Flail Mower BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review

   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review #1  

Dreamin_Tractors

Silver Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2002
Messages
128
Location
Washington
Tractor
NH T2320 Hydro
I am a first time flail mower user, and recently purchased a used BEFCO H80, which is a heavy duty flail mower. I have read all the previous post on TBN regarding flail mowers and for my situation it seemed like the right answer. I have a 3 acre field that I have been mowing with a Woods PRD7200 Finish Mower. It did a great job but did have some drawbacks. The field is not always smooth in all areas, I would mow once a month so the length would typically be around one foot tall. The finish mower did a great job, but did tend to leave rows of grass, and would tend to shoot rocks out the back from the many mole hills. The field is also on the edge of an Alder forest, which means lots of branches after a strong wind. The finish mower did not like branches and I found myself picking up anything over 3/4". The field would have soft spots in the Spring that the mower would tend to sink into, as it has all it's weight on 4 tires. On uneven ground it tended to hit high spots (they do make a roller for the front of the mower that would of helped, but I didn't have one). If I had a smooth yard, I would probably have stuck with the finish mower, because I already own it. The "Y" blades are a more heavy duty blade than the finish blades, so I can't equally compare finish quality on a lawn. After using the flail mower, for my situation, I would not go back to a finish mower. The flail does a nice job evenly/uniformly laying the cut material behind it, not in windrows. I can certainly cut up to 2" material with this flail without any issues. I like the fact that it has a 72" roller behind it so it tends to distribute the weight much better on soft ground. My flail weighs 1200lbs, so after working through a mole hill, it compresses the dirt back down. It's not as loud as the finish mower, and it leaves a nice cut (especially for a field). The added bonus is I can take it in the woods to manage brush.

As far as the BEFCO H80, it's their heavy duty model, and at 1200lbs, it is definitely heavy. It's rated for 40 - 80hp tractors. I have a New Holland T2320 (TC45DA) from a power standpoint no trouble running it, 3pt has no trouble picking it up, but you know it's back there. It has the "Y" blades which are very thick. Someone mentioned they are $6 - $7 each for blades, but I can't imagine replacing these very often. When comparing specs, I assume this is equivalent to a Alamo SHD72. If I was to buy one new, I would buy a medium duty unit (or even light duty if I was only cutting grass), again this thing is so massive, I don't think I will ever give it much of a challenge. It run's dual belts that are V-Groove belts and has a heavy duty belt tensioner. I got this used and it was a good deal, so bigger is better :)

I included some pictures. The field picture, I should have stopped and showed where I had already cut, but I was having too much fun. Most of the grass was ankle to knee high.
 

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   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review #2  
Hey Eric,

That looks great and you stole it!! I've been watching around here looking for one about that size or a little bigger. Looks like it did a great job.
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I got it off E-Bay, which can be risky, but this was a fantastic transaction. I could see from the from the pictures that the paint was still on the underside, and from the serial number I knew it was under two years old. Shipped from Wisconsin to Washington for $330 dollars. I have scanned Craig's list locally for a year now, and I just didn't see any close to me. After my Grapple, this is my 2nd favorite implement, well maybe after one below my backhoe as well:)
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review #4  
Have you cut any blackberry vines with it? I have been considering a flail since moving to WA because of my uneven pasture and because of #@%$% blackberry vines.

Unfortunately my tractor is only 30 hp which eliminates a lot of flail mowers.
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review
  • Thread Starter
#5  
I have not personaly tried it on blackberries, but I assume it would work. I have removed all the blackberries on my property, and used the grapple to do it. I would drive into them with the grapple open, and keep going until I had a full load, close the grapple and haul them off to a burn pile. Some of mine were 10'-12' tall. Without the grapple, I would be hesitant to drive over them as they would "engulf" the tractor and driver. Since the flail is faily compact, backing into blackberries could be a concern as well, by the time you have the base cut, you will have blackberries all over you. A flail mower will have no problem physically cutting them, the only challenge is getting them into the flail.
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review #6  
I love my 7 foot alamo flail, you can cut bushed with it just start hih pass first, and sometimes noisy, you can probably cut up to 3/4 saplings, I am not sure how your blades are secured, by clevis and cotter pin? if so every 10 hours check the cotter pins,sometimes snap, thats how you loose blades, there are 2 parts on line places I know and use very good Flail-Master - Mower Replacement Parts, Commercial Riding Mower Parts, Rotary Cutter Parts, Blade grinders, Trimmer Line, Mowing Accessories - Flail Master - Flailmaster -
MONTAGE ENTERPRISES - MOTT FLAIL MOWER PARTS & BLADES, ALAMO FLAIL MOWER PARTS & BLADES i use montage more a little better on the price, go to there web sites and order a free catalog from each, also order a set of belts as a back up, I always keep an extra belt on hand, good luck with your flail my flail I re did
kubota4.jpg
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review #7  
ps watch the vines flails dont like vines, they wrap around the cutter shaft sometimes, if cutting vines listen and feel for any vibration = usually an indication of blades pinned to cutter shaft with vines.
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Nice to see you putting your freshly painted flail mower to work. That was a nice rebuild by the way! I always forget the replacement parts before I actually need them, thanks for the reminder.
 
   / BEFCO H80 Flail Mower Review
  • Thread Starter
#9  
No cotter pins on mine. I checked all of the bolts and blades before I ran it, and they all looked good.
 

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