Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TX mower]

TX mower.
I have a Woodmaxx FM62H. Like it a lot. My Kubota B2910 handles it very well. Now that I have used it cutting little over 3 acres 5 times. I wish I had gotten the FM78 or other 6' flail mower. The 22 PTO HP of my tractor handles the 62" very well. Never bogs engine down like my 5' rotary cutter does. Unless you have restrictions for width. I would consider a flail mower that covers your rear tire width plus a few inches.

Ron, thanks for that advice.

FWIW I just got off the phone with WoodMaxx where I learned that as of this date (7/30/18) the 62H is completely sold-out for 2018 with no availability date in 2019 known; they do have the 78H in stock (with either hammers or Y-blades) as of this date. So, at least insofar as WoodMaxx that narrows the choices for the foreseeable future.

 

[DieselBound]

I'm flipping coins between a Woodmax and this one (I'm not plugging any seller, just popped this up as I've been watching it):

Flail Mower/Mulcher 65", Heavy Duty MFZ-165 with 2" Side Shift 69196569838 | eBay

I'm less interested in a manicured lawn as I often have tree branches around where I'd be mowing (around the home site). I'm planning on running behind my B7800 (which has no rear hydraulics, but I think I'll use some PVC piping to set the offsets for when I need to change so I can mow ditch edges).

Only wish for either of these manufacturer's units would be that they used shackles to attach their cutters. Otherwise, for me anyway, they appear to spec out good enough to do what I need done.

 

[audsp98]

I'm flipping coins between a Woodmax and this one (I'm not plugging any seller, just popped this up as I've been watching it):

Flail Mower/Mulcher 65", Heavy Duty MFZ-165 with 2" Side Shift 69196569838 | eBay

I'm less interested in a manicured lawn as I often have tree branches around where I'd be mowing (around the home site). I'm planning on running behind my B7800 (which has no rear hydraulics, but I think I'll use some PVC piping to set the offsets for when I need to change so I can mow ditch edges).

Only wish for either of these manufacturer's units would be that they used shackles to attach their cutters. Otherwise, for me anyway, they appear to spec out good enough to do what I need done.

This Bowell brand flail is actually is supplied by Novatractor. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on the MFZ-175. It's a little cheaper buying from Novatractor directly.

Nova Tractor MFZ heavy duty flail mower series

 

[audsp98]

I'm flipping coins between a Woodmax and this one (I'm not plugging any seller, just popped this up as I've been watching it):

Flail Mower/Mulcher 65", Heavy Duty MFZ-165 with 2" Side Shift 69196569838 | eBay

I'm less interested in a manicured lawn as I often have tree branches around where I'd be mowing (around the home site). I'm planning on running behind my B7800 (which has no rear hydraulics, but I think I'll use some PVC piping to set the offsets for when I need to change so I can mow ditch edges).

Only wish for either of these manufacturer's units would be that they used shackles to attach their cutters. Otherwise, for me anyway, they appear to spec out good enough to do what I need done.

Also, the flails on the MFZ weigh roughly 2x what the flails on the Woodmaxx does (3.3 lbs vs 1.85 lbs) so it'll be more capable of chopping up the branches, etc.

I'm not endorsing the MFZ specifically because I do not own one yet. I've just been looking for a while and have come to the conclusion that the MFZ from Novatractor seems to be very well built and designed to be a heavy duty flail mower.

 

[Ricn]

Yes, getting a new flail this time of year can be tough, it's all about imports, which most are these days, and having inventory that might set through the winter. When getting my 62H last year, Woodmaxx said they had just one not spoken for and that one was in their current August delivery order still to come from China. I waited several weeks but soon had the mower. So far, and after getting lots of help here on TBN, it was mounted and in use. Understand I like this mower, and having no issues, plus having one with upgraded bearings not seen on earlier ones that helps me not worry about them. I got the hydro side shift thinking it best for my situation of fences, trees and ditches etc.. but now seldom do I use this feature preferring to just keep the mower in line. I have found, for me anyway, it is much easier to watch my left rear tire when mowing along fences than stretch around so far as to see the mower way down there. keeping in mind both the tire or the mower will take out fences or trees if hitting them or worse ruin equipment so, watching the tire edge is much easier for me and I don't need to move all that much doing it.
Regardless of which way I mow, there remains a need to either use my weed eater, something I hate doing, or get on the rider to get real close to fences or trees, so the hydraulic cylinder is something I did not have to have although it sounded so useful! Perhaps I can find something to use it on later but so far, I just leave that feature alone. Also, this mower does not extend out that much so trying to mow along the driveway ditches still gets the tires closer than I feel comfortable with as going over into the ditch is not something I want to experience! If ever getting another flail one day, my feeling now is, I'd have more use for something wider rather than one equal to tire width and with side shift. Of course, this all applies to my situation only as others may have useful needs I don’t have.

Ricn

 

[jthibodeau89]

it appears there are only 2 rows of flails on the rotor. Both of my JD have 3 rows of flails.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Also, the flails on the MFZ weigh roughly 2x what the flails on the Woodmaxx does (3.3 lbs vs 1.85 lbs) so it'll be more capable of chopping up the branches, etc.

I'm not endorsing the MFZ specifically because I do not own one yet. I've just been looking for a while and have come to the conclusion that the MFZ from Novatractor seems to be very well built and designed to be a heavy duty flail mower.

MFZ has 4 rows of flails on the rotor.

This is how I define MFZ flail mower, this flail mower is used for grassy terrain, vineyard, brush area, etc. But it is still a flail mower for hobby farmer, not for professional farmer. You cannot use MFZ 5 hours per day like Maschio TIGRE.

I like MFZ type hammer very much, it's good for mow the small branch, and the air pressure it created is still good. I will use this hammer on some of my bigger flail mower which is for tractor more than 80HP.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I'm flipping coins between a Woodmax and this one (I'm not plugging any seller, just popped this up as I've been watching it):

I'm less interested in a manicured lawn as I often have tree branches around where I'd be mowing (around the home site). I'm planning on running behind my B7800 (which has no rear hydraulics, but I think I'll use some PVC piping to set the offsets for when I need to change so I can mow ditch edges).

Only wish for either of these manufacturer's units would be that they used shackles to attach their cutters. Otherwise, for me anyway, they appear to spec out good enough to do what I need done.

I bought my flail from Novatractor. Jack spent quite a bit of time answering all of my questions about the Chinese import mowers. After reviewing Jack's pictures and info, I felt comfortable choosing the Novatractor brand. We had a hiccup on the shipping side, but the mower is everything I expected. I bought an EFME-175 so I can use it on the tractors and eventually I'll get it hooked to my farm skidsteer.

If you detach or unplug your loader (bucket only maybe) and use longer hoses, you could have rear hydraulics

 

[aczlan]

The original belts on my Caroni TL1500 got fried after less than 20 hours. The roller has some black residue on it that I'm trying to clean with acetone, but it's not making much of a difference.
View attachment 564663
Does anyone have suggestions on how to deal with it?

Razor blade/scraper, or angle grinder with a wire wheel in it (a flap disc might work as well).

Aaron Z

 

[jthibodeau89]

MFZ has 4 rows of flails on the rotor. View attachment 564902View attachment 564903

Thanks for the detail. I assumed all rows had an equal number of flails. I see that 1 row only has 2 flails. Bad assumption on my part.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Thanks for the detail. I assumed all rows had an equal number of flails. I see that 1 row only has 2 flails. Bad assumption on my part.

Not all rows has equal number of flails. Just need to make sure rotor is balanced.

 

[jthibodeau89]

Thanks for the detail. I assumed all rows had an equal number of flails. I see that 1 row only has 2 flails. Bad assumption on my part.

Nevermind. I missed a couple in the photo. That is the 16 flail rotor. In any event, rows are not necessarily all the same depending on width. I assumed that all rows had the same number of flails. Not so on the 165.

 

[Jerik]

Just saw this on Craigslist: Older 6' Ford flail mower for $750, in case anyone is interested - Flail Mower - farm & garden - by owner - sale.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I finally finished reading this massive thread. I might as well throw my hat in the ring. I bought this 5' Ford 917 recently (already posted it in a separate thread, but this thread is more impressive...). I'm still working on getting it fully functional. It was missing the rear roller and one of the roller supports. I'm currently having a local shop make them for me, and I have new bearings to install for the roller. The rotor bearings seem to be in decent shape yet. Just needed to grease them.

A number of blades were missing along with a few broken and the rest are horribly beat up. After reading this thread I've decided to get a set of both the original blades (airplane wings) for when I want a nice finish and a set of side slicers for knocking down some CRP land that is coming out of contract this fall after 20 years. I will only be grass (as far as I know...), any brush I'll take my brush saw along to cut down to ground level before mowing. I don't think I'll mow the whole 30 acres, just a nice path around the outside and burn the rest off :cool2: . I will also mow some trails. Once I have all the heavy stuff knocked down I'll switch over to the smooth cut blades to maintain it. Both hang on the same hangers and D-rings so no problems there. I'm also ordering a new belt (double V) to keep on hand.

I have played with it a little bit and it does cut decent on my little 24HP (18PTO) tractor. I can't lift it real high, but high enough to get it off the ground. It's HST so I can go slow in the heavy stuff. Overall the thing is in decent shape for being so old.

 

[Fallon]

I finally finished reading this massive thread. I might as well throw my hat in the ring. I bought this 5' Ford 917 recently (already posted it in a separate thread, but this thread is more impressive...). I'm still working on getting it fully functional. It was missing the rear roller and one of the roller supports. I'm currently having a local shop make them for me, and I have new bearings to install for the roller. The rotor bearings seem to be in decent shape yet. Just needed to grease them.

A number of blades were missing along with a few broken and the rest are horribly beat up. After reading this thread I've decided to get a set of both the original blades (airplane wings) for when I want a nice finish and a set of side slicers for knocking down some CRP land that is coming out of contract this fall after 20 years. I will only be grass (as far as I know...), any brush I'll take my brush saw along to cut down to ground level before mowing. I don't think I'll mow the whole 30 acres, just a nice path around the outside and burn the rest off :cool2: . I will also mow some trails. Once I have all the heavy stuff knocked down I'll switch over to the smooth cut blades to maintain it. Both hang on the same hangers and D-rings so no problems there. I'm also ordering a new belt (double V) to keep on hand.

I have played with it a little bit and it does cut decent on my little 24HP (18PTO) tractor. I can't lift it real high, but high enough to get it off the ground. It's HST so I can go slow in the heavy stuff. Overall the thing is in decent shape for being so old.

View attachment 565945View attachment 565946View attachment 565947

The Y knives will do finger sized brush pretty well. Beyond thumb size it will do, but not well.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

The brush I have is sumac. And it seems that where there's one, there's a hundred. Only the outside edges are finger sized or smaller. The brush saw takes them out pretty quickly. No need to beat up the flail mower or my tractor when I have a good tool to do that job.

I did discover that my tractor has a mid mount mower, but only when the grass is at least as high as the floor boards. There is no guard over the HST cooling fan. I was mowing and heard a funny noise. Shut off the tractor and looked underneath and found a pile of grass tops cut off by the fan and stuck around it. That can't be good for the HST... :mur: . Time to make a guard out of some expanded metal I have sitting around.

 

[leonz]

Don't forget that you can mow in reverse to make your first pass to avoid having any grass and brush sucked up in to the cooling fan shroud.

Just as food for thought for you; your flail mower rotor has mounting holes for a full set of side slicers on each row and your brush will be sliced up to a much finer clipping and will dissolve that much faster.


You might want to give the folks at BXpanded and ask if they have or can make a solid brush guard for your Yanmar so that the entire underbody of the mule is protected.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I don't really need to worry about mulching that fine with this mower. It will really only be used for large areas that are too rough for my riding mower and for trails where there may be natural debris. If I switch it to finish mowing I would need to buy 81 stations worth of knives, hangers, and D-rings (all of which are different than the rough cut version). That would cost as much as the mower itself cost me! Plus all the time invested in swapping back and forth all those blades. For what I'm doing the airplane wings will give a great finish. The side slicers will be used when opening up new areas which will be a rare event. With the price of the wings being almost double per station as the side slicers, I'll switch when needed. Who knows, maybe the side slicers will be good enough for what I want and I won't even use the wings :confused3:

 

[Fallon]

I don't really need to worry about mulching that fine with this mower. It will really only be used for large areas that are too rough for my riding mower and for trails where there may be natural debris. If I switch it to finish mowing I would need to buy 81 stations worth of knives, hangers, and D-rings (all of which are different than the rough cut version). That would cost as much as the mower itself cost me! Plus all the time invested in swapping back and forth all those blades. For what I'm doing the airplane wings will give a great finish. The side slicers will be used when opening up new areas which will be a rare event. With the price of the wings being almost double per station as the side slicers, I'll switch when needed. Who knows, maybe the side slicers will be good enough for what I want and I won't even use the wings :confused3:

Side slicers did fine on my 917 for pasture, field & a bit if brush mowing as my side gig. The heavy hammers on my new Peruzzo do a lot better on heavy wood stuff over finger size, but not any better for finger or smaller.

Changing out knives on my 7' 917 took around an hour when you factor in lifting it (SSQA to 3pt adapter kicks ***), undoing bolts & hammering on/off the handful of stubborn brackets. Not hard or that long. But also not that worth it to swap unless I break a knife.

And as always only work under things that are well supported by non-hydraulic means. The 2x4s aren't great, but held if I put the loader in float. Dont remember if the missing knives pictured were when I got it or after running into some rocks... or the well head. ;-0

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Your knife pattern isn't normal for a 917. For rough cut they use every 3rd hole, finish they use every hole. It appears someone decided to go between rough and finish and use ever other hole. Never hurts having more knives.

Did you have to modify your 917 to use the quick adapter? I bought a quick adapter that I'm going to mount onto a SSQA plate for my skidloader, mostly to move implements around. That would be a great 2nd purpose for the adapter.