Flail Mower Flail Mower vs. Bush Hog / Shredder ?

[IslandTractor]

Here is my question...If I buy this 6o inch cut Ford 917 H Flail mower will my NH TC - 29 be powerful enough to pull it and cut 3 ft. tall grass and brush...My bush hog will..I just have no experience with a flail...Anyone with a flail have an opinion ? Thanks

In general I'd think a tractor can run similar sized rotary and flail mowers in similar conditions. The flail is not inherently less efficient than the rotary but you might need to go slower as the flail mulches material while the rotary just rips and disperses it. It must take some extra energy/power to do the mulching but that just means going a little slower if you want the mulching to occur. If you don't want the mulching and wanted to go faster you could always remove a balanced number of knives but it really should not be necessary.

 

[FarmGeek]

I agree with all comments above as my rotary now just sits and gathers rust while my flail gets used every couple of weeks.

However, I was disappointed in the flail for one reason - it does not produce uplift since it has no horizontal blades. As the tractor's tires push over taller vegetation it won't spring back uprght in time for the flail to cut it. This leaves 'hairs' sticking up all over the field the next day.

Maybe I just have Lazy Grass????

 

[greg_g]

Here is my question...If I buy this 6o inch cut Ford 917 H Flail mower will my NH TC - 29 be powerful enough to pull it and cut 3 ft. tall grass and brush..

How are you concluding it's a 917H model? Decal? I ask, because there were quite a few variants over the years. The 917H has 3/8" pin holes (travel limiters) above and below the connecting links (where it attaches to the tractor lift arms). The lighter duty ones (like the A- and L- models) don't have those pin holes.

Nevertheless, the 917x came in 4 configurations; standard, fine, coarse, thatch. Unless it's a coarse cut machine (not sure about standard), you've really got no business in three foot stuff, especially if it's wet. Configured for coarse cut however, the 25 PTO horsepower of a TC29 should be adequate.

The coarse cut model can be distinguished from the others because the knives are hanging like an upside down T, and there are fewer of them. My 74-inch H-model for example, has 33 knives; 3 rows of 11. Your 62-incher should have 27 double edged; 3 rows of 9. Not sure about standard, but the fine (and maybe thatch) model knives have about 2.5 times as many cutting edges (singles) as coarse. Another difference is the triangle shaped link that the knives hang on. The fine cut knives hang from 5/16" diameter triangle shaped links, the others use 7/16". The fine cut links are lighter duty too.

//greg//

 

[nwbearcat]

I dunno...my Ford 917A does a much better job than my rotary did. The drum rotates the same direction as my tires do so it scoops things up fairly well. Mine does pull pretty hard, but I also went from a 6' up to an 8', so that's to be expected. I don't see the tire tracks now that I did before.
Just me, but if I were mowing a 40A pasture, I'd be looking at a rotary mower. For a expanded backyard area/barn lots and etc. I really like the flail. Doesn't toss things out, easier to manuever (doesn't stick out as far to the rear) and takes less room to store in my barn.

 

[AlanB]

Greg is giving you great advice.

Flailmaster is a great source of help and information as well (on the net)

I have a NH 1925 (33 or so HP predecessor to yours)

I have a 5' KK bush hog and a 5' fine cut alamo flail.

One thing I did not realize prior to buying my flail was the differences in the flails that Greg is pointing out too you.

For me, and my situation, I need them both.

The Bush hog cuts sticks, chunks, bushes, rough stuff well. (well enough) Clears small saplings etc. etc. The downside is that it throws stuff (I need to add chains / flaps) but the basic way it works tends to give a hit to the things it cuts.

For high grass though, with stuff potentially in it I do not want thrown (mowing overgrown yards is what it was bought for) the Flail is great. Keeping things cut down after the rough work was done with the bush hog it is great, trying to cut saplings, bushes thoroghly overgrown areas with vines, I hook up something else.

Good luck.

 

[brin]

Thanks to all of you for the responses and based on Greg posting about Rough set up vs. Fine set up and other comments by you fellas...I have decided to pass on the flail since it is set up for FINE cutting...that is the blades on it and it is a 917H like Greg's diagram shows. My Bush Hog brand bush hog is a mulching bush hog ...there are no openings on the front or the back..no chains..it is all enclosed so it mulches and does not throw anything and I can go along in 3rd on low speed which is fine. I wanted the flail for the offset which would have allowed me to get closer to fences and trees. I was looking for a better way...grass always looks greener..LOL....
Thanks again all for helping me make this decision..

 

[datanull]

but I do have a 4' hydraulic powered flail that eats anything you put in it's way, including whole trees, including the trunks. If it will reach the top, (25'), Just let it eat it's way to the bottom. However it is equiped with "hammer blades" which aren't designed for grass (in my opinon)
David from jax

That machine sounds like one of the R-O-W mulchers. One brand I have seen is call a "Bull Hog".

Can you tell me/us more about the one you have, pictures brand etc. Skid steer or tractor?