To Flail or not to Flail

[leonz]

EastTex Frank never replied - There is a guy "near" here that just posted selling his flail for a really good price - I'm still wondering how a flail does on the wiry stuff we call grass around these parts

As long as you have sharp flail knives and tight belts there is no comparison and the flailmower will leave very little grass to see as it is all chopped up.

If this flailmower is a rough cutter you will need to mow at a slower forward speed to get a good finish at the 540 RPM PTO speed with the engine throttle set to run the PTO AT 540 RPM-NO LUGGING.:thumbsup:

please post pics when or if you buy it :drool::licking::thumbsup:

 

[Eagleview]

I'm still wondering how a flail does on the wiry stuff we call grass around these parts

There is nothing a flail can't do and do it well .

 

[OregonFarmer]

run a 7 foot alamo shd 88, I run mine on an L4400 no problem. love my flail

I really like my Befco 100" flail. Just right for my 60 hp 2wd tractor on rolling ground.

 

[MikeF]

Okay, so it looks like a flail mower is the answer for me I am looking to get rid of my 7' bush hog and 7.5' lilston mower and just have one mower. I was considering a woods ds96 or a RM990 but after reading here maybe a large 84 or 90 inch would be the ticket. Most of my mowing is pasture ground that is not more than 12" tall and I usually mow to about 4.5 to 5". question is how much do I have to spend for a decent one and btw how well do they work is the grass is wet?

thanks

Michael

 

[IslandTractor]

Up to six feet moderate or standard duty flails can be had for under $2000 but with bigger flails the cost jumps dramatically. I'd figure $3500-5000 for seven to eight foot flails.

 

[leonz]

Okay, so it looks like a flail mower is the answer for me I am looking to get rid of my 7' bush hog and 7.5' lilston mower and just have one mower. I was considering a woods ds96 or a RM990 but after reading here maybe a large 84 or 90 inch would be the ticket. Most of my mowing is pasture ground that is not more than 12" tall and I usually mow to about 4.5 to 5". question is how much do I have to spend for a decent one and btw how well do they work is the grass is wet?

thanks

Michael

No worries Michael, as long as your knive are in good shape you will have no issues with wet grass period as it wil shred it nicely with lots of water action as the closer you mow the better the cut as a tall cutting hieght will only push the brush forward and skim cut it with a loss of cutting efficiency(the cutting edge is unable to take full advantage of the massive energy created by the airfoil created by the knive edge( the air blast created by the rotor an knives will tend to blow the grass mat forward while the mower is elevated) You really want it lower to the ground michael as the flailmower will help to destroy all your invasives every year.

No matter the size flailmower you pick it will outlast your tractor and wil give you many years of service with normal maintenance. (our 48 motorised flail mower is over 30 years old with minor repairs and one main bearing change in that time.

 

[Builder]

Trying to pick up another 8' flail, but 8 footers are tough to find around here. 7 footers are a dime a dozen.

 

[SonomaCountyGentleman]

Hi guys I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your thread. I've found it very useful. Now I'm convinced to buy a Caroni TM1900 for a new tractor I'm about to purchase. I'd like to buy it from the local dealer hear in California but it appears that I can order from Agri Supply in NC and have it shipped all the way across the country for almost half of what one will cost here with sales tax added. So the savings on the flail allows me to buy a tractor with more Hp. Go figure. I've heard nothing but good things about flail mowers. Can't wait to get one.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hi guys I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your thread. I've found it very useful. Now I'm convinced to buy a Caroni TM1900 for a new tractor I'm about to purchase. I'd like to buy it from the local dealer hear in California but it appears that I can order from Agri Supply in NC and have it shipped all the way across the country for almost half of what one will cost here with sales tax added.

Have AgriSupply send you some spare clevises and flails to keep on hand especially if you mow in rocky areas. The clevis is metric and I have not found any alternate supplier. The heavy duty forged flail knives from Flailmaster are almost identical to the Caroni and cheaper. Seach on TBN for the exact model. The metric bolts and nuts can be purchased from Grainger and others.

 

[leonz]

Hi guys I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your thread. I've found it very useful. Now I'm convinced to buy a Caroni TM1900 for a new tractor I'm about to purchase. I'd like to buy it from the local dealer hear in California but it appears that I can order from Agri Supply in NC and have it shipped all the way across the country for almost half of what one will cost here with sales tax added. So the savings on the flail allows me to buy a tractor with more Hp. Go figure. I've heard nothing but good things about flail mowers. Can't wait to get one.

Use the money your saving and invest in the hydraulic side shift. It is something that you will be glad you added as an option.

As my friend Island Tractor has said you can obtain the spare knives from
www.flailmaster and spare bolts and nylock nuts from Grainger Industrial Supply - MRO Supplies, MRO Equipment, Tools & Solutions or www.mcmastercarr.com

Happy mowing and you wiill be pleasantly surprised in how well it mows for you and how much safer it is to use when mowing.

Be sure to buy replacement kevlar belts from NAPA or TSC (not expensive) to have as spares and I believe they are B53's, thank goodness bearings and V belts are metric.

Another convert to the flail mower nation with many more to go.

I still have to post picture here of our lawn genie when I have the time.