T25 - Flail Mower

[mctrain]

Just about to buy my first tractor, so be gentle with my ignorance. I have a 6 acre property in the Sierra Foothills in Northern California that we've tried to keep as fire safe as possible for a few years. We don't live there yet, but have amazing neighbors and feel a responsibility to keep them and our land as safe as possible. Because of rocks, etc, we've been string trimming the acreage, but have just reached a point that it's getting a bit too difficult with timing plus I'm not 25 anymore. SO, we've decided to get a tractor to help cut things down while it's still green and fire safe in the spring and after countless videos and reading it seems like a flail mower makes the most sense for this. I've thought about getting something more in the 35 HP range, but saw enough videos of people using flail mowers with a T25 that I'm thinking it might be the right tractor for the property and my budget. Having said that, I'm well aware that what I'm seeing on Youtube are people shilling for TYM for a free tractor essentially (can't blame them for that).
So, my question is, can anyone talk about any experience they have with using a flail mower on a T25, or really a 25 HP tractor. I've seen enough videos to realize it will probably get bogged down at times and I'll need to take it slow depending on how thick the weeds are and how wet they are. Also curious what anyone's thoughts are on how the engine and tractor will do over time with that setup. Is it going to prematurely wear it out (assuming I'm properly taking care of it). Thanks so much for any insights, and certainly open to being told this isn't a great idea. By the way, the dealer I talked to wants to sell me an Ironcraft FL-135 which is actually a Cosmo flail mower from Italy. Have read both good and bad about it, so not sure I would go that route.

 

[oldnslo]

Will you be working on slopes or side hills? If yes any estimate on how steep the slopes are?

How well the flail works will depend on factors like type, density and height of material being cut, type of knives, etc. The T25 is at the low end of HP requirements for that flail but with HST you can easily adjust speed for conditions

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I just bought a Kioti CK35SE HST and have a 68" flail mower coming in on Monday. While my (soon to be) field is a little larger, I'd still be inclined to look at what future uses you'll have for tractor besides the flail. (speaking from someone who bought too small a tractor for my needs, it would work, but took much longer) Rocks are not the friend of a flail. There are several ways to get rid of if they are manageable size.

 

[mctrain]

Will you be working on slopes or side hills? If yes any estimate on how steep the slopes are?

How well the flail works will depend on factors like type, density and height of material being cut, type of knives, etc. The T25 is at the low end of HP requirements for that flail but with HST you can easily adjust speed for conditions

Thanks for the reply. There’s a couple of spots with slopes that I wouldn’t take a tractor. Otherwise it’s fairly gentle. Can’t give you incline % but based on what I’ve seen on YouTube I’m not too concerned. I’m just more concerned about whether or not a 25HP makes sense for a flail mower long term even on flat ground.

 

[mctrain]

I just bought a Kioti CK35SE HST and have a 68" flail mower coming in on Monday. While my (soon to be) field is a little larger, I'd still be inclined to look at what future uses you'll have for tractor besides the flail. (speaking from someone who bought too small a tractor for my needs, it would work, but took much longer) Rocks are not the friend of a flail. There are several ways to get rid of if they are manageable size.

Thanks and yeah I’m tempted to go the 35 HP route for that exact reason. It’s not a ton of acreage, but moving downed trees etc will be part of it. I imagine cutting them into smaller pieces vs picking them up in larger pieces would add to the “much longer” comment. Probably some occasional driveway grading, but I don’t have a lot more planned at this point.

We’ve done a lot of clearing of rocks and will hit it hard this fall. There’s other spots where we’ll just need to stay clear because of large rocks sticking out of the ground. Would need a much larger machine to even think of pulling them out, plus the fact rocks there tend to give birth to more rocks.

 

[Hughman]

We live in the Sierra foothills too. I think it's less about which type of mower you use (we use an rfm) and more about how much time you spend clearing rocks (box scraper). We've built lots of rock walls from the 7ac we cleared around the house.

 

[elsievo]

I run a 64" flail (similar to Ironcraft FL165) on the back of my T254 (about a hp less than the T25 and lighter in weight). The area I use it for is relatively flat so I can speak to handling on hills. I can say that the tractor handles it okay, (loader must be on the front) just not as fast as a compact tractor with more hp would. If you don't mind finessing the tractor a bit the T25 should work. I have found my flail doesn't do a great job with stiff stalk plants that are taller than 2'. The front of the flail bends it over, then the roller gets on the stem and because I'm cutting at 4" the cutters sometimes miss the bent over plant. It gets most of them but there's always a few sticking up. I usually go back with a weed whip and knock them down. The next mowing is done before they get too tall and there's no issue.