I bought a EFG 135 from Betstco and couldn't be happier with it. (53" cut vs 54"
) The hammers are forged steel and I've neither chipped or dulled a one. Knee-high grass growing across the road & going to seed, check. Mowing horse-riding paths through field grasses and blackberries taller than me (6' 2") with 'trunks' to 1/4" dia, no prob. Olive, poplar, elm & willow by the pond to 1" dia, go slow and gone. I double-passed a 3/4 ac food plot in progress, that had been 'hogged' to 6-8" and left windrows that could have been baled. btw, that the cut width is narrow compared to most of all my 60" wide
everything else is IMO such a non issue.
Would I do anything different? Let me take & post some fresh pics tomorrow (of pond approaches & since what I did
last year) and put some things in context. I mow my 2+ ac lawn 'high' (>4") with a 61" 28 hp ZTR. I set my flail at 2" or less. Pretty much anything I've 'flailed' is cake for the ZTR for a year or so. Sorry to go on about flail mowers but IMO they're the most no-brainer-versatile and useful 3-PH implement I've ever had several years experience with (out of 20). Doesn't obviate anything said heretofore about other tips/tricks just that the tool does so much for this and much more.
As for the brand I chose: IMO good value esp for my use (5-10 hrs/yr after 3), well built. Pre-flight checks are easy. One cover-bolt to remove & check belt condition/tension, check the gearbox lube, a few pumps with the grease gun and you're "ok for lift-off". Note that belts are 'proprietary' AKA 1/2" increments with FHM. eg: 59 1/2" called out vs 59" or 60" typical. I smoked one pair (if you smell 'em their toast. Don't back up while engaged. Operating is not like patting your head while rubbing your stomach. lol) There was enough room me to adjust for 59"s, so TSC has all I'd need.
This is what mine looks like. If I had a Kubo MX of 45-50 PTO hp or so I'd consider/want the 60" med duty for ~$100 more than the 53" .. and I'd still be the most popular guy in the neighborhood for what it can do. Again, sorry to carry on .. (pics of results tomorrow)