Flail mower first try = terrible cut… SOLVED

[leonz]

A really interesting and helpful thread, I've learned a lot from this


I've a Kioti CS2610 and use a 4' del morino flail with Y cutters. I've had both for 9 years. Results initially on long or short stuff was great but results deteriorated rapidly as the blades deteriorated - not surprisingly. Our soil is very stony!
My Y blades now are worn smooth and round on the leading edges. The back (trailing) edges are ok. My question is, can I just swap them all around to reverse them so that the leading edge is now "ok" or should I replace all with new?
Thanks

Bon Jour,

Monsieur Adlox, I wish to welcome you as the newest resident member of the Flail Mower Nations from Rancon, France.

As you have the side slicer knives on your beautiful Del Morino flail Mower you can simply reverse them and obtain
another 9 years of mowing with them.

 

[Ricn]

Having made no changes to my Woodmaxx mower, it is far from a perfect cut but, so much easier to mow large areas than when using my brush hog. On longer stuff, those having stiff stems, I get some that don't get cut off but most do. Am I happy, yes 100%. The mower is set using the top link cylinder to lift the skids about one inch high in front, the mower runs on the roller only and being set to it's lowest position. The cutters are the Y type, more for grass than heavy stuff.
My particular mower would never produce a finish look, much like a rider mower can, but I knew that from talking to the seller beforehand who was very upfront about flail mower results and something I knew already. My Kubota excavator has a flail as well and gives the same looking results unless mowing over twice.
My run speed is mostly medium on the HST but switch to low on the heavy and thick stuff. Tac speed is 2200 for the 540 pto and yes, it sounds like a vacumn!

 

[Ricn]

Lots of good info here. I have a medium duty 6ft bush hog on my 47hp Branson. It cut’s well but needs constant attention else things get dramatic with rocks or scuffing the ground. Luckily at my cabin it doesn’t matter much but I am tired of scrubbing up the ground. I’m thinking of maybe trading it for a flail mower. I’ve run one before when volunteering at a town owned orchard years ago. I know they are expensive, but can anyone recommend a good one at a reasonable price ($3k’ish). I know there are cheaper Chinese ones but don’t know if worth the risk. Looking for a 6ft cut.

Very happy with my Woodmaxx. Some parts are made in China but see no issue with that. My mower has been bulletproof and is well built. I have the side shift model 60 inch, also top and tilt on my tractor with a harbor Fright quick hitch..

 

[Fixastuff]

Having made no changes to my Woodmaxx mower, it is far from a perfect cut but, so much easier to mow large areas than when using my brush hog. On longer stuff, those having stiff stems, I get some that don't get cut off but most do. Am I happy, yes 100%. The mower is set using the top link cylinder to lift the skids about one inch high in front, the mower runs on the roller only and being set to it's lowest position. The cutters are the Y type, more for grass than heavy stuff.
My particular mower would never produce a finish look, much like a rider mower can, but I knew that from talking to the seller beforehand who was very upfront about flail mower results and something I knew already. My Kubota excavator has a flail as well and gives the same looking results unless mowing over twice.
My run speed is mostly medium on the HST but switch to low on the heavy and thick stuff. Tac speed is 2200 for the 540 pto and yes, it sounds like a vacumn!

What model excavator and cutter? I'm about to buy one for tb260.

 

[blenderbender]

The skids should not touch the ground, their only job is to protect the flail mower rotor, knife hangers and knives/hammers.

This is the first time I've heard that the skids should not touch the ground, though I often raise my flail mower in order to get a higher cut. My problem with that is the mower drifts down in pretty short order. I have the draft control set to not allow that but the hydraulics pay it no mind. I've wondered if adding caster gauge wheels would be an appropriate fix . Seems they would have less impact causing long stuff to being laid over and miss getting cut. Am I missing something there as I've yet to see or hear of gauge wheels on a flail mower. I've been trying to grow native wildflowers on a 5 acre field rather unsuccessfully for a couple years now. Ragweed, Queen Ann's Lace, and other early grasses out compete the copious amounts of seed I've put down. I was advised by the seed provider to mow 6-8"'s until the wildflowers get more established. But it's been a PITA cause I can't keep it up (that's what she said ).

 

[Ricn]

What model excavator and cutter? I'm about to buy one for tb260.

We have 2 Kubota U-40s, both run flails great! Highly recommend this size unit. Also have a u-35 with flail, this unit is the smallest Kubota that will operate a flail reasonably well due to it's pump capacity being much less than a 40. If using for yourself, around the farm, the U-35 is much less money and will do the job but know that the hydraulics are in play for both swing and flail which can slow the flail drum speed, still it works! My Son operated this unit for 2500 hrs doing jobs all over the place but now has a U-40 plus a second unit his Brother runs. They both dig and mow, whatever is needed. The little


u35 is here for me to use and also for a backup if needed. Both are great machines and so reliable too! We are using the US Mower brand or flails.

 

[tonynz]

I would take those front flaps off, ok they are a safety feature but if you are sitting on the tractor, it's not likely to harm you. Check the flails as they may have been adjusted wrong and have hit the striker bar.

 

[Fixastuff]

We have 2 Kubota U-40s, both run flails great! Highly recommend this size unit. Also have a u-35 with flail, this unit is the smallest Kubota that will operate a flail reasonably well due to it's pump capacity being much less than a 40. If using for yourself, around the farm, the U-35 is much less money and will do the job but know that the hydraulics are in play for both swing and flail which can slow the flail drum speed, still it works! My Son operated this unit for 2500 hrs doing jobs all over the place but now has a U-40 plus a second unit his Brother runs. They both dig and mow, whatever is needed. The little


u35 is here for me to use and also for a backup if needed. Both are great machines and so reliable too! We are using the US Mower brand or flails.

Nice I already have a Takeuchi tb260 cab, has aux 1 flow of 27gal/min so it should spin a flail pretty nicely.

 

[leonz]

This is the first time I've heard that the skids should not touch the ground, though I often raise my flail mower in order to get a higher cut. My problem with that is the mower drifts down in pretty short order. I have the draft control set to not allow that but the hydraulics pay it no mind. I've wondered if adding caster gauge wheels would be an appropriate fix . Seems they would have less impact causing long stuff to being laid over and miss getting cut. Am I missing something there as I've yet to see or hear of gauge wheels on a flail mower. I've been trying to grow native wildflowers on a 5 acre field rather unsuccessfully for a couple years now. Ragweed, Queen Ann's Lace, and other early grasses out compete the copious amounts of seed I've put down. I was advised by the seed provider to mow 6-8"'s until the wildflowers get more established. But it's been a PITA cause I can't keep it up (that's what she said ).

It will be less expensive to fix the draft control on your mule rather than install gauge wheels
on your flail mower as you need four of them and adapting them to mow 6 inches high will take
a lot of work.

I have no idea how much replacement bush hog caster wheel weldments would cost as you need
more steel to mount them on all four corners of the flail mower.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Hi! S584, I also just got a Betstco flail mower, a ditch bank mower. I got a huge job of 19 acres and it didn't do great leaving lots of yarrow and thistles that pop up like an IRS agent on payday. My old 68'' pallettforks.com offset mower was a beast with it's 1.5# hammers. These are barely 14oz.......and made from butter....not really liking it to be honest. The ditch bank feature is about the only good feature about it.