Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[GManBart]

Just ordered a Phoenix TE 87" cut from Everything Attachments! Now I have to wait a couple of weeks for it to arrive (out of stock until mid-May)

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

That looks really nice, Bart.

Question: One photo on ETA's product page for it shows the rough cut (i.e., brush) knives on it. Another photo shows the "Y" shaped finish cut knives. Which one does it come with?

 

[GManBart]

That looks really nice, Bart.

Question: One photo on ETA's product page for it shows the rough cut (i.e., brush) knives on it. Another photo shows the "Y" shaped finish cut knives. Which one does it come with?

Honestly, I'm not sure, and didn't ask because either will be fine for what I'm doing. I think the Y shape knives are standard, and you have to request the hammers, but I may be wrong. When I talked to Ted he said they would give me call when the shipment arrives, clears customs, and they know for sure what showed up, and how many orders are ahead of me...so there's a chance I could wind up with the 78" if that's all they have left. It appears they don't always know how many the manufacturer will send them, regardless of how many they order...we'll see!

 

[IslandTractor]

Just ordered a Phoenix TE 87" cut from Everything Attachments! Now I have to wait a couple of weeks for it to arrive (out of stock until mid-May)

I'd never heard of Phoenix mowers but I see that this is really a Sicma, a well respected Italian brand similar to Caroni. Very nice. I'd prefer my Caroni was a bit wider but I think I'd have trouble getting it in the barn if it had a cutting width of 87". That must be about eight feet end to end.

 

[mjstef]

Ordering this one after a few of my jobs get paid 1st of the month. Looks like a solid machine and the price is good. FM-78H Flail Mower | Flail Mower Attachment | Tractor Mower | PTO Mower | -WoodMaxx

 

[IslandTractor]

Ordering this one after a few of my jobs get paid 1st of the month. Looks like a solid machine and the price is good. FM-78H Flail Mower | Flail Mower Attachment | Tractor Mower | PTO Mower | -WoodMaxx

Price is almost too good for a 78" hydraulic flail mower. Who makes it?

Woodmaxx doesn't seem to be a manufacturer so I'm guessing this is foreign made.

On further inspection it seems this is not hydraulic powered as it comes with a PTO drive shaft. Looks like it has hydraulic offsetting.

 

[1026mrg]

Price is almost too good for a 78" hydraulic flail mower. Who makes it?

Woodmaxx doesn't seem to be a manufacturer so I'm guessing this is foreign made.

On further inspection it seems this is not hydraulic powered as it comes with a PTO drive shaft. Looks like it has hydraulic offsetting.

I don't believe that Woodmaxx actually makes anything... pretty sure that most, if not all, of their stuff is sourced.
Unless it specifically says that the particular attachment is "made in USA", it is overseas.

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't believe that Woodmaxx actually makes anything... pretty sure that most, if not all, of their stuff is sourced. Unless it specifically says that the particular attachment is "made in USA", it is overseas.

Yep. The Italians and Chinese seem to be the main sources of flail mowers not made in the U.S. Caroni and Simca are Italian and well known. I guess a few distributors are bringing in Chinese versions. Best (sp?) has been sourcing in China. I would guess that is where Woodmaxx is getting theirs too as their model doesn't look like a rebadged Caroni or Sicma. Interestingly they specify Gates belts though. Maybe those are added by the distributor. The price of the hydraulic offset Woodmaxx is about the same as the Caroni with hydraulic option. The Woodmaxx uses direct connection of blades so is perhaps aimed a bit more at finish mowing.

 

[1026mrg]

Yep. The Italians and Chinese seem to be the main sources of flail mowers not made in the U.S. Caroni and Simca are Italian and well known. I guess a few distributors are bringing in Chinese versions. Best (sp?) has been sourcing in China. I would guess that is where Woodmaxx is getting theirs too as their model doesn't look like a rebadged Caroni or Simca. Interestingly they specify Gates belts though. Maybe those are added by the distributor. The price of the hydraulic offset Woodmaxx is about the same as the Caroni with hydraulic option. The Woodmaxx uses direct connection of blades so is perhaps aimed a bit more at finish mowing.

I am guessing China on the flails.... For anything made in USA, Woodmaxx is posting "Made in USA" on the website.
For their backhoes, they appear to be Italian and Woodmaxx is advertising them as "Made in Italy".

I would guess that anything that is source from China is not being proudly advertised as "Made in China". So governing assumption is that
if the country of origin is conspicuously absent it is likely China.

The Italians make nice stuff. Maschio is also an excellent flail. The come with nice offset capability as well as vertical adjustment from plus 90 degrees to something like
minus 65. Kuhn make a nice flail as well.

 

[leonz]

Ordering this one after a few of my jobs get paid 1st of the month. Looks like a solid machine and the price is good. FM-78H Flail Mower | Flail Mower Attachment | Tractor Mower | PTO Mower | -WoodMaxx

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I spent a lot of time looking at these mowers and I have
expressed an opinion on them due to their construction.
:thumbdown:
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[GManBart]

I'd never heard of Phoenix mowers but I see that this is really a Sicma, a well respected Italian brand similar to Caroni. Very nice. I'd prefer my Caroni was a bit wider but I think I'd have trouble getting it in the barn if it had a cutting width of 87". That must be about eight feet end to end.

I had to look on Sicma's website to find some of the specs, but they have everything listed out pretty nicely. It shows the 87" cut model being 94" overall width.

TE


Also, when I was searching, I found a spec sheet or brochure of some kind that had both Sicma and Caroni listed, as though they had some sort of connection. I was surprised when I saw it, and I didn't bookmark it, so I'm looking for it again. On the flip side, it could be an individual product that one company sources from the other, rather than the companies having some sort of ownership connection.

 

[IslandTractor]

Also, when I was searching, I found a spec sheet or brochure of some kind that had both Sicma and Caroni listed, as though they had some sort of connection. I was surprised when I saw it, and I didn't bookmark it, so I'm looking for it again. On the flip side, it could be an individual product that one company sources from the other, rather than the companies having some sort of ownership connection.

The Australian Caroni distributor also handles Sicma. I kinda imagine Sicma and Caroni are like Woods and Landpride, separate entities but often found in the same sales floor together.

 

[GManBart]

The Australian Caroni distributor also handles Sicma. I kinda imagine Sicma and Caroni are like Woods and Landpride, separate entities but often found in the same sales floor together.

I've seen that, but this was more like a specific product manual that had both logos....very odd. It's driving me nuts trying to find it again!

 

[LouieJunior]

I have had more problems with my Caroni Tm1900 Flail mower than my Woodmaxx chipper, which is manufactured in China and has been trouble-free! Maybe I am an exception, but Caroni bolts have all worked loose over time. Just spent several hundred US dollars replacing bearings that were damaged when roller mounting brackets became loose. I am not unhappy with my Italian flail, but if I were starting over, would not hesitate to consider Woodmaxx.

 

[sodamo]

Not the exception LouieJr, I've been impressed with my Value Leader flail since I've had it Dec 09.

 

[Thomabear]

I remember when I was shopping for my first flail mower and I found the connection between Caroni and Sicma. If I remember correctly Caroni imports Sicma mowers for different markets. As you can see in the photos in the below link this Sicma mower is wearing the Caroni label.

Flail Mower Sicma Caroni 1.5m (Better than slasher!) Shredder | Heavy, Farming & Agriculture Equipment | Gumtree Australia Adelaide Region - Alexandrina Area | 1066223288

 

[hunt4570]

I like my new Caroni more everytime I use it!!

 

[MidTn Mark]

Well, the pressure became too much! I ordered a TE 79 today. Hopefully it will ship soon but I'm guessing I'm at the end of a longish list.

This tractor thing is getting expensive. But, it sure is fun...

Mark

 

[GManBart]

I remember when I was shopping for my first flail mower and I found the connection between Caroni and Sicma. If I remember correctly Caroni imports Sicma mowers for different markets. As you can see in the photos in the below link this Sicma mower is wearing the Caroni label.

Flail Mower Sicma Caroni 1.5m (Better than slasher!) Shredder | Heavy, Farming & Agriculture Equipment | Gumtree Australia Adelaide Region - Alexandrina Area | 1066223288

Yeah, it was something like that...maybe the owner's manual I saw that had both Sicma and Caroni on it....that would make sense.

 

[GManBart]

Well, the pressure became too much! I ordered a TE 79 today. Hopefully it will ship soon but I'm guessing I'm at the end of a longish list.

This tractor thing is getting expensive. But, it sure is fun...

Mark

Congrats! I think we'll both be happy with the TE! The good thing is that when you buy something well made it's going to last a long, long time. There are still a lot of Ford flail mowers from the 1970s being used, and I don't think these Sicma mowers will be any different.