I have several areas where I would be needing to back into the area to mow them. This wouldn't be a problem with a rotary cutter but can you mow in reverse with a flail mower? The area doesn't have obstacles like stumps, it's just tall grass and brush. Would prefer not to have to back through it, lower the mower, then drive forward cutting.
I've done it but be careful if you have a scraper bar on the back. It doesn't take much to bend it going in reverse. I bent mine pretty good going backwards over some saplings I didn't think would be a problem.
It will work, but the rear roller will hold down grass and saplings, and unless they can spring back up, they won't be cut. So you will have a couple of feet where things will be the same as when you started. I always raise my mower while backing, then drop it before I go forward. Lift lever, reverse, lower lever, forward.... Not that hard, or just be satisfied with the uncut stuff in the back.
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Hello and good morning TractorNH,
When backing into heavy tall dense brush with the mower raised you also need to keep in mind that the belly of the mule will be
exposed to any hidden debris/garbage that will pass between the wheels of your mule. One must always be aware that if you do
not have a belly pan under the mule that a stick or small limb can do a lot of damage to a cooling fan or rip at a coolant hose etc.
The flail mower will shred in reverse going very slowly and when you have stopped and place the mule in forward position you advance
at the same rate of speed to create a fine mulch of the brush you are clearing.
Its always best to walk the area if its safe to do so and you do not have a poisonous snake population in the area and also keep in mind that
fawns will be left by their mothers in the event that the doe sees or senses danger and the fawn will be injured or killed if the mule backs over
it as the fawn will be too small and weak in its very early stages to escape quickly.
No worries, just plan on doing a bit of prep work using a stick to poke along the ground to find any hidden cinderblocks metal pieces etc. and
you will also warn a fawn or its mother that you are there as well while the mule is idling.
