Flail versus rotary

[fredhargis]

I have about 10 acres rented out for tillage. Even so, there may be once or twice a year I would have to mow it. So I'm considering getting a cutter for the back of my B2920. Is there a reason I would choose a flail mower over a rotary for such service...there is almost no chance it would be used for anything else. My small tractor does limit me to about a 5' mower. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[jimmysisson]

search on flails and read to your heart's content

 

[Tarheeler]

search on flails and read to your heart's content

Yep they've rode that horse many times

 

[flusher]

I have about 10 acres rented out for tillage. Even so, there may be once or twice a year I would have to mow it. So I'm considering getting a cutter for the back of my B2920. Is there a reason I would choose a flail mower over a rotary for such service...there is almost no chance it would be used for anything else. My small tractor does limit me to about a 5' mower. Thanks in advance for the input.

Around here flails are used mostly in the orchards where they are set low to mow the weeds until they are as short as grass on a putting green or shorter. Rotary mowers generally are used in the field where 3-4 inch is the usual cutting height. Flails are also used to maintain trails by the horse crowd.

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned this is kind of a Ford v Chevy things brought up regularly. You can probably get an acceptable rotary much cheaper than a flail no more often than you will be using it. The only flail mowers in my area are used for stalk cutting and even for this the rotary cuter is the preferred choice so far.

Not knocking the flail mower, but for the occasional user I don't know if it would be worth the investment.

 

[Artimus]

I hope you have plenty of time- http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/118882-lets-talk-flail-mowers.html

 

[gwdixon]

Flail pros:
Perfectly flat cut.
Mulches cut foliage.
Results look like a golf course.
Does not fling material as much.
Can cut short.
Sits tight to tractor's rear.

Flail cons:
Expensive.
Many moving parts to replace/repair.
Takes more HP to run.
Not so good on tall, dense foliage.

Rotary pros:
Cheap (relatively)
Cuts everything in its path.
Good for pre-discing (or pre-flail mowing).
Fairly easy to work on and sharpen.

Rotary cons:
Creates windrows of debris.
Flings rocks quite a distance.
Rough cut.
Dulls very quickly (depending on terrain and obstacles).
Sticks far out the rear (unless MMM).

Maybe someone else can add more.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

I went through the same thing you are just different reasons, I almost got a rotary then kept looking and thinking about what I wanted.

I wanted something that would cut a large area quick, I found a 390 Flail from John Deere, HP range is 30-75. We'll I did not think our 35 HP New Holland would handle it but our 60 HP was in the shop.

I hit stuff that was up to 3' tall and our 35 barley dropped rpm. They are out there, ours cuts about 7 1/2 foot. Here is a shot of ours, I've not done anything to the knifes yet but it's cutting pretty good as it is.

 

[TripleR]

I went through the same thing you are just different reasons, I almost got a rotary then kept looking and thinking about what I wanted.

I wanted something that would cut a large area quick, I found a 390 Flail from John Deere, HP range is 30-75. We'll I did not think our 35 HP New Holland would handle it but our 60 HP was in the shop.

I hit stuff that was up to 3' tall and our 35 barley dropped rpm. They are out there, ours cuts about 7 1/2 foot. Here is a shot of ours, I've not done anything to the knifes yet but it's cutting pretty good as it is.

What would a person have to expect to pay for one?

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Looking around I see them for $2500 to $2700, we paid $2900 for this one because it was in better shape that the others we had seen. This one was a one owner and well taken care of. Hope this helps.

 

[fredhargis]

Thanks to all for the help...understanding the difference in usages is very helpful. I have a 60" MMM I use on the lawn, but I'm thinking the tillable is just a bit too rough for that. It looks like if I have to spring, it will be a bush hog. Another advantage to buying one of them is that used ones show up for sale every once in awhile, don't think I've ever seen a used flail around here. This info here (and what I found when I searched) does have me wondering if I should have got a flail for the yard instead of the MMM. Thanks again, great place for info......

 

[Builder]

I would ask yourself what you want the finish product to look like. I just did 4 acres with a bush hog and a week later, I had windrows sticking up. Probably should go hit it again.

A flail would most likely chop it to the point where you wouldn't have as much windrows sticking up again later.

I also like the lesser amounts of flying debris. I'm looking real hard for a 8' flail. Just lost out on an incredible deal on a Deere 930 flail for $1000. :confused2:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I would ask yourself what you want the finish product to look like. I just did 4 acres with a bush hog and a week later, I had windrows sticking up. Probably should go hit it again.

A flail would most likely chop it to the point where you wouldn't have as much windrows sticking up again later.

I also like the lesser amounts of flying debris. I'm looking real hard for a 8' flail. Just lost out on an incredible deal on a Deere 930 flail for $1000. :confused2:

Builder, as you have found, there are deals on flails, just have to be looking all the time. I bought a heavy duty 102" flail that had been used a few times at the most for $1000 along with an 84" flail that needs bearings and drive belt for $400. I think that in reality the $1000 flails are the better deal, buy them and use them.

 

[TripleR]

Builder, as you have found, there are deals on flails, just have to be looking all the time. I bought a heavy duty 102" flail that had been used a few times at the most for $1000 along with an 84" flail that needs bearings and drive belt for $400. I think that in reality the $1000 flails are the better deal, buy them and use them.

I have never used a flail; are there any problems using them while backing?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I have never used a flail; are there any problems using them while backing?

None that I can think of. There is a roller at the back that is the full width of the mower and it would push everything down before the flails got to it. So there would be a chance that it would not mow as well.

 

[TripleR]

None that I can think of. There is a roller at the back that is the full width of the mower and it would push everything down before the flails got to it. So there would be a chance that it would not mow as well.

Thanks, I noticed the rubber cover in the back one one and didn't know if it was susceptible to damage or being pushed into the knives.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Thanks, I noticed the rubber cover in the back one one and didn't know if it was susceptible to damage or being pushed into the knives.

The rubber on mine is 1/2" thick, it does not flex much. I did rip off about 35% of the front rubber though when I mowed an old roll of barbed wire that someone had left out in the field. That was no fun to get it out of the mower, a lot of wire cutting to get it all out.

 

[flusher]

Builder, as you have found, there are deals on flails, just have to be looking all the time. I bought a heavy duty 102" flail that had been used a few times at the most for $1000 along with an 84" flail that needs bearings and drive belt for $400. I think that in reality the $1000 flails are the better deal, buy them and use them.

Wish I could find a deal like your's on an 84" flail for my Mahindra 5525. Don't think I could handle that 102" flail with only 45 pto hp. The quest continues for the elusive flail.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Wish I could find a deal like your's on an 84" flail for my Mahindra 5525. Don't think I could handle that 102" flail with only 45 pto hp. The quest continues for the elusive flail.

Ray, there are flails for sale quite often down here. It's only a 12 hour drive, 10 if you drive fast.

 

[flusher]

Ray, there are flails for sale quite often down here. It's only a 12 hour drive, 10 if you drive fast.

Brian-thanks for the info.

I'll have to enlarge my present 250 mile craigslist search radius to include SoCal to find one of these neat flails. The ones that I generally find up here (usually along Hwy 99 with a for sale sign attached) are the 8ft and up monsters that have been used for decades in the orchards and are pretty well ready for the scrap heap.