help pick flail

[Stokes760]

ive spent probably twenty hours reading up on flail mowers here on tbn and im 90% sure a flail is for me. ive narrowed it down to a caroni and a value leader for my tractor ( Kubota b7800 30hp 22 pto hp) and 60 inch width. Only problem with the caroni is argi supply only stocks the 1500 with a f type rotor . down side of the valueleader is china made
the up side is that i can get a hydraulic offset and brush hammers for the cost of the caroni. only have a few questions can the caroni be switched to brush blades easily. also has anyone tried reversing the rotor so you can back through brush. not at all interested in a finish cut. i realy like the idea of a flail because it mulches instead of ripping brush like a rotary mower. ive attached some photos to show what im trying to get done. one showing a path cut with box blade in reverse one showing how thick the bace of the brush is and one a general idea of the land im trying to clear. the majority of the brush is california chaparral and anything larger will be cut with a chain saw and dug with back hoe. Thanks in advance for any imput.

[sodamo]

Can't help with the Caroni, but am very pleased with the Value Leader from Betsco. Great to deal with Keith. They have parts in stock. I had to buy a set of roller bearings, one rusted out, no way to grease. Otherwise 3 years of good use. I have the heavy duty model and it is. I believe if you check weights, the VL is heavier, guessing more steel. I have used both the hammers and the Y blades.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

[leonz]

Ive spent probably twenty hours reading up on flail mowers here on tbn and i'm 90% sure
a flail is for me.

I've narrowed it down to a caroni and a value leader for my tractor ( Kubota b7800 30hp 22 pto hp)
and 60 inch width.

Only problem with the caroni is argi supply only stocks the 1500 with a f type rotor.
Down side of the valueleader is china made. The up side is that i can get a hydraulic
offset and brush hammers for the cost of the caroni. only have a few questions can the
caroni be switched to brush blades easily. also has anyone tried reversing the rotor so
you can back through brush. not at all interested in a finish cut.

I really like the idea of a flail because it mulches instead of ripping brush like a rotary mower.

I have attached some photos to show what im trying to get done. one showing a path cut
with box blade in reverse one showing how thick the bace of the brush is and one a general idea of the land im trying to clear. the majority of the brush is california chaparral and anything larger will be cut with a chain saw and dug with back hoe. Thanks in advance for any imput.

About your mowing needs AND before you make a mistake and make more work for yourself than its worth:

Please finish reading the threads and post about flail mowers before you go any further the 20 hours you have spent is well spent BUT I want you to finish reading the posts and threads.



DO NOT expect to drive fast over this brush with a flail mower until you have mowed it to the ground!!!!!!!!!
YOU will lose belts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A 60 inch Caroni flail mower will require more power than what
you have at the power take off and it may still be an issue with
two opposing rows of knives removed.

YOU can always remove every other knive set on the finish rotor on all four rows if desired
or simply remove the two opposing rows leaving two full rows of knives.


You need to purchase a belly pan protection kit for your mule
first in any case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A: you cannot reverse the flail rotor operating direction, YOU simply drive over
the brush slowly and then back up over the brush slowly to destroy it all.

Each knive type requires either a 2 ,3, or 4 row knive station flail mower rotor.

The scoop knives overlap each other on the three rows of knive stations.

The scoop knives cannot be interchanged effectively on a finish rotor because
of the mounting shackles.

There is no reason you cannot purchase the 48 inch Caroni finish mower.



The agrisupply folks on the east coast have the 2 row rough cut units as stock
or they can order the 48 inch units to order and ship to you.

About the finish cut flail rotor:

You can remove two opposing rows of side slicers/mowing knives and
use it that way with no issues as the mower will still be balanced.

After you have the mess knocked down to where you want it you can always
add back the 2 opposing rows of kniveds for mowing chores.



Have you called the Vrisimo folks in California and inquired about about a Vrisimo unit
for that 48 inch cutting width? Have you called Agrisupply on the east coast and
asked about the two row Caroni Units they have in stock or which they can order for you?

They can order the 48 inch 2 row units, it will just take a bit to get them here-6 weeks plus or minus time wise.

AT least look at vrisimo web site for proces and call the Vrisimo folks in California and talk to them before
you do anything. I and the members here will gladly help you with this issue.


Just remember once you spend the money on the wrong mower of questionable origin it is gone.

I have seen some really really poorly made snow blowers and flailmowers without weighted shafts to correct
the imbalances inherent in them>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.............. .......................


The Caroni family has been building farm machinery for over 40 years now and the Vrisimo brand is
being operated by another family that purchased the company and builds other machinery as well.

All the side slicer knives on the caroni flail mowers are hardened steel if I remember correctly so they will last a long time
if and only if you do not abuse the mower.
.


You will need to raise the cutting height of the mower by lowering the rear rollers position.

If you cannot purchase a 2 row unit from the agrissupply dealer in California I will be glad
to help you get one from the east coast AS THEY fo import them there.

The two row B units have the side slicers mounted on shcakles which aids in damage prevention
of the knives and knive stations.







The image I have uploaded shows all four rotor types; as far as the hydraulic side shift it would be better to
order it know with the caroni mower and you will save a lot of money in purchasing it with the mower.

Ideally you will be mowing in reverse for quite a distance and then driving forward to mow it downa second time which is
the normal state of affairs with mowing heavy tall brush anyway-been there done that as many of the other members have as well.

Please look at island tractors picture to see how he mows heavy brush with his rwo row Caroni flail mower and the end results will impress you.

[Stokes760]

sodamo thanks for the review.
leonz thanks for all the info. i defiantly dont plan on going remotely fast. as far a hp ratings i though a 60" would be a bit big for the 22 pto hp i have but dont mind going slow and looking at the vrisimo site their super series 60" with 27 "scoop" knifes recommend hp is 22. All the growth shown is about 6 years worth so constant mowing isnt needed. Would really like to go with a 60" to cover rear track width. I think the vrisimo unit my be out of my price range but ill check. Ill check with argi supply with the b rotor and didnt know they have a dealer in california do you have the contact info. I thought hammer duck foot scoop knifes were best for brush?

[Stokes760]

checked on the vrisimo flail $5500 thats more than i payed for the tractor so not going with that option

[knotweed]

ive spent probably twenty hours reading up on flail mowers here on tbn and im 90% sure a flail is for me. ive narrowed it down to a caroni and a value leader for my tractor ( Kubota b7800 30hp 22 pto hp) and 60 inch width. Only problem with the caroni is argi supply only stocks the 1500 with a f type rotor . down side of the valueleader is china made
the up side is that i can get a hydraulic offset and brush hammers for the cost of the caroni. only have a few questions can the caroni be switched to brush blades easily. also has anyone tried reversing the rotor so you can back through brush. not at all interested in a finish cut. i realy like the idea of a flail because it mulches instead of ripping brush like a rotary mower. ive attached some photos to show what im trying to get done. one showing a path cut with box blade in reverse one showing how thick the bace of the brush is and one a general idea of the land im trying to clear. the majority of the brush is california chaparral and anything larger will be cut with a chain saw and dug with back hoe. Thanks in advance for any imput.

Bought a BEFCO 2 years ago because I couldn't pass up the price. Only use the Bush Hog for small trees now. I love the flail The area you are working is similar to my property which I bushhogged and waited for the small trees to die then I ran the box blade with rippers down and back raised. I finished it with a disc to cut up leftover roots. I'm using a 20 HP tractor so I work slow. Finally, I will rake it up and burn it.

[Stokes760]

what size flail did you pick up and is that 20 pto hp. if you had the flail at the time would you use it instead of the brush hog

[greg_g]

Suggestion: pay someone with HD equip to break it open for you. From there you should be able to maintain it yourself with lighter/cheaper equipment

[Stokes760]

i could use my cat to clear but it leaves alot of clean up work behind it. and for the cost of hiring some one local for a week i could just buy a flail.

[leonz]

Stokes760,

When you checked on the flailmower from Agrisupply was it the internet sales price?


If you want i can have the manager contact you about this as there is no reason
your mule cannot handle a 4 footerbut not a five footer because of the power
needed to run the 59 inch flail mower.

Assuming you have PM privaledges send me your information and I will forward it to the
manager there in North Carolina.

The west coast agrissupply stores are near San Franciso I think.


With your mule you will not want anything wider than 48 inches in cutting width.

In my case I have a V belt drive unit with a slip clutch and 48 inch cut that is
gas powered with a finish rotor that has 64 mounting stations with 128 side
slicers and 64 dethatching blades.

NOR I would recommend the currently available motorised flail mower being
sold here in the United states for numerous reasons.