Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[ronjhall]

In the internet of science, are you guys cutting grass or brush?

Mostly under 1' weeds/grass.

 

[Fallon]

All that says you'd be better off with extendable lower lift arms on the tractor and forget the quick hitch. My experience with quick-hitches is that they have zero flexibility in left-right dimensions and other compatibility issues that you mention above making them more trouble, to me, than they are worth. Often or at least sometimes adding a problem instead of removing one.

I'm a QH fan myself. All my impliments get adapted to fit a QH if needed, which is mostly older stuff. I really havent had any lift arm width issues, just top hook height or clearance issues. A 1" or so extension on the back of the top hook helps a lit & is critical for a good number of impliments

It's a bit of work up front, but the payoff is big if you swap impliments a lot like I do.

 

[DavesTractor]

All that says you'd be better off with extendable lower lift arms on the tractor and forget the quick hitch. My experience with quick-hitches is that they have zero flexibility in left-right dimensions and other compatibility issues that you mention above making them more trouble, to me, than they are worth. Often or at least sometimes adding a problem instead of removing one.

I'm in agreement for the most part, but will add that hydraulic top and tilt along with extendable lower links pretty much makes hooking up even large heavy implements a breeze. Obviously the top and tilt is expensive, so one would need to have a use for that functionality beyond just making it easier to swap implements. Years ago I did have a tractor with top and tilt and a QH, and after modifying implements to make everything compatible it was pretty slick.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

All that says you'd be better off with extendable lower lift arms on the tractor and forget the quick hitch. My experience with quick-hitches is that they have zero flexibility in left-right dimensions and other compatibility issues that you mention above making them more trouble, to me, than they are worth. Often or at least sometimes adding a problem instead of removing one.

I had a QH on my last tractor and it was better than standard links. My new tractor has extendable lower links and I like it better than the quick hitch. If you can get extendable lower links that is the way to go. They only extend about 2" but it is more than enough to get lined up. I can usually get lined up first try now instead of a few tries with the QH (which was still less than the standard links). One of my biggest problems with the QH is if the implement sat tilted forward (no kick-stand). Now I just hook up the lower links, lift it a little, and then set the top link in. With the QH I would need to adjust the top link to match the implement, then set it back to operating position. A hydraulic top link would help with that, but there's still the issue with lining the QH up with the implement which would cause me grief due to uneven terrain.

 

[hunt4570]

Got the hydraulic side shift kit installed on my FM155
View attachment 611758

Offset is enough to mow up to fence without catching tractor or tires, but not enough to effect balance noticeably.

So your FM155 comes centered?

 

[VirtualTractor]

So reading back the last pages...It looks like the Woodmax is the current go to for flail mowers?

I would like something that has:
hydraulic offset
72" or wider cut
reliable
low maint
quick attach compatible
good parts availability

 

[leonz]

It is a question of whether you are shopping by price or actual need. A lot of implements are not quick attach friendly as most all the implements made or sold in Europe cannot use them. There are many 6 foot cut flail mowers that are boom mounted that provide a wide range of mowing angles for ditch and bank mowing as well as cutting back trees and scrub along trails.
Decide how much you can afford to spend for "a" flail mower and then go from there as there are many good American made and Italian made flail mowers on the market
and a handful of bad ones that are being sold here.
There are a lot of good used flail mowers for sale in the United States and Canada so don't count out a used JD 25A, 290,or 390 flail mower as an example.
There are a lot of good used municipal flail mowers that are auctioned every year and parts are available for them too.

 

[sodamo]

So your FM155 comes centered?

Either Centered or Offset.

COMMERCIAL & ROUGH DUTY FLAIL MOWERS | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

 

[dieselscout80]

What speed do most of you run when flail mowing areas like pasture maintenance (not cutting overgrown plots)?

I try to run 3.5 MPH with my Ford 917 (74") on my IH 424, but 2nd gear 2.5 seems to give a cleaner cut, but is very slow.

 

[bruceha2000]

No idea, no speedo on my tractor.