Flail Mower Is the 59" Caroni too big for my 22HP SCUT?

[hillfarm]

I've got an old bush hog that's dangerous and the 3-point hitch on my SCUT (22HP MF GC2310) can't really lift it properly. So I want to replace it for pasture mowing and modest brush cutting. I like the idea of a flail mower as a replacement. I could use it for lawn and pasture, leaving a clean cut as I understand it. I could also use it in the orchard/vineyard to clean up prunings and it's a more compact manageable piece of equipment on my small tractor. I'm looking at either the 59" or 47" Caroni Flail Mower. The listings both say that either can be mounted on a 20-40HP tractor. My tractor is spec'd with the ability to lift 1,367#s and the larger model is 485#s.

I'd prefer the wider width to speed up my mowing, but would it practically be too big and heavy for my small tractor?

Thanks for any help!

 

[leonz]

I've got an old bush hog that's dangerous and the 3-point hitch on my SCUT (22HP MF GC2310) can't really lift it properly. So I want to replace it for pasture mowing and modest brush cutting. I like the idea of a flail mower as a replacement. I could use it for lawn and pasture, leaving a clean cut as I understand it. I could also use it in the orchard/vineyard to clean up prunings and it's a more compact manageable piece of equipment on my small tractor. I'm looking at either the 59" or 47" Caroni Flail Mower. The listings both say that either can be mounted on a 20-40HP tractor. My tractor is spec'd with the ability to lift 1,367#s and the larger model is 485#s.

I'd prefer the wider width to speed up my mowing, but would it practically be too big and heavy for my small tractor?

Thanks for any help!

Hello HillFarm,



First, I wish to welcome you to the Tractor By Net Forum.

Second, about your mower questions, There are many happy flail mower
owners here on the forum including myself that will help you with this issue.


The issue is control and power when looking at a larger flail mower for a sub compact tractor.

You have to decide if you want to have a finish flail Mower with 4 rows of side slicer knives or
a rough cut flail mower with two rows of knives.


When using a smaller sub compact witha wider mower you will need to lower your ground speed and maintain the engine speed at the 540 RPM power take off speed to power the flail mower.

The slower you travel the better the cut will be and the better the brush cutting will be.

The flail mower of either size will also allow you to back over brush and then drive forward
to cut it up more thouroughly.

I will ask you this are your rear tires loaded with ballast? if not you will need to have front weights unless
you own a front end loader for your Massey.

I am also going to suggest that you also read the flailmower posts we have here on the forum as we have several hundred pages about them and they are a great point to start examining a flail mower for your use.

I have to step away from the keyboard for a bit but I will return-Just so you know you have to have at least 5 postings before you can send Proiate messages and e-mails on the forum, I will be back in a little bit.

 

[nitroxn]

I have a Kubota 21 engine 18 pto hp and run a caroni rear discharge 59" with NO problems. I almost wish it was wider.

Curtis

 

[hillfarm]

The issue is control and power when looking at a larger flail mower for a sub compact tractor.

You have to decide if you want to have a finish flail Mower with 4 rows of side slicer knives or
a rough cut flail mower with two rows of knives.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't realize I had the options of a rough or finish flail. I don't see this explained for the Caroni mowers -- just the number of blades -- but I'm guessing if they say "twice the number of blades" that they're referring to 4 rows versus 2.

I will ask you this are your rear tires loaded with ballast? if not you will need to have front weights unless
you own a front end loader for your Massey.

I am also goingot suggest that you also read the flailmower posts we have here on the forum as we have several hundred pages about them and they are a great point to start examining a flail mower for your use.

I've got an FEL that I use with the bush hog and can weight it down further if needed.

I'll look through previous posts for more guidance. These forums have been a great help in the past.

 

[PioneerMan]

Diesel? I can bog down my 6ft caroni with 40hp pto, in very heavy conditions. If its 4ft high like my case, might be tough, if you mow more often, may be fine. My .02

 

[hillfarm]

Yes diesel. It sounds like I could get bogged down in tall grass if I go to fast, have a big flail mower, or choose one with a finish cut (twice the blades).

For best results it sounds like I should choose a smaller, rough cutting model.

Am I right that getting the finer cut models will put greater stress on the tractor when mowing taller, thicker brush?

Thanks.

 

[greg_g]

A finish cut mower in "taller, thicker brush" is the wrong tool for the job. It's a function of knife quantity and design. I put combo knives on my 74" Ford 917H. They aren't as good as hammers for heavy brush, and not as clean cutting as finish knives. But they do just fine for pasture maintenance; medium grass/weeds and light brush. Even then, my 35 PTO hp does occasionally struggle. Don't think I've ever mowed an entire section without having to go back over some areas a second time.

Specific to Caroni, they have a TL line (light duty) and a TM (medium duty). This page and this document might help explain that. If your primary usage will be pasture maintenance, I'd stick with the TM line. The business about twice the cutting has to do with which knives are installed. It's pretty much a TM thing, where the simply hang twice as many knives on a fixed number of hangers. The more individual knife edges, the finer the cut. So for pasture maintenance, don't look at that as a selling point. My preference is the T-knive, or scoop knife as referred to by others. It's a heavy 1 piece knive that is mounted one per hanger, but it hangs off in the shape of an upside down letter T (illustration P in the document). Both leading edges are sharpened, giving each knife a 1.25" cut of it's own. They're arranged in three rows, overlap designed so that each following knife cuts what the previous knife missed.

Talk directly to the retailer, tell them exactly what you expect from a flail mower. They'll help you fine tune your purchase to match both the tractor and the terrain. I suspect a TM1300 with combo knives may be your best choice.

//greg//

 

[hillfarm]

Great advice. Thanks Greg.

 

[greg_g]

I edited in some online references to help amplify my explanation. Note also where it explains you can add and additional row to the TM series.

//greg//

 

[hillfarm]

Unfortunately the TM line requires a bigger rig (30+HP). I think the TL1500PSC is my best choice.

When the description refers to adjustable hitch, I wonder if that means offset -- which would be nice for orchard and vineyard. But alas, that also is only for the TM line.

Will talk with sales rep, but any advice on any other makers of flails for SCUTs for rough cut, sometimes thick grass and brush, with offset?