Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[John Fitzgerald]

I wouldn't worry about no dealer support locally. None of us with Caroni mowers have any dealer support but AgriSupply and Flailmaster have all the necessary maintenance and wear items easily available. If you can operate a grease gun and a couple of wrenches you can maintain a flail mower yourself with no trouble.

Then is there effectively no warranty on a new one, since dealers are several hundreds or more miles away? I would just as well get a decent used one, if I could find one. Nothing in Tulsa listings is suitable.

 

[IslandTractor]

Then is there effectively no warranty on a new one, since dealers are several hundreds or more miles away? I would just as well get a decent used one, if I could find one. Nothing in Tulsa listings is suitable.

The only benefit of a new one is 1) new bearings, 2) new belts, 3) new blades/hangers and perhaps 4) new gearbox. You also get to do the preventive maintenance yourself rather than wonder if the first owner kept up with it. That said, if I could get a well cared for and not worn out Alamo for less than the cost of a new Caroni, I'd take the used one. Caroni is a fine company that I think is about the same as Woods, BushHog, Rhino, Landpride. They make excellent medium duty flails. A heavy duty Alamo will cut thicker material and be easier to get parts for. You don't want a beat to crap Alamo but if there was one that spent most of it's life mowing the high school football field I'd jump.

 

[vlcakc]

Then is there effectively no warranty on a new one, since dealers are several hundreds or more miles away? I would just as well get a decent used one, if I could find one. Nothing in Tulsa listings is suitable.

Flail mowers in this part of Oklahoma are virtually unknown by the dealers or users. When I bought the NH TC45D I was also looking at rotary cutters and finish mowers. The dealer said he had a NH 918H the local county had ordered then cancelled due to a budget cut. He claimed it would serve the same purposes as the rotary cutter and finish mower at less cost. In fact he offered to sell at "his cost" (showed me the factory invoice) as he thought I would probably be the only one interested in buying. I believed him and naively bought it. After 16 years of use I have concluded the salesman was right! It served very well as a dual purpose machine until I sold it last November. If I replace it I'll bite the bullet and but a new one as decent used ones are simply not available in this area. Vic

 

[lennyzx11]

I have been looking for a flail mower for my 25 HP hydro tractor. It seems they are unknown around here (NW Arkansas). I stopped by the largest tractor and implement dealer in the area today, and a salesman told me he had never seen one come through that dealership in the 13 years he has worked there. The only way to get one, it seems, is to order it online, and then no service after the sale. Cannot even find a used one. Nothing suitable on CL within 250 miles of here. I am guessing my tractor would handle a 48" to 60 inch flail (19 HP at PTO).

I just noticed 2 5 Footers in the TBN classified in Oklahoma today. (Search Location).
One for 300 looked promising.

I watch Craigslist also in our area for treasures. My flail is a 6 ft older Mott that came from Ft Smith CL. I think it was 140.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Flail mowers in this part of Oklahoma are vertually unknown by the dealers or users. When I bought the NH TC45D I was also looking at rotary cutters and finish mowers. The dealer said he had a NH 918H the local county had ordered then cancelled due to a budget cut. He claimed it would serve the same purposes as the rotary cutter and finish mower at less cost. In fact he offered to sell at "his cost" (showed me the factory invoice) as he thought I would probably be the only one interested in buying. I believed him and naively bought it. After 16 years of use I have concluded the salesman was right! It served very well as a dual purpose machine until I sold it last November. If I replace it I'll bite the bullet and but a new one as decent used ones are simply not available in this area. Vic

Yes, the salesman acted like I was stupid for even asking. Apparently, the dealership pushes rotary cutters only.

That old Mott looks like a long term fixer upper if not total junk. The Alamo is very rusty looking, and my tractor is probably too small to pull it well.

 

[powerscol]

John - sent you a PM

Also folks it looks like Iowa Farm Equipment has added some different brands to their flail line up, including a big Rhino Triflex Flail Mower that cuts 252".... that's 21'

John - there are some good brands out there and Iowa Farm equipment carry's a lot. I did a lot of looking, but I wanted one that offset to do ditch banks. It was tough finding one that shifted far enough that the pivot point cleared my outside rear tire. At this time I would think twice about the cheep China made ones, but some folks find that they do well for them. Just my 02

 

[Catman8]

JOhn - sent you a PM

Also folks it looks like Iowa Farm Equipment has added some different brands to their flail line up, including a big Rhino Triflex Flail Mower that cuts 252".... that's 21'

My local home town mercantile carries Rhino Implements, is (Big) Rhino the same thing.

Born To Lead | Rhino

 

[powerscol]

Then is there effectively no warranty on a new one, since dealers are several hundreds or more miles away? I would just as well get a decent used one, if I could find one. Nothing in Tulsa listings is suitable.

Talk to you selling dealer. In my case all they would need is good photos of the issue and they would take care of parts. However routeen maintenance is key. If you forget to grease and something breaks, it your nickle. However if you read this entire thread you might find one or two warranty issues. There are relative simple machines - not much goes wrong.

 

[IslandTractor]

Talk to you selling dealer. In my case all they would need is good photos of the issue and they would take care of parts. However routeen maintenance is key. If you forget to grease and something breaks, it your nickle. However if you read this entire thread you might find one or two warranty issues. There are relative simple machines - not much goes wrong.

Agree. I think almost all maintenance issues have just been wear parts. The only "weak" points in the Caroni seem to be the quality of the factory fitted belts (easily fixed by replacing with Gates B43 kevlar) and possibly the metric clevises. The clevises are an issue only for folks who mow in rocky soil though so more of a wear/safety item than defect.

 

[powerscol]

My local home town mercantile carries Rhino Implements, is (Big) Rhino the same thing.

Born To Lead | Rhino

Looks like it Flex Finish Mowers | Rhino

Site also covers the other product folks usually see too.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I have time to wait on a good deal on a used flail. I have two decent riding finish mowers and a walk behind DR 26 inch brush mower, so I don't have to get a flail right away, and I'm only mowing a little less than two acres, including about 0.8 ac with the DR about five or six times a summer. That part has several 3 inch high stumps in it that the DR just rides over. I guess a flail would too, but they might catch and bend the roller. The rest of the place is hayed by a local farmer. Most of my budget was blown just buying the tractor.

 

[innrkid]

Looks like a well painted or slightly used....

AuctionTime.com | 19 MOTT 88 Online Auctions

 

[Dan in MN]

Sorry to hear about your old flail leaving you....

As far as "duck foot hammers", are there two kinds of duck foot blades? My Dandl has duck foot blades but I wouldn't call them hammers, might be 1/8" material thickness. Just wondering....

LNK

Those aren't hammers, those are scoop knives, just another grass cutter.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Looks like a well painted or slightly used....

AuctionTime.com | 19 MOTT 88 Online Auctions

That's a 88 inch cut...way too much for my tractor.

 

[Fallon]

That's a 88 inch cut...way too much for my tractor.

I ran a 7' Ford 917 flail behind my L3200hst... 32hp, 25hp PTO (not even factoring in the several HP I loose living at 6,200').

If you can lift it, you can spin it. Just likely need to go slower, but you cover similar ground. Going slower is easier on you & your machine. Maneuverability can be an issue though.

 

[N2DFire]

I still have a flail mower on my wish list. I've searched the forums in general as well as this thread as best I can but I still have a few more questions.

Right now we're using a 5' Rotary cutter (and aside from sickle bar mowers & various hay cutting mowers/haybine/diskbine) it's all I've ever known.

What we mow:
The greatest majority of what we mow is just tall pasture growth. Not enough cattle to keep it eaten down so when it gets knee to mid thigh and/or tassels out to seed we knock it over (or cleaning up corners of the hay fields where they can't get). We have done a lot of work to get the old blackberry vines, briars and saplings cleared up and have very little left so I'm not worried about cutting small trees, bigger limbs, mulching, etc.

I do have a small pond (spring fed), short section of creek, and a 300-400 feet of steep / tall ditch & road embankment that I can't mow with anything directly behind the tractor.

How much & how often we mow it:
Small jobs like cleaning up corners when they mow hay, keeping a half acre lot mowed down, and mowing the roadsides will probably account for about 1 acre total area mowed 3 to 5 times a season
The "big job" cutting the pastures (I think we have about 12 acres total cleared now) is a once maybe twice a year job depending on the season.

What I'm thinking:
I was looking at hydraulically offset / rotating flail mower. Had my eye on the Made in China brands for a while and even looked into importing one myself (ouch). Then another forum member put me on to Betstco and I have tentatively settled on the AGL-145 (wanted the 165 but per their specs I'm not quite heavy enough in the tractor department)
57 Ditch Bank Flail Mower w/Hammers Installed AGL145 57" Ditch Bank Flail Mower w/Hammers Installed [AGL145] - $2,199. : Betst Products LLC, Rugged Labor Saving Equipment Since 1995

While looking at E-Bay, I noticed they offer the 165 at $2,402 OBO - and that they accepted an offer of $2,045.99 last Nov. E-bay says they have sold 6 have "more than 10" available (Web site says 21)

The 145 is listed at $2,199.00 none sold / no offers accepted. Availability: E-bay "More than 10", web site says 20

Their E-bay offerings are listed with Hammers but the web site shows the option of Y blades on the 145 (Hammers are an additional $120 upgrade)

So on to the questions

1) Blades
Given that the lions share of mowing will be field/pasture/roadside - would I be better off to stick with Hammers (I can always use the RC for more heavy duty stuff) or should try to negotiate for the Y cutters.
Also - how would hammers finish work compare to a RC (aside from distribution of the cut material not being piled into rows)?

2) Mower
I found a few threads about Betstco products and the majority seemed satisfied with the quality for the money. Obviously I'm not a commercial mower or looking to contract out to the Highway Department so I'm thinking with the correct PM & a little TLC this unit will do all I will ever need for longer than I'll be able to use it.

3) Price
Seeing as how they took a little over $350 off on a 165 plus the $120 "upgrade" cost from Y cutters to hammers. (and given the fact that they seem to have a large supply & small demand) ...

Would an offer of $1600 for a 145 with Y cutters be fair? Their E-bay listings do include shipping so I know that's a lot and I'm not trying low ball them but I don't want to pay more than I have to either.
(And I will also have to shell out another $800 to get the OEM rear remotes for the tractor so I have to factor that in my budget).

Thanks for the advice.

 

[IslandTractor]

N2DFire, You've obviously already done a lot of investigating but I'll make a few comments. First, I would personally go for the 165 with a CK35. You might need to go a bit slower in the heavy patches but the extra width will be appreciated when doing ditches etc. A CK35 is about as heavy as a Kubota or Deere 40hp tractor (just estimating) so it's not like the 165 is going to be a tail wagging the dog.

Flail hammers are going to give you a MUCH finer cut than any RC bush hog type mower. Probably not quite what a finish mower will provide but close. That said, I have Y blades on my Caroni TM1900 and I've never wished I had hammers or scoops. The Y knives on clevis hangers do a fine job with brush and grass. I certainly wouldn't pay extra for hammers.

I've only heard of Bestco flails here on TBN but I haven't heard of anything bad. My main concern with the Chinese flails is with the importer and whether they will be in business ten or twenty years from now. The Italian and US brands are much better established so supplies are less likely to be an issue in the future.

Regarding price, if you go with the 165 and have evidence on Ebay that they sold the 165 for a discount then point that out and see if they'd like to sell another for the same price.

 

[ericm979]

Are the EGxxx series (or AGL series) flails all close enough that parts from one seller will fit a flail from another?
They look pretty similar in pictures.

 

[leonz]

Hello ND2Fire,

Before you waste any money call Iowa Farm Equipment as ask
about the Italian Del Morino boom flail mowers they carry as a
product line. They will ship them directly to you from Iowa.

 

[leonz]

Are the EGxxx series (or AGL series) flails all close enough that parts from one seller will fit a flail from another? They look pretty similar in pictures.

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Until and unless you have both information sheets with the description of the knives OR
each knife in your hand you will not know-the second option will save you a lot of money and grief.


Have you looked at the small Vrisimo flail mowers? they are built and sold in California.