Looking at used John Deere 25A flail mower.

[screamin400]

Local auction has a used John Deere 25A flail mower in it. Took a very quick peek at it today but was raining a monsoon. Looks like all the knives were in very good shape. Place selling it says they have used it to mow around the buildings there for a while and it works fine. It has some age to it but is not all beat up but by no means new. Is this a pretty good quality mower other than belt issues I have read about? What would the value of something like this be in average shape? Thanks.

 

[leonz]

Hello Screamin400,

Is there a "reserved minimum" bid price on this flail mower?????
Some used flail mowers s have been outright stolen by some bidders
as manhy have never seen them or used them.


The 25A models are a very good flail mower and always have been.

A new unit would be $7,000.00 or more now plus tax so your going
to have to decide whether you are prepared to bid on it and win it
or let it go.

If the serial number/builders plate is intact there is no issue in buying parts from
JD or flail master or other suppliers

I would be more worried if the auctioneer is using a fake bidder in any case to drive
up prices and thier commission.

At most your going to to need a New PTO Shaft, new belts and and a change of oil
and fresh grease when you get it home, but not before you remove the V belt cover
and scrape away all the rubber and grass dust and wash it with hot water and
dawn dish soap using a a garden hose sprayer-Yes hot water.

If you can take it to a car wash great or know some one with a steam jenny all the better.

Its up to you, your going to have to stomach a bidding skirmish with either cash on hand or
a pre certified check or bank letter if you want it and have a mule that can handle it.

My dad used his gas Ford Jubilee and a 25A to mow a pasture he reclaimed from 12-15 foot
golden rod and other heavy brush so no worries there.

 

[screamin400]

Hi Leonz,
No reserve auction unless seller has someone bidding for him. Mower would not be my first choice as it is a hair larger than I would like. I do not think it fits on my trailer but that is not the end of the world. I expect it would need some upkeep that could reach 500 easily even though nothing stuck out to me. I have to purchase it cheap or I do not want it. I would purchase a new rotary mower if it gets in that kind of range. I think I would have to be into it for about 500 expecting to put 500 more in it. Anything more than that and I do not need it.

 

[Fallon]

My 7' Ford 917 runs great behind my 5' wide 32hp L3200. Cost me maybe $400 for a PTO, belts & a new set of knives (Leonz is right on them probably needing replacement) . If you can lift it, you can spin it. You just might need to go slower if it's big.

At an auction figure out what something is worth new, worth used needing more repairs than you expect & what it is worth to you. Do that before the auction starts & don't ever exceed the lowest of those numbers. The winner at an auction might not be the one carting home the stuff, it might be the Auctioneer & seller. I see people paying more than new retail for beat up used stuff because they don't know values or just want to "win".

I paid $100 for my trashed 917, have $600 into it & several weekends of work, wouldn't sell it for under a grand. New Chinese flails are $2-3k, double that for premium brands.

 

[shaeff]

If you can, get it! I have $300 total (including purchase) into mine. It's beat to snot, it's got rust holes in the hood, the roller bearings need to be replaced, and the knives are all beat up but still well balanced. I JUST got it going this week! Here is a pic of what it made my 4+foot high field look like mowing at the lowest (1/2") setting. I'm pulling it with a '64 Massey 35 Utility gasser, 37PTO HP, and the mower is about 8' wide. I love this thing!

This mower is a BEAST.

 

[screamin400]

I am fairly certain it will go for more than I am willing to spend. Dealer told me they expect it to go over 1500 and I am going no where near that number. I would purchase a new lower quality narrower one first. If the opportunity to hire out came along I would have to load this mower on the trailer with forks and then load the tractor as it is just a hair wider than my trailer. With a new narrower one I could have it on the tractor. Not a big deal but handy. I am pretty good at auctions. It is how I make my living. The weather for the auction is forecast as nasty so possibly it will be a small turnout. I will be bidding online.

 

[screamin400]

Well I did not get the mower. Watched it sell online for 1300 plus buyers fee. Too much for me as not really what I want. If it needs nothing it should be a good purchase to whomever purchased it.

 

[shaeff]

Well I did not get the mower. Watched it sell online for 1300 plus buyers fee. Too much for me as not really what I want. If it needs nothing it should be a good purchase to whomever purchased it.

I would definitely buy exactly what you're looking for and nothing else. I've found in the past that when I buy something because "it'll work" or is "good enough" that I'm never fully satisfied.

 

[Fallon]

I would definitely buy exactly what you're looking for and nothing else. I've found in the past that when I buy something because "it'll work" or is "good enough" that I'm never fully satisfied.

I'd depends.. I paid $100 for my 7' 719 (pushing $600 total into it + multiple weekends of work) & love it despite it being "to big" for my 32hp machine.

Getting something that isn't ideal for a stellar price takes most of the sting out of using something that isn't perfect.

 

[shaeff]

I'd depends.. I paid $100 for my 7' 719 (pushing $600 total into it + multiple weekends of work) & love it despite it being "to big" for my 32hp machine. Getting something that isn't ideal for a stellar price takes most of the sting out of using something that isn't perfect.

I see your point for sure, but for me personally anywhere approaching $1k and it better be almost exactly what I need.

I love the flails, I got mine (beat to snot!) for $300 with a box of new knives and a new belt. Runs great and cuts just as well in my field and lawn. I would still like a brush hog for heavier brush though.