Flail Mower frail mower vrs rear finnishing mower

[paulsharvey]

My flail mower experience is different then a lot of people: I do Not find it the perfect combination of a bushhog and finish mower. I find they cut grass like a bushhog and scrub like a finish mower. Not Goldie Locks to me; it's more of a neither fish or fowl situation.

Specifically with Bahia, mine (Ford 917L with hammer flails) doesn't do a good job cutting the tall seed heads off. Now, if your cutting every time anything gets over 3 or 4"; that might not be a issue; but bahia likes to go from short; to 18" seed heads in 12 hours after a good rain.

 

[kthompson]

mclogn, if this has been hit directly, I missed it. You would do good to look at the different options in flail mower blades. There are light weight ones that run in pairs on same connection point forming a "T" or a "Y" for grass, lawn type mowing. There are heavier blades similar to those. Then to the far side there are those called hammers which really will mulch most small trees (here a oak is hard on any type of mower) and heavy grass.

Looking at the type of cutters the mower has on it gives a good indicator of the duty it is made for.

One other reason I do not try to mow finish grass with my flail is the turning. Totally forgot that. My flail mowers and all I have ever looked at have a rear roller. FOR ME and maybe I was the problem, I would often damage the grass when making sharp turns that a mower on wheels would not. When I can turn a tractor tight enough to damage the grass with the mower and not the front tires, I don't think it is right mower for the job.

At same time I use my hyd offset flail mower with hammers on it to trim the road ditch in front of my house. Why, it keeps a machine away from the ditch and does a suitable job. Not a finish mower cut, but sure beats a hand held trimmer.

 

[leonz]

My flail mower experience is different then a lot of people: I do Not find it the perfect combination of a bushhog and finish mower. I find they cut grass like a bushhog and scrub like a finish mower. Not Goldie Locks to me; it's more of a neither fish or fowl situation.

Specifically with Bahia, mine (Ford 917L with hammer flails) doesn't do a good job cutting the tall seed heads off. Now, if your cutting every time anything gets over 3 or 4"; that might not be a issue; but bahia likes to go from short; to 18" seed heads in 12 hours after a good rain.

Hello and good morning Mr. Harvey.

The scoop/spoon flail knives on the Ford 917 are a flail knife that is a general purpose knife to allow the end user to mow brush and grass.
If the scoop/spoon knife is dull it will not slice the brush or grass well.


A sharpened spoon/scoop/side slicer knife with the proper 37 degree edge would manage your Bahia grass more effectively.

 

[diesel85]

Hello and good morning Mr. Harvey.

The scoop/spoon flail knives on the Ford 917 are a flail knife that is a general purpose knife to allow the end user to mow brush and grass.
If the scoop/spoon knife is dull it will not slice the brush or grass well.


A sharpened spoon/scoop/side slicer knife with the proper 37 degree edge would manage your Bahia grass more effectively.

I mow my lawn with the Y grass knives and it does a fantastic job mowing a regular lawn.

Leonz has the key point... if you want a fine cut grass, you need proper sharp knives.

 

[1 of U]

I mow about 6 acres with a 72 inch finish mower
for me it does a good job and the look and finish looks good .