Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[bx24d]

I've read most of the posts in this thread and, overall, very helpful. I have a chance to buy a caroni 48" or a ferri 49" flail for the back of my two subcompact tractors. I want to mow my meadow (rough rolling hills in spots) and some trail maintenance elsewhere. I've been using a woods estate series rotary cutter for three years (tough to control in turns on rolling hills, tough to control cutting height). Question: The ferri is much more expensive but will be serviced by my local, very trustworthy dealer. The caroni is half the price from agrisupply but I'll be on my own for service (I'm moderately handy changing gear oil and such but not much time). Also, over rocks, can you cut with the flail roller lifted several inches above the ground?

 

[IslandTractor]

I've read most of the posts in this thread and, overall, very helpful. I have a chance to buy a caroni 48" or a ferri 49" flail for the back of my two subcompact tractors. I want to mow my meadow (rough rolling hills in spots) and some trail maintenance elsewhere. I've been using a woods estate series rotary cutter for three years (tough to control in turns on rolling hills, tough to control cutting height). Question: The ferri is much more expensive but will be serviced by my local, very trustworthy dealer. The caroni is half the price from agrisupply but I'll be on my own for service (I'm moderately handy changing gear oil and such but not much time). Also, over rocks, can you cut with the flail roller lifted several inches above the ground?

Yes, you can cut with the rear roller lifted off the ground. If you go slowly you don't need to as the roller will go over the rocks but if you go quickly the rocks can dent the roller. I speak from experience.

I'd also say that there is very little maintenance and changing knives is no big deal. Just make sure you keep it well lubricated which is going to be your responsibility before each mowing regardless of whether you have a local dealer or not.

 

[IslandTractor]

Sorry if this has already been posted, the thread is too long. But I am not familiar with the flail mower. What about speed? Do you have to slow the tractor way down? Or can you travel as fast as you can with a brush hog?

Same speed in field mowing as a bush hog basically. Faster will get you a less fine cut but still better than a bush hog. Slower gets you a finish cut.

As noted above, the bush hog might be faster in a really rocky area as you don't have the rear roller to protect but in a previously mown field/lawn you can go just as fast as with a bush hog or finish mower.

 

[brin]

I had a chance to buy a Ford 917H Flail mower for only $400.00..and took a pass...The seller was 3 hrs. away from me and would deliver..The price was $300 but $100 more for delivery...I passed after reading this thread and doing other reaserch on Flail mowers. The seller knew he would not be paid unless we hooked the flail mower up to my tractor and it worked and he was still willing to bring it so he was confident that it would work.

Here is why I turned it down ...and just this minute emailed him and killed the deal. I have about 22 acres I have been bush hogging for 30 yrs. and currently I use a bush hog brand rotary cutter / bushog...On a bush hog / rotary cutter you only have to worry about the PTO shaft..no problem if you keep it greased, the gerar box.., no problem if you keep gear oil in it and stay at 540 PTO RPM. and the blades, easy to sharpen once in awhile ...No belts to worry about....no bearings & on & on..I was guilty of looking for a quicker way to finish a job that is now quite boring after so many years of doing it several times each year..( No seat time addict here ) I will stay with the tried and true...if it ain't broke don't fix it...

Any of you who crave " Seat Time " that I so often see posted.....PM me and I will be glad to let you come down and use my tractor and bush hog to your heart's content..

 

[SPYDERLK]

Flail takes double the HP of a bushog to go the same speed because it cuts the grass into a lot more pieces.
larry

 

[brin]

Thanks Spy....I suspected there was more to a Flail mower than I wanted to fool with..I am happy with results from my Bush Hog more now than ever. Sometimes you have to come close to making a mistake while seeking what appears to being a better way to do something..only to realize you have been doing it the best way all along..

 

[SensibleNick]

Thanks Spy....I suspected there was more to a Flail mower than I wanted to fool with..

You'd do well to read the rest of the thread Brin. Many others have said that depending upon the situation, a flail can move at the same speed as a brushog but with better results.

I have experience with neither, and as such am completely un-biassed.

 

[brin]

Thanks Nick...I did read the whole thread...Let me give you just one example..Just one mind you ...there are many more...but imagine me gong out to mow and after a pass or two my belts burn up...that's it ..now back to the barn for the day and wait for new belts..Just using that as an example...whether my fault for going too fast or whatever..a bush hog has no belts to burn up..no bearings to worry about etc. A bush hog has a deck, blades,a gear box, a pto shaft and that's it ..you are good to go...keep it greased and gear oiled and no problems ...a Flail mower has many surprises in store for me I fear..See what I mean...I now have learned to appreciate my bush hog cut ...especially after my research comparing the alternatives and possible issues.

 

[SPYDERLK]

You'd do well to read the rest of the thread Brin. Many others have said that depending upon the situation, a flail can move at the same speed as a brushog but with better results.

I have experience with neither, and as such am completely un-biassed.

I have both. A 5' JD bushog and a 5' Rears flail. When I mow I essentially go as fast as the HP I have will take me, or when the blade cutting edges are overrun [whichever comes 1st]. Overrun on my bushog is at about 10mph so that hasnt been a problem. 7-8mph is what I can run holding full rpm with 45ptohp in good grass. No way I can do this with the flail. It may not be exactly 2 to 1 but the necessary geardown is significant. If I mowed at 4 or 5 mph, like I gather many do, I probably wouldnt notice the difference unless I looked hard at fuel consumption.

Each have their place. The bushog gets it down without chopping it up much and can do about anything up to 5". The flail chops it fine and cant handle more than 2". Its great on our trails - esp blazing new ones -- put it it creeper gear, rev it up and wend your way between the big trees. It leaves a mulch path behind.
larry

 

[dieselscout80]

I picked up a Ford 917 flail mower tonight for $100.00 it has a bit of rust, but it seems to be ok. I'll post some pics tomorrow when its not raining.