Flail Mower flail or rotary rough cut?

[spo307]

I have a 7 foot flail there is pictures posted on here. i run it behind a 45 hrs kubota, if you have rocks or un even ground the flail is the way to go. my neighbors brush hog bearing went after repeated rocks and burms, jmo. email me questins or 4 pics

 

[kthompson]

I have both and use both. The rotary cutter can be faster but greatly prefer the cut of the flail and the way it leaves what it cuts. The flail mowers are made at least some are, to cut in both rotation directions and those you need to use the proper rotation of cut for what you are cutting. Not sure any pto models offer the change of rotation direction. As to Carioni, really agree Argi Supply is great in support but don't miss they sell model for grass cutting and one for brush. The grass cutter has more but lighter weight "Y" blades which leaves "Y" cut grass or little rows which looks odd for a lawn and not great for brush.

 

[Eagleview]

Something that needs to be explained , when the manufacturers say a flail can handle 3" material , they don't mean standing . Flails are used in Europe to chop up prunings in Orchards and Vineyards . The prunings are thrown into the rows and then mulched , the mulcher can handle 3" material in this fashion . If you are cutting saplings , they should be pushed over with the blade first . Pushed flat , not just bowed over as the tractor passes over them . The leading edge on a flail is not designed to push over a 3" tree at the base . This will bend the edge and put great strain on the linkage mounts .

 

[dirt clod]

Looks like I'm getting a rotary. going to look at a 7' hd howse. It has a 150hp gear box, thick stump jumper and dual rear wheels.

 

[Big Daddy]

After reading all of the responses to your original post, it appears that you are making the correct decision for you. A rotary will serve you far better for grooming long neglected grounds. I own a Howse myself. It is a decent choice for the money. I, also, own a Caroni flail that is only used to mow on previously cleared land. By the way, this flail will not grind stumps - it will only be ruined in very short order. After a couple of years you may choose to acquire a flail for a better quality of finish on your maintained grounds.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree, I'd like to have a cheap beat up heavy duty rotary that I would use for initial clearing and discovery of engine blocks, stumps, rocks etc in tall grass then I would switch over to the flail for maintenance. I don't have the heavy duty rotary so I just use the flail but use it cautiously during the clearing phase and I also use my FEL and grapple to rip up bushes that I judge would be easier dealt with in that manner. If I had a heavy duty flail I would just use it like the rotary but mine is a medium duty so I can see the advantage of hitting some areas with the rotary first.

 

[jmfox]

I've used both and currently have a fail. What a surprise that my 7 foot flail can be used as finish mower. The hammers will handle 3" material. It was made by Seppi for Bobcat. Expensive to buy, easy to use.

jmf

 

[whistlepig]

From the reading of these posts it seems that the flails are a bit fragile and have to be babied. I do like the quality of the flail cut but don't want two mowers. I think I'll stick with my rotary cutter.

 

[IslandTractor]

From the reading of these posts it seems that the flails are a bit fragile and have to be babied. I do like the quality of the flail cut but don't want two mowers. I think I'll stick with my rotary cutter.

No they do not need to be babied. There are limits to what any piece of equipment can handle. In the case of the flail they can do 90% of what a rotary bush hog can do and 90% of what a finish mower can do. They overlap those other two mowers in a way that is very useful and practical. The discussion here just points out what the other 10% on either side is.

 

[whistlepig]

The discussion so far points out bent rear rollers, inability to cut large saplings, burned belts, and increased maintenance over a rotary cutter. Not a criticism. Just an observation.

 

[dcyrilc]

For now, I'm with wistlepig. I have a 33" boom mounted flail mower that I haven't had a chance to try out yet for mowing my ditches. But for a tow behind, with my ground, brush, and stumps, I think I'll look for a large HD brush hog to compliment it.

 

[jmfox]

One interesting attribute of my Bobcat/Seppi mower is that it spins counterclockwise. When it encounters a rock there is little drama, compared to a rotary chopper, only a rumble as the rock is thrown forward through the rubber skirt. No damage, even the edge on the hammers are not affected. The attached is forward so sometimes I don't even know there is a rock until I see it.

jmf

 

[IslandTractor]

For now, I'm with wistlepig. I have a 33" boom mounted flail mower that I haven't had a chance to try out yet for mowing my ditches. But for a tow behind, with my ground, brush, and stumps, I think I'll look for a large HD brush hog to compliment it.

If you compare apples to apples and you are willing to purchase a HD brush hog, you should be considering a HD flail as a comparitor. The flails most of us use are classified as medium or even light duty and cost well under $2000 new. Try to get a new six foot HD bush hog for under 2K.

As I have said, I do think that the idea for me would be a medium or HD rotary plus my medium duty flail. The dollar cost of adding that HD/medium duty rotary has left me just using the flail with appropriate caution. There is not much I cannot handle with it but I don't just point and go.

 

[dcyrilc]

If you compare apples to apples and you are willing to purchase a HD brush hog, you should be considering a HD flail as a comparitor. The flails most of us use are classified as medium or even light duty and cost well under $2000 new. Try to get a new six foot HD bush hog for under 2K.

As I have said, I do think that the idea for me would be a medium or HD rotary plus my medium duty flail. The dollar cost of adding that HD/medium duty rotary has left me just using the flail with appropriate caution. There is not much I cannot handle with it but I don't just point and go.

Tow behind rotary or tow behind flail is what I have been debating with myself. I agree that both would be great, but available funds says no. I probably won't be able to get either until summer.

With all the stumps I will have to mow over and around, it just sounds like a brush hog will work better for me for now with less maintainance. Since my tractor has 50HP at the PTO and weighs nearly 7K without the FEL, I don't think I'll have any problem handling an 8ft HD brush hog.

My hardest part will probably be trying to find a good used one rather than having to buy new. I have definately noticed that most of the impliments available are designed for the smaller CUTs rather than larger tractors.

 

[IslandTractor]

Tow behind rotary or tow behind flail is what I have been debating with myself. I agree that both would be great, but available funds says no. I probably won't be able to get either until summer.

With all the stumps I will have to mow over and around, it just sounds like a brush hog will work better for me for now with less maintainance. Since my tractor has 50HP at the PTO and weighs nearly 7K without the FEL, I don't think I'll have any problem handling an 8ft HD brush hog.

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a tow behind flail. All I've seen are 3PT and boom mounted flails. Is there a reason you want to tow rather than 3PT mount?

 

[Eagleview]

Has anyone got a video or can supply a video link to a rotary grass cutter mowing down standing 3" saplings ? And I don't mean a dedicated rotary machine with exposed blades .
We don't have anything like this in OZ .

On Edit , does a "Rough Cut" have exposed blades ?

 

[brin]

I have a Bush hog brand ..Bush Hog Razorback RZ 60 and I don't have a video but I am here to tell you that I can and have cut down 3 inch saplings with no problem and mine is a mulching model so it pulverizes it pretty much..mine is 6 yrs. old and I have only sharpened the blades once - other than that I check the gear oil and grease the PTO drive shaft and rear wheel before each use..cuts great.

I forgot to say here in Ga. we have a real problem with " Privet " it is growing like Kudzu and I routinely have to run over old growth privet and some of the trunks are over 3 inches and I have no problem and I mean going down a whole fence line and mowing down the old growth privet to reclaim it.

 

[dcyrilc]

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a tow behind flail. All I've seen are 3PT and boom mounted flails. Is there a reason you want to tow rather than 3PT mount?

3PH is what I'm calling tow behind, just as I say brush hog to indicate a rough cut rotary. I was using that term to differectiate from a boom mount.

 

[Eagleview]

YouTube - QA-60 High Flow Brush Cutter #3

This is the only video I can find of a rotary slasher/hog cutting saplings with an average of 3" . It is a dedicated machine and has exposed blades , is this what you guys are saying your "Rough Cut" rotaries can do(with the exception of the 4" saplings he's cutting) even with enclosed blades ? If they can do this , i'm buying one .

 

[brin]

YouTube - QA-60 High Flow Brush Cutter #3

This is the only video I can find of a rotary slasher/hog cutting saplings with an average of 3" . It is a dedicated machine and has exposed blades , is this what you guys are saying your "Rough Cut" rotaries can do(with the exception of the 4" saplings he's cutting) even with enclosed blades ? If they can do this , i'm buying one .

In my opinion those were small trees in the video, bigger than 3 inch saplings...and that machine is not a bush hog it is a power saw, all it is doing is cutting and pushing down a mess. Clean up is going to be a bear. I have gone behind pulp wood harvesters on some of my property and the mess left behind is a nightmare. My bush hog will roll over and pulverized three inch saplings with no problem. There is an old saying about good bush hogs.....If you can drive over it with your tractor the bush hog should be able to chop it up. That is my experience.