Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[shaeff]

Your field looks great! It looks like your skids are very low, are you getting any scraping at all? When in use, those skids shouldn't be touching the ground. The flail should be supported by the rear roller and the 3pt hitch.

 

[Dan in MN]

I don't know if anyone is in or near Wisconsin, but here's a new 70" flail on auction that's sitting at a pretty good price right now, though of course being an auction it could double before it ends tomorrow...

Hansen & Young, Inc. - Farm, Commercial, Real Estate & Estate Auctions

 

[IslandTractor]

Your field looks great! It looks like your skids are very low, are you getting any scraping at all? When in use, those skids shouldn't be touching the ground. The flail should be supported by the rear roller and the 3pt hitch.

Agree Roy's skids are set pretty low. If he's not gouging turf then I guess his field is nice and smooth and level. I'd tear up the grass in areas I mow if my skids were that low. And, remember, the skids are just there mostly to protect the rotor and knives when the mower is dismounted. I suppose it isn't good to leave the knives in contact with wet soil for long but certainly no harm will come from being left on soft turf for a week or so. Mine lives outside on turf over sandy soil during the off season. No harm after ten years.

 

[RoyJackson]

Your field looks great! It looks like your skids are very low, are you getting any scraping at all? When in use, those skids shouldn't be touching the ground. The flail should be supported by the rear roller and the 3pt hitch.

The one picture with the skid shoes set so low was taken before any mowing...I re-positioned the shoes much lower before mowing (one hole up). I'll re-position them again (lower) before mowing again to see how that works.

These pictures clarify the skid shoes.




I set them when I lowered the roller...I reckon I can re-position them. I'll admit, I a novice when it comes to flail mowers...I'll learn as I go and heed the advice of fellow TBNers with more experience than I.

 

[leonz]

Hello Roy,

I know you will love how the turf looks when you have your final mowing height set and by then all the scrub and the thick stemmed weeds will be gone and you can spread good grass seed in the fall to generate more good turf and choke out the weeds even further.

 

[shaeff]

The one picture with the skid shoes set so low was taken before any mowing...I re-positioned the shoes much lower before mowing (one hole up). I'll re-position them again (lower) before mowing again to see how that works.

These pictures clarify the skid shoes.
View attachment 517083

View attachment 517084

I set them when I lowered the roller...I reckon I can re-position them. I'll admit, I a novice when it comes to flail mowers...I'll learn as I go and heed the advice of fellow TBNers with more experience than I.

The pics you posted above are good, that's exactly how you should be running the flail mower, with the skids not making ground contact. No need to readjust! The first pics you posted had the skids touching the ground. If they touch the ground you'll get gouge marks all over unless you have perfectly flat ground.

You've got it figured out, nice looking unit!

 

[Aaron L]

They make a MiniMax now in 48, 60 and 72 inch sizes and the smaller one is around that price. I really prefer the Mighty Max, but the smallest is a 70" cut, but it's a touch over $5k in price. They are very, very good mowers but certainly are priced like something built very well right here in America, in fact right here in California. They are so smooth and quiet.

I do realize that most folks can't justify the cost unless they mow a ton or mow commercially.

Hello Dave,

What are the differences between the Mini Max and the Might Max, other than the differences in cutting width ranges (48"/60"/72" vs 70" and up)?

 

[DavesTractor]

Hello Dave,

What are the differences between the Mini Max and the Might Max, other than the differences in cutting width ranges (48"/60"/72" vs 70" and up)?

The Mighty Max is about 50% heavier for a similar size. For example the Mini Max MM72 is 490 lbs, the Mighty Max C72 is 745 lbs. Everything is just heavier duty, especially around the a-frame area. The Mini is a good little mower and a step up from most imports, but to me the real desirable Vrisimo starts at the Mighty Max model and heavier.

 

[Aaron L]

That certainly makes sense.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm surprised by how light the Mini Max 72 is. The 73" Caroni TM1900 is listed at 650lbs.

 

[IslandTractor]

Toe to toe combat with big shale rock hiding in tall grass yesterday. Lost one blade but the rock split in two. I'm calling it a draw.


Pretty impressive. What was remarkable to me is that the old Caroni metric clevis survived and it was the blade that broke off. Usually the clevis is the weak point with these rock strikes.

BTW, photo shows good comparison of Caroni clevis and blade on left with Flailmaster clevis and blades on right. Slight difference in weight doesn't bother the mower. The Flailmaster clevis has shoulders ground down to fit but is still beefier than the Caroni.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I've just recently started looking at flail mowers again. I did read the entire thread about a year ago. Roy, buying his new Caroni flail, got me interested again.

I've been looking at the Land Pride FM2584 and FM3188 mowers.

One of the tasks I have is mowing the edges of two ponds so, the offset feature should make that easier. I'm looking at the wider flails to achieve significant mowing track to the right of my tires. Right now I'm using a TSC Branded Switzer push type string trimmer. It does a good job but, it's not self propelled so, a lot of work to be sure.

Another feature of the LP Flails is both have Cat1 / Cat 2 hitches so I could use on both of our tractors.

The Woodmaxx flails are interesting but, their wider models are Cat 2 only.

The majority of my use would be with my LS XR4046HC tractor which is Cat 1.

Anyone have experience with the LandPride flails? We have two local dealers within 30 miles of ranch.

Thanks!

 

[leonz]

I've just recently started looking at flail mowers again. I did read the entire thread about a year ago. Roy, buying his new Caroni flail, got me interested again.

I've been looking at the Land Pride FM2584 and FM3188 mowers.

One of the tasks I have is mowing the edges of two ponds so, the offset feature should make that easier. I'm looking at the wider flails to achieve significant mowing track to the right of my tires. Right now I'm using a TSC Branded Switzer push type string trimmer. It does a good job but, it's not self propelled so, a lot of work to be sure.

Another feature of the LP Flails is both have Cat1 / Cat 2 hitches so I could use on both of our tractors.

The Woodmaxx flails are interesting but, their wider models are Cat 2 only.

The majority of my use would be with my LS XR4046HC tractor which is Cat 1.

Anyone have experience with the LandPride flails? We have two local dealers within 30 miles of ranch.

Thanks!

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Our fellow resident "Flail Mower Nations" member Docsfarm has a Maschio/Landpride flailmower on his Mahindra brand of water buffalo/mule and he loves it.

If either of those units is equipped with the cast flail hammers and brush ejection door they are the Maschio flail mowers from Italy with land pride paint and either one will work for you very well.

Land pride is making their flail mowers now and they do not have the brush ejection doors that lets you mow in tall brush without plugging and replace any broken hammers without crawling under the mower or turning the mower over to change them.

I cannot say anything as to the quality of the landpride built flail mowers one way or the other and I wish they had kept the relationship they had with Maschio as the Maschio company has always made heavy duty farm machinery and vineyard mowers and rototillers.

 

[ericm979]

One of the tasks I have is mowing the edges of two ponds so, the offset feature should make that easier.

There's also ditch bank flail mowers. They can be offset much farther over than a regular offset flail.
For example: Iowa Farm Equipment -- Maschio GIRAFFA Series Ditch Bank Flail Mowers

 

[RoyJackson]

There's also ditch bank flail mowers. They can be offset much farther over than a regular offset flail.
For example: Iowa Farm Equipment -- Maschio GIRAFFA Series Ditch Bank Flail Mowers

I'd love to have one of these...they're also called "Verge" mowers. Not cheap though! $4K is about the starting point.
But if I was working close to an embankment or pond, the ditch bank or verge mower would be the way to go!

 

[Ford850]

There's also ditch bank flail mowers. They can be offset much farther over than a regular offset flail.
For example: Iowa Farm Equipment -- Maschio GIRAFFA Series Ditch Bank Flail Mowers

I noticed these can also be raised/tilted vertical to cut trail edges or along woods. They look very versatile, but the 180SI and 180SE I looked at were $6,900 - $7,400.

 

[ericm979]

The Chinese ones are in the $2500 range from Betstco for example. There's a lot of Italian ones too, many smaller than the link I provided above.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks for the info and links guys.

I think, if I can get sufficient cutter outside my right tire with wider cutter and good offset, I'll be ok.

 

[powerscol]

There's also ditch bank flail mowers. They can be offset much farther over than a regular offset flail.
For example: Iowa Farm Equipment -- Maschio GIRAFFA Series Ditch Bank Flail Mowers

I have the Giraffeta 160SE from these folks ( next unit lighter than the Giraffa). It has the outboard gear box so it can reach further. When I even do normal cutting I set it outside my tire track like I do with my drum mower. This reduces any uncut mowhocks that can occur after running over the grass before it is cut. Is also slick for cutting around trees as you just adjust the reach on the go to get around them. Being able to tilt it on its side makes it also a breeze to inspect and touch up the hammer flails if needed. Well built unit.

As a side note I know many units from Europe have the trash door. Mine was supposed to have it, but I believe their regulations now don't allow that feature as of 2016. I could be wrong, so be sure to ask the dealer.

 

[sfabern]

I've just recently started looking at flail mowers again. I did read the entire thread about a year ago. Roy, buying his new Caroni flail, got me interested again.

I've been looking at the Land Pride FM2584 and FM3188 mowers.

One of the tasks I have is mowing the edges of two ponds so, the offset feature should make that easier. I'm looking at the wider flails to achieve significant mowing track to the right of my tires. Right now I'm using a TSC Branded Switzer push type string trimmer. It does a good job but, it's not self propelled so, a lot of work to be sure.

Another feature of the LP Flails is both have Cat1 / Cat 2 hitches so I could use on both of our tractors.

The Woodmaxx flails are interesting but, their wider models are Cat 2 only.

The majority of my use would be with my LS XR4046HC tractor which is Cat 1.

Anyone have experience with the LandPride flails? We have two local dealers within 30 miles of ranch.

Thanks!

After 5 years with a 60" New Holland 918L, I have just bought and used a 72" LandPride (FM2172). I mow a 4-5 acre field with my Kubota B3300. The difference, as you might expect, is substantial. The duckfoot knives cut through tall, thck grass and twigs with ease, and the roller turns without digging into the ground. It's substantially heavier (it weights about 750 lbs.) than my New Holland, but the Kubota B3300, with the front end loader, handles the weight just fine. This is a first rate, well built machine, but then again it should be given the cost.

Sam