Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Rara Avis]

I've just recently started looking at flail mowers again. I did read the entire thread about a year ago. Roy, buying his new Caroni flail, got me interested again.

I've been looking at the Land Pride FM2584 and FM3188 mowers.

One of the tasks I have is mowing the edges of two ponds so, the offset feature should make that easier. I'm looking at the wider flails to achieve significant mowing track to the right of my tires. Right now I'm using a TSC Branded Switzer push type string trimmer. It does a good job but, it's not self propelled so, a lot of work to be sure.

Another feature of the LP Flails is both have Cat1 / Cat 2 hitches so I could use on both of our tractors.

The Woodmaxx flails are interesting but, their wider models are Cat 2 only.

The majority of my use would be with my LS XR4046HC tractor which is Cat 1.

Anyone have experience with the LandPride flails? We have two local dealers within 30 miles of ranch.

Thanks!

You mant to look at a Del Morino Super Centurion as well...
Tractor Tools Direct | T62 Hydraulic Offset Flail Mower

Also, makes it easy to replace the hammers...

 

[lostcreekranch]

Sam and Rara, thanks for info.

 

[leonz]

I noticed these can also be raised/tilted vertical to cut trail edges or along woods. They look very versatile, but the 180SI and 180SE I looked at were $6,900 - $7,400.

The nice thing about these flail mowers is that they were are designed and built for vineyard work to save on labor expense and eventually became effective for pruning nut and fruit trees.

They have always made high quality vineyard and orchard equipment that is used to prune vertically in vineyards and berry farm rows and also for pruning/trimming estate hedges that are extremely long in total length to save time and money.
Their use for trimming along trails and mowing ditches came along with the ability to be shifted to the side to allow the flail mower to prune hedges, along grapevine trellises etc.

The Minute Maid companies orange orchards in Florida were improved by pruning making each and every mature orange tree into a cube by pruning them to allow them to use 4 wheel drive work platforms to harvest and manage the tree fruit for their juice orange operations which allowed the orange trees to grow stronger as more of the orange tree was exposed to the natural amount of sunlight for longer periods as the entire orange tree benefited from more sunlight.

I am unsure as to whether these same trees are still growing tree fruit or were destroyed by the citrus kanker and as a result destroyed by burning them after they were ripped out as many southern orange groves have suffered this same fate

With more tree fruit farms converting to the more efficient and cost effective espalier method of growing tree fruits(high density planting of fruit trees in trellised rows to allow better management of tree fruits you see an increase in mechanization for pruning and thinning using this type of flail mower and much less pruning of blossoms to increase tree fruit size/weight per bushel.

 

[Iberian]

Found this locally and was wondering if this was a good match for my L2501?


Flail Mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

 

[DavesTractor]

Found this locally and was wondering if this was a good match for my L2501?


Flail Mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

That would be a great size for your L2501. On an older mower, it is best if you can hook it up to your tractor (or their tractor) and mow a little with it to make sure things are nicely balanced and the gearbox is good etc.

 

[IslandTractor]

Found this locally and was wondering if this was a good match for my L2501?


Flail Mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale

Great match. Great brand. Reasonable price considering what they cost new. It would be nice if you could see it spun up to insure balance and bearings are ok but so long as it doesn't look beat up I'd take a chance on it myself.

 

[EDDIEPIO]

GENTLEMEN, I have been reading this thread from page one for quite a while, actually a very long time, tremendous amount of information, 16 mega tons of info, I currently have a 1999 DEERE 670 compact tractor, I do not have a loader nor loaded tires, nor any front weights, I currently cut three acres with a 4 foot Deere rotary cutter looking to upgrade to a flail mower, I would also like to do some trail cleanup, I have located a 6 foot MOTT RHINO flail mower in great condition it has new drum bearings, new belt, looks well taken care of, it has some cutters of the y-type that are broken, do I want to replace the cutters with a paddle cutters, I only cut the field twice a year, the brush does start growing in during that time, maybe cut it with rotary then the flail ? even field tested the mower on the owners old Ford tractor only vibration was getting the drum up to speed, the sheet metal is not even rusted badly, will I be able to lift it and spin it with my 18.5 hp engine, and will I have to replace the driveshaft due to length, the reason I ask is the flail is about 265 miles away, did not think of measuring the shaft or looking at the spline, Many thanks EDDIE

 

[DavesTractor]

Eddie,

Generally we want to see 4-5 PTO hp per foot of mower. Your 670 would handle a 4' easily, a 5' in most conditions. A 6' would generally be considered to be too large for your HP. As far as driveshaft length, it is pretty hard to tell without hooking up and measuring. A 6' flail would be great behind a 870 JD. The mower looks pretty good.

 

[RoyJackson]

GENTLEMEN, I have been reading this thread from page one for quite a while, actually a very long time, tremendous amount of information, 16 mega tons of info, I currently have a 1999 DEERE 670 compact tractor, I do not have a loader nor loaded tires, nor any front weights, I currently cut three acres with a 4 foot Deere rotary cutter looking to upgrade to a flail mower, I would also like to do some trail cleanup, I have located a 6 foot MOTT RHINO flail mower in great condition it has new drum bearings, new belt, looks well taken care of, it has some cutters of the y-type that are broken, do I want to replace the cutters with a paddle cutters, I only cut the field twice a year, the brush does start growing in during that time, maybe cut it with rotary then the flail ? even field tested the mower on the owners old Ford tractor only vibration was getting the drum up to speed, the sheet metal is not even rusted badly, will I be able to lift it and spin it with my 18.5 hp engine, and will I have to replace the driveshaft due to length, the reason I ask is the flail is about 265 miles away, did not think of measuring the shaft or looking at the spline, Many thanks EDDIE

I had a 670...great little tractor, but with about 17 PTO HP, I think that 6' flail would be too much for it. At best, it would be very slow going as the engine would bog down if the brush has any height to it.
I think the 670 could lift it...but not much lift capacity to spare. You would need 4 front suitcase weights, at least.

As much as I hate to say it...but I think you should pass on the flail mower and look for one 4-5 feet wide.

 

[Dan in MN]

As much as I hate to say it...but I think you should pass on the flail mower and look for one 4-5 feet wide.

I'd say it sounds like a great reason to upgrade the small tractor... :thumbsup: