Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[powerline]

Also interested in The Woodmaxx for the Quick hitch compatibility specifically , Hyd side shift would be a bonus.. .



.as for direct mounted Y blades, I would like to add my 2 cts ,I have a Hyd powered Rockhound flail on my Excavator boom with Y blades direct mounted similar to the Woodmaxx that I mulch 6 inch dia maple trees and grind the stump with.

 

[LouieJunior]

I am quite curious about the Woodmaxx too. Some of the chipper threads warned me about the Chinese made chippers but I could not locate a first-hand account of problems with Woodmaxx brand. Just a lot of folks suggesting they'd be problematic. I have since purchased a Woodmaxx Chipper and am completely satisfied. A new, warranted product for the price of a used one.
I would also like to get a flail mower and have been practically living on Craig's list! -- not much in my area

 

[IslandTractor]

I am quite curious about the Woodmaxx too. Some of the chipper threads warned me about the Chinese made chippers but I could not locate a first-hand account of problems with Woodmaxx brand. Just a lot of folks suggesting they'd be problematic. I have since purchased a Woodmaxx Chipper and am completely satisfied. A new, warranted product for the price of a used one.
I would also like to get a flail mower and have been practically living on Craig's list! -- not much in my area

Chinese stuff can be good but I would like to hear some real world experience with the Woodmaxx flails before leaping myself. A chipper is not nearly as much a precision machine.

What I don't understand however is that the Caroni flails, with lots of experience behind them and a well known provenance, cost about the same or less than similar size Woodmaxx. Why not just go with the Caroni? The TM1900 can be ordered with a hydraulic side shift or you can do it manually in about fifteen minutes.

 

[LouieJunior]

Thanks -- probably very good advice. I wasn't aware the Caroni had the hydraulic offset -- not shown on Agri-Supply.com

I think I'll make an inquiry about it -- and the shipping cost too (which Woodmaxx includes). Thanks again!

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks -- probably very good advice. I wasn't aware the Caroni had the hydraulic offset -- not shown on Agri-Supply.com

I think I'll make an inquiry about it -- and the shipping cost too (which Woodmaxx includes). Thanks again!

If I recall correctly, the hydraulic kit can be purchased from AgriSupply for ?under 500 bucks. IMO it is only necessary if you need to keep moving the mower while mowing along a fence line. I have the TM1900 and have mine offset semipermanently. As noted, it takes maybe 15-20 minutes to do it. Just unbolting about ?4 or 6 bolts, repositioning the frame and then rebolting. Easy Peezy. I like mine offset to the right even though I don't mow a fence line because I can just run the left tire at the margin of the previously mown strip and I automatically get the widest possible coverage (1.9 meters or about 75 inches). No complaints about the Caroni. A few quirks (oil burps from the gearbox if filled as high as the dipstick says to but there is a workaround for that with a metric extender...just search in this thread) and the factory belts don't last more than a season or two (but everyone seems to have good luck with Gates B43 kevlar belt replacements).

 

[berserker]

Chinese

What I don't understand however is that the Caroni flails, with lots of experience behind them and a well known provenance, cost about the same or less than similar size Woodmaxx. Why not just go with the Caroni? The TM1900 can be ordered with a hydraulic side shift or you can do it manually in about fifteen minutes.

The proven ability of the Caroni versus the potential value of the Woodmaxx (30% cheaper than Caroni). I'm thinking about the other implements I could buy with the price difference...

The Woodmaxx is quick-hitch compatable, so I don't have to buy top link adapter for that.

Regarding the hydraulic shift, it's not for everyone but I'll be mowing between trails and trees so I don't want to stop between trees and adjust the mount manually. Woodmaxx offset is ~18", Caroni's is 16".

I called Woodmaxx today. The flail came out toward the end of last season, and they've only sold about 20-30 units. That is why there isn't much about them out there. So it sounds like I won't get much more help with my decision from video/user testimony.

 

[Josh Shoemaker]

Does anyone know where I can purchase a set of Ford 917H decals?

 

[IslandTractor]

How about one of these:

 

[Utopia Texas]

I have a 350 plus pecan tree orchard with 43 year old trees. Anyone that works with grafted pecans knows they drop dead limbs constantly whenever a storm comes along. For years I have used Rhino rotary cutters to mow and chop up the smaller rotten limbs and twigs, we pick up and chainsaw larger, or green limbs. From what I have read on this set of posts a flail mower with intermediate blades might work better for me than a rotary mower. Anyone ever used a flail mower on pasture with 2 inch and smaller limb pieces with any success? What happens to a flail mower if a larger diameter limb is accidentally run over? Occasionally our pasture gets pretty overgrown and it's hard to see some limbs. Down here on the Texas Gulf coast we have some rainy Springs and Summers where pastures are bailed for hay 3 times a year and the native bermuda grows knee high. Limbs get hidden quite fast. Thanks...

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't have an orchard but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night (and have chomped up lots of brush with both flail and rotary).

A good flail mower set up for brush will do a much neater and more complete job of tree branches. 2 inches is probably the limit on something like a Caroni TM1900 but some of the heavy duty brands like Alamo would make models that could easily handle that size. I could do it with my Caroni but it would be slow going to get a fine cut. Under one inch is duck soup for the Caroni. It will do up to 2" but not as quickly.

If I wanted just to break up 2" branches I would probably run over them with my rotary. If I was preparing a plot for grass/field then I'd use the Caroni knowing it would be slower. A compromise is a first pass with the rotary and then run over it again with the flail.

I have run over split firewood (unintentionally) with my flail. All it does is jam. The belts squeal and the engine stalls. I carry a crow bar with me to get stuff like that out of the flail and have never had any damage from wood of any size. Rocks will knock a set of knives off occasionally.

Photos show hose, firewood, metal from old buried car, and a section of brush that I drove through with the flail.

 

[LouieJunior]

If I recall correctly, the hydraulic kit can be purchased from AgriSupply for ?under 500 bucks. IMO it is only necessary if you need to keep moving the mower while mowing along a fence line. I have the TM1900 and have mine offset semipermanently. As noted, it takes maybe 15-20 minutes to do it. Just unbolting about ?4 or 6 bolts, repositioning the frame and then rebolting. Easy Peezy. I like mine offset to the right even though I don't mow a fence line because I can just run the left tire at the margin of the previously mown strip and I automatically get the widest possible coverage (1.9 meters or about 75 inches). No complaints about the Caroni. A few quirks (oil burps from the gearbox if filled as high as the dipstick says to but there is a workaround for that with a metric extender...just search in this thread) and the factory belts don't last more than a season or two (but everyone seems to have good luck with Gates B43 kevlar belt replacements).

I'm going with your recommendation -- ordered the 74" Caroni today -- without the hydraulic option. This will be my first venture into Flail Nation. Expect some questions from me real soon!

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm going with your recommendation -- ordered the 74" Caroni today -- without the hydraulic option. This will be my first venture into Flail Nation. Expect some questions from me real soon!

When you set it up for the first time, just mount the hitch in the offset position initially so you don't have to waste time doing it later (assuming you want it offset).

Pay attention to rear roller height. And height of "feet". All adjustable later but you can save time by getting it right the first time.

Make a habit of giving a couple squirts of grease into the main bearings before each day's mowing. Occasional greasing of a few other zerks including one hidden under the belt cover. Order yourself a replacement set of belts from a Gates dealer (Amazon works). Order a few sets of replacement clevis's and knives from AgriSupply (actually you can get knives cheaper elsewhere but they are the only source for the clevis). I got a big bag of the matching metric bolts and locknuts from Grainger for much cheaper than buying them one at a time from AgriSupply.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Island Tractor.....Thanks for the response. The vast majority of limbs I rotary mow are rotten and have been on the ends of the limbs from the previous season and fall during storms with wind. We had severe droughts in 2009, 2011 and were a bit behind in rainfall for 2013 so the amount of dried limbs/sticks have been unusually high in the past 5 years. Sounds like a flail mower in conjunction with my Rhino might be more practical. The Rhino works fine but the main drive from our front gate to our house runs through the orchard and the rows and clumps of mowed pasture looks awe full sometimes. A slightly more manicured look would be nice and with the rotary mower I have rocketed pieces of limbs 50-75 feet on occasion so a flail would be safer. As you can probably tell I am seriously talking myself into a flail mower at a accelerated pace!
PS- You have a unique way to roll up garden hose....must be a Island tradition.

 

[IslandTractor]

PS- You have a unique way to roll up garden hose....must be a Island tradition.

You should have been there when it happened. I was mowing tall grass and suddenly this thing came shooting through the grass in front of me. Visions of the anaconda from he1l flashed through my mind and just as I was wondering how to defend myself, the tractor stalled.....

I had some snips in my tool box so just cut the hose away. Lord knows who left it there in the tall grass to be forgotten all summer.

By the way, if the branches are mostly rotten and dried out, the flail will probably do just fine by itself. I was thinking more about fresh 2" branches when I said to use the rotary first. Experiment. You won't hurt the flail it just may take longer than if you do the two stage approach.

I bought my flail precisely because I mow near dwellings and near kids playing outside. Listening to chunks of wood go flying from underneath the rotary mower and seeing what they did on impact make me want something a lot safer. The flail is perfect for that. No material escapes.

I still use a rotary for a few things (initial thick brush mowing away from homes/people) but the flail does virtually all the routine mowing and cleaning up after the rotary. If you travel slowly through brush with the flail the end result just looks like someone carefully spread mulch behind you. For field mowing it is almost like a finish mower. Much different look than a rotary.

 

[Utopia Texas]

You should have been there when it happened. I was mowing tall grass and suddenly this thing came shooting through the grass in front of me. Visions of the anaconda from he1l flashed through my mind and just as I was wondering how to defend myself, the tractor stalled.....

I had some snips in my tool box so just cut the hose away. Lord knows who left it there in the tall grass to be forgotten all summer.

By the way, if the branches are mostly rotten and dried out, the flail will probably do just fine by itself. I was thinking more about fresh 2" branches when I said to use the rotary first. Experiment. You won't hurt the flail it just may take longer than if you do the two stage approach.

I bought my flail precisely because I mow near dwellings and near kids playing outside. Listening to chunks of wood go flying from underneath the rotary mower and seeing what they did on impact make me want something a lot safer. The flail is perfect for that. No material escapes.

I still use a rotary for a few things (initial thick brush mowing away from homes/people) but the flail does virtually all the routine mowing and cleaning up after the rotary. If you travel slowly through brush with the flail the end result just looks like someone carefully spread mulch behind you. For field mowing it is almost like a finish mower. Much different look than a rotary.

A few years back I was mowing the neighbors property on his side of the fence line and wrapped up 80-100 feet of old rust barbed wire around the shaft on a Rhino rotary mower and it took over a hour underneath the unit with a acetylene torch to cut and pull the wire out. It was wound really tight and though I had the unit lifted with a A frame and chain hoist was pretty edgy laying underneath the unit with the torch. I had to be careful with the torch near the lower seal on the shaft. Great lesson learned.....ride and check out pasture first if one is not familiar with the area. One never knows what may have been dumped years ago.

 

[mactrade]

Hi all, I am new to the site and want to thank everyone that has given their input about flails. I pulled the trigger on a Land pride FM 4188 and hope to get it soon and upload some pictures.

 

[leonz]

Hi all, I am new to the site and want to thank
everyone that has given their input about flails.

I pulled the trigger on a Land pride FM 4188 and hope
to get it soon and upload some pictures.

Welcome to the forum mactrade,

When you get the flaimower please upload as many
photos as you can for everyone to to see.

The reason I ask is that the landpride brochures are not
very good with pictures.

If I remember correctly the Land Pride units are the
Machio Brand of Italian flail mowers with Land Pride paint-
Dont worry about the quality-it is excellent.
They have been making mowers, rototillers,
and many other farm implements in Italy for many years


As soon as you get it I will officially welcome you as the newest Member of the Flail Mower Nation.


We are a happy bunch of flail mower owners and we are only a PM or a post away for questions.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[powerline]

Welcome to the forum mactrade,

When you get the flaimower please upload as many
photos as you can for everyone to to see.

The reason I ask is that the landpride brochures are not
very good with pictures.

If I remember correctly the Land Pride units are the
Machio Brand of Italian flail mowers with Land Pride paint-
Dont worry about the quality-it is excellent.
They have been making mowers, rototillers,
and many other farm implements in Italy for many years


As soon as you get it I will officially welcome you as the newest Member of the Flail Mower Nation.


We are a happy bunch of flail mower owners and we are only a PM or a post away for questions.

Welcome to the forum.

The new Landpride flails that i looked at are were made by Seppi. In fact they still have the S embossed in the front shield plates. FWIW.. Seppi has a good reputation like Mashio also.

 

[IslandTractor]

The new Landpride flails that i looked at are were made by Seppi. In fact they still have the S embossed in the front shield plates. FWIW.. Seppi has a good reputation like Mashio also.

I think there must be a lot of incest in the Italian mower manufacturers. Caroni fits in that group as well.

 

[Thomabear]

Dethatching with a flail mower. Just another use of an already great piece of equipment. This is a vrisimo version but they should all basically do the same.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nvTvdzh2TO0