Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[GinNB]

As mentioned, I'm getting a new Caroni mower. I'd like to throw out another point for discussion. I have several rotary cutters and a 5' Kuhn flail chopper. I have used a chain toplink for several years and feel its the best way to go for general mowing. It seems to protect the tractor from having the toplink try to drive itself thru the tractor when the rear wheels are in a dip or lower than the front and tail wheels. Also allows the mower to flex if it hits something. Any thoughts?

Depends on the mower design. Some like to sit on the roller and skid shoes and those work well with a chain toplink. Others need a solid toplink to keep the front of the mower from digging in all the time. You can use a chain with this type but then you have to use the 3pt hitch to adjust your cutting height, which isn't always the best way to do it. Also doesn't work well on rolling ground. I like being able to drop a mower and have it float at the right height with no muss or fuss if the ground isn't level.

 

[SLOBuds]

This thing looks solid-built like a battleship. Just came available last couple of days. Also posted in EBay.

Craigs List Case CF74

I think the model is mis-stated though because Google doesn't find any other Case CF74s.

If I had the bucks I might take a closer look.

 

[davitk]

Davitk; mine has arrived also, I haven't had the time to play with it yet, might wait for the 3520 to show on the 16th and cut with them both on the 17th. BTW, can you show us some pics of the unit's work on lawn mowing? I wanted to get an idea of how it cuts lawn?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/5351/size/big/sort/1/cat/500

It tends to leave the clippings on top of the lawn, not a big deal for me because I anin't too fussy .

 

[Eagleview]

As mentioned, I'm getting a new Caroni mower. I'd like to throw out another point for discussion. I have several rotary cutters and a 5' Kuhn flail chopper. I have used a chain toplink for several years and feel its the best way to go for general mowing. It seems to protect the tractor from having the toplink try to drive itself thru the tractor when the rear wheels are in a dip or lower than the front and tail wheels. Also allows the mower to flex if it hits something. Any thoughts?

I do'nt use a chain for the top link because if the tractor goes through a dip the flail can articulate too far forward and break the PTO shaft universal joint as they should not really go past 15degrees . I'd rather have the top link dictate how far the mower can articulate than have the PTO shaft whack me in the head .

 

[GinNB]

I do'nt use a chain for the top link because if the tractor goes through a dip the flail can articulate too far forward and break the PTO shaft universal joint as they should not really go past 15degrees . I'd rather have the top link dictate how far the mower can articulate than have the PTO shaft whack me in the head .

Good point. I should've mentioned "the rotating toplink" in my earlier post. You have to have lots of compression available in the PTO shaft. It's easier to get with some tractor/mower combinations than others.

 

[scuvnut]

Anyone know what a good price would be for a 2003 New Holland model
918HFM? Allegedly, it only saw 5 acres of mowing before it was put away in a barn for storage.

 

[markanth]

Caroni is 73" but I need a 7 to 8 footer that does the hydraulic offset and is the excellent value that the Caroni is?

Any thoughts?

Mark

 

[Nuru]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/5351/size/big/sort/1/cat/500

It tends to leave the clippings on top of the lawn, not a big deal for me because I anin't too fussy .

I gotta tell you, your cut looks pretty good from this angle. Don't those clippigs go away in a few days?

I will probably get some work this weekend with the 3520, it is scheduled to arrive on Thursday! i got the Detached garage door enlarged to a 7'6" dorr, and the installers set the door to open only to 86" Seems there was a mild disconnect between them and the sales people. I will call them and tell them i need for the door to go all the way up and be flat so I can utilize the entire 90" As the 3520 is about 88" tall with the tires that I am going to use on it. So I need those extra couple of inches. I think it is an easy fix.

 

[Nuru]

Caroni is 73" but I need a 7 to 8 footer that does the hydraulic offset and is the excellent value that the Caroni is?

Any thoughts?

Mark

Second Mortgage or a line of credit?

 

[GinNB]

Put it to work and PAY the mortgage!