Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Long time no talk flail fellas...been too busy working.

Someone sell me on a ditch bank mower.

My little 4ft Ford flail has been doing a bang up job with my Yanmar 2420D but I'm getting into projects where I need a bigger tractor. A 48" cutter has worked great on a 50" wide tractor but all my potential replacements I'm considering are 60"+, one pushing 72".

Add in that I have an 1100 ft long terrace line that's a royal pain to keep cleaned up. Towards the back of my property the terrace is nearly a 10ft drop steep enough that my only option has been roundup and forget it.

Make some suggestions for me. I'm looking at new equipment this time around. I'm tired of working on stuff before I can work on stuff....

My solution for my ditch bank ended up being a three point mounted disk mower. I got a heck of a deal on a used one. I use it for making hay and mowing my ditch. It's designed from the start to hang off to the side and only requires 1 remote (to lift it). It weighs less than a comparable flail, and cuts as fast as you can drive. Granted it won't take down brush like a flail will, but it maintains grass very well. It also uses a bit of horsepower, so keep that in mind. A drum mower would likely do the same with less HP, but I don't have much experience with those. And, from what I remember, most drum mowers swing to the rear for transport instead of lifting up. A good option if you don't have a remote to use. But from what I can remember, drum mowers tend to be shorter in length than disc mowers.

When looking for a disc mower with intentions of running it at an angle look for one with individual pods and grease instead of oil. I have an older New Idea mower that has these features. The oil filled ones will lose oil from the more elevated areas and wear prematurely when run at an incline for extended periods.

 

[nova3930]

My solution for my ditch bank ended up being a three point mounted disk mower. I got a heck of a deal on a used one. I use it for making hay and mowing my ditch. It's designed from the start to hang off to the side and only requires 1 remote (to lift it). It weighs less than a comparable flail, and cuts as fast as you can drive. Granted it won't take down brush like a flail will, but it maintains grass very well. It also uses a bit of horsepower, so keep that in mind. A drum mower would likely do the same with less HP, but I don't have much experience with those. And, from what I remember, most drum mowers swing to the rear for transport instead of lifting up. A good option if you don't have a remote to use. But from what I can remember, drum mowers tend to be shorter in length than disc mowers.

When looking for a disc mower with intentions of running it at an angle look for one with individual pods and grease instead of oil. I have an older New Idea mower that has these features. The oil filled ones will lose oil from the more elevated areas and wear prematurely when run at an incline for extended periods.

New tractor will be here this week, so I think I'm going to see if I can run it down that slope. New one is 2ft+ wider than the old one and not much taller so it may be stable enough. If it is I may just get a bigger normal mower, or possibly one with hydraulic offset....

 

[nova3930]

Anybody know anything about chambers American flails? 90" for fairly cheap nearby. I can't find a whole lot googling though

 

[nova3930]

Local dealer said they didn't know when or if they'd get another shipment of Del Morino anything and couldn't guarantee they'd get me a flail. They showed me some Titans when I initially thought were the chicom units but now that I'm looking online, it appears they have some pre-name change Ironcraft. My understanding is those are Italian as well correct? Cosmo? In stock FL-165 was quoted as around $3600. Really need a 6ft unit though.

sigh, may just end up getting another used one. As much as I'd like to have a whiz bang new one, not sure I can justify it....

 

[leonz]

I would check with another Del Morino dealer or the nearest Maschio implement dealer as the
usual turn around is 6 weeks between order placement and a container coming from Europe.

 

[nova3930]

I would check with another Del Morino dealer or the nearest Maschio implement dealer as the
usual turn around is 6 weeks between order placement and a container coming from Europe.

What's your opinion of the Ironcraft/Cosmo? They did say they could probably get one of those fairly readily.

 

[leonz]

What's your opinion of the Ironcraft/Cosmo? They did say they could probably get one of those fairly readily.

Hello and good morning nova3930,

I ask that you bear with me as I had 5 teeth pulled yesterday and it takes longer to do chores.

The COSMO implements are made in Italy and come under the European Unions safety and
construction standards.

The propain people are here and I have to go.

 

[nova3930]

Hello and good morning nova3930,

I ask that you bear with me as I had 5 teeth pulled yesterday and it takes longer to do chores.

The COSMO implements are made in Italy and come under the European Unions safety and
construction standards.

The propain people are here and I have to go.

No worries man. Take care of yourself. Don't kill yourself correcting my ignorance lol

 

[leonz]

10:30AM Eastern Standard Time

No worries;

You are not ignorant my dear friend, you are in the process of buying a (very safe to use around 2 legged and 4 legged rug rats)
flail mower/crop shredder that will last you through several new mules.
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It is $2,500.00 later and I will have a new propain water heater this afternoon.

When you get further along with this today tell me which model you wish to buy
before you pay for it as you will have to decide what options you want with it.

 

[nova3930]

It is $2,500.00 later and I will have a new propain water heater this afternoon.

When you get further along with this today tell me which model you wish to buy
before you pay for it as you will have to decide what options you want with it.

Would probably be the FMH-175 if I go that route. It's either that or find another old Ford/Alamo/Etc, although I do like the look of the Chambers American I found. They're still in business they just don't do 3 pt implements any more, they have their own specialized mower carrier they build....


I can't really buy a new one till I sell the old tractor anyway though.