Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[IslandTractor]

I just got an Alamo SHD74 (super heavy duty 74") flail mower from a local county highway department auction, about $700. Now I've got to figure out how to get it home. This will go behind my 45hp diesel tractor.

View attachment 438760

Hoping there are no problems with the unit, this was an "as-is" sale!

Scott in Brighton NY

Even if you need to replace bearing and blades that is a lifelong heavy duty mower that is well worth fixing up. No issue with parts availability with Alamo either. Great deal IMO. Your tractor may be a tad small so you might need to leave the FEL on when mowing (as many of us do anyways). Run it to see if there are any problems and then make it a winter rehab project. I'm pretty sure that is a $4000+ mower new.

 

[ovrszd]

No personal attack here Island Tractor.

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HATE CUTTING WITH THE FEL ON!!!!!

 

[IslandTractor]

No personal attack here Island Tractor. I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HATE CUTTING WITH THE FEL ON!!!!!

Understood. In my case I rarely mow without my grapple mounted as I am always finding rocks or tree limbs that need moving and I often use it to push over brush or saplings. But it definitely interferes with vision and turns the tractor into a seesaw.

 

[ovrszd]

Understood. In my case I rarely mow without my grapple mounted as I am always finding rocks or tree limbs that need moving and I often use it to push over brush or saplings. But it definitely interferes with vision and turns the tractor into a seesaw.

Yep, totally agree/understand.

I think too slow to have the FEL on while cutting. I'll be ramming one end or the other into something all the time.

 

[bglz42]

I just bought the twin to your Alamo, 80sDweeb. Brought it home Saturday. Mows nice on short grass, but bogged down terribly in some heavy grass next door (JD 5083e). I think the blades are just too dull. I am going to flip them and try again...

 

[IslandTractor]

I just bought the twin to your Alamo, 80sDweeb. Brought it home Saturday. Mows nice on short grass, but bogged down terribly in some heavy grass next door (JD 5083e). I think the blades are just too dull. I am going to flip them and try again...

You might just need to go more slowing in heavy grass. Flails cut grass several times so thick grass really taxes the power. I have just learned to either slow down in lush thick grass or wait until dry periods like July/Aug/Sept to cut areas that don't need regular cutting.

 

[bglz42]

I was in the lowest gear I had... In the tractor/mower's defense: This stuff next door is the devil itself! I can't get through it with a disc mower, (wraps around the discs), or a bush hog. It looks like Bahia, but has a saw edge to the blade. Very thick mat, then lays over. About 12" deep.

 

[IslandTractor]

I was in the lowest gear I had... In the tractor/mower's defense: This stuff next door is the devil itself! I can't get through it with a disc mower, (wraps around the discs), or a bush hog. It looks like Bahia, but has a saw edge to the blade. Very thick mat, then lays over. About 12" deep.

The other technique is just to take half a width bite at a time.

 

[whirly]

We have Hilo Grass here and it is like a vine on the ground and I have the same problem with it. I raise the front edge (lengthen the top link) of the flail for the first pass. This cuts the "weave" on top of the grass, then I go back over it with the flail set properly. The trick is once you get it cut short not to let it get too long again.

You can also raise the flail so it is about half the height of the grass above the ground. This does the same thing but your flail doesn't follow the contour of the ground.

 

[bglz42]

Thanks Whirly! I am trying to eradicate this stuff! The pasture belongs to a friend of mine, who has entrusted me with turning it into a hayfield. I have already rehabilitated half of it, and have been producing good bahia hay from it for a couple of years. I plan on killing this one out completely and planting bermuda.