flail mowers waist HP?

[8404]

I have read every post on opinion of flail mowers vs rotory cutters, and the one thing that seems to be unclear to me is that some say the flail uses up more HP than the rotory cutter and others said that you can cut a wider path with less HP with a flail. so which is it? will a tractor use more of its HP useing a 7 foot rotory or a 7 foot flail cutter is feild grass.?

[Farmwithjunk]

Depends....Flails typically require a slower ground speed than a rotary of same width, especially so in heavy weeds/grass. The only way to equalize "acres per hour" between the 2 would be a tractor of more HP for the flail, OR, accept the fact they won't mow as much per hour with same tractor. Of course, all depends on what you're mowing....Just trimming a well manicured lawn, neither will tax a motor too much, so the point is moot. Slow down ENOUGH, and you could mow with a much wider mower of EITHER type without additional HP.

Once you go to very wide mowers, (ie 15' bat wing vs rear & side mounted flails) the hp demand goes VERY one sided, as side mounted (wing) flails are USUALLY hydraulic driven and the power demand can jump quite a bit.

Again, in "minimal" conditions, such as a regularly mown lawn, pasture, ect, the difference is hardly a consideration.

BTDT, tried 'em both....Not at all impressed with flails in the condition I HAVE TO MOW IN. (Too slow/too costly/too high maintenance) YMMV. Consider MOST people aren't mowing highway ROW's though...I AM. I'd probably be more satisfied with a flail if all I cut was my yard or well groomed pastures.

I'm sure Leonz will be along shortly to tell you why not using a flail mower will cause your property to be infested with rats and poison ivy.... Take that with a grain of salt.....

Beware of advice that paints a picture of one or the other being "THE ANSWER" to every situation. NEITHER will do everything in every case. Some people are simply too biased to give a fair and objective point of view.

[SPYDERLK]

I have read every post on opinion of flail mowers vs rotory cutters, and the one thing that seems to be unclear to me is that some say the flail uses up more HP than the rotory cutter and others said that you can cut a wider path with less HP with a flail. so which is it? will a tractor use more of its HP useing a 7 foot rotory or a 7 foot flail cutter is feild grass.?

Everything I saw in FWJ answer indicates that a flail uses more power per width to keep up with a bushog. Dont know why he didnt just go ahead and say it. Mine sure makes the tractor work harder. Those that say you can cut a wider path with less HP are wrong or else mislead by not drawing out that work is HPHrs-not HP. This distinction is implicit in the FWJ post.
larry

[RickB]

Leon is going to have a fit.

But you guys are correct.

[greg_g]

What the guys are saying above is not the whole story. Most (if not all) flails are belt-driven. Rotary cutters are not. Whereas going through heavy stuff with a RC can bog down the tractor engine, going through the same stuff with a flail will just generate smoke as the belts start slipping. More horsepower cannot do anything about that.

I have both; a 60" Kodiak RC (medium duty) and a 74" Ford flail (heavy duty), both of which I use for pasture maintenance - behind a JD3720 (35 PTO hp). But given my mowing conditions, I much prefer using the wider flail, but there are several spots of heavy stuff (winter livestock feeding areas) that usually make the belts slip. I've learned to bypass those areas with the flail, and come back later and get'm with the RC.


//greg//

[SPYDERLK]

What the guys are saying above is not the whole story. Most (if not all) flails are belt-driven. Rotary cutters are not. Whereas going through heavy stuff with a RC can bog down the tractor engine, going through the same stuff with a flail will just generate smoke as the belts start slipping. More horsepower cannot do anything about that.

I have both; a 60" Kodiak RC (medium duty) and a 74" Ford flail (heavy duty), both of which I use for pasture maintenance - behind a JD3720 (35 PTO hp). But given my mowing conditions, I much prefer using the wider flail, but there are several spots of heavy stuff (winter livestock feeding areas) that usually make the belts slip. I've learned to bypass those areas with the flail, and come back later and get'm with the RC.


//greg//

There is something either wrong with that belt drive or there is a design issue. My 60" Rears flail, as delivered, and still, will bog a 50HP tractor with no smoke and no notable belt heat. Final drive is a tandem B belt 2/3 increaser tensioned by pulley spacing not idler. I have not had to adjust it.
larry

[greg_g]

There is something either wrong with that belt drive or there is a design issue.

Given the fact that there are likely several hundred thousand Ford 917H flails still in use, I'm disinclined to agree with "design issue". It's a twin pulley drive, on which I use a Kevlar reinforced double (banded) v-belt.

I've also owned a few PTO finish mowers over the years - obviously belt drive as well - and they all exhibited belt slippage in heavy stuff. Can't say that I've ever even heard of a Rears, so forgive me if I'm inclined to skepticism.

//greg//

[SPYDERLK]

I havnt heard of a Bears either. A 74" Heavy Duty flail belt slipping in anything but a quick stall on a 35HP tractor is a serious out of spec issue. - Pulleys worn or bad tension probably. - If that actually is a norm then it is a prevalent bad design issue. Sure glad I dont have a Bears, or a Ford 917H. Finish mowers are another issue, totally undefined here as to size vs drive power, and consequently not relevant in any shown way.
larry

[HiTechTed]

Spyder, I think the "Bears" greg_g is talking about is where you say, "My 60" Rears flail..." He said "Bears" instead of "Rears."

[Farmwithjunk]

Everything I saw in FWJ answer indicates that a flail uses more power per width to keep up with a bushog. Dont know why he didnt just go ahead and say it. Mine sure makes the tractor work harder. Those that say you can cut a wider path with less HP are wrong or else mislead by not drawing out that work is HPHrs-not HP. This distinction is implicit in the FWJ post.
larry

Old debating tactic....

It's called "baiting your opponent"....