Flail Mower A Flail in My Future

[Riddler]

It is amazing what a little seat time on the user friendly TC45DA has done for my wife's attitude regarding implements. She likes the new pet so much that she insists we spring for a flail mower, rather than the less expensive rotary cutter that I have been suggesting from the start.

I have no experience with flail mowers. We have several acres of old hay fields and native grasses to cut a few times a year, but no finish lawn. My wife is high on a flail mower because she wants to generate an even, relatively short cut. In the past, we have hired folks to cut the areas using a rotary, and she has not been overly impressed with the consistency of the cut. Unlike some folks who use a rotary cutter, our mower/cutter won't be called upon to chew up anything large (i.e, no saplings, heavy bush, etc.). Finally, we have some fences we would like to cut close to and some drainage ditches that we would like to tidy up if at all possible.

Given our projected uses, what units should we be looking into? Any experiences, pro and con, with particular models or types of flail mowers would be much appreciated.

 

[DocHeb]

Flail mowers are nice, but I'm pretty happy with my Landpride FDR2584 rear discharge grooming mower. I use it for the same type of mowing that you're planning to do. Pretty easy maintenance compared to a flail mower.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> It is amazing what a little seat time on the user friendly TC45DA has done for my wife's attitude regarding implements. She likes the new pet so much that she insists we spring for a flail mower </font>

Riddler,

I can't help with an answer to your question...

But I can't help but think you might want to join the "Best wife in the world" thread in the related topics forum... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[johndeere2210]

Just my opinion, I have never been impressed with the quality of cut from a flail type mower. I would lean toward the rear discharge mower mentioned in a previous post.

 

[dave_upstairs]

I bought a flail mower last spring and used it on my yard and a little bit in the field next door (there's no fence, so I just cut a swath along the property line to keep things a little cleaner looking).

I have a NH 508, 60in, running on Ford 1000. It handles thick grass very well. It has a heavy steel roller on the back. As the flail mower doesn't cut as close as a finish mower, the roller mattes down the long grass leaving a great 'ball field' look (I've actually spent a bit of time laying out alternate patterns, diagonals, etc...). Very cool. Every mower should let you do this.

That's the good news.

The neighbor's field grew up in weeds (woody stem-like plants). The falil mower stripped the leaves, but left the stems standing. And, no, they didn't die the next week. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Flail mowers are not supposed to throw rocks (public parks like this feature when mowing next to play grounds), but I found the mower would throw stuff at me on the tractor (granted, not terribly fast, but enough to consider wearing eye protection).

My yard has some hills in it -- so, I used a section of log chain for the top link instead of a straight arm. This let the mower 'float' a bit -- follow the yard.

I got out my Woods Finish mower, mowed the yard late in the summer, and like the results better than the flail. So, in the interest of saving space, I'll sell my Flail mower and keep using the finish mower.

 

[Scozz]

Dave, for your chain top link did you just use a length of chain secured with the link pins or did you have to fabricate some sort of eye on either end ..... Scozz

 

[dave_upstairs]

I started out with a length of chain and two 'screw-on'(?) links. These are coupling links with a screw thread and threaded nut that closes up when you tighten it up. I managed to break one of those, fortunately when the PTO was not turning (I hate to think how that would have turned out if the mower had been engaged at the time.).

So, I cut a new length of log chain and bought two smaller 6in long pins that can pass thru the log chain links (1/2in dia. I think). I don't see how I could break anything now with this setup.

 

[SheriffSRB]

I paid 300 bucks for a Ford 917L flail mower I use to cut 4 acres of scraggly fescue which makes up my "yard", and I love it. Yeah, it doesn't follow the hills very well, but it cuts close and smooth...and has done a tolerable job on some brushy stuff at the edges of my "yard"....I like my flail mower behind my Yanmar 1500D....much better than my Bush Hog for cutting the grass

 

[Scozz]

Thanks, I'll try that with mine. I just picked up an Alamo 90" flail to cut my acreage with this year. I have been cutting about 8 acres with a 5' finish mower. I have a lot of exposed ledge and broke a couple spindles a year. PIA! I just upsized my tractor and now the mower. Look forward to spring now...Scozz