Help Me Choose a Flail Mower

ktn · Mar 25, 2014

So I've read all I could of the long flail post! Now I have a few questions for the experts. I'm looking for a 80 to 90 inch flail to cut pasture and some lawn. Pretty much one inch or less...I have a rotary for the bigger stuff. But I want a quick hitch compatible unit. So far I've only identified 3 that are QH compatible: a JD 390, Rears SPF 84 and Befco H70 88. The rears has to be fabricated for QH and is about 10 - 12 weeks from delivery...not to mention no discounts off MSRP. The JD 390 is a beefier unit and looks pretty good to me. I like the Befco too...but their sales girl and literature states that it's only for 1/2 inch caliper material even though it's 1100 pounds and rated for up to 70hp. I find that kind of hard to believe?

So does anybody have any experience with the H70 flails or the JD 390? positive or negative. Also, are there any other good QH compatible Flails in that size range?

Thanks for your advice. Kevin

leonz · Mar 26, 2014

ktn said:
1. So I've read all I could of the long flail post!

2. Now I have a few questions for the experts.

3. I'm looking for a 80 to 90 inch flail to cut pasture and some lawn.

3. Pretty much one inch or less...

4. I have a rotary for the bigger stuff.

5. But I want a quick hitch compatible unit.

So far I've only identified 3 that are QH compatible:

a JD 390, Rears SPF 84 and Befco H70 88.

The rears has to be fabricated for QH and is about 10-12 weeks from delivery...,
not to mention no discounts off MSRP. The JD 390 is a beefier unit and looks pretty
good to me.

I like the Befco too...,

but their sales girl and literature states that it's only for 1/2 inch caliber material even
though it's 1100 pounds and rated for up to 70hp. I find that kind of hard to believe?

So does anybody have any experience with the H70 flails or the JD 390? positive or negative. Also, are there any other good QH compatible Flails in that size range?

Thanks for your advice. Kevin

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The above are 3 windrows of flailmower clippings

Hello Kevin.

1. first; you need to finish your reading assignment-dont worry you have plenty of time.

a. what is your budget amount, if you have one?

2. read number one!!

3. 80-90 inch meaning 7 foot plus cutting width 84-96 inch

What is your mules total horse power?

What is your mules Power Take Off horse power???

MOST IMPORTANT!!!!! is your mule a hydrostatic unit or a gear drive??????

You will lose power through your hydrostatic transmissions power train to the Power Take Off.

NOW you have to seriously look at one thing; The smaller a flail mower the useable power you can deliver
to the towed or integral implement(3 point hitch mounted)

4. NEW OR USED? There are lots of good used flail mowers/crop shredders out there

5. Material diameter or height of cut? is there Golden rod or heavy old growth brush?

6. Can your (mule/land site) handle a towed or three point hitch 12 foot unit that is power rated for a crop shredder with a 2 inch height of cut THAT will do everything for you????????

7. Do you want an inline, offset or hydraulic shift flail mower?????????????????????????
a hydraulic shift mower will limit your width of cut options.

Read number one

MY father owned the 7 foot cut JD25A with a Ford Jubilee gear drive unit
which is the little brother of the JD390-same build quality, excellent cut etc.
I could never say anything bad about the JD25A or the build quality and the JD390 is no different.

Finish the reading first, and then come back to ask more questions.

allen in texas · Mar 26, 2014

Love my Rears. Hate that it isn't quick hitch compatible. I can cut all the way to the dirt if I want. It was expensive. Takes less HP to pull it than the equivalent cut (6ft) rotary cutter.

ktn · Mar 26, 2014

OK I can answer some of the questions:

I'm prepared to purchase new. I prefer that for equipment that needs to be maintained. You can tell by what I'm considering that I'm not going with the Chinese options!

My tractor is 60 horses and 50 at the PTO with hydrostatic transmission.

I'm 65 inches from outside the rear tires...and I do need to cut along streams and fences...so I'm thinking 88-90" center mount or slightly smaller as long as the offset will still cover the tire tracks.

I'll be cutting pasture and some open rolling lawn. For any really tough woody stuff I have a rotary mower.

Definitely want a quick hitch flail Allen...I'm tired of taking that hitch on and off myself.
Any others know of another QH flail?

Still reading, thank you Leonz.

Jack Yuan · Mar 26, 2014

leonz said:
==========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

The above are 3 windrows of flailmower clippings

Hello Kevin.

1. first; you need to finish your reading assignment-dont worry you have plenty of time.

a. what is your budget amount, if you have one?

2. read number one!!

3. 80-90 inch meaning 7 foot plus cutting width 84-96 inch

What is your mules total horse power?

What is your mules Power Take Off horse power???

MOST IMPORTANT!!!!! is your mule a hydrostatic unit or a gear drive??????

You will lose power through your hydrostatic transmissions power train to the Power Take Off.

NOW you have to seriously look at one thing; The smaller a flail mower the useable power you can deliver
to the towed or integral implement(3 point hitch mounted)

4. NEW OR USED? There are lots of good used flail mowers/crop shredders out there

5. Material diameter or height of cut? is there Golden rod or heavy old growth brush?

6. Can your (mule/land site) handle a towed or three point hitch 12 foot unit that is power rated for a crop shredder with a 2 inch height of cut THAT will do everything for you????????

7. Do you want an inline, offset or hydraulic shift flail mower?????????????????????????
a hydraulic shift mower will limit your width of cut options.

Read number one

MY father owned the 7 foot cut JD25A with a Ford Jubilee gear drive unit
which is the little brother of the JD390-same build quality, excellent cut etc.
I could never say anything bad about the JD25A or the build quality and the JD390 is no different.

Finish the reading first, and then come back to ask more questions.

Leonz just wrote down a standard introduction to help people to buy a mower. :laughing:

leonz · Mar 26, 2014

ktn said:
OK I can answer some of the questions:

I'm prepared to purchase new. I prefer that for equipment that needs to be maintained. You can tell by what I'm considering that I'm not going with the Chinese options!

My tractor is 60 horses and 50 at the PTO with hydrostatic transmission.

I'm 65 inches from outside the rear tires...and I do need to cut along streams and fences...so I'm thinking 88-90" center mount or slightly smaller as long as the offset will still cover the tire tracks.

I'll be cutting pasture and some open rolling lawn. For any really tough woody stuff I have a rotary mower.

Definitely want a quick hitch flail Allen...I'm tired of taking that hitch on and off myself.
Any others know of another QH flail?

Still reading, thank you Leonz.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The above is the first scale mile(287 feet) of my G scale railroad

Hello Kevin,

I guess I am going to suggest that you look at a used
JD25A or JD 390 or equivalent as you are looking north of $8,000
for your "Very First" flail mower purchase for your mule.

ONLY because parts are available from flail master and others and they
are easy to repair or have repaired by a JD dealer or a compentant repair shop.

What every you do, do not by spare knives from JD as you can buy them for
much less money from clean cutter and flailmaste and others.

I am going on thirty three plus years with my motorised flailmower as I was
responsible for maintaining it for my father so.....................................

===================================================================
If I could only find a motorised Mott three point hitch mounted flail mower
with the 4 cylinder Wisconsin engine.............
===================================================================

The amount of seat time you wil have with it will become much less once you
have the ground beaten back too.

Used flailmowers have a high resale value too so..........................

The other option is the Caroni 73 inch unit with the F rotor finish cut,
4 rows of side slicers, and ordering the hydraulic side shift shift option.

We have a lot of happy owners of Caroni Flail Mowers here on the forum.

greg_g · Mar 27, 2014

I'm not qualified to actually rate any of your three choices, but I can address a few of the other points.
*The 1/2" limitation suggests that particular unit is equipped with finish knives. To take on heavier stuff you need heavy duty knives. Some call them combination knives, T-knives, or scoop knives. For even thicker stuff, they make hammer knives.
*My JD3720 has 35 PTO hp, and my flail is a 74" flail with HD knives. Like Leon says, there's more power loss at the PTO than with geared tractors. My geared tractor with 45 at the PTO was a better horsepower match to my flail that is the John Deere. The JD struggles in spots that the geared tractor mowed straight thru. So not knowing what exactly you're going to cut with which type knives, an 8 footer might be too much mower for your 50 PTO hp.
*Sticking with the 7-footer suggestion, a 65" track only gives you a few inches of cutting swath outside your tires. An offset mower will trim closer to walls, fences, tree trunks et cetera - without having to get too close with the tractor.

//greg//