Flail Mower flail mowers-how are they holding up?

[skipperbrown]

I've been following the 60+ page thread on flail mowers and decided that I want one, but I want one of the economical units which appear to be the Caroni for about $2400 or so and the chinese Betstco sold on ebay for about $1350.

Locally I've found the alamo and other brands to be about $4000.

Several of you said you were going to buy these models and I'd just like to check in after a few hours of cutting to see how they were holding up and if you have had any warranty/repair issues.

Thanks.

 

[Timberman444]

I bought the betstco in July of this past year and used it all the way till the first snow fall(November). In that time period I have been 100% satisfied with this mower. I have cut everything from the grass around my house to thick brush and bushes with it. For the money I would have to say it is a great deal. After hitting many rocks, stumps, and mowing thick material I haven't had to replace any of the knifes. My feeling is that the betstco flail can cut everything any other flail mower relative in size/HP rating can cut. The only time I have ever had to stop the tractor and do any type of work on the mower was when I managed to find a piece of old wire fence in some tall grass, and in under 2 minutes I had the wire unwrapped from the rotor and was back to mowing with absolutely no damage at all to the mower or the knifes. Well that's my 2 cents on the betstco flail, If you are looking for a good deal I would definitely go with the betstco.

 

[Texasgreen]

I run a Bush Hog FH-188. Its a 88" cut and will cut from soft bermuda grass to heavy brush up to 1" with no problems. I was sold on nothing but a finish mower for a good quality cut. Once I had a chance to mow with a flail mower and I saw how well it would cut and how it used less HP, I bought the biggest one I could run behind my tractor and sold my Land Pride finish mower the next day. Yes, there are pros and cons to flail mowers, but I would run a flail any day over a finish mower hands down.

 

[310-510]

I also have the betstco flail. Mowed 12 acres 3 times and brushed 3 acres several times. It worked well. A couple of bolts came loose, 9 blades needed replaced, and it took about 2 hours to repair at the end of the season. Oh yeah, I managed to wrap up lots of fence wire, found more than 10 pieces of metal in the field, and attempted to brush stuff that might have been a little large (> 2") Best item for the price.

 

[Rowdius]

I've been following the 60+ page thread on flail mowers and decided that I want one, but I want one of the economical units which appear to be the Caroni for about $2400 or so and the chinese Betstco sold on ebay for about $1350.

Locally I've found the alamo and other brands to be about $4000.

Several of you said you were going to buy these models and I'd just like to check in after a few hours of cutting to see how they were holding up and if you have had any warranty/repair issues.

Thanks.

$2400 seems high for the caroni. Agrisuppy shows the 75" for $2100 on the website with shipping, and for less than $1789 in their newest catalog, without shipping. Also, if I remember right, another poster got a cheaper shipping rate by calling to order rather and buying on the website.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I also have the betstco flail. Mowed 12 acres 3 times and brushed 3 acres several times. It worked well. A couple of bolts came loose, 9 blades needed replaced, and it took about 2 hours to repair at the end of the season. Oh yeah, I managed to wrap up lots of fence wire, found more than 10 pieces of metal in the field, and attempted to brush stuff that might have been a little large (> 2") Best item for the price.

Im surprised you can use a flail at anything above a crawl on a BX-24. About 10HP per foot is what it takes to really use one at a reasonable speed if youre in anything but sparse stuff. Ive tried 6HP/ft on my Rears and its barely adequate.
larry

 

[310-510]

Im surprised you can use a flail at anything above a crawl on a BX-24. About 10HP per foot is what it takes to really use one at a reasonable speed if youre in anything but sparse stuff. Ive tried 6HP/ft on my Rears and its barely adequate.
larry

hmmm, it worked good for me. 5' flail, knee high brush, low range, push pedal to the floor, and hold on tight.

Some areas of very thick grass require slowing down and occasionally going over the are twice.

 

[CCWKen]

10hp per foot? I guess it depends on the mower. I run a 6' on a Ford 3910 in 3L. I only drop to 2L in brush and/or thick grass over a foot. I've got an old 3-belt model that overdrives the drum almost 3x PTO speed. I forget the manufacturer but it's called a Barracuda and was made in Corpus Christi, Texas. I picked it up at an auction a few years ago for $35. I use it more than the Ford 954 rotory because it cuts better.

 

[sunspot]

Some of the folks here had belts torn up on new Caroni's. Agri shipped out new ones without problems.

Did you read the caroni belt failure thread?

After I finish my wood floor project, I want to reverse the blades on my flail to be ready for spring cutting.

 

[allen in texas]

"About 10HP per foot is what it takes to really use one at a reasonable speed if youre in anything but sparse stuff."

WOW!
I run a 6 ft rears with 25 pto hp and I cut anything I want withing reason of course. I've never felt underpowered or felt I had to move too slow.

I posted a side by side comparison thread here awhile back about some mowing my Brother in Law did together.

Here it is
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/125875-third-attemp-post-thread-about.html