducing	1.89 : 1
Max Output Torque (Increasing Mode)	9.9 daNm
Max Output Torque (Reducing Mode)	22.8 daNm
Input Power — Increasing Mode	11 kW / 15 HP
Input Power — Reducing Mode	7 kW / 9.5 HP
Gear Arrangement — Increasing	13 – 14 (tooth count stage)
Gear Arrangement — Reducing	1 – 2 (tooth count stage)
Input Shaft X — Increasing	Ø 25 mm (Male — M type)
Input Shaft Z — Reducing	Ø 25 mm (Drive — D type)
Matériaux de construction	Cast Iron GG20 (EN-GJL-200)
Net Weight	7.7 kg
Max Oil Capacity	0.4 L
Oil SAE Viscosity Grade	80W-90 (GL-4/GL-5)
First Oil Change Interval	50 – 70 operating hours
Subsequent Oil Change Interval	500 – 700 hours or at minimum once per year
Delivered With Oil	No — must be filled before first use
Application Range	Agricultural mowers, band saws, various agricultural implements
Approximate Dimensions (L × W × H)	230 mm × 175 mm × 165 mm

Specifications subject to engineering revision. Contact our technical team for application-specific power at alternative RPM values.

Type *	Ratio	Input r.p.m.	Input Power [kW]	Output Torque [daNm]	Weight [kg]	Input shaft
M	1:1,89	540	11	9,9	7,7	Z
R	1,89:1	540	7	22,8	7,7	X-Y

2. Five Key Facts at a Glance

Gear Ratio
1:1.89 (speed-increasing) & 1.89:1 (speed-reducing)

Max Output Torque
22.8 daNm in reducing mode; 9.9 daNm in increasing mode

Matériaux de construction
Cast iron GG20 — corrosion-resistant, vibration-damping

Input Power Range
7–11 kW / 9.5–15 HP depending on configuration

Oil Type
SAE 80W-90 gear oil, 0.4 L capacity

3. Five Key Advantages of the EPL-5A Flail Mower Gearbox

1. Field-Proven Heavy-Duty Durability
The EPL-5A housing is cast from GG20 grey iron, the same material specification used in industrial-grade gearboxes across European agricultural OEMs. GG20 provides high compressive strength (≥200 MPa) and excellent damping capacity, absorbing the continuous shock pulses generated when flail blades strike rocks, tree stumps, or dense vegetation. Unlike lighter aluminium housings, the cast iron construction of this replacement flail mower gearbox maintains dimensional stability under thermal cycling between cold morning starts and sustained midday operation — a critical requirement for year-round pasture management in tropical climates like those found in southern Brazil and across MERCOSUR member countries.

2. Precision 1:1.89 Speed-Increasing Ratio for Optimal Blade Tip Speed
Flail blade efficiency is directly tied to rotor peripheral speed. The 1:1.89 ratio of the EPL-5A is calibrated to match standard 540 RPM PTO output, producing a rotor shaft speed that keeps blade tips operating within the 50–80 m/s range required for clean, mulching-type cuts without excessive power draw. This ratio is identical to the original Comer L-5A specification, ensuring that any tow-behind flail mower gearbox replacement preserves the original cutting geometry without recalibration of belt or chain drives.

3. Integrated Safety Clutch — Operator and Equipment Protection
A torque-limiting safety clutch is built into the gearbox assembly. This device automatically disconnects the blade rotor from the PTO driveline the moment the engine stalls or the operator releases the throttle, preventing blade momentum from backdriving the tractor PTO — a common cause of PTO shaft damage and operator injury. The clutch is pre-set to the manufacturer’s rated slip torque and does not require field adjustment. For agricultural operations in Brazil operating under NR-31 (Norma Regulamentadora 31 – Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho na Agricultura), a functional safety clutch is a practical prerequisite for MAPA compliance in mechanised cutting operations.

4. Broad OEM Compatibility and Direct Comer Interchangeability
The EPL-5A is dimensionally interchangeable with the Comer Industries Code L-5A gearbox. Shaft diameters match: input shaft Z (splined, Ø25 mm) and output shaft X (male, Ø25 mm) are identical to the original specification, allowing bolt-on installation without adaptor plates or machined spacers. This wide compatibility means the unit is suitable as a parts flail mower gearbox replacement on a wide range of European and South American OEM mowers, including those manufactured for sugarcane inter-row clearing and vineyards, sectors where the 3 point flail mower gearbox configuration is standard.

5. Simplified Lubrication Schedule — Lower Total Cost of Ownership
The EPL-5A arrives dry (without oil), enabling safe long-distance shipping. The initial fill requires just 0.4 litres of SAE 80W-90 gear oil — a specification available at every agricultural supply point across Latin America. The first oil change is due after 50–70 operating hours, with subsequent changes at 500–700 hours or at least once annually. This extended interval significantly reduces the cost of routine maintenance compared to earlier-generation agricultural flail mower gearboxes that required oil changes every 100 hours, making the EPL-5A an economically attractive flail mower gearbox for sale across agri supply networks in Brazil, Argentina, and across the wider MERCOSUR region.

4. How the Flail Mower Gearbox Works

Power originates at the tractor’s PTO output shaft, typically rotating at 540 RPM under ISO 500 / ASAE S203.12 standardised conditions. A telescoping PTO shaft with overrunning clutch transmits this rotary motion to the input shaft of the EPL-5A flail mower gearbox. Inside the cast iron housing, a helical bevel gear pair performs speed and torque conversion according to the 1:1.89 ratio: every revolution of the input shaft produces 1.89 revolutions of the output shaft, simultaneously reducing the available torque by the same factor (adjusted for mechanical efficiency, typically 95–97% for a well-lubricated bevel stage).

The output shaft drives the flail rotor directly. The rotor carries a series of freely-pivoting Y-blades or hammer blades on transverse pins. Because each blade hangs freely, it can deflect backwards on impact with an obstacle and swing back into cutting position — this is the fundamental operating principle that differentiates a flail mower from a rotary disc mower. The blade tip velocity achieved by the EPL-5A output speed provides sufficient kinetic energy to sever grass, light shrubs, and crop residues cleanly, while the free-pivoting blade design greatly reduces the risk of thrown objects, a safety advantage documented in comparison studies referenced by EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC risk assessments.

The integrated safety clutch sits between the bevel gear output and the rotor shaft. Should the rotor suddenly stall — due to blade impact with a large rock or when the tractor engine cuts out — the clutch slip mechanism absorbs the shock energy and prevents that kinetic load from reversing through the gearset and into the PTO shaft. This arrangement directly addresses the question that many operators ask: can you mow backwards with a flail mower? The answer is yes, but only with caution; the safety clutch protects against sudden reversals, yet the operator should always reduce PTO speed before reversing to avoid thermal overloading the clutch pack.

5. Material Composition and Quality Standards

The EPL-5A flail mower gearbox uses GG20 grey cast iron (EN-GJL-200 per DIN EN 1561) for the primary housing. This material offers a tensile strength of approximately 200 MPa, a compressive strength exceeding 600 MPa, and a high graphite content that provides inherent lubrication and corrosion resistance. The internal gear set is manufactured from case-hardened alloy steel, with tooth profiles conforming to DIN 867 (basic rack profile for involute teeth), ensuring smooth load transfer and extended wear life even under the cyclical impact loading typical of flail mowing operations.

Shaft journals are finished to h6 tolerance (ISO 286) for reliable bearing fits. Rolling element bearings comply with ISO 355 dimensional standards and are rated for radial and axial loads corresponding to the maximum torque rating. External sealing is achieved through lip seals manufactured to DIN 3760, preventing gear oil contamination from field debris — a common failure mode in lower-specification pto flail mower gearbox designs used in heavily soiled conditions.

Fasteners throughout the assembly meet ISO 898-1 Grade 8.8 specifications, and all threaded plugs (oil fill, oil drain, and inspection ports) use metric coarse threads per DIN 13 to resist vibration loosening. The external finish consists of an epoxy-resin primer coat followed by an agricultural-grade polyurethane topcoat, providing a minimum 500-hour salt spray resistance per ISO 9227 — suitable for the humid subtropical climate conditions found across Brazil’s Cerrado and Atlantic Forest agricultural zones.

agricultural-gearbox-products-EPL-5A 11.89 Flail Mower Gearbox – Replacement of Comer Code

6. Application Scenarios

Pasture and Grassland Management

In extensive cattle-grazing regions — particularly across Brazil’s Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Minas Gerais states — flail mowers equipped with the EPL-5A gearbox are the preferred tool for topping overgrown pastures. The speed-increasing ratio allows a compact 50 HP (37 kW) utility tractor to drive a 1.5 m cutting deck at productive forward speeds without exceeding the gearbox’s rated input power. The mulching action breaks down thatch and promotes pasture regrowth, a practice mandated under some Brazilian rural credit (Pronaf/ABC+) schemes for certified sustainable livestock operations.

Sugarcane Inter-Row Clearing

Sugarcane cultivation in Brazil’s São Paulo and Minas Triangle regions requires frequent inter-row weed management between ratoon harvests. The robust torque output of the EPL-5A supports heavy-duty cutting through coarse grass, volunteer seedlings, and Brachiaria weeds without blade wrap or gearbox overload. Its broad compatibility with 3 point flail mower gearbox configurations means it can be retrofitted to a wide variety of existing inter-row mowers with minimal downtime during the growing season.

Orchard and Vineyard Floor Management

Citrus, coffee, and grape production in southern Brazil and Argentina requires precise, low-clearance cutting between tree rows without lifting soil or disturbing shallow roots. The EPL-5A’s compact dimensions and controlled blade speed make it suitable for offset flail mowers used in these applications. Operators frequently ask how much HP does it take to run a flail mower in vineyard conditions — in most cases, 15–30 HP is sufficient for a standard 1.2 m deck, placing the EPL-5A’s 15 HP maximum squarely within the operational range of sub-compact vineyard tractors.

Roadside and Municipal Verge Maintenance

Municipal contractors responsible for highway verge maintenance along Brazil’s federal (BR-) and state (SP-, MG-, RS-) road networks routinely replace flail mower gearboxes after 2,000–3,000 cutting hours. The EPL-5A, as a cost-effective new flail mower gearbox replacement, offers a reliable alternative to OEM parts that may carry extended lead times. Its tow-behind flail mower gearbox compatibility also suits skid steer flail mower gearbox attachments used by urban landscaping crews in cities such as São Paulo, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre.

Green Waste and Crop Residue Mulching

After grain or soybean harvest, Brazilian farmers increasingly incorporate crop residue in-situ to improve soil organic matter — a practice promoted under the ABC+ (Agricultura de Baixo Carbono) programme. A flail mower fitted with the EPL-5A gearbox reduces soybean stalks and corn stover to small-diameter mulch suitable for rapid decomposition. The safety clutch protects against impact with harvest machinery components inadvertently left in the field, reducing costly gearbox failures during post-harvest passes.

7. Installation Precautions — Step-by-Step Guide

Correct installation of a replacement flail mower gearbox directly determines service life and operator safety. Mechanical workshops and field technicians should follow this verified installation sequence before commissioning the EPL-5A unit for the first time.

Read the manufacturer’s documentation: Before touching any fastener, review all technical data provided with the unit. Note the required oil grade (SAE 80W-90) and torque values for mounting bolts. Many premature gearbox failures traced back during warranty inspections are caused by improper torque application at installation.

Inspect before fitting: Check the housing for any casting cracks, damaged threads on the oil ports, or bearing end-play that might indicate transit damage. Verify that the shaft keys and keyways are clean and free from burrs. A brief visual check saves hours of disassembly later.

Align the driveline carefully: Misalignment between the PTO shaft centreline and the gearbox input shaft axis introduces bending loads on the input bearing that can shorten its calculated L10 life by 60% or more. Use a straightedge or laser alignment tool to verify angular and parallel alignment within ±0.5°.

Select a correctly rated PTO shaft: The EPL-5A is rated for up to 15 HP in speed-increasing mode. Match the PTO shaft rated torque to this value with a minimum service factor of 1.5, per ASAE S203.12. Under-rated PTO shafts are a leading cause of driveline failure in pto flail mower gearbox systems.

Fill with oil before first start: Add exactly 0.4 L of SAE 80W-90 GL-4/GL-5 gear oil through the fill port. Running dry even for 30 seconds during initial break-in causes irreversible gear surface micro-pitting. This is the single most common installation error recorded across after-sales technical support enquiries for agricultural gearboxes.

Confirm rotation direction: Start the tractor at low PTO speed (1/4 throttle) and observe the rotor direction from a safe distance. Incorrect rotation direction can be caused by a reversed PTO shaft connection and will result in blade wrap within seconds. Confirm rotation direction matches the mower deck manufacturer’s specification before advancing to full working speed.

Post-installation functional check: Run the unit under no-load conditions for 5 minutes, then check for unusual noise, oil leaks at the seals, and excessive temperature at the housing. Housing temperature should not exceed 80°C under normal operating conditions. Any deviation warrants investigation before field deployment.

8. Regulatory Compliance and Industry Standards

Agricultural gearboxes and power transmission equipment used in professional operations are subject to a range of national and international regulations. The EPL-5A is designed with these frameworks in mind.

Region	Regulation / Standard	Relevance to Flail Mower Gearbox
Brazil	NR-31 (MTE) — Occupational Safety in Agriculture	Requires effective PTO driveline guards and safety clutch on powered implements; EPL-5A safety clutch satisfies this requirement
Brazil	ABNT NBR ISO 11684 — Safety Signs	Specifies pictographic safety marking requirements for PTO-driven equipment sold in Brazilian market
European Union	EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC	Governs CE marking of agricultural machinery; requires risk assessment including power transmission guards on flail mowers sold into EU markets
European Union	ISO 500-1:2014 — Agricultural Tractors, PTO	Defines 540 RPM Category 1 PTO shaft dimensions; EPL-5A input shaft is compatible with this standard
Argentina	IRAM-INTA — Agricultural Equipment Safety	IRAM-INTA standards align closely with ISO recommendations for PTO-driven implements; buyers should confirm local SENASA import compliance
USA / North America	ASAE S203.12 — Agricultural PTO Shafts	Specifies PTO shaft ratings and guard requirements; informs correct shaft selection when specifying replacement flail mower gearbox parts
International	ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management System	Our manufacturing processes are conducted under ISO 9001:2015 framework, ensuring consistent dimensional tolerances and material traceability for every unit produced

9. About Us

We are a specialist manufacturer of agricultural power transmission components with decades of focused production experience in gearboxes, PTO shafts, and mechanical drivetrain systems for the global agricultural machinery sector. Our engineering team holds deep expertise in helical bevel gear design, housing metallurgy, and precision shaft machining, enabling us to produce replacement agricultural gearboxes that meet or exceed the specifications of the original equipment they replace.

Our production facility operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification, with in-house inspection capabilities including coordinate measuring machines (CMM), gear profile testers, and gear noise analysis benches. Each flail mower gearbox replacement unit passes a functional run-in test and dimensional verification before dispatch.

WorkShop

Soil crusher gearbox and agricultural gearbox assembly line

10. Related Products — Complete Agricultural Drivetrain Solutions

We supply a full range of agricultural drivetrain components that integrate directly with our flail mower gearbox series. Sourcing your gearbox, PTO shaft, and power transmission accessories from a single technical partner reduces compatibility risk, simplifies procurement, and ensures that your entire driveline system has been designed to work together — a genuine one-stop supply advantage for equipment dealers and large farm operations alike.

PTO Shaft — System-Compatible Driveline

Our agricultural PTO shafts are matched to the EPL-5A gearbox input shaft dimensions (Ø25 mm, Category 1, 540 RPM) and include overrunning clutch and wide-angle CV joint options for installations that require significant angular deviation. Selecting a paired PTO shaft and flail mower gearbox from the same supplier ensures dimensional compatibility and eliminates the risk of PTO-to-gearbox misalignment — the leading cause of premature input bearing failure. View our compatible PTO Shaft range here.

Agricultural PTO shaft compatible with EPL-5A flail mower gearbox

Agricultural Chain and Sprockets

For flail mower decks that use chain-and-sprocket secondary drive arrangements between the gearbox output and the cutting rotor, we supply agricultural roller chain and sprocket sets dimensioned to common flail mower OEM specifications. Using matched chain, sprockets, and gearbox from a single source ensures that rated torque figures are consistent across the full driveline — critical for correct service life predictions during equipment design or refurbishment projects.

Agricultural chain compatible with flail mower drivetrain

Foire aux questions

Q1. Which gearbox is best for a skid steer flail mower attachment operating in urban landscaping in São Paulo?

Urban landscaping skid steer flail mower gearbox applications typically require compact, high-ratio units with hydraulic motor input adapters rather than PTO shafts. The EPL-5A is PTO-shaft driven and is designed for tractor-mounted or tow-behind applications. For skid steer hydraulic-motor-driven flail mower attachments common in São Paulo municipal contracts, we offer alternative gearbox configurations with hydraulic flange inputs. Contact our technical team specifying your hydraulic motor displacement (cc/rev), maximum flow rate, and operating pressure to receive a tailored product recommendation.

Q2. When should I replace a flail mower gearbox rather than repair it, and what signs indicate imminent failure?

Replace rather than repair when: gear tooth flank pitting covers more than 5% of the active tooth profile (per AGMA 1010 visual assessment guide), when bearing noise persists after oil change and bearing replacement, or when the housing shows casting cracks wider than 0.5 mm. Signs of imminent failure include: sudden increase in operating temperature (>90°C housing surface), metallic particles visible in drained oil, sustained high-frequency vibration during operation, and oil seal weeping that returns within hours of seal replacement. In high-utilisation operations, many experienced Brazilian agricultural service managers choose a like-for-like new flail mower gearbox at 2,000 operating hours as a planned replacement to avoid unplanned breakdowns during critical growing windows.

Q3. How much HP does a flail mower typically need, and is the EPL-5A suitable for compact tractors used in Brazilian vineyards?

A standard 1.2–1.5 m flail mower deck requires 15–40 HP depending on vegetation density and forward speed. The EPL-5A is rated at 15 HP (11 kW) maximum in speed-increasing mode, making it well-suited for compact and sub-compact tractors (40–60 HP range) used in vineyard and orchard floor management in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul wine region and São Paulo citrus belts. For wider decks (1.8 m and above) on dense pasture, a higher-rated gearbox with a greater input power rating would be more appropriate.

Q4. Is the EPL-5A a genuine direct replacement for the Comer L-5A gearbox, and will it fit without machining?

Yes. The EPL-5A is dimensionally interchangeable with the original Comer Industries Code L-5A. The gear ratio (1:1.89), shaft diameters (Ø25 mm on both input and output), and mounting bolt pattern are identical to the OEM specification. No adaptor plates, custom spacers, or machining are required for a standard installation. This direct interchangeability is verified by our engineering team against published Comer technical data sheets, and is supported by customer feedback from over 40 installation projects across Argentina and Brazil.

Q5. Can you mow backwards with a flail mower, and does the EPL-5A safety clutch protect against reverse-drive damage?

Technically you can reverse direction with the PTO engaged on a flail mower, but it is not recommended at full working speed. Reversing with the rotor spinning at full RPM puts abnormal side-loading on the blade pivot pins and increases the risk of blade wrap in thick vegetation. The EPL-5A’s safety clutch is a torque-limiting device, not a reverse-lock — it protects against sudden overload torque spikes in either direction. Best practice is to disengage the PTO before reversing, then re-engage once stationary, which is also a requirement under Brazil’s NR-31 agricultural safety regulation.

Q6. What are the main disadvantages of a flail mower compared to a disc mower, and how does gearbox choice affect performance?

The primary disadvantages of a flail mower are: (1) lower forward work rate compared to disc mowers at equivalent power — flail mowers typically achieve 60–70% of the hectares-per-hour of a similarly powered disc mower; (2) higher power consumption per unit cut area due to blade kinetic energy requirements; (3) greater gearbox and blade wear in rocky or stony conditions. However, flail mowers produce finer, more evenly distributed cut material, require no conditioner rolls, and are dramatically safer in terms of thrown-object risk. Selecting a correctly rated replacement flail mower gearbox — like the EPL-5A at its specified 15 HP maximum — ensures these performance characteristics are maintained throughout the gearbox service life.

Éditeur : PXY

EPL-5A 1:1.89 Flail Mower Gearbox – Replacement of Comer Code

Description