Help with flail mower selection

[lostcreekranch]

I have the exact Woodmaxx you asked about. I am very happy with it overall. But FYI, I'm running it with 50 engine, 45.6 PTO HP, and I think I have about the right HP for that size in my conditions of heavy grass and occasional light brush. In fact, it sometimes bogs down in very tall and thick grass. I don't think you would be well served to get such a large flail mower for your size tractor, unless maybe you're only going to mow lawn grass that's 6" or less tall - in which case a finish mower would make more sense anyway. I'd urge you to look at something more in the 60" width range, whatever brand and model you finally choose.

I haven't owned the Sicma. I've owned the Caroni TM1900 for about 4.5 years, and now the Woodmaxx for about 2/3 of a summer and fairly heavy use. I was happy with the Caroni, and I am happy with the Woodmaxx. I think the Woodmaxx has nicer features and overall is a bit better engineered, though the Caroni is certainly decent and has a very slightly nicer finish in certain details (which doesn't quite compensate for the lesser engineering). I wouldn't refuse either one if buying again, but of the two I would again choose the Woodmaxx. There are other brands worth looking into as well, depending on your budget and how you feel about buying premium quality (that you may not need or benefit from) vs. buying good-enough. Personally, I like to buy premium quality for tools that I can take care of and benefit from for decades, but something that's going to be wet, dirty and beat up by sticks and rocks may not have the same value equation for high refinement at a high price. Don't misinterpret this as any knock on my Woodmaxx or my former Caroni, although I'm sure neither one is as nicely made as a $10,000 orchard flail made in the US.

My only experience with a Landpride implement is a bad one. Considering the prices I wouldn't go there. If you have money to burn I'd look at Vrisimo and BEFCO. If you don't quite have money to burn but are thinking of spending a little more, I'd look at Tractor Tools Direct, though I'm not sure if their offering is actually any better than the Woodmaxx.

I’m also looking into a flail Mower and have zeroed in on the WoodMaxx FM78H. Did you get the hydraulic offset.

I have a new LS XR4155HC with 55 HP and 44 HP at PTO.

I’d like as much offset as I can get to trim around edges of two ponds once or twice a year. Majority of use will be cutting grass that is rarely over 6-8”. No brush as I’ve taken care of that with rotary cutters. I looked into the flail mowers on arms to simplify cutting around my ponds and lots of added expense for job done 1-2 times a year. I need minimum of 72” cut to cover width of my rear tires. I investigated the wider WoodMaxx FM88H flails but, HP requirement jumps to 50 HP. I’m planning on calling WoodMax and get their opinion on operating the FM88H on 44 PTO HP if all I’m cutting is grass.

FWIW, I got pricing on LP flails and they were “make your eyes water” expensive, only offered manual offset by moving the 3 point hitch, and offset was only 10”.

 

[Buxus]

"If you have money to burn I'd look at Vrisimo and BEFCO. " Z-Michigan, Post #10

I've been watching this thread waiting to hear from a Vrisimo user. I'd love to see some posts from Vrisimo users on what they think of their flails, especially the bit 10-12 footers. Thanks!

 

[Z-Michigan]

I’m also looking into a flail Mower and have zeroed in on the WoodMaxx FM78H. Did you get the hydraulic offset.

I have a new LS XR4155HC with 55 HP and 44 HP at PTO.

I’d like as much offset as I can get to trim around edges of two ponds once or twice a year. Majority of use will be cutting grass that is rarely over 6-8”. No brush as I’ve taken care of that with rotary cutters. I looked into the flail mowers on arms to simplify cutting around my ponds and lots of added expense for job done 1-2 times a year. I need minimum of 72” cut to cover width of my rear tires. I investigated the wider WoodMaxx FM88H flails but, HP requirement jumps to 50 HP. I’m planning on calling WoodMax and get their opinion on operating the FM88H on 44 PTO HP if all I’m cutting is grass.

I got the standard (no hydraulic offset) version. My prior Caroni had manual adjustable offset and I used it once and left it there.

I think your 44 PTO would be adequate on the 88" for the use you describe, but I would still suggest the 72" instead. The 88" model is also much heavier. I don't know how big/small your tractor is but I find the comfort level with all three tractors I've owned is keeping implement weight to half or less of the rated 3pt lift capacity.