Ditch Bank Flail mower

[MaxLee]

Hello Guys, Looking to add a ditch bank flail mower to the line up. I have a CK2620. My questions , how heavy of a mower is acceptable and what is the best range HP. I see some site go by the tractor HP and some go by the PTO hp. Any help would be appreciated

Thank you

 

[RjCorazza]

I think tractor weight is the most important factor when considering a ditch bank flail. When that mower is hanging out fully extended it can create a very unstable situation.
At 2600lbs and 19 pto HP I think a 48" ditch bank flail would be in the right neighborhood.
I would also highly recommend loaded rear tires or iron weights. I run a 62" 700lb ditch bank flail on my 6400 lb tractor, and I wouldn't want anything heavier or wider.

 

[MaxLee]

I think tractor weight is the most important factor when considering a ditch bank flail. When that mower is hanging out fully extended it can create a very unstable situation.
At 2600lbs and 19 pto HP I think a 48" ditch bank flail would be in the right neighborhood.
I would also highly recommend loaded rear tires or iron weights. I run a 62" 700lb ditch bank flail on my 6400 lb tractor, and I wouldn't want anything heavier or wider.

Hi Rj, Thanks for your reply
The weight of the flail was my top concern. My tires are loaded so that helps. The mower I was looking at comes in 45" which is 597lbs 55" that is 628lbs and a 61" at 672lbs. There really isn't much difference on 48" to 61" , right around 100lbs. I have seen some that are 700 and up even for a 48" mower. They don't use PTO HP they say 15hp to 40hp. That could because they are a European company. I am putting more research into this mower then I did when I bought the CK lol. In reality when the mower is extended out to the side it should be setting on the ground when mowing so the weight won't be all on the 3pt n tractor. What mower do you own?

 

[grsthegreat]

They dont set on the ground when using. There are held up slightly ( at least the ones ive used in the past. I think the rear pull style do run on a roller as i recall). so as not to totally engage the dirt and rocks completely. Its a large weight off to the side. You have to be careful not to drive off into the ditch even a little bit with a light tractor. Our highway district uses one with a large counterweight on other side due to tipping issues.

Id love to get one myself, but ive spent way too much money in the last 2 years. My tractor is pretty heavy, so i dont think id have issues, but its not high on my priority list. I just finally got a grapple this year. Man i love that thing. Saves me so much time.

 

[LouNY]

Mine is an 86" on almost 12,000 pounds of tractor and it will walk that tractor at times. Especially on a side hill and having to carry the deck when it's offset.

 

[MaxLee]

Mine is an 86" on almost 12,000 pounds of tractor and it will walk that tractor at times. Especially on a side hill and having to carry the deck when it's offset.

I think the most I would go is 60" and then it would have to be a light duty. Like all equipment we have to pay attention. All my land is flat even were I would be mowing ditches.

 

[MaxLee]

They dont set on the ground when using. There are held up slightly ( at least the ones ive used in the past. I think the rear pull style do run on a roller as i recall). so as not to totally engage the dirt and rocks completely. Its a large weight off to the side. You have to be careful not to drive off into the ditch even a little bit with a light tractor. Our highway district uses one with a large counterweight on other side due to tipping issues.

Id love to get one myself, but ive spent way too much money in the last 2 years. My tractor is pretty heavy, so i dont think id have issues, but its not high on my priority list. I just finally got a grapple this year. Man i love that thing. Saves me so much time.

From Videos I been watching they are suppose to sit on ground. The roller in the back goes with the contour of the ground. The only time they are off the ground is when using in the 90 degree angle. Thats when there could be an issue with extending out to far.

I hear you about spending a lot of money. I bought mine 2 years ago. Got the Grapple , rotary cutter , back hoe, land plane , wood chipper and a Woodland Mills trailer. Plus added the cruise control and linked pedal. Buying this I will sell the woods rotary cutter to recoup some cash toward it. I will get much more use out of a flail mower then I do the woods cutter. The cutter has very low hours on it.

The grapple is the most used attachment I have. I use it for everything, the tractor is a little tank when using it. I heat with wood so I use it moving logs around etc. The CK2620 is a little work horse forsure.

 

[Torvy]

I have a 175cm (69 inch) ditch bank flail (Nova BCRM). Heavier than what you are looking at, but my tractor is 50% heavier and 8" wider than a CK.

You definitely feel the weight when it is shifted. I'd stick with the 48" at most with that small of a tractor. It's not typically on the ground when you are shifting it.

Even directly behind, the weight is back further and so it may be a tougher lift than you expect, too. Your lift cap is measured at 24"...the ditch mower sits back at 62".

 

[RjCorazza]

If you're doing legit ditches on otherwise flat ground the flail should be able to be rolling on the ground most of the time. I cut a stream bank that almost always requires that the flail be raised slightly because of obstructions and irregularities.

The ditch bank flail I ended up with (after a very long research and decision making process) was a Del Morino 62" Centurian. It is heavy duty, and has some weight to it. There are lighter weight flails out there, which may allow for a wider cut on lighter tractors. The Nova brand was on my short list because they offered some lighter duty models. Some of the other Chinese brands seen to come with a lot of problems, including weld quality, bearing issues, and belts burning up.

 

[MaxLee]

If you're doing legit ditches on otherwise flat ground the flail should be able to be rolling on the ground most of the time. I cut a stream bank that almost always requires that the flail be raised slightly because of obstructions and irregularities.

The ditch bank flail I ended up with (after a very long research and decision making process) was a Del Morino 62" Centurian. It is heavy duty, and has some weight to it. There are lighter weight flails out there, which may allow for a wider cut on lighter tractors. The Nova brand was on my short list because they offered some lighter duty models. Some of the other Chinese brands seen to come with a lot of problems, including weld quality, bearing issues, and belts burning up.

I been researching the Nova brand BCRL. Research I have found they are engineered by a German tractor company Bowell. It seems they use an Italian gearbox, SKF bearings , but they are assembled in China. I also looked at the Victory which has the same exact BCRL model , they look identical and the spec's are exact. Other thing is some of these companies spec by tractor engine HP and other spec by PTO hp. I look at the del morino also , built like a tank and the price reflects that lol. Get what you pay for