Anybody with a Bestco Flail Mower Unhappy with anything at all??

[Molalla1]

I have not took the time to read all the responses in this thread . . . I can tell you about my experiences with "Bestco" . . . they have been superior, I bought a VL-EFG155F 60" for my 3016 Mahindra over 5 year ago. . . purchased extra blades/knives, and a extra set of belts . . . I still have the original everything (and the new replacements) except had to replace the belt cover after (my fault) I hit a gate post. . . the after support is great. (and no I do not represent them). . . just a satisfied consumer. :thumbsup:

 

[Avenger]

I have not took the time to read all the responses in this thread . . . I can tell you about my experiences with "Bestco" . . . they have been superior, I bought a VL-EFG155F 60" for my 3016 Mahindra over 5 year ago. . . purchased extra blades/knives, and a extra set of belts . . . I still have the original everything (and the new replacements) except had to replace the belt cover after (my fault) I hit a gate post. . . the after support is great. (and no I do not represent them). . . just a satisfied consumer. :thumbsup:

Can we like a post? Cause I like this post. This is the info I (and the OP, I'm sure) are looking for. Thank you.

 

[Freep]

The rocks that I hit were large (like 8 to 10 inches). They had been used as a border around a flower bed.

Ah right - I'm familiar with that narrative. I've run across something similar, and also rode up on a metal fence-post in tall grass. Both times I was using knives and not hammers, but there was definitely some damage.

Great info re: Betstco in this thread thus far. The recent post re: Novatractor is interesting as well.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Ah right - I'm familiar with that narrative. I've run across something similar, and also rode up on a metal fence-post in tall grass. Both times I was using knives and not hammers, but there was definitely some damage.

I have found that unless you really get into a rock hard, they just dull the knives, and do not break. Even then, they still cut.

Most of the time, it is cutting off big trees that break knives. Anything under an inch is fine, but anything bigger then that (assuming they are hardwood) can break knives.

Most of the time for me, it is not broken knives, but broken shackles that cause me problems. Whether or not that is from shackles broken from wear, or the grass/trees pulling out the cotter pins, I am not sure. I go through probably 7-10 shackles per day.

I go through about 5 broken knives a day, and maybe 10 missing in 12 hours of ditch mowing (34 acres). I do sharpen my knives, so I replace very few due to wear. Mostly because by the time I get that much time on them, the are weak and get replaced because they are cracked or broken, sometimes at the knife blade, but other times at their attachment hole.

I change 50% of my knives out in the morning, and then the other half at lunch, of course replacing missing knives or shackles throughout the day as needed.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I will add that, my farm use-bushog, after years of faithful service, has finally died. After using a flail mower, I will never use a rotary cutting type bushog again. I like how a flail cuts, what it cuts, how easily it cuts, the ease of maintenance, and how everything is mulched.

I have to replace the bushog, but it will be with a flail mower.

 

[the old grind]

Updating my promise to report:

Fed-Ex just called to say that my EFG-135 Med Duty is due to arrive at their nearby terminal on Tue, 7-30-19, from my order on the 17th. Not bad for perhaps a top-selling model when I expected seasonal, or product demand hiccups this time of year. I asked for it to be held for me to pick up vs meet a 28ft trailer at the road with a FEL to off-load the pallet.

I'll be grappling-out an lot of autumn olive, white & yellow poplar, buckthorn, and honeysuckle down to an inch or so beforehand vs 'grinding' them up with the flail. Chisel plow and landscape rake may make prior passes to locate rocks or rip-rap scattered along the road decades ago during the sand pit era. MIE root ripper for the Terramite, and having another CUT for those 3-PH ops will mean more seat-hopping than implement-switching.

I'm all of 15 years behind on getting a flail mower. After a decade+ of mowing/trimming around where the 6' Bush Hog Razorback has been parked, it needs to find a home. Offers? :laughing:

 

[thekkfan]

I'll add to the discussion that I have the std duty FH-EF175. Mainly wanted a backup for my 54" mower if it dies and to trim back pastures after grazing and couple fields that get bush hogged 3 times a year. I'll have to say initially I wasn't impressed with mowing quality with the Y knives. I even removed them all, put razor edges same as my mower deck blades and still would leave 18-24" weeds behind (not a lot, just a few stragglers). The 3 point angle has to be adjusted out to keep from bending the taller stuff over too much as this is a reverse rotation cutter.

My best move to improve the cut was to remove all the knives and replaced them with scoop blades (attached). I don't get into anything really brushy and have also 'de-rocked' all the areas I mow. Had to grease everything straight off the pallet and fill with oil. If overfull, will burp some just like the Caroni's do.

My only gripe would be that the included PTO shaft doesn't offer much adjustment in length on my NX-almost too short. I ordered the PTO extender alot of guys use with their quick hitches so I could tip the front back even more. Either way, I can say I don't think I would be any more impressed if I would have spent 2 to 3x more money for it on another brand.

If you get one be sure to register on their website within 30 days for the full 2yr warranty. Did I mention it comes in orange or red?

 

[Freep]

BrokenTrack: That's a lot of replacement/wear. What type of flail mower is that you're using? And, how long are your 'days', in which you average a loss of 7-10 shackles?

 

[Rebeldad1]

You didnt say.... with this heading yours is a Bestco right?
Which model?

 

[prof fate]

I was torn between the bestco and woodmaxx.

I went with woodmaxx for 2 main reasons - one being the grease maintenance - bestco is 25 hours and woodmaxx 250. Yes, 10 TIMES the time between greasings - tells me they're sealed bearings or much more well sealed. Having worked with dirt bikes and quads I can tell you sealed bearings are easily 10 times longer lasting. Second was the belt tension arrangement - to tension belts on the woodmaxx, well, it's automatic for the most part. the bestco..manual and you move teh ENTIRE gearbox/shaft assembly to do so. Awkward to say the least.

The door on the back...I opened to see the difference it makes - much rougher cut as the suction is considerably less, BUT it's tossed out much longer grass pieces - which I like as I'll be able to use it to gut hay to bale.

The other big question was hammers or knives...I ordered knives as grass is my main thing needing cut. Woodmaxx shipped it with hammers...so I mowed some with them and woodmaxx sent knives so I put them on and mowed some more.

The hammers have more mass, are noisier, shred grass MUCH finer...not sure I can tell much other difference, other htan when cutting tall grass the finer shreds fall to the ground where the knives cuttings sit on top and turn brown..waiting to see if this will kill the pasture grass or not.

Mowing speed is about the same as a brush hog - 6' hog and 78" flail both on a kioti CK3510HST (30 pto hp).

YOu cannot mow in reverse with a flail where you can with a brush hog. the hog is 8' long more or less, the flail 3' perhaps. Weight is similar (very heavy!)

I got the hydraulic offset flail which you can't get a BH like that - handy for under fences and tree limbs.

Can it work as a finish mower? Yes..but it's not as good as a finish mower.

And you'll find with the big roller at the back it can leave oddly un-cut patches when the ground is uneven.