Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Reg]

Just how short IS a TM1900 ?
Shorter than a 6ft rotary, for sure, but HOW short ?
Say from the lower 3pt pins to whatever is all the way back.
I'm thinking trailer space and the trailer I'm using right now can barely fit the tractor, bucket and rake.
I would like to avoid putting the bucket over the trailer tongue (-:

[SPYDERLK]

I like this thread.
I studied, researched, called, haggled, hammered,, kicked, screamed, stomped, fussed, fought, threw things.
I looked at Rears, Befco, Landpride, Vrisimo, Gearmore, John deere and a bunch more I can't remember and decided...

I'm buying a Rears SPF 72 inch with the FL 940 knives.
I'm working on shipping now.

Kinda high, over $4000, but I made my decision.

So far Im very much inclined to go with the same choice, but I havnt jumped yet. Im looking very hard at the SPF60 with 'big knives' and hydraulic side shift. Best specs for the $3800 price so far.
larry

[midcarolina]

I have an older Ford flail I picked up real cheap cause the prevoius owner beat the living snot out of the knives on rock riddled land.

If memory serves there are about 200 knives on this particular model.

You may want to consider pricing replacement knives before making your dicision on the mower to purchase. Some of the replacement knives are expensive.

[Nuru]

How fast can one travel with the flail mower cuttting, 5 mph, 7 mph, just as fast as you can with a rotary mower?

[Nuru]

another quick question, today I use a MMM to cut my grass. It shoots the grass out the sides and I tend to run over the cut grass until it is moved off of the grass. I also use my MMM to blow leaves off of the grass. Can this be accomplished with a flail mower? I have seen them in a side venting version.

[midcarolina]

How fast can one travel with the flail mower cuttting, 5 mph, 7 mph, just as fast as you can with a rotary mower?

I can cut with a good bit more speed with my flail, it depends on the conditions as to how much faster.

[IslandTractor]

Just how short IS a TM1900 ?
Shorter than a 6ft rotary, for sure, but HOW short ?
Say from the lower 3pt pins to whatever is all the way back.
I'm thinking trailer space and the trailer I'm using right now can barely fit the tractor, bucket and rake.
I would like to avoid putting the bucket over the trailer tongue (-:

This short (photo). I'd guess from the toplink connectioin there is only another 3ft or so.

[IslandTractor]

another quick question, today I use a MMM to cut my grass. It shoots the grass out the sides and I tend to run over the cut grass until it is moved off of the grass. I also use my MMM to blow leaves off of the grass. Can this be accomplished with a flail mower? I have seen them in a side venting version.

Flails tend to dump the grass right where it is cut. They don't really discharge to the side at all and only a little way backwards.

Regarding speed: I mow grass at the same speed as with a finish or bush hog mower. Seems operator comfort on bumpy pastures is the limiting factor for me.

[IslandTractor]

I have an older Ford flail I picked up real cheap cause the prevoius owner beat the living snot out of the knives on rock riddled land.

If memory serves there are about 200 knives on this particular model.

You may want to consider pricing replacement knives before making your dicision on the mower to purchase. Some of the replacement knives are expensive.

Yeah, replacing 200 knives could be a chore. My flail has only 56 knives so it seems a managable task to me.

[greg_g]

IslandTractor and I are in agreement. I have a $1700 finish mower and a $900 rotary cutter. I'm going to shop around this spring and see who'll take them both in trade for a flail

//greg//