Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I bought a 7' Ford 917 in the fall. I was only able to mow with it a few times before winter.

I used it behind my old, beat up Massey 150. That should have 38 hp at the PTO.

38 hp is definitely not enough. Not even close really. Since it's a Cat 1...wouldn't that top out at 45 hp??? I'm not sure 45 hp would be enough, honestly.

So, what gives? I need a 4x4 tractor anyways, but don't know where to start. How much HP do I need??? Certainly Ford wouldn't make a Cat 1 implement that needs 50+ hp... Would they?

Check that your blades are sharp. I had a 917 with the airplane wings and switched to side slicers due to price and availability. I ran a 5' behind a SA424 with only 18 PTO HP. It did okay until I started bottoming out (it was missing the rear roller so I had to hover it). I now have an 88" Alamo I run behind my MF 2706E with 52 PTO HP and I don't bog down at all. I think your old MF 150 is old and tired and not really producing the 38 HP any more. Is it gas or diesel? I've noticed that diesel tractors, even though listed as the same HP, are better at maintaining power under load. Maybe it's just in my head, too.

When looking at tractors, you need to consider several things beyond the HP. As you already mentioned, size is a factor, but also weight and capabilities. Look at the lift of the 3 point and the loader. When I was looking for a tractor it seemed that for Massey there wasn't much size difference between the 36hp and the 57hp units. So look for a size you like and then check HP availability in that size. Typically they're the same unit (sometimes same engine even) with just some minor tweaks to get the extra HP. Either way, a newer diesel tractor will likely handle your flail better than the older tractor you have.

The HP limits on the Cat I hitch is more for pull type ground engaging implements. And it's more of a suggestion than a rule. So, yes, Ford could make an implement for Cat I that would require more than 45HP. Mostly what bogs down the flails is either too thick of stalks or just sheer volume of grass it's trying to eject. If you were mowing your lawn with it you could theoretically run an 8 foot mower on a 20HP tractor. If you're trying to speed through 4 foot tall grass you could bog down a 100HP tractor with that same mower (or at least slip the belt or PTO safety clutch). My 52 HP at the PTO will handle 4 foot tall grass through the 88" mower at a low speed. The only thing limiting my speed while cutting the lawn is the bounce of the mower over the terrain, and the bounce of me on the seat due to said terrain.

 

[Pasbon]

Wow there is a lot of info in this thread !
I'm not sure how to search just this thread , I'm new to the site .
So I will just join in with my question.
Does anyone have any experience with the Nova tractor flail mower ?

 

[Xfaxman]

Wow there is a lot of info in this thread !
I'm not sure how to search just this thread , I'm new to the site .
So I will just join in with my question.
Does anyone have any experience with the Nova tractor flail mower ?

Welcome to TractorByNET.

Asking your question is the best way to get the info. But just so you know how to search any thread, click "Search Thread" at the top of the page and key in a word or two to search for:

 

[electrycmonk]

Okay folks, Anyone have a forensic clue or a W.A.G. on the make or age of this beast?

 

[PatMcD]

Looks like a Mott.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Greetings to the 'Flail Mower Nation',

I am a first time poster but a long time reader. I want to first thank all the contributors to this thread especially Leonz, Island Tractor, and Roy Jackson for your very insightful input. I don't know where I would be without the help of you guys and the rest of the 'Flail Mower Nation' community. Thanks for taking your time all these years to comment and help the rest of us out here who are not in the know. Cheers to you :applause::drink:


After a year of reading this thread off and on I have made the decision that I want to join the Flail mower club and have been working tirelessly over the last several months to determine what Tractor and Flail Mower to buy for my property. I narrowed my tractor pick down to a 2020 John Deere 4044M and based on Leonz's advice, I am looking at purchasing a John Deere 370 Flail Mower. However, I have some hp related questions about this mower that neither Deere nor their dealers have been able to answer. Is there anyone in this community that has that particular flail mower?

 

[CADplans]

I narrowed my tractor pick down to a 2020 John Deere 4044M and based on Leonz's advice, I am looking at purchasing a John Deere 370 Flail Mower. However, I have some hp related questions about this mower that neither Deere nor their dealers have been able to answer. Is there anyone in this community that has that particular flail mower?

I have a JD 4105, which is pretty close to the specs for the 4044M,,

I also have the JD 390,, I use it on a different tractor,, but, for grins,, one day I put it on the 4105,,

Well,, that is a pretty useless combination,, I had to have over 300 pounds of front end weights to even drive the tractor at all.

I could not find the weight of the 370 or the 390 on the Deere website,, but the specs did show the housing on both are the same thickness,,

In my opinion,, I think the JD 370 mower should be used on a slightly larger tractor than the 4044M,,,

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I have a JD 4105, which is pretty close to the specs for the 4044M,,

I also have the JD 390,, I use it on a different tractor,, but, for grins,, one day I put it on the 4105,,

Well,, that is a pretty useless combination,, I had to have over 300 pounds of front end weights to even drive the tractor at all.

I could not find the weight of the 370 or the 390 on the Deere website,, but the specs did show the housing on both are the same thickness,,

In my opinion,, I think the JD 370 mower should be used on a slightly larger tractor than the 4044M,,,

CADplans I found the weight specs:

JD370: 904 lbs

JD390: 1093 lbs

That's interesting because that was not something I had even considered being a problem for the 4 series tractors.

 

[leonz]

Hello and good morning Cahaba Valley Farm,

If your willing to go back through my posts and threads I went
into a lot of detail with regard to mule sizing and frame horsepower.

Its always best to have a mule with more horsepower so it has a reserve of
power it can take advantage of when you have a task that becomes more
daunting.

If your not going to mow more than 2 or three times a year you can throw
the idea of a finish flail in the trash can-that is unless you have plenty of
time and more time to mow with as your going to have to decide if you
want a 2 inch cut or not to cut down on excess brush and invasive plants.

1. decide on how much mule you can afford and whether you want a new or used mule
and whether its going to be a hydrostatic or gear drive mule.
a. power
b. power
c. power

Read a, b and c again.

if you have too wide a flail mower or rotary mower your going to be power starved.


D. what is the widest mower your property can take advantage of????????

Unless you plan on mowing close several times a month the mowed ground will not look nice or behave.

Do you have enough land that you can break it into 4 acre blocks to mow every two weeks???

Can you spend enough time to mow every two weeks or do you want to mow every thing in a very short period of time?????????

How well can you maneuver with the mule and the mower in the smallest tightest space that needs mowing meaning
a house, a barn and around vehicles.

If your not sure about anything yet back up and turn the motor off as you have a lot of work to do before you can even
think about digging the coffee can out of the back lawn to spend any money.


All you may need is a Hiniker 6 foot flail shredder than can be used to cut turf and brush with a 50 horsepower gar drive mule.

You still have a lot of work to do before you make any decision. You need to make a decision tree and a reverse decision tree to verify your first decision and then decide how much money you can afford with cash on hand and in bank or if you can afford a debt load.

If you have acreage that is tight the Hiniker 6 foot crop shredder will turn very tight so you do not have to back up and turn around once you get used to the mule and how it operates.

Get the mule first and spend a lot of time on it traveling the property boundaries and then you can decide on how big a flail mower you want.
The nice thing about a crop shredder of that size is that you can do a lot of crop shredding to make more money and still have a mower for "all" your needs and ditch mowing if the ditches are shallow.


Candidly with your being new to mules and mowers I do not think that you will want a 7 foot mower as a first purchase mowing implement.

I say this only because a small trailing towed flail shredder mower that fits within the width of the mule will be better for you as you will be able to maneuver more easily and avoid banging into anything.


Most folks south of the Mason Dixon line have never seen a flail mower or flail crop shredder so you have to be careful about asking sales people questions.

Keep asking questions of us so that we can help you to help us help you with your purchase.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Hello and good morning Cahaba Valley Farm,

If your willing to go back through my posts and threads I went
into a lot of detail with regard to mule sizing and frame horsepower.

Its always best to have a mule with more horsepower so it has a reserve of
power it can take advantage of when you have a task that becomes more
daunting.

If your not going to mow more than 2 or three times a year you can throw
the idea of a finish flail in the trash can-that is unless you have plenty of
time and more time to mow with as your going to have to decide if you
want a 2 inch cut or not to cut down on excess brush and invasive plants.

1. decide on how much mule you can afford and whether you want a new or used mule
and whether its going to be a hydrostatic or gear drive mule.
a. power
b. power
c. power

Read a, b and c again.

if you have too wide a flail mower or rotary mower your going to be power starved.


D. what is the widest mower your property can take advantage of????????

Unless you plan on mowing close several times a month the mowed ground will not look nice or behave.

Do you have enough land that you can break it into 4 acre blocks to mow every two weeks???

Can you spend enough time to mow every two weeks or do you want to mow every thing in a very short period of time?????????

How well can you maneuver with the mule and the mower in the smallest tightest space that needs mowing meaning
a house, a barn and around vehicles.

If your not sure about anything yet back up and turn the motor off as you have a lot of work to do before you can even
think about digging the coffee can out of the back lawn to spend any money.


All you may need is a Hiniker 6 foot flail shredder than can be used to cut turf and brush with a 50 horsepower gar drive mule.

You still have a lot of work to do before you make any decision. You need to make a decision tree and a reverse decision tree to verify your first decision and then decide how much money you can afford with cash on hand and in bank or if you can afford a debt load.

If you have acreage that is tight the Hiniker 6 foot crop shredder will turn very tight so you do not have to back up and turn around once you get used to the mule and how it operates.

Get the mule first and spend a lot of time on it traveling the property boundaries and then you can decide on how big a flail mower you want.
The nice thing about a crop shredder of that size is that you can do a lot of crop shredding to make more money and still have a mower for "all" your needs and ditch mowing if the ditches are shallow.


Candidly with your being new to mules and mowers I do not think that you will want a 7 foot mower as a first purchase mowing implement.

I say this only because a small trailing towed flail shredder mower that fits within the width of the mule will be better for you as you will be able to maneuver more easily and avoid banging into anything.


Most folks south of the Mason Dixon line have never seen a flail mower or flail crop shredder so you have to be careful about asking sales people questions.

Keep asking questions of us so that we can help you to help us help you with your purchase.

Hello and Good Morning Leon,

It's a honor to have you join in to the discussion. Let me try to clear up some of the questions and concerns that you have thrown out here.

I am mowing 25-30 acres of mostly farm pasture. I plan on cutting it no more then twice a month, so basically every other week.

I have decided on a new 2020 John Deere 4044M with a power reverser transmission. It makes more sense to buy new then used given the 0% financing that Deere is offering. I totally agree with you about power but the problem I have run into with Deere is the next model up is a 4052M which is turbocharged but it's not intercooled and to me that doesn't make any sense. You have to jump all the way up to a 4066M to get a engine that is both turbocharged and intercooled and the price of that is out of my budget.

Maybe you're not familiar with Deere's model numbers but the 370 is a 6 foot flail. I am certainly not trying to go any bigger then that. In fact the 6 foot flail is the only size that makes sense for that tractor because when I measured the width of the rear tires it was 71 inches across so I need a 6 foot flail to cover my tire tracks. You also have to remember if I buy this flail from Deere I can finance the flail along with the tractor and not have to come out of pocket for anything. However, I want to choose the right flail even if it's not a Deere flail.

If you would like Leon, I could upload some pictures of my property and the grass from this past summer for you and everyone to look at if you are interested?