Flail Mower flail or rotary rough cut?

[IslandTractor]

What does a flail do when theres a stump, log or such object in its path. Will it hang on it and bend or does it try to chew it up?

It depends. Sometimes it will jump over. Sometimes it will just stop the tractor. The worst case scenario which is not common but has happened to IronHorse is that the rear roller will snag and "banana" (bend). That puts you out of commission until fixed. However, that is pretty unusual and to my knowledge has only happened to IronHorse amongst the dozens of flail users here on TBN. It would be more likely to happen with a heavy tractor moving fairly fast.

I hit a big chunk of firewood this summer in a field and the mower sucked it up, jammed and stalled the tractor. I needed a crowbar to get it out but there was no damage to the mower once I'd removed it. The belt system protects the cutting rotor by slipping.

 

[dirt clod]

If you drive very slowly into a stump will the flail work as a stump grinder?

 

[IslandTractor]

Technically, yes but it will make an awful sound and I would not recommmend doing it that way. I suppose some of the heavy duty flails could be used like that on medium size stumps.

 

[dirt clod]

I was looking at this one

New 68" Flail Mower EFGC175 Cat.1 3pt 30+HP Rating - eBay (item 300367675997 end time Nov-21-09 17:30:32 PST)

With the heavy mulching blades.

 

[IslandTractor]

I was looking at this one

New 68" Flail Mower EFGC175 Cat.1 3pt 30+HP Rating - eBay (item 300367675997 end time Nov-21-09 17:30:32 PST)

With the heavy mulching blades.

That is the Betstco which is a Chinese made mower imported only by that one seller. Not sure about parts down the road etc. I recall there are a few guys on TBN who have purchased it so you might do a search.

For me, the few hundred bucks extra to get a Caroni (Italian) with the backing of AgriSupply and even TSC makes better sense.

 

[Big Bri]

That is the Betstco which is a Chinese made mower imported only by that one seller. Not sure about parts down the road etc. I recall there are a few guys on TBN who have purchased it so you might do a search.

For me, the few hundred bucks extra to get a Caroni (Italian) with the backing of AgriSupply and even TSC makes better sense.

i agree, i broke all three belts on my caroni the first week i owned it, made a call to agri supply and asked for the belt sizes so i could pick up localy. i was given the part number and was told that they would also send me a new set as well. . .at no charge. They didn't have to do that but it shows their comment to service.
brian

 

[kf4uda]

I am a rotary user but have been interested in flails. How does a flail handle coming in contact with the occasional rock?

 

[swampvol]

I have the Betstco, and am happy with it.

Pros:
- doesn't stick 10ft. off the back of the tractor.
- seems to be a lot less stress on the pto and tractor in general.
- doesn't kick up a lot of dust.
- pulverizes the brush and small saplings better than my bush-hog.

Cons:
- belt driven.
- my brush hog does a better finish cut on tall grass. The flail leaves patches of tall grass, at least with the y blades that I use.

Also, if you decide on the Betstco, make him an offer. I got him to come down $250 off his asking price.

 

[Sackett2]

Keith, Owner of Betstco says with the hammer blades, a flail mower can grind a stump. I cannot confirm this but If I had a flail mower from him, I'd be willing to try it on a few low stumps that have been bugging for several years... However, I cannot justify the cost at this time, I have a hog and a finish so a flail is not much needed...

 

[skipperbrown]

I have the 6' caroni and I used it for the first time this year at our hunting lease to mow down food plots and logging roads. For 1 to 2 ft grass, I can pull it at about 3 to 3 1/2 mph. For 5 to 6' weeds, stuff higher than the tractor, I am reduced to a crawl and burned up 3 sets of belts (at about $40/set). This high stuff completely fills the flail housing and it can't spit it out fast enough. The result is burning your belts. My partner was pulling his 8 ft rotary at 6 mph over the same stuff including the 5 to 6' high weeds, but he has 40 more hp than me.

My flail won't cut saplings much bigger than your index finger. It will strip it and lay it down, but not cut it.

Lesson here: If you are going to be cutting really thick tall stuff, go w/ the rotary.

The flail projects about 4' behind my tractor vs. over 10' for a rotary of the same size. It fits nicely on my trailer and is great in tight places on small plots or in the woods. This is really a huge, huge plus. With a rotary, I get neck strain always making sure I'm not going to swing it against a tree, bldg, or other equipment. I can't begin to load my tractor w/ a rotary on my trailer w/o 3' hanging off the back which I think is frowned upon by DOT.

The flail bounces over anything it hits and the knives fold up against the drum to protect the unit. If it hits something it can't bounce over, it spins the belts offering add'l protection to the powerline.

The flail cut is much better than a rotary at the cost of speed. Low grass is where the flail rules.

I was using gates belts after burning up the first set going someplace I had no business running a flail (making a trail through really thick pine plantation). I burned up the gates belts very quickly and contacted agri supply after burning up the 2nd gates set for a recommendation. They sent me a complimentary set of PIX belts. PIX was on the machine when they shipped it to me. Good folks to deal with.

I really like the flail, but I can't cut as fast or chop the big stuff.