Another Flail Mower Question

[Airedale]

I planned on picking up a brush hog type mower in the near future but the threads on the flail type mowers have got me seriously leaning in that direction. I have tried to educate myself about them by reading the many posts about them here on the board.

The question now is which manufacturer will I end up going with. For my use I believe the Caroni that is well thought of here is a good prospect. But leaving no stones unturned I was poking around on the internet I found these kpx flail mowers. I would just like to know if anyone here has first hand experience with this brand and what their opinions about them were?

Al


Mowers - KPX Tractor Wood Chippers and Backhoes Attachments

 

[gtrippleb]

Looking at the picture of this flail mower here (notice in the picture it has EF-175 on the mower)
KPX Tractor Wood Chippers and Backhoes Attachments

It looks like a chinese flail mower like what Betstco sells.
Betstco 60"

There are numerous people on here that have the Betstco model.

Like was mentioned in another post/topic, it looks like there are numerous companies importing these. I think the popularity of the flail mower might be increasing so other companies are looking at getting into the market. It also could be that since I own one, I'm more inclinded to be aware of them. Kinda of like when you buy a new vehicle you tend to start noticing that specific vehicle more.

 

[leonz]

About flail mowers:


A flail mower purchase should be looked at along the lines of available budget, total over use for grass only or grass and brush, and size if time is a consideration only.




Rules to remember:


1. the wider the mower the greater horsepower power required at the 540 rpm PTO throttle setting- lower engine speeds will prevent it from slicing/cutting brush and it will wrap around the rotor and will not work properly.


2. the smaller the mower the better use of power as the engine can be set at high throttle and kept at the 540 RPM speed with lo overloading the drive train-this applies especially to any tractor with an automatic transmission.

3.if you have cruise control plan on using at all times it to prevent overloading the engine and transmission.

4. having a limited slip pressure plate PTO clutch is a must to add a second layer of protection for the prime mover; some folks disagree with me, but that is how I feel due to my experience with farm equipment and mining machinery.


5. having hydraulic side shift on a smaller flail mower or larger mower allows you to mow with flexibility avoiding more wore as you will be able to position the mower closer to where mowing is needed and maintain safe distance from objects and trees to avoid damaging them or the tractor and mower.


a. you can add the hydraulic side shift at a later date on the Caroni flail mower.

b. mowing in aspiral pattern for brush and turf allows you to overlap and avoid having to stop, brake, turn around, restart mowing and it will still look nice mowing turf.

b1. the full width roller allows you to lay the ribbon pattern in opposite directions for a nice mowed look if desired.

b2. the full width roller reduces scalping to a minimum unless the mower is tilted forward while crossing a narrow ditch wide enough to allow the mower to drop in float.

b3. some flails builders have a double roller option(roller in front of the rotor to prevent scalping damages and offer a stable platform while mowing



6. a flailmower is shorter in length and you could store it indoors in the off season if there is adequate space.

a. you should remove the belts and put them in a heavy plastic bag in the off season to reduce ozone damage to them if they are in good condition.


7. type of cut:

The Caroni has 4 different rotors for 4 different mowing conditions


B, A, F, P,



The F rotor is a finish cut rotor with grass knives which is suitable for brush mowing and it takes longer as you must advance slowly or reverse slowly to cut down brush and heavy field bush growth.

The Grass rotor will slice the brush very finely to the ground and keep it that way if desired as long as the forward speed is at a slow rate of advance.

The other rotors will cut more roughly if speed is not an issue.

Some flail mower rotors have either staggered blade mounting positions or 2 or four rows of knife hangers, the Caroni has both types and the knife hangers/shackles use nuts and bolts to secure the knives.






The flail mower cuts along its entire width where a brush mower has a limited length of cutting surface and tears the brush or overgrowth where a grass knife slices a tiny portion at one time with more knives following behind the previous knfe blade.


The grass knives have more total cutting edge length than a rotary or brush mower and the grass knive slices the grass or brush rather than tearing it like a brush mower or rotary mower.


Some grass knife brands have two cutting edges which doubles the length of service before sharpening the knives.


Depending on the mower brand it may have spring tension shackles to allow changing blades/flipping cutting edges with no tools.


Heavy cutting loads requires either a slower speed or repeat passes with a high cutting height setting and then lower settings as well as mowing in the opposite direction to shred and slice the brush.


The rule is the same the more often you mow the easier it is to mow and you can do it in the winter if the winter killed brush is not snow covered to eliminate the brush buildup in spring.


Brush cutting when the material is dead from frost is easier as it has little moisture in the brush.


The flailmower has grease fittings that are both exposed and hidden under the belt cover and need to be greased.


You can overgrease the main bearings and blow the bearing seals and ruin the bearings!!!!

Not all of a flail mowers grease fittings are exposed under the belt guard as they are under the belt pulleys on some or all brands. the rubber dust can cover the grease fittings and hide them from view.


Always buy replacement belts with the same lot number as they are made in batch lots.

The Gates brand green belts are an excellent belt for the shock loads required if you wish to use single lacing belts.

You can purchase the B size Belts in 2 and three web configurations to reduce stress loads and shock loads.

Some flail mowers require the COG type belt which is a toothed V belt which is the type used for more efficient

power transmission.


The Caroni's rear roller grease fitting's are hidden in the lower cutting hieght settings.



leonz

 

[IslandTractor]

the Caroni has 4 different rotors for 4 different mowing conditions

True Caroni makes four different rotors but for practical purposes only one type is available for each mower in the USA without special order. AgriSupply seems to be the main importer and they only have the finish rotor on the smaller flails (1.2 and 1.5 meter) and only the rough cut rotor on the 1.9 meter model (TM1900B).

 

[sodamo]

Yes, as discussed in another thread, that flail appears to be same as Betstco. I have the heavy duty 69" model and love it. A very good value.

 

[Airedale]

Thanks for your time and the info guys, This forum is great.

Al

 

[Z-Michigan]

Just a general comment: I've used a rotary cutter for over 3 years, and just today received my new Caroni TM1900 flail (truck freight from agrisupply). I put it to about 45 minutes of use and so far I love it. It does all the good things that the rotary cutter did on tall weeds and thick grass, but it doesn't stick out nearly as far, doesn't spit rocks, and is generally much more pleasant to work with.

I was a bit skeptical ordering a Caroni sight unseen, not knowing the quality, but I am satisfied for the price. It is well, well above the level of quality of the cheap brands (King Kutter, etc.) and I would put it, based on what I can tell so far, at the upper-middle range of quality. Actually I really don't see anything I consider a design or manufacturing issue, other than the paint being a little uneven in shade and thickness.

If you think a flail would work for you, look at them seriously. Rotary cutters have a place but are kind of crude and dangerous for a lot of routine mowing work.

 

[IslandTractor]

Glad to hear you like it Z.

 

[sandgrubber]

yet another question

Start with a 35 hp Kubota L35, being used in an 8 acre vineyard, 13 acre property, hilly, with tendency to revert to poison oak, blackberries and thistles. I've decided Bestco products are worth a try, and that I should get heavy duty stuff and buy the "hammer blades" to allow mulching of pruning debris (and more complete slaughter of woody weeds). They don't seem to have the 68" mower with hydraulic offset available.

So it comes down to choice between 60" heavy duty with hydraulic offset or 68" heavy duty w/o hydraulic offset. My trellis system is on 10 foot centers, and the mowed aisles are about 7 foot, so neither is wide enough to cover the full width . . . it comes down to a 4" gap with more draw on the motor and less control vs a 12" gap with less draw and more control. Little price difference. Which would you choose?

p.s. I can easily get the gap with a ride-on lawnmower with belly blade and cart in the course of doing some other job that requires systematically going through the vineyard and doesn't require much hp . . . . eg weed spraying, thinning, etc.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd toss a coin unless the offset flail gets you further away from the tire when extended. That can be useful when mowing against fences or trees.