Flail Mower flail mover vrs finishing mower

[IslandTractor]

I cut similar fields (and much worse) and have used a bush hog, finish mower and a flail. I kept the flail and got rid of the other two. Flails are quite versatile, easier to store and have lower risk of shooting out dangerous projectiles.

As best I can tell, the only reason so many people use bush hogs and finish mowers in fields is that for the most part the American manufacturers have not produced economy or mid grade level flail mowers and sell only very high priced heavy duty models. The Italians have produced a number of excellent flail mowers that sell for less than the cost of a comparably sized finish mower. Apparently the Chinese are now producing servicable low rent flails too. Not sure why Woods, Landpride, Bush Hog etc haven't seen the opportunity and stepped in to the market.

 

[TomWhite]

I run a 5 foot bush hog on my fields. With sharp blades, I can get very close to the cut a finish mower would give me. I also have a set of older blades for it that I use if I'm going to be taking down saplings or heavier brush. It really doesn't take but a few minutes to swap blades once you get used to it. The extra set of blades is a heck of a lot cheaper than two pieces of mowing equipment.

 

[Lefty_Kubota]

keep the suggestions coming.. I like hearing what you guys have to say...
As i have no experience with tractor implements..

The idea of a brush hog with two sets of blades sounds good,
I wish there was a way i could try out a flail mower..

But from the sounds of it the finishing mower is out...

 

[texbaylea]

I have used a Bush Hog, a RFM and a 73" Caroni Flail (TM1900B) and much prefer the flail. I have grass and light brush and the flail does a cleaner job overall. It does leave stripped stalks of grass behind ocassionaly but that's OK with me. I alternate mowing by 90* each time I mow and works to level it all out. It also seems that the flail takes less hp than the other two. I believe that your B9200 would handle the 73" Caroni B flail if you can always mow when needed. The B flail is not intended for finish mowing but works well for my application.

If you went with a finish cut flail 60" is probably as large as you should go.

Vernon

 

[moeh1]

I don't have an RFM, but I do have a flail and a bush hog. The flail is nice, but heavier than an RFM and it draws alot of hp ( my is a very fine cut with alot of blades). The fine cut is not made for rough terrain with rocks etc. The price was right, so thats the route I took. I use the bush hog on rougher and occasionally cut areas. You can often pick up a flail that needs bearings, etc. rebuilt pretty cheap near me.

 

[Lefty_Kubota]

im on the lookout for a flail mower ... I'll keep you guys posted how this works out..

 

[brandoro]

I have a RFM and a flail, have had the RFM several years for doing the lawn and tried it on light brush to the point where I figured if I kept doing that it was going to get expensive. Bought the flail thinking it might replace the RFM but, for me anyway, that was not the case. The flail does a great job on brush and small saplings, rated up to 1" which I have found is no trouble for it at all, but doesn't do the job I like on the lawn. Since I have ongoing need to cut light brush and saplings and the lawn I will keep both. My 18 PTO HP tractor doesn't struggle with either mower. The very odd time I may have to slow down just a bit going through heavy areas with the RFM.

 

[allen in texas]

Here's my take on a flail vs rotary cutter.


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/125875-third-attemp-post-thread-about.html

 

[Lefty_Kubota]

got me a 56" flail from betsco on ebay
been using it for a few days now, works excellent

Im very happy with it

$800 dollars total and was shipped to my door

 

[IslandTractor]

got me a 56" flail from betsco on ebay
been using it for a few days now, works excellent

Im very happy with it

$800 dollars total and was shipped to my door

That is a great deal. Looks like a nice mower from the photos. Does the ebay importer carry parts? Not much likely to go wrong but it would be nice to know that belts and knives would be easy to get. If not I'm sure that NAPA for belts and AgriSupply for knives would work out.