Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

leonz · Jun 9, 2018

Burtonbr said:
So, I’ve read this thread several times over the last few years every time I think I’m going to buy myself a flail, but now I think I’m really ready.
I know I’m going 60” for use on my B2620, but can’t decide, Caroni , Woodmax or Titan. It will be used for pasture/ field mowing a couple or 3 acres and I only cut it 5-6 times a year. I think any of the 3 are up to the task just can’t decide to have one shipped or I can pick up the TM1500 local.

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If you can wait a bit I would order a TM from the factory with the hydraulic shift kit installed at the factory. It will help you a huge amount when mowing you can get close to trees and fence lines.

RoyJackson · Jun 9, 2018

Ricn said:
I'd like to know if any of you guys with flail mowers are using yours with one of the various Quick Hitches on the market. I have one from HF but so far, have not messed with it. From what I read anything with a PTO shaft creates some issues so like to hear from those using them with a flail and if its worth the trouble.

Ricn

I have an Agri-Supply QH. I use an adapter (also Agri-Supply) which replaces the upper hook on the QH. If you read through the thread (which is pretty lengthy), you'll read of some folks whose QH will hit the PTO drive shaft when the 3PH is full down. I have that problem...easy fix though. If your 3PH (Rockshaft) lever has an adjustable stop (like my 4520 and other Deeres have) just use that stop to prevent full down travel of the 3PH.
Now, that works fine for me with a pretty level mowing area. If you have to cross a ditch or something similar, it may not work for you.

Ricn · Jun 9, 2018

Well, I have some rough and bumpy terrian. No ditches just dips and such. If the 3 point is held up from its float position then the mower weight in on the 3 point and not on the rear roller like its supposed to be, right? Maybe this QH is not for me with the mower on.

Ricn

RoyJackson · Jun 9, 2018

leonz said:
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If you can wait a bit I would order a TM from the factory with the hydraulic shift kit installed at the factory. It will help you a huge amount when mowing you can get close to trees and fence lines.

I don't believe the Caroni hydraulic side shift doesn't travel any further out then then the fixed side shift (the Caroni TM1 1900 mounting assembly (for the PTO and 3PH) can be positioned either at the centerline, or offset to the right around 15" or so as shown in the picture attached

I was thinking about the side shift kit...but it's a bit pricey ($800) and wasn't in stock when I bought the flail mower. Since using the mower, I've found mounting assembly fixed offset works fine for all my mowing.

There was a TBNer who did get the hydraulic kit and has a number of posts describing the assembly. Those posts are in this thread, if you've got time to go through 129(!!!) pages of posts!

Fallon · Jun 9, 2018

Ricn said:
Fallon. I have top and tilt on my 2501; extending the top hook on my HF unit is easily done, just so my top cylinder has enough length to reach out the extra 4 inches was one concern, the other being the PTO shaft hitting the crossbar as some have mentioned. When mowing, I drop the 3 point all the way down putting all the weight on the rear roller and right now the cylinder is not an issue length wise so the mower floats across the field. One concern I have is hitting the PTO shaft against the QH crossbar but having yet to mount my QH that remains to be seen. Maybe won't be able to raise the mower to full height meaning I need to be very careful or put a stop bolt on the lifting mechanism? I could remove the cylinder and use the manual top link for a little more clearance if needed but really like having the cylinder for everything; works very well with the Land Plane and Box blade.

Ricn

I had a QH & TnT on my L3200, basically the exact same machine. I didnt have any issues I worried about. My standard process has always been set mowing height with the 3pt & leave the toplink in float. My 917 had some float in the lift links, but the roller height adjustment had been welded in place years or decades ago.

My Peruzzo has a slot in the top for float action. But the QH prep kit kind of mounts solid. I might be able to loosen up one of the bolts to let it pivot for float. But I just set the toplink in float & dont wory about it.

The QH extends the lift & top hooks back by about 4". So there is no need to worry about needing a longer toplink.

My fix for the tophook was the same as 94bullet http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/252974-quick-hitch-problems.html#post2944942. You can see photos of bolts on the impliment hitting on the back of the QH, making for the need. 2" of extension never caused me any problems.

My only PTO shaft length issues except on my new to me trencher. The shaft ends wouldnt even touch when hooked up, so would have been to short even without the QH. All my gear immediately gets setup to be QH compatible before use. I still haven't got the CAT 3 bushings on some of my impliments, but they still fit on the QH, if a bit sloppily.

jrsavoie · Jun 12, 2018

There is an 8' Ford flail mower on Craigslist. They did not know the model number.

From what I have gathered stay away from the Models 907 and 918. Model 917 is ok

They said was a Ford Series 22-I85 flail mower

if anybody has any input, I'd appreciate it. it doesn't look to be in bad shape

Does anybody have any ideas on what model Ford flail mower this is? Or if it looks worth buying?

They had more pictures in their Facebook ad.

8 ft ford brand flail mower. Hooks to tractor 3 point - farm & garden - by owner - sale

vlcakc · Jun 12, 2018

The Ford/New Holland 918H's are great flail mowers. I ran one for 16 years with zero problems and sold it in very good condition. Don't know where you picked up the idea of staying away from them. In fact I liked it a little better than the Land Pride FM 2584 that replaced the 918H. Vic

jrsavoie · Jun 12, 2018

vlcakc said:
The Ford/New Holland 918H's are great flail mowers. I ran one for 16 years with zero problems and sold it in very good condition. Don't know where you picked up the idea of staying away from them. In fact I liked it a little better than the Land Pride FM 2584 that replaced the 918H. Vic

Somewhere on this forum. The tiny bit of knowledge I have on Flail mowers came from here.

Do you have any thoughts on the mower I might look at? I would get it tomorrow if somebody said it was a decent deal.

lagreex1 · Jun 12, 2018

RoyJackson said:
I don't believe the Caroni hydraulic side shift doesn't travel any further out then then the fixed side shift (the Caroni TM1 1900 mounting assembly (for the PTO and 3PH) can be positioned either at the centerline, or offset to the right around 15" or so as shown in the picture attached

There was a TBNer who did get the hydraulic kit and has a number of posts describing the assembly. Those posts are in this thread, if you've got time to go through 129(!!!) pages of posts!

It offsets more by several inches, and centers more as well when drawn in. You can get an idea from this picture:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...1523156106-lets-talk-flail-mowers-nv7webi-jpg

My setup process is here: Caroni Flail Mower with Hydraulic Side Shift kit - Album on Imgur

Unfortunately the shift rails restrict how high you can lift the mower without binding against the PTO shaft. For road travel and going up/down steep inclines (trailer ramps) the PTO shaft needs to be unhooked.

RoyJackson · Jun 13, 2018

lagreex1 said:
It offsets more by several inches, and centers more as well when drawn in. You can get an idea from this picture:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...1523156106-lets-talk-flail-mowers-nv7webi-jpg

My setup process is here: Caroni Flail Mower with Hydraulic Side Shift kit - Album on Imgur

Unfortunately the shift rails restrict how high you can lift the mower without binding against the PTO shaft. For road travel and going up/down steep inclines (trailer ramps) the PTO shaft needs to be unhooked.

Can you attach two pictures to a response?
First...centered behind the tractor
Second...maximum offset

Take the pictures like I did...directly behind the tractor's centerline