Mowing Advice - Cutter vs. Flail vs. Finish

[cfarmnh]

TIA for any advice on this one.

This fall I sold my Kubota B7500 and all the attachments, and bought a L5740cab for the same price as I sold the B for. The 5740 just needed the cab top repaired (Foam + Bondo + liquid seal worked great BTW) and it has alot more hrs. than the B7500. Anywho the whole idea behind the trade is I can cut down on my time with snow removal and mowing with some larger implements and more hp. I love the L5740, and I hope I can keep it running forever. I have a winter setup ready for Dec-April now I need a summer setup for mowing.

The non-forested part of the property is 5% lawn, 80% field, and 20% orchard aprox 9ac total. The B7500 had a 54" finish mower for the lawn and field (Mow about every 2 weeks) and an 42" hog for the orchard (I would mow ~3x a year). Just the lawn and field took about 3.5 hrs with the 54" finish mower.

Looking ahead I would like the least time spent changing belts, repairs, etc. and spend as little as I can while still cutting down on my mowing time. Tires on the 5740 are turf so they are about 80" outside to outside. I really like the idea of only 1 mower needed, which is why I'm thinking of the flail (like the woodmax 96H). But I don't like the thought of 1. Picking it up every time I need to turn/backup 2. Watching the Messicks video of Neil with a stick stuck and hearing it eat up the belts and took 2hrs to dislodge. 3. Maintaining and replacing knives sounds like a pain. I like the idea of they hydraulic shift getting around the trees sounds awesome. I also like the idea of the mulched grass breaking down and feeding the soil quicker.

The only other thought I can think of is getting a grooming and hog again. Something like the Caroni 93" and a cheap hog for the orchard? I really love the thought of the dual spindle 8' cutter with hydraulic shift, but those are crazy expensive. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[jthibodeau89]

I replace my 10' BH3210 with a JD390 flail and never looked back. Much more maneuverable with a better mulched cut.

I mow with an AA5670 4wd tractor and do not pick up the mower to turn or back up. Though it does not cut as well in reverse.

I mow about 20 acres of hill pasture 5x per year. Reclaimed the pastures from a 6' briar patch to 85% pasture grass in only 18 months.

I also have a JD25A for my wifes 32hp JD4300 LCUT.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never used a flail mower or ever seen one in person being used.

I have a 84 inch rear finish mower and a 72 inch rotary cutter. The rear finish mower does a very nice job, but you have to keep mowing all the time so the grass doesn't get too tall. If that happens, I have to take it off and use the rotary cutter to get it back down low enough to use the finish mower. The tractor and finish mower do now maneuver well around the house or trees. It's great for open areas!!!!

I had a Craftsman 42 inch riding mower that I really liked, but a part in the rear axle broke that Sears no longer had anymore and I had to junk that mower. I spent way too much money on a zero turn, but now that I've had it for awhile, it really is the best cutting machine ever made. I can't imagine trying to mow around the house with anything other then my zero turn.

In my opinion, you really need two mowers. Either a riding mower or a zero turn for around the house, and then something for pastures and trails. I now keep my rotary cutter on my tractor almost all of the time, and I haven't used my rear finish mower in years. It's sat so long that the tires have rotted off of it.

 

[kenmbz]

I am in the market for one attachment since I have a ride on. Mostly looking to shred some bushes/saplings and make trails.
Keep going back/forth on whether to get a rotary or Flail. I have seen videos that show both doing what I want.

 

[JCoastie]

thinking about a flail to replace my rotary, do you really need to pick the flail up to make turns?

 

[cfarmnh]

I've seen people say yes, and the fella above posted that he doesn't pick his up to turn. I'm not sure why people have said to pick it up, but if it can maneuver like a finish mower with 4 wheels that makes a big difference.

 

[mikester]

If you are cutting ditches for the township with hidden surprises/rocks/saplings then a flail mower is nice. Cutting lawns, get a finishing mower. Bush hogging once every couple of months? Get a rear discharge bush hog, handles the tall grass better than a finishing mower.

After buying a ZTR I now use my old 72" 3PH finishing mower for bush hogging the back forty laneways. Works, but I have to go slower in tall grass and/or cut twice. I haven't broken it...yet. At least nothing that is un-repairable...

 

[jthibodeau89]

We use the flails for knocking down weeds in the pastures and paddocks. Much more maneuverable than the BH3210.

Kept the 5' rotary cutter for opening up woody brush for the first time, and to find the hidden rocks.Then we use the flails to maintain.

We have a Kubota ZD21 for mowing the lawn around the house. I also have a J-bar 6' rear discharge finish mower that i probably need to sell. Started to rebuild the spindles and add anti-wrap guards 2 yrs ago, and it is still sitting beside the shop. The rear discharge was good for mowing the paddocks to knock down the yellow blooming noxious weeds which cause my eyes to burn when cut with the side discharge ZD21.

 

[Rebeldad1]

my flail mower turns just fine. I have mowed backing up slowly with no issues.
My brush cutter is gone. Dont need it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

At one point, I had like twelve different ways to cut grass. What's best for one application isn't for another. The less means you have, the more compromise, and that's not the end of the world, either. Less stuff vs ideal equipment for the job.

I currently have one Ford 917 Fine cut Flail left that is never used as I don't have an ideal size tractor to run it, AND I generally don't miss it.