Flail Mower Flail mowers?

[markct]

well i will put in my flail mower experience, we have a mott flail mower that is about 6ft cut i think, it has what they call trash knives, they are not made to cut brush but will take a bit more abuse that finish cut knives, as in hitting trash like on mowing roadsides. about the biggest reason i use it is that it is offset, the right hand side sticks out about a foot and a half from the tractor so its nice to mow under trees and shrubs, and it cuts alot closer to the ground than a brushog, and doesnt dig in when you turn. it gets used basicly as a lawn mower, not that we realy have much that ya would consider lawn around here!

 

[Panache]

A JD25A flail should run around $2500 new. I have one and I am amazed at what it will do.

 

[Nuru]

2 mph, Hmmm, well that won't do it as that would increase my TTCM (Time To Complete Mowing), substantially. But it is a thought for the flat areas depending on how much slope I will end up having.

 

[Nuru]

Thanks for you insight Joel4330. i have been doing aditional research and I guess one of the big drawbacks to a flail mower is that if anything happens to any of the knives, it throws the entire unit out o whack and that has to be rebalanced. That may mean taking it to someone who reall y knows how to do this. But it is still on the table though.

 

[Nuru]

Panache, how much grass do you mow? How long does it take? Do you have slopes to content with? thanks

 

[Panache]

Nuru
I cannot give a good time estimate because I am cutting tifton 9 bahia no more than 1 time per month. I primarly cut around my pond and the dam. The dam is a 1/3 slope. I have 2 wheel weights on the left rear wheel. I like the 1+ ft offset off the right side to cut closer to the water with out getting the tractor too close to the water. On my 5200 w/ 14.9x28 tires I use A2 for most cutting but if the grass is real thick I may have to go down to A1. When I cut the grass it is over the top of the front wheels.

 

[markct]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( i have been doing aditional research and I guess one of the big drawbacks to a flail mower is that if anything happens to any of the knives, it throws the entire unit out o whack and that has to be rebalanced. )</font>

if something happens to a knife ya simply replace it, as long as you use the same type you wont even know the difference. i know that some people have knocked the tabs off the bar and then there are places you can send them to be rebuilt and have the tabs replaced and rebalanced, but i have always just made a new tab same thickness and size and welded it on and never had a problem, i dont think its as critical as they make it sound, but if you lose a bunch of knives at once it will throw it outa balance and make it shake bad till ya replace them

 

[sandman2234]

I think the 2mph was for the flail mower with the mulching option.
I ran mine in 3rd gear, high range and it cut fine. Had to hang on to the tractor to stay onboard! I know it was way past 2mph, but I wasn't concerned with the clippings.
David from jax

 

[Nuru]

Thanks!

 

[Nuru]

Thanks