Flail Mower Titan EFGC155 Flail Mower

[anavidi]

I just received my new Titan flail mower, the EFGC155 model. Ordered it through amazon in order to take advantage of my 5% back amazon prime credit card.

I’ve searched the model number and see quite a few variants of the same mower from different brands. My guess is that they are all made by the same factory in China.

I had about 30 mins today to spend checking it out and un-crating it. It shipped on a pallet encased in a frame made from steel angle iron.


I pulled the angle iron off and removed as much surface rust as I could with a rag and some ballistol oil and read through the manual. It’ll be a few days before I’m up and running as I have to do a few things like add oil and assemble the top link connector, grease it, and I plan to touch each bolt with a torque wrench before we take to the field. I’ll be back to update this thread as I get more time with the mower. For now here’s pics.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Thank you for these photos.

As I know, there are at least 30 different Chinese factories produce this model. This is the oldest model which is also the cheapest model on the market, I stopped produce this model 3 years ago. Your EFGC is made in a new factory which set up 3 years ago. Close to my city.

I have a question, where is the alu label on the gear box? Did you remove it?

This is the original packing from that factory, it seems Titan didn't unpack it at all. Good luck with you.

 

[anavidi]

Thank you for these photos.

As I know, there are at least 30 different Chinese factories produce this model. This is the oldest model which is also the cheapest model on the market, I stopped produce this model 3 years ago. Your EFGC is made in a new factory which set up 3 years ago. Close to my city.

I have a question, where is the alu label on the gear box? Did you remove it?

This is the original packing from that factory, it seems Titan didn't unpack it at all. Good luck with you.

Thanks for the reply and information! Yes this is the most affordable mower I found.

I didn’t remove any labels from the gearbox, I’m not sure what an ALU label is? Wow 30 factories producing this model!

Manufacture date says 2017-12 on the label.

Is there anything else you can tell me about this mower?

 

[Jack Yuan]

Hi, as I said, there are too many factories produce this model here, most popular and cheapest.

So I would like see more details for this mower, like hammer, gear box brand, belt brand, rotor vibration condition, the balance weight block welded on rotor, pulley condition, welding condition etc. As much information as possible, I m very familiar with this model because I started my business with this model many years ago.

It is Chinese brand JCTT gear box, I see their logo, but the label is removed. Too much rust on this gear box, hope you can install the PTO shaft easily, too much rust will make the shaft surface uneven.

According to these information, I can evaluate these factories' situation.

You know, although a machine is silent, but it can tell you lots of story if you really watch it deeply.

 

[Jack Yuan]

I have a question, is there any gear oil in the gear box when you receive it?

 

[anavidi]

Hi, as I said, there are too many factories produce this model here, most popular and cheapest.

So I would like see more details for this mower, like hammer, gear box brand, belt brand, rotor vibration condition, the balance weight block welded on rotor, pulley condition, welding condition etc. As much information as possible, I m very familiar with this model because I started my business with this model many years ago.

View attachment 551192 It is Chinese brand JCTT gear box, I see their logo, but the label is removed. Too much rust on this gear box, hope you can install the PTO shaft easily, too much rust will make the shaft surface uneven.

According to these information, I can evaluate these factories' situation.

You know, although a machine is silent, but it can tell you lots of story if you really watch it deeply.

I would be happy to take these photos and post them. I’ll do that soon. The gearbox was not filled with oil.

Now I see where the gearbox badge was and only a dab of adhesive remains. I wasn’t sure what that grey splotch was, but makes sense now!

I agree there’s too much rust on this gearbox, what’s the best way to remove the grease and protect from further rust?

 

[Jack Yuan]

use some chemical liquid to remove the rust first, then dry it, paint it.

 

[ericm979]

what’s the best way to remove the grease and protect from further rust?

Remove the gearbox, clean and paint it. If it's truly dry inside you can put it in any orientation while painting without worry that oil will leak out (like out the breather) and damage your paint job.

 

[anavidi]

Here’s a few photos

 

[anavidi]

A few more...

 

[Jack Yuan]

thank you for your photos. Everthing looks same as what it was. Front flaps are changed into chain. Old style 800gram casting steel hammer. JCTT gear box. Same rotor and roller as before.

The only strange thing is that belt, it was BX17x1016 belt, but now it is 17X991. It means this factory reduce a little material from its initial design.

This is their strategy, make it as cheap as they can. Customers like you, will never find out these tiny modifications.

Check its vibration and if oil leaking from the end of shaft tube between gear box and pulley.

Sorry I really would not like to say too much bad words on my competitors, but I really smell this factory reduce a lot material from its original design. I m very sure you cannot use it anymore after 10 years. Will this thread exist after 10 years?

Basically, it is not with big problems except the balance condition which I cannot see it according to photos.

Enjoy it for now.

 

[ericm979]

Jack, who in the US sells flails that you designed or produce? When it comes time to buy one I'd want to look for one of yours.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Jack, who in the US sells flails that you designed or produce? When it comes time to buy one I'd want to look for one of yours.

Send me PM please.

 

[anavidi]

Send me PM please.

Jack, I do appreciate any and all information you can share with me. I am aware that I bought the cheapest flail mower of this size so I don’t take offense that this wasn’t manufactured to the same standards as a top of the line machine.

If you have any recommendations for things I should do or keep a close eye on that would also be useful for me.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Jack, I do appreciate any and all information you can share with me. I am aware that I bought the cheapest flail mower of this size so I don’t take offense that this wasn’t manufactured to the same standards as a top of the line machine.

If you have any recommendations for things I should do or keep a close eye on that would also be useful for me.

Vibration, noise, oil leaking, loose bolt. Like driving an old second hand car, you need take more care about it.

 

[anavidi]

I will be aware of those things, I’ll also update this thread with more information and experience as I use the mower. Again thanks for the information!

 

[rgr33]

I have the same flail as you, branded “Value Leader” It’s at least 17 or 18 years old.
I couldn’t resist it back in the day, bought it on sale for $525, It is the only Chinese implement I have ever owned, and I equate it with. Harbor Freight quality attachment if they were to get into the business.

Almost immediately, I had a lot of trouble with the wonky pulley wheel on the shaft. It is affixed to the shaft with a compression fitting with no key way to keep it from spinning freely when the fitting loosens, and it loosens quite ofte,. I finally got tired of that, and ground a slot in the shaft, and replaced the pulley with a better one.

Also, it didn’t have enough blades on the shaft to do a real good job, needs about 30% more to be effective.
I ended up replacing it with an older Mott, which I am happy with. I kept the Value Leader and put the hammer blades on it, use it a couple of times a year if both tractors are cutting.
My impression is that they are a good buy if you don’t overuse them, and parts are easy to come by, but I wouldn’t buy another one.
Of course this review is based on an older machine, and they may have improved them, but it appears to look the same in your photos.

 

[anavidi]

rgr33,

Thanks for that great information. I'll be keeping a close eye on my pulleys slipping. I don't see a key or slot on the pulley shaft so I'm betting this uses the same compression style fitting you are talking about. Where did you purchase a replacement pulley? Mine came with the Hammer blades you mention.

Before I start mowing I'm going to make sure each bolt is tight on the blades (and everywhere else). I figure that even if i need to replace every bolt, nut, and washer on this thing I'll be okay with it considering this is the least expensive flail mower I could find.

I plan to use this a handful of times each year, to cut weeds and light brush on 4 of my 6 acres, and I'm storing it in a covered and enclosed shed. Also the weather in my town is pretty dry, usually the sun kills things here before rust can get to it. If I can keep this around for 17 or 18 years like you I will most definitely feel as though I got more than my money's worth!!!

 

[rgr33]

I got mine from Betst Co. in Creswell Or.
You can find them on Ebay also if you search for flail mower
They stock parts for what they sell and the parts dept is responsive.

 

[anavidi]

I finally fired it up and mowed some of the overgrown weeds. Everything worked as expected and the weeds are now shorter than when I started!

I'm sure as I get more experience I'll be able to understand each setting and hone my configuration. My needs are to abate weeds and to clear some of the wild brush for paths and access.

Some things I noticed:
-This is the only other attachment I own besides a box blade, and I can feel the difference in weight between this and the box blade. Tractor still handles just fine, but it's something I can notice.
-DUST! I live in a desert climate and there's lots of dry dusty dirt, all of it is dry dusty dirt. So when I'm mowing if I catch a small mound of dirt there's an immediate dust storm.
-I turned a 5' tall bush into mulch, it was pretty amazing.
-My Kubota B2601 ran it just fine (I was wondering how it would manage)
-It was fun!

I know that I got the cheapest flail possible, and I don't expect a champagne on a beer budget but this thing did the job for me and I'm confident that if properly maintained this will last me several years. I'll come back and update this thread as I get a bit more experience.