Flail Mower I just can't decide if I need a flail mower or a finish mower...

[WranglerX]

Not a problem with video... Loads, plays, and ends and closes window....

Dale

 

[shooterdon]

Get a brush hog for the field work. Flail mowers take more HP and I hate to think of sharpening or replacing the cutters. With a BH, if you get lazy and the grass gets away from you, it will plow thorugh it.

Your rider will cut the lawn area in about 3 hours. If you want something faster a ZT will do it half the time.

You will tire of hooking up the PTO every time you need to cut the lawn. I hate the darn things.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's why peodple gravitate to multiple equipment. At one time, I think I had a dozen ways to cut grass. And yet, before I bought the 917 Flail mower, I was hard pressed to buy a push mower.

 

[GeneV]

Yeh, I'd also go with rotary, bush hog, whatever they're called, and btw...another video: Can I MOW THE LAWN WITH A BRUSH HOG? - Ranch Hand Tips - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

How well would a finish mower work on the longer pasture grass?

Finish mowers have belt drive to the blades. If grass is too long/resistant, belts slip, blades stop.

Better a 400 pound light duty or 600 pound medium 60" Rotary Cutter with the blades maintained reasonably sharp. Light and medium duty Rotary Cutters have several adjustments to provide an even cut. Heavier cutters have more inertia when spinning. (( An L3560 possibly could operate a 72" light duty Rotary Cutter.))

Heavy duty Rotary Cutters do not have 'fine' adjustments. Heavy duty Rotary Cutters are designed primarily to cut brush. Rotary Cutters are gear drive all the way to the two blades.

My experience is with King Kutter and Land Pride Rotary Cutters, three models total.





FARMWITHJUNK is no longer posting here due to ill health. Big loss.

FARMWITHJUNK operated a commercial mowing business. Here is FARMWITHJUNK's take:

A flail mower is what you use to make your mowing job take longer, use more fuel to get less done, and keep the parts man and mechanics busy, all the while emptying your wallet at an incredible pace.


There are three kinds of men:
1.) The ones that learn by reading
2.) The few who learn by observation
3.) The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

FARMWITHJUNK had OPINIONS!

 

[jeff9366]

I have a Kubota L3560, open station, LA555 loader.

I have 12 acres of land, all pretty open and rolling.

I am leaning toward a flail mower, largely from a safety perspective. I have young kids, can't always guarantee they'll be inside while mowing, and the thought of a finish mower slinging something is definitely a concern. Is this concern misfounded? Are flail mowers generally safer in this regard?

Due to light construction and belt drive a Finish Mower is not going to fling anything with much mass, far.

Rotary Cutters with rear guards are pretty safe, in my opionion. Problem is people remove solid rear guards, whether steel or rubber, so they can mow in reverse. Best practice is to option a Rotary Cutter with somewhat costly chain guards front and rear. Chain guards allow mowing in reverse, with chain curtains slowing exhaust debris. When cutting brush, somewhat dull blades flays brush, which kills brush more reliably than a sharp cut. Also flayed brush ends easier on tractor tires.