Flail Mower Considering Betstco Flail cutter/mower

[skysummit]

I'm considering the Betstco Heavy Duty Trail Cutter/Flail Mower for my JD 49hp tractor (41pto) and was hoping to get feedback either positive or negative from others who have purchased this brand before .
How is the performance, quality, and reliability?
Any problem with customer service or getting replacement parts?
Any thoughts on a comparable alternative brand I should consider before pulling the trigger on Betstco would be appreciated?
Thank you.

 

[leonz]

Hello Skysummit,

A used JD 25A, JD290 or JD390 would be much easier to purchase and obtain parts for and the basic JD 25A design for all three models has been around for over 40 years.

They all have a heavy tubular flail mower rotor and use a shorter side slicer knife and the older 25A has greasable bearings which is a huge selling point for used units.

 

[mred2]

I just purchased a AGL 165 from Betstco. It so far is fine. I have not had time to use it a lot yet. However, it is what I expected. Not as heavy as some of them. but I am sure if taken care of it will outlast me. On calling Betstco. they do stock parts and is easy to work with. I thought something was left out of my order, it was not. Very good to talk to. If you go online and check other dealers for the ditch bank flail mower, you will find more than one that has the same model numbers. They may be another color, but made in same factory. There is not doubt that there is heavier equipment, but the price is right. And for the money, it is a good unit. Many good reviews on internet.

 

[shooterdon]

Timely post. I used the KK bush hog I got with my used tractor a couple of times and frankly it scares the crap out of me. So I have been looking at the same brand but the light duty model. I only have 19 HP at the PTO.

I mow a shooting range with a lot of 1-3" rocks and occasionally hit one. It can get flung over 30 ft. Not sure if a flail mower would take much of that but at least it would be safer.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I'm considering the Betstco Heavy Duty Trail Cutter/Flail Mower for my JD 49hp tractor (41pto) and was hoping to get feedback either positive or negative from others who have purchased this brand before .
How is the performance, quality, and reliability?
Any problem with customer service or getting replacement parts?
Any thoughts on a comparable alternative brand I should consider before pulling the trigger on Betstco would be appreciated?
Thank you.

I picked up a similar one from Nova Tractor Flail mower. Jack was better able to address some of my concerns.

 

[mred2]

My understanding is that flail mowers are safer but use more hp. If you search I think there is a lot more on flail mowers on this site. I really think I am going to like mine.

 

[RjCorazza]

I haven’t bought my flail yet, but looked hard at the AGL and Titan models. There are numerous threads about these mowers on various tractor forums... some good reviews (mostly shortly after purchase) and some poor reviews. I simply cannot get over the mentions of poor welds, improperly placed grease zerks, and rapidly failing roller bearings.
I like to save money like the next guy, but I will likely go for a Peruzzo flail if I decide on a verge mower, or a Vsirimo standard flail. JMHO.

 

[ddbackhoe]

My understanding is that flail mowers are safer but use more hp. If you search I think there is a lot more on flail mowers on this site. I really think I am going to like mine.

I dont know where anything definitive exists to address that. IMO, that is more of an old wives tail, A flail has to be run at full rpm/pto speed (2500/540) to get a good cut, whereas Im sure quite a few run their BH at whatever gets the grass cut pto/rpm combo. Or like the JD economy pto mode which reduces rpm to 1700 but cuts HP by doing it so instead of putting out 40 pto hp, you are using x...No hard data, just opinions.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I haven’t bought my flail yet, but looked hard at the AGL and Titan models. There are numerous threads about these mowers on various tractor forums... some good reviews (mostly shortly after purchase) and some poor reviews. I simply cannot get over the mentions of poor welds, improperly placed grease zerks, and rapidly failing roller bearings.
I like to save money like the next guy, but I will likely go for a Peruzzo flail if I decide on a verge mower, or a Vsirimo standard flail. JMHO.

That’s great if you have the $$$$ to do so. Peruzzi does make a really nice mower. I just wasn’t ready to drop the money on one to see if I liked how it works. I couldn’t find a flail (any brand) dealer/owner/demo within 300 miles so I bought a less expensive one to see if I would be happy with one.

 

[flusher]

I'm considering the Betstco Heavy Duty Trail Cutter/Flail Mower for my JD 49hp tractor (41pto) and was hoping to get feedback either positive or negative from others who have purchased this brand before .
How is the performance, quality, and reliability?
Any problem with customer service or getting replacement parts?
Any thoughts on a comparable alternative brand I should consider before pulling the trigger on Betstco would be appreciated?
Thank you.

I bought the EFG175 flail in 2010. Worked OK. Quality is average for a Chinese mower. Price was good. I paid $1350 and picked it up at the distributor's place in Creswell, OR. I don't think I'd buy another one. I get a better cut by sharpening the blades on my 6-ft brush hog to 1/8" radius. I'm just cutting weeds, not saplings and brush. And I can run the hog at 5 mph ground speed, about twice what I could do with the flail.


Good luck