Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I know it's been discussed earlier in this thread (can't seem to pick out the exact posts out of this massive thread), but what are the general feelings on the woodmaxx flail mowers? Anyone here have one for a while now with positive or negative opinions? Sold my Ford 917 to buy a Mott, but it was sold out from underneath me. Now I'm looking at others.

 

[bruceha2000]

I know it's been discussed earlier in this thread (can't seem to pick out the exact posts out of this massive thread), but what are the general feelings on the woodmaxx flail mowers? Anyone here have one for a while now with positive or negative opinions? Sold my Ford 917 to buy a Mott, but it was sold out from underneath me. Now I'm looking at others.

I'm still waiting to find out! I ordered a WoodMaxx 62H late last summer, ended up first on the waitlist. No one changed their mind so mine came in March, in the first batch of the next run I guess. It is supposed to be Cat I quick hitch compatible. The pins are Cat 1 but the vertical distance between the lower pins and the top pin is 19" (Cat III) instead of 15" (Cat I & II). They don't make any Cat III flails so someone, somewhere screwed up when they made the upper bracket. The sales guy I contacted sent the inquiry over to service. That guy sent me an email saying they are looking into it. I sent a follow-up inquiry early this past week and haven't heard back. I'm sure there are people who can manhandle a 700# flail into position without a quick hitch and without extendable lower links but I'm not one of them. It might be possible if I had a nice flat concrete surface and put the flail on a pallet with wheels ... but I don't.

 

[ronjhall]

I know it's been discussed earlier in this thread (can't seem to pick out the exact posts out of this massive thread), but what are the general feelings on the woodmaxx flail mowers? Anyone here have one for a while now with positive or negative opinions? Sold my Ford 917 to buy a Mott, but it was sold out from underneath me. Now I'm looking at others.

I have a FM62H. Got it late last summer. It cuts my 3 acres of field very well. I have Y blades. It does not cut as well as my lawnmower. But is good enough for field cutting. If I had it to do over again I would have gotten the FM78. This will give me the offset without needing hydraulics and a wider cut.
I just received a set of hammer blades. Will see what cut looks like when I get them changed this week.
I had been cutting field with a JD rotary cutter for years. Took over 3 hours. Flail cut that time in half.
Only problems I had was paint scratched off and nicks in guide bar from PTO clutch not being properly covered for shipping. Service sent me a can of paint to fix paint. I cleaned up nicks in guide bars. My call to service was if they approved my plan to remove nicks.
I do not use my SpeeCo Quick Hitch. Have a concrete floored barn. Used metal frame that mower was shipped in. Added caster wheels to make a dolly out of it.
I have a WM8H Chipper from them also. It's quality has been good also.

 

[Glocknroll]

I apologize if this is a repeat, but is the belt tension and replacement on the 918H as involved as it seems? Any advise or workarounds are very welcome.

 

[John0829]

I apologize if this is a repeat, but is the belt tension and replacement on the 918H as involved as it seems? Any advise or workarounds are very welcome.

It is so easy you could do it blindfolded, here is the procedure from the manual. Takes longer to remove the belt shield/cover than it does to change and adjust the belts.

 

[ronjhall]

Installed hammer blades on my Woodmaxx FM62H this week.
Hammer blades worked well. I can get almost lawn cut if I slow down. It takes more HP than the Y blades. I have to let off hydro pedal to make it up steepest hill on my place. Field I was cutting was 12" high. Still get strips where tires go over weeds not cut fully down. Better than the Y blades. Goes away if I slow down.

 

[Fallon]

I took some photos of my cut this weekend. Peruzzo with hammers. Grass was a foot, foot & a half high. Mow height was 4" or so, tire tracks end up 6" high maybe. It's a little more visible now a week later, but not bad at all for a field. I should have grabbed new photos, but am at the airport taking off for a week.

I overlap passes if it's bad, but otherwise dont wory about it.

 

[Catoosa]

Haven't read the whole thread guessing been almost a year since I checked in. What are you guys calling "Hammer blades" I have two John Deere 25A's one with ducks foot and one with Y blades but first I heard of hammer blades. I don't see allot of difference between them, both leave a strip of grass where the wheel mashes it down. Been so wet this year I have only been able to mow once, after it dry's out I'll have a better chance of seeing how the Y blades do.

 

[ronjhall]

Haven't read the whole thread guessing been almost a year since I checked in. What are you guys calling "Hammer blades" I have two John Deere 25A's one with ducks foot and one with Y blades but first I heard of hammer blades. I don't see allot of difference between them, both leave a strip of grass where the wheel mashes it down. Been so wet this year I have only been able to mow once, after it dry's out I'll have a better chance of seeing how the Y blades do.

Woodmaxx calls Duck Foot Blades, Hammer Blades. .

 

[ericm979]

Here's a description of hammer blades vs Y blades, with pics: Flail Hammer Blades or Knives Blades for Flail Movers?