Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[ericm979]

They prominently state made in USA for the stuff that's made in USA, like the MX line of chippers. I assume anything that doesn't have that isn't made in the USA.

You can contact them and ask.

 

[audsp98]

Had a quick look at their website and the products look pretty good!


I found a statement that the chipper knives are US made but nothing about the rest of the equipment or flail mowers origin - anyone here with more info on that?

Pretty sure they’re manufactured in China. I looked at purchasing from them a couple of years ago when I was shopping for a flail.

I decided if I was going to buy a Chinese made flail I was going to keep looking. I found Novatractor and purchased one after talking to the owner/designer. I’ve had it for a couple of years and zero complaints. Any issues I’ve had have been corrected quickly and completely.

 

[nova3930]

Anyone for a rousing game of "name that flail?

This one has come up for sale near me for what I consider a decent price. 48" in width, so a nice size for the little yanmar.

I think its a Ford 917 of some flavor but some parts look significantly different than what I remember from the one I had previously. The lift pin attachment also seems to be missing the float arms I remember? Could that be factor or is that a hack job somebody did?

Ended up buying this little 4 footer for $500. Little more than I intended to pay but mechanically it was in good shape aside from the lack of float arms. The blades even look good on it.

 

[Xfaxman]

Ended up buying this little 4 footer for $500. Little more than I intended to pay but mechanically it was in good shape aside from the lack of float arms. The blades even look good on it.

:thumbsup:

 

[Alien]

I know for a fact that a lot of flails use Italian gerboxes. My Hayes does and several others I have seen on here. Very good boxes. No leaks or seeps after 4 hard seasons.

 

[nova3930]

I know for a fact that a lot of flails use Italian gerboxes. My Hayes does and several others I have seen on here. Very good boxes. No leaks or seeps after 4 hard seasons.

Their cars may be a little flaky but my limited experience with their ag equipment has been good. Lamborghini started out, and still is, a tractor manufacturer after all lol. I think in general their farmland is kinda rocky and rugged so their equipment has to be pretty robust....

 

[nova3930]

Ended up buying this little 4 footer for $500. Little more than I intended to pay but mechanically it was in good shape aside from the lack of float arms. The blades even look good on it.

Interesting bit of info for historical reference. Based on the Messicks parts diagrams, it appears to be a 48" Ford 917A, which does NOT have float arms. Guess it doesn't need anything at all....

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Interesting bit of info for historical reference. Based on the Messicks parts diagrams, it appears to be a 48" Ford 917A, which does NOT have float arms. Guess it doesn't need anything at all....

View attachment 654728

I always wondered what the difference between the 917 and the 917A was. Now we know it's the float arms. Honestly I disliked the float arms on my 917. My Alamo doesn't have float arms and I don't really see them as necessary unless you're mowing very uneven ground.

 

[Fundy]

Any Canadians have a experience with the BECO flail mowers sold by Farm Equipment Sales?

Looking at the 64 inch model.

 

[mred2]

I have a ditch bank flail mower. So far it has been good. I ran it onto some big rocks under tall grass, my fault. I have a new set of hammer blades and a new set of Y-blades. I have never tried the Y-blades, but I hope they will do a better cut on the side of the road. Question: Should I use the hammer blades or stay away from the big woody stuff and try to keep it out of the small rocks there and use the Y-blades? I don't want to hurt the Y-blades. The set of hammer blades that went into the rocks are not so bad that they can not be sharpened and put back on.

 

[JWR]

I have a ditch bank flail mower. So far it has been good. I ran it onto some big rocks under tall grass, my fault. I have a new set of hammer blades and a new set of Y-blades. I have never tried the Y-blades, but I hope they will do a better cut on the side of the road. Question: Should I use the hammer blades or stay away from the big woody stuff and try to keep it out of the small rocks there and use the Y-blades? I don't want to hurt the Y-blades. The set of hammer blades that went into the rocks are not so bad that they can not be sharpened and put back on.

It has been my experience that bush hogs will tend to ride over and tolerate pretty rugged stuff like rocks here and there and unexpected arm-sized limbs, saplings, etc. The flails will NOT tolerate that. I end up having to stop and replace knives most times when I hit heavy woody stuff or unexpected rocks. I don't like the hammer blades. If you use what Alamo calls HD Y blades they will last a LONG time.

 

[mred2]

I can't get my bush hog over the edge of the ditch. I may put the new hammer blades on and mow one more time and then go to the y-blades with the hope of not letting it grow up.

 

[JWR]

I can't get my bush hog over the edge of the ditch. I may put the new hammer blades on and mow one more time and then go to the y-blades with the hope of not letting it grow up.

Sometimes it is a little hard to get the ideal tool for a set of circumstances. Know what you mean with the bush hog and ditch. Don't know if it fits with your equipment but I have a "Lane Shark" rotary cutter that mounts on my quick attach FEL. It reaches out to the side about 4 feet running along line with the ditch or of course reaching across the ditch straight ahead with the loader some. It will stand more than a flail mower in sticks and woody stuff and a few rocks.

 

[smilinjak]

Now that Flail Master is out of business where id the best place to buy knives for a Mott 60 fine cut flail mower?
Smilinjak

 

[JWR]

I believe a Mott 60 is close enough relative to Alamo mowers (Alamo bought Mott many years ago did they not?) Take an old or spare knife into an Alamo dealer or parts support dealer and put them side by side to confirm a fit and function. The Alamo is so common among state road right of way maint organizations that parts are readily found. The largest John Deere dealer in north central WV carries them for example. Amazon sells packs of 25 knives for 40 some dollars, 2 different brands. Would have to check dimensions to see if they match yours. Anyway, you have Alamo dealers in many states. Good luck.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Now that Flail Master is out of business where id the best place to buy knives for a Mott 60 fine cut flail mower?
Smilinjak

Montage Enterprises – LEADING SUPPLIER OF FACTORY DIRECT ROADSIDE MOWER REPLACEMENT PARTS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SALT AND SAND SPREADERS carries flail blades. I've never purchased from them, but they did pop up on my searches when I started getting into flail mowers. You will need to contact them for pricing.

Whether a Y type flail blade will tolerate rocks depends on it's mounting style. Blades that are on hangers and can move any direction will withstand more rock hits than ones that can only swing on a pin. Either way, Y blades will withstand more rock impacts than hammer blades due to the lack of weight. Plus many hammer blades are cast making them more brittle when impacting something hard like rocks.

Both my Ford 917 and my Alamo SHD88 have both done lots of damage to rocks and sticks and not needed any attention. I've taken down up to 1" diameter brush/trees with the same blades I mow my lawn with. Granted, I don't really care about my lawn, but it still leaves a finish that's acceptable to most people. My rule for flail mowing is if I can drive over it, I can mow it. Sometimes I use the bucket to assist in driving over stuff, bending the rules a bit.

 

[normanb]

Time to replace my hammers, found this online, it looks like a slick idea. Anyone by chance have this type of knife system. Looking at the "System Flail"

Blade system flail mulchers | humus mulcher

 

[Trails End]

I've been following this thread for quite a while, and finally decided to bite
the bullet. I just ordered a Caroni TM1900BSC mower from Agri Supply. It's
scheduled to be delivered on May 26. I heard from the freight company
that will be delivering it and was a little surprised to be told that it would
be on an 18 wheel trailer with lift gate - I thought they would be using a
box truck. I didn't know that trailers used lift gates. Hopefully they'll be
able to get the truck up my driveway. Other 18 wheelers have done OK.

I have this thread to thank for all the useful information that helped me
decide to make this purchase and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the
delivery goes ok and I can get the mower unloaded without any problems.
Does anyone have pictures of their TM1900 still on the delivery pallet?

 

[ericm979]

When the freight company calls, ask them to put it on their smallest truck. For me that's usually been a large box truck 35' or so. A real semi can't even get up the public road let alone my driveway. I also ask for their oldest driver and explain that lot of the young ones are scared by narrow mountain roads with steep dropoffs.

 

[Trails End]

Thanks, Ericm! They already called to notify me when it would arrive. Hopefully,
they'll call again before it leaves the terminal Tuesday morning for delivery.