Flail Mower Flail mower brands

[jerry315]

I have just order a LS 3135 HST and I am now looking at flail mowers to mow driveway banks, ditches, yard and some pasture areas in the mountains of NC. After reading all the posts on flail vs brush hog vs RFM's I think a flail is my best option since I have some steep banks to maintain. Which brands has anyone found to be the best for this type of mowing, I am looking at Rhino, Corona and Landpride?

Also how does the noise of a flail compare to other mowers - louder or about the same?

Thanks
Jerry

 

[leonz]

I have just order a LS 3135 HST and I am now looking at flail mowers to mow driveway banks, ditches, yard and some pasture areas in the mountains of NC. After reading all the posts on flail vs brush hog vs RFM's I think a flail is my best option since I have some steep banks to maintain. Which brands has anyone found to be the best for this type of mowing, I am looking at Rhino, Corona and Landpride?

Also how does the noise of a flail compare to other mowers - louder or about the same?

Thanks
Jerry

Hello Jerry,

As for flail mower brands there are many for sale on this side of the atlantic.


The thing you have to remember is NEVER NEVER NEVER mow on a side hill or bank
if the slope is more than 15 degrees as you will tip over-been there done that with
a lawn mule- I was stupid for along time after that.

Your mule has high center of gravity and "gravity thou art a biatch"

You should have the rears loaded with Windshield washer fluid and if they are
adjustable have the dealer slide the tires out to widen the foot print of the tractor


Reversing up the bank while mowing and driving down hill is best for that situation.
as the rear axle is always leading and the weight is there.


There are 4 different types of flail mower rotors which
mount different types of mower knives and knife mounts.

The landpride flail mowers are the Maschio brand of flail
mowers with cast hardened scoop knives.

The Maschio company has been building farm implements for over a
half century just as the Caroni family is doing today in Italy.

Its all about

1. your wallet
2. the time you can devote to mowing
3. the quality of cut you want to have
4. read number 2
5. will you be happy with how it looks after mowing?
6. read number 2 again
7. the side slicer knife gives you the best cut down to a golf course finish

8. I want you to be an informed consumer of information; I do not have my hand on your wallet,
nor am I going to start blinking when I tell you something.

9. read number one again

10. a flail mower is much quieter to use- less noisy than a shop vac at 30 feet.




NOW the Land Pride/ Maschio unit is a good dual purpose mower for heavy brush and grass
and will leave a waffled finish on good turf. You will not be able to recut the brush and grass
to break it down into smaller clippings

The two row flail mower rotors on the Caroni units will also give you a waffled finish
and with the paired side slicer knives you will be able to recut the brush but it will take a
bit longer as you only have two rows of knifes to do the cutting and shredding AND
you will be able to back over brush to mow it at the same time and drive forward to
shred it even more.


There are a lot of good used flail mowers in very good condition for sale on auction time
and many other places. many dealers have excess inventory to sell or consigned flail
mowers to sell from estates.


The nice thing about the Land pride units is the trash door, you can change the scoop knives without having to get under the mower or rolling it over. I am not sure but I think you can lock it open to mow in heavy brush without clogging the mower up and burning up belts.


I want you to read the very long flail mower thread we have been blessed with before you make up your mind about the quality of cut you want as we have many pictures of flail mowing in the thread.

Please check the auction time site as they had a new(used once) 6 foot Land Pride flail mower for sale last week.
as the dealer can arrange shipping for you from Ohio and you can calculate the shipping cost on their site.

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is the "very long flail mower thread we have been blessed with " that leonz mentioned: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/118882-lets-talk-flail-mowers.html

It started a year before you joined, so you have probably seen it.

 

[jerry315]

Leonz

Thanks for the reminder on mowing slopes, I ALWAYS mow up and down, too risky going across the hill. I have a TYM with a belly mower that I am replacing so I guess my priority is type of cut and versatility. I am trying to have only 1 mower for lawn, pasture, driveway banks and some small brush. Do you have any other recommendations on brands that I should look at or types of blades to use?

I am getting the rear tires loaded, may ask about also loading the front tires, not sure that will help any?

Can I cut backwards and up hill with the flail mower, that may be the best way to do the banks.

I have browsed the long posting on flail mowers but have not read the entire post.

Thanks for your help!
Jerry

 

[jerry315]

Thanks for the link!

 

[leonz]

Leonz

Thanks for the reminder on mowing slopes, I ALWAYS mow up and down, too risky going across the hill. I have a TYM with a belly mower that I am replacing so I guess my priority is type of cut and versatility. I am trying to have only 1 mower for lawn, pasture, driveway banks and some small brush. Do you have any other recommendations on brands that I should look at or types of blades to use?

I am getting the rear tires loaded, may ask about also loading the front tires, not sure that will help any?

Can I cut backwards and up hill with the flail mower, that may be the best way to do the banks.

I have browsed the long posting on flail mowers but have not read the entire post.

Thanks for your help!
Jerry

============================================================================


Hello jerry315,

YES, YES, YES, Any finish flail mower with a three or four row flail mower rotor will do.
preferably the four row rotor for finer cut and recut ability.

Save your money for a fender radio and look for a used JD 7 foot 25A finish flail mower.

There are a number of used John Deere 25A flail mowers available for sale across the US
and would be more than up to your task load.

My father used a 7 foot 25A finish flail to reclaim pasture with 12-15 foot golden rod with a
gear drive Ford Jubilee


There is no need to load the front tires. Its bad juju to do it with the front drive train.

Buy a front weight kit-Unless you have ordered a front loader with your mule.

Finish reading the flail mower thread please!!

Yes you can cut backwards up hill as long as you leave the engine speed set for the rear
540 RPM engine speed.

Your going to have to practice controlling the mule without the flail mower to get comfortable with it before you
even begin mowing AND, wear your seat belt AND do not fold the ROPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

Flail mowers are superior to rotary mowers in almost every way. You just need to make sure you buy a quality brand. Look for units made in the USA or Italy. FYI most "american" brands are really made in Italy, with the cheaper ones made mostly in China. Make sure you ask where it's made. There may be some good stuff coming from China but a lot of it is inferior steel and workmanship.

As far as cut quality, my experience is that even with brush blades, a flail mower will give a pretty good looking cut, far superior to a brush hog and better than a finish mower in long grass. Some brands offer interchangeable brush and finish blades, so you have the option of doing either with the same mower. Some brands also have an offset position which will allow you to mow further out to one side, which is very handy in some situations.

 

[jerry315]

Leonz

Have a FEL on the mule so won't need extra weight. Will look around for a used one. Have talked to several local dealers here in the mountains and it sounds like flail mowers are not really used that much up here so I am still considering my options. They say with all the hills and uneven ground that RFM works better here. Not sure what to think so will probably looked at used low cost option until I can get one behind the mule and see how it works.

Thanks
Jerry

 

[leonz]

About that Jerry,

As I said lock up your wallet and buy a used flail mower through a dealer on auction time.

What this or those dealers did not bother to tell you is that they make less money with new flail mower sale.

A high quality flail mower in any size is:

1. a highly engineered, designed and heavily welded mounted PTO implement
2. a much better value as you can use it if you upgrade to a larger mule.
3. you barely have to clean it to change knives it unless you are a fuss budget like me.
a. removing the belt guard to clean the rubber dust and grease off are easy to do with
hot water and a cheap putty knife.

4. Zero power train issues with a flail mower versus a rear rotary mower i.e. belts multiple
gearboxes/multiple pulleys on some models
a. your power loses for rear rotary finish mowers with a V belt final drives and multiple spindle hogs are substantial
c. stamped belly and rear rotary mowers will wrack and twist unless the decks are welded completely
d. the rotary mowers have a habit of having wheels and wheel weldments break off as they are poorly designed with simple bushings that wear quickly.

The hills and uneven ground argument are a non issue with flail mower even a finish flail mower.

The rear roller acts a second set of training wheels so to speak to protect the flail mower rotor
and the mower frame.


Find a local municipality/township with a flail mower and ask about the cut quality.