Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Iberian]

One other point to consider since you are in ID is the shipping will probably be about $4-500. You may want to be patient and see if you can find a local mower. Too bad they are soo big. Hard to pay $500 shipping on a $1900 item.

 

[Hunhunt]

Thank you leonz and Island Tractor for your input. I know what you mean about rocks as we live on a limestone butte and the rocks seem to compete successfully with the vegetation for production vigor. I can pick the fields and avoid most of the big rocks but our place has a lot of topography to it as well so you tend to catch the ground if you aren't careful. I've been using a horse drawn sickle bar mower towed behind the tractor or a UTV to clean up the weeds that the horses don't touch (mostly mustard that cuts easily). Rabbit brush and sagebrush are invasive so I have to trim them back along fencelines occasionally. That is why I have been interested in the Caroni TM1900BSC and other similar Italian mowers. Island Tractor, you're comment about the sales model for AgriSupply gives me more of a perspective on the differences in pricing between the various manufacturers. For instance, the similar Morino mower is about $600-$700 dollars more than the Caroni but the difference in weight is only around 10 lbs. The Peruzzo is about twice the price of the Caroni and, at 728 lbs, around 12% heavier. I realize that you don't buy these machines by the pound but weight does give some indication of how relatively beefy the deck material and rotor might be.

 

[Greenland South]

Rigustafson,
It's a Sicma T-180

 

[lennyzx11]

Guys, I think my belt has stretched. Leonz id'd this old flail as a possible Interstator. It is six foot wide.
Anybody want to hazard a guess on the proper size
And brand of belt to start with. I haven't used it a lot since I got it and decided
To work it tonight hard to see if its way try replacing all the blades. Which I think it is.
Comments good and bad are welcome.

 

[whirly]

Looks like the same size sheaves and tensioner as my Mott 72 which takes a C-51 or CX-51 belt.

 

[lennyzx11]

Looks like the same size sheaves and tensioner as my Mott 72 which takes a C-51 or CX-51 belt.

Thanks. What's the X difference mean?

 

[whirly]

The X is for "cogged" belts. I use them on my Mott but that is my preference as they seem to work better but YMMV.

You might also look into the spring for your tensioner. If it is weak it won't keep the belt tight on the sheaves ... like it was stretched.

 

[Steave]

The X is for "cogged" belts. I use them on my Mott but that is my preference as they seem to work better but YMMV.

You might also look into the spring for your tensioner. If it is weak it won't keep the belt tight on the sheaves ... like it was stretched.

I also have a mott 72 with the C-51 belt. I don't think any brand makes a C-51 using kevlar. The smallest C size belt in kevlar is about 70". I might try one of those cogged belts next time and I'm pretty sure I need a new tension spring. Might just add another spring to see if it will help. It's not a big problem but I hear it slipping sometimes.

lennyXZ11 that's a great built mower you have and it's definitely worth putting on new knives if it needs them. I've tried different brands of belts on many different mowers and I can't tell that much difference in any of them except the price. The better known the brand is, the more expensive it is. Kevlar belts are better for certain situations and I use them whenever I can find the size, but C-51 is not one of them.

 

[whirly]

I've bought Gates and some of the auto store brands and found that they don't really last any longer than the least expensive belts I buy from VBeltCo on the internet.

 

[troverman]

They make a MiniMax now in 48, 60 and 72 inch sizes and the smaller one is around that price. I really prefer the Mighty Max, but the smallest is a 70" cut, but it's a touch over $5k in price. They are very, very good mowers but certainly are priced like something built very well right here in America, in fact right here in California. They are so smooth and quiet.

I do realize that most folks can't justify the cost unless they mow a ton or mow commercially.

I have an old 48" Vrismo. I had no idea if it was a "good brand" or not when I bought it some years ago. I use it for commercial mowing and couldn't be more pleased. It is incredibly heavy duty - it is actually heavier than most much larger models by other brands. I have never replaced a bearing yet. Even the belt is awesome...kind of like a snowmobile belt.

I am going to order a Titan (Chinese) made 6-foot flail in a couple of weeks. I have a 30-acre slope job that I do frequently...but it is all just grass. I'm not pleased to have to get a Chinese mower...but budget requires it. We'll see how it holds up.