Flail Mower Recommendations

[JethroB]

I’ve got the Titan 86” offset flail mower. Parts can be an issue as everything is coming from China, but customer service has been superb. At the time I bought it a few years ago the mower cost 1/6th what my 15’ Bush Hog cost, chopped just as easily thru heavy brush and saplings as the batwing and did so with a much nicer cut. Of course I’m waiting months now for replacement hammers, so there’s that.

Have you tried Flailmaster for your hammers or blades? I suggest calling them vs trying to use their online catalog. Good prices and friendly helpful service.

Flail Master - Your BEST Choice for Quality Mower Parts

Your BEST Choice for Quality Mower Parts

flailmaster.com

 

[cbg8670]

I've reached out but haven't heard back from them.

I admit I havnt tried to contact them. So I can't speak for how well they answer. I bought from local dealer and he got it and said parts would be no problem. Havnt had to order anything as of yet

 

[Menagerie-Manor]

We'd recommend adding the Ibex brand to your list for consideration. Ibex flails are made by Del Morino, which is Italian. They generally offer much heftier cutting strength for the same cutting width compared to the Chinese brands. Titan, Betstco, Woodmaxx, and Nova are all Chinese made. Many of the Chinese flails will only boast a maximum material thickness of 1" with the heavier hammer blades and only recommend the Y blades for grass. Ibex/Del Morino machines will cut up to 2" thick material with the Y blades and 3" thick material with hammers. That's a big difference. Tractor Tools Direct stocks tons of parts for these machines and we're way better at keeping everything in stock (though it's impossible to be perfect with how slow freight moves these days!). Here's a link in case you'd like to check them out: Flail Mowers | Tractor Tools Direct | Compact Equipment for Small Farms. You can also give us a call at 260-225-3429.

I've been using my HD Bestco with hammers and its been easily chewing thru 2" plus brush without issue, it's been working great.

 

[neverfailyou]

JustinE
I’m sending you a PM about my Titan hydraulic offset flail mower.
Please Update your profile with your approximate location.

 

[scootr]

Hello - 1st post. Diddo on Bestco HD 84" hammer knife mower. I'm finishing up my second season with it. I did have to replace the belts after running the hammers into the dirt too much. Rookie move. Bestco sent them right out. It takes 3 belts which are easy enough to change. The fine print advises first time flail mower operators to buy the replacement belts with the mower. Decent machine can mount offset which is great for getting close to fence lines etc.

 

[Menagerie-Manor]

Hello - 1st post. Diddo on Bestco HD 84" hammer knife mower. I'm finishing up my second season with it. I did have to replace the belts after running the hammers into the dirt too much. Rookie move. Bestco sent them right out. It takes 3 belts which are easy enough to change. The fine print advises first time flail mower operators to buy the replacement belts with the mower. Decent machine can mount offset which is great for getting close to fence lines etc.

My original belts lasted only a few hours regardless of proper tension and adjustment turning into an overcooked gooey mess, they were just crappy belts. I hit my local NAPA and swapped out to Kevlar belts that I have yet to re-adjust after numerous hours of use over the last year even after several inspections.

 

[Racenut]

I think the Nova is out of the question. To get to where it can handle the same size material would cost a bit more.

What Novatractor are you looking at? I went with Novatractor MFZ because it had the biggest baddest hammers I found. And so far it's been a beast. And compared to a Heavy Duty Betstco with hydro offset, it's $800 less. At one point they were on par, but Betstco seems to be raising prices faster than Nova Tractor. The Novatractor also weighs over 100 pounds more than Betstco, for whatever that's worth. Mine is a 155 and I drive it with 28HP at the PTO just fine.

Hammers are 3+ pounds each. Not for golf course use, but they munch up the rough stuff good.

Nova Tractor MFZ heavy duty flail mower series

68" Cut Heavy Duty Hydraulic Offset Flail Mower, FH-EFGCH175KITT | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

 

[JustinE]

What Novatractor are you looking at? I went with Novatractor MFZ because it had the biggest baddest hammers I found. And so far it's been a beast. And compared to a Heavy Duty Betstco with hydro offset, it's $800 less. At one point they were on par, but Betstco seems to be raising prices faster than Nova Tractor. The Novatractor also weighs over 100 pounds more than Betstco, for whatever that's worth. Mine is a 155 and I drive it with 28HP at the PTO just fine.

Hammers are 3+ pounds each. Not for golf course use, but they munch up the rough stuff good.
View attachment 757811


Nova Tractor MFZ heavy duty flail mower series

68" Cut Heavy Duty Hydraulic Offset Flail Mower, FH-EFGCH175KITT | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

The MFZ195 is what they recommended. But, they said it can only handle up to 2" while the Betstco and Titan are saying 3".

There's also one sold by Victory tractor I'm looking at. I need to follow up with them. Woodmaxx can't tell me the cut diameter their machine can handle.

 

[Racenut]

The MFZ195 is what they recommended. But, they said it can only handle up to 2" while the Betstco and Titan are saying 3".

There's also one sold by Victory tractor I'm looking at. I need to follow up with them. Woodmaxx can't tell me the cut diameter their machine can handle.

Material diameter claims are a bit relative. Old pine branches smash up a lot easier than oak. Look at the hammers on the Nova vs the hammers on the others and see which one you think is gonna smash stuff better. I ran over an 8 inch stump lurking in tall grass. I certainly don't recommend it and it made some awful noise, but I don't have to worry about that stump anymore because the flail smashed it to bits. That said, it's a mower, not a masticator.

 

[scootr]

Count the number of hammers too when comparing mowers.
More hammers are going to give a better cut.
I think the Bestco HD had the most, the biggest, Hammers.
I want to say it has 32 hammers but don't quote me on that.

I had some Eucalyptus tree branches 1-3 inches laying down from a big branch a wind storm took down. A couple of passes and there was not much left of them. There is a finish bar behind the roller that keeps coming loose. Not sure how much it is really doing, maybe I'll just take it off or weld it on next year?

 

[JethroB]

My original belts lasted only a few hours regardless of proper tension and adjustment turning into an overcooked gooey mess, they were just crappy belts. I hit my local NAPA and swapped out to Kevlar belts that I have yet to re-adjust after numerous hours of use over the last year even after several inspections.

I over greased the belt pulley bearing once early on. Rookie mistake. That and tilling the dirt way too much. Made my own gooey mess. Replaced with 3 regular Gates belts. Couldn’t find or see any mention of being Kevlar belts though.

 

[leonz]

Hello and good afternoon scootr,

I want to welcome you as the newest resident member of the "Flail Mower Nations" from the Golden State.

The scraper bar is ment to keep the roller clean of any wet grass or mud. You can keep it tight by investing
in 2 fine thread bolts and fine thread nylock nuts.

 

[diesel85]

Yes, like leonz says, you need that to keep the roller clean from debris. He's got a good suggestion with the bolts and nuts.

 

[Beeenvenue]

Yes, like leonz says, you need that to keep the roller clean from debris. He's got a good suggestion with the bolts and nuts.

I had to take mine off. No matter how unadjusted it the wet clay would lock up the roller and the flail would skid along on it, so off it came. When I have to cut in wet stuff now sometimes the roller builds up but at least it keeps rolling

 

[BeeJay42]

I have a MF-285 - 82 HP with 71 HP at the PTO reportedly. I have recently purchased the family farm from the trust and need to do LOADS of clearing. 26 tillable acres and about 60 in brush or heavy woods. Unbelievable amounts of blackberry bushes and loads of small trees. Most areas are unreachable due to the large amount of scrub.

I would like a flail mower that is at least 6 feet wide and probably less than 7. As I am currently working on a project two days drive from the farm, I only make it back about 3 times per year for a week or two each time.

I want a machine that can handle up to 2 inch of a various types trees and tall weeds. Ones larger than that I will cut down and chip. Need a dependable machine as I don't have time to mess around with getting parts, etc.

Also need a good chipper / shredder that will handle up to 5 inch limbs. I understand from the review this means a 8 inch rated chipper as no logs are typically straight and easy to feed.
I appreciate reading these posts and am tossing back and forth on the six or seven dependable looking machines.

 

[BeeJay42]

I have looked at the forestry mulchers, but $14,000 per week with a cap on the hours it can run per day would take a lot of money. There are guys who charge less than that for coming out and doing it for me. No reason for me to spend that type of money. It would do a better job and I would like to have a month with one of those, but that is not reasonable.

 

[leonz]

How many distributors of forestry mulchers did you contact for rental prices??

The only other would be to have the job bid out with a logger that does land clearing
as a side job or I would rent a dozer for a week and go over every inch of scrub land
breaking everything off at ground level and hiring a big chipper with a grapple or
tub grinder to come in and break it all up after you have it piled in a few spots.

If you invest in a flail mower for your Massey Ferguson 285 and a wood chipper you will not
be able to manage it and your flail mower will be damaged.

 

[DieselBound]

I have a MF-285 - 82 HP with 71 HP at the PTO reportedly. I have recently purchased the family farm from the trust and need to do LOADS of clearing. 26 tillable acres and about 60 in brush or heavy woods. Unbelievable amounts of blackberry bushes and loads of small trees. Most areas are unreachable due to the large amount of scrub.

I would like a flail mower that is at least 6 feet wide and probably less than 7. As I am currently working on a project two days drive from the farm, I only make it back about 3 times per year for a week or two each time.

I want a machine that can handle up to 2 inch of a various types trees and tall weeds. Ones larger than that I will cut down and chip. Need a dependable machine as I don't have time to mess around with getting parts, etc.

Also need a good chipper / shredder that will handle up to 5 inch limbs. I understand from the review this means a 8 inch rated chipper as no logs are typically straight and easy to feed.
I appreciate reading these posts and am tossing back and forth on the six or seven dependable looking machines.

Brush hog (or rent a skidsteer with one)*. You can get ones that can tackle 4"+ material: and with your tractor's power you should be able to run it all day eating up stuff this size. Kind of two issues in the long-run: 1) Initial clearing; 2) Maintenance. If you buy something you can also sell it when no longer required: think of it as leasing (similar to renting equipment except that you place your own time constraints on use).

* Contrary to what some might say, there are brush hogs that are more than capable (some really wicked ones). Expect to see a [new] price tag of around $5k.

 

[professorialtype]

I would avoid Nova Tractor as a company if customer service is important to you. They were helpful as can be when I was researching which mower to buy. After receiving a mower with several missing pieces and no manual, I've emailed three times, left four or five voice mail messages and tried to connect through their website. Three weeks has now elapsed and I have heard a peep.