Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Racenut]

Got my new Novatractor MFZ155 hooked up dialed in and then got a little rain so we could try it out without starting a fire. So far, I'm super pleased with it. It's so great when something works exactly how you expected. Maybe any flail would do the same, but this thing munches up berry bushes and other brush so good. This is exactly what I needed.

 

[Fallon]

Thanks for your detailed reply. That is what I have always been curious about, is the cut quality as good as a top notch zero turn like a Grasshopper, Exmark or Scag?

If you had a reasonably light tractor on turf tires running on smooth ground a flail should be equal to a zero turn for turf quality, possibly better. It will mulch better & not leave clumps. A heavy tractor, especially on R1 or maybe R4 tires would be much more likely to leave ruts or tear grass on tight turns. The roller on a flail gives an even cut, but the width of a flail could in theory cause issues on non-smooth ground. A zero turn & flail are both orders of magnitude better than a rotary cutter or finish mower as wide as the flail though.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

A zero turn & flail are both orders of magnitude better than a rotary cutter or finish mower as wide as the flail though.

I think you're right because finish mowers just can't produce enough lift to cut the grass as cleanly. However, I will say that Trimax makes some rotary cutters for tractors that will blow your mind.

 

[Fallon]

I think you're right because finish mowers just can't produce enough lift to cut the grass as cleanly. However, I will say that Trimax makes some rotary cutters for tractors that will blow your mind.

There are a pile of mowers out there that will get super high cut quality. Stuff you usually find on a golf course or what not. Reel mower, stuff with a large number of articulated rotary heads, etc. But they are expensive & not as durable. Flails seem to be a better overall compromise, other than being more expensive than equivalent rotary cutters.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

But they are expensive & not as durable.

That is a good point. Durability is not going to be the same due to the intended application.

 

[1savoy]

I haven't been around in quite a while and sorry for the long post. So I recently bought a Kubota B26TLB that has a claimed 19.5 HP at the PTO. I am in the process of buying 20 acres that is mostly wooded but has some areas that were previously cleared/ mowed and need to be mowed again now so we can get moving forward on building a shop and then a home. I would really like to go the flail mower route and wanted one years ago when I was still in western NY instead of using the rotary cutter. Main question is anyone's thoughts on the Land Pride FM2560 flail mower. There is one used locally with the ducks foot blades for what I think is a decent price. From what I have read the Land Pride seems quite expensive to swap blades and rotors if needed. Kubota does not recommend this mower for the B26 and actually none of their flail mowers for the B26. They only recommend the 48" for the L47 and M62. I assume Kubota is being very conservative in their recommendations.

Land Pride lists the weight at 965 lbs. and Kubota lists the B26 at lift at 1676 lbs. 24 inches behind 3 pt. hitch lift point. I have read some say if you can lift it then you can spin it but I'm thinking this may be just too much mower for the little Kubota? What I will be cutting is not real thick and I know I can take smaller bites. The Land Pride looks well built from what I have seen. Seems like most 60" flail mowers are out of stock. The Novatractor mentioned above appears to be in stock and would that be a better route? There is also a used Maschio Birba 135 around that looks to be in good condition but fairly small. My other option is to pick up a 60" rotary cutter for getting going on things and wait for the flail mowers to come back in stock and also keep waiting for the "right" used one to show up. What do you guys think? Thanks for any input.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I haven't been around in quite a while and sorry for the long post. So I recently bought a Kubota B26TLB that has a claimed 19.5 HP at the PTO. I am in the process of buying 20 acres that is mostly wooded but has some areas that were previously cleared/ mowed and need to be mowed again now so we can get moving forward on building a shop and then a home. I would really like to go the flail mower route and wanted one years ago when I was still in western NY instead of using the rotary cutter. Main question is anyone's thoughts on the Land Pride FM2560 flail mower. There is one used locally with the ducks foot blades for what I think is a decent price. From what I have read the Land Pride seems quite expensive to swap blades and rotors if needed. Kubota does not recommend this mower for the B26 and actually none of their flail mowers for the B26. They only recommend the 48" for the L47 and M62. I assume Kubota is being very conservative in their recommendations.

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Land Pride lists the weight at 965 lbs. and Kubota lists the B26 at lift at 1676 lbs. 24 inches behind 3 pt. hitch lift point. I have read some say if you can lift it then you can spin it but I'm thinking this may be just too much mower for the little Kubota? What I will be cutting is not real thick and I know I can take smaller bites. The Land Pride looks well built from what I have seen. Seems like most 60" flail mowers are out of stock. The Novatractor mentioned above appears to be in stock and would that be a better route? There is also a used Maschio Birba 135 around that looks to be in good condition but fairly small. My other option is to pick up a 60" rotary cutter for getting going on things and wait for the flail mowers to come back in stock and also keep waiting for the "right" used one to show up. What do you guys think? Thanks for any input.

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I can answer this. I would strongly recommend staying away from that flail mower. To begin with, those flail mowers made by Kubota are crazy heavy and weigh a ton. They weigh more then what your little B26 can adequately handle. It could easily push your tractor around and cause a real safety concern. Secondly they are very hp hungry flail mowers and no way would I recommend taxing your 26hp engine down with one. And thirdly the replacement cost for knives is beyond stupid, it's just straight up robbery. Take my advice and stay away!

What I would recommend instead is a flail mower made for low horsepower tractors such as the Befco H40-S line, Vrisimo Mini Max Series, Trimax Ezeemow and Maschio makes a flail for lower hp tractors but I would look at the first three first.

 

[1savoy]

Hey CVF,

Thanks so much for all that great info. You confirmed what my thoughts had been. I keep seeing it listed but have not contacted the seller due to thinking it is too heavy and HP hungry. I contacted Woodmaxx about a week ago and they had two of the WoodMaxx FM-62H left. I thought on it for a day or two as I was not sure if I wanted the hydraulic shift and then they were both gone. I snoozed and lost out.

This Maschio Birba 135 is on TractorHouse and I almost called the dealer to see what location it is at. Wasn't sure if it was too small and I would be disappointed? I could possibly have it shipped or a bit of a road trip.

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/206123557/2015-maschio-birba-135

https://www2.maschio.com/catalog/product/birba-usa/en_US

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Hey CVF,

Thanks so much for all that great info. You confirmed what my thoughts had been. I keep seeing it listed but have not contacted the seller due to thinking it is too heavy and HP hungry. I contacted Woodmaxx about a week ago and they had two of the WoodMaxx FM-62H left. I thought on it for a day or two as I was not sure if I wanted the hydraulic shift and then they were both gone. I snoozed and lost out.

This Maschio Birba 135 is on TractorHouse and I almost called the dealer to see what location it is at. Wasn't sure if it was too small and I would be disappointed? I could possibly have it shipped or a bit of a road trip.

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/206123557/2015-maschio-birba-135

https://www2.maschio.com/catalog/product/birba-usa/en_US

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Savoy, glad to help. The Birba is made for your kind of tractor. However, and this is just my opinion, I think Befco or Vrisimo is the better choice because they have more knives. But with that being said, I have no experience running any of the three I have recommended but I have run a Peruzzo that did a fantastic job on my property and it had a lot of knives and I am getting ready to purchase one of the three I have recommended to you. I will also add that flail mowers are a world unto themselves and there is still so much I don't know about them and want to know but struggle finding resources to turn to that have the information to provide. I wish you well in your journey to becoming a new member of the flail mower nation.

 

[1savoy]

Sounds good and thank you. Good to hear that the Birba may be a decent fit for the B26. I'll keep reading a little and searching for the other brands that you mentioned. I'll also probably contact the dealer to find out more about the Birba. I'll keep you guys posted on what I do and good luck in your next flail mower purchase.