Ditch/Embankment flail

[dan4jeepin]

I've seen the giant flail thread on here and went thru a large chunk of it which has convinced me that a flail mower is the way to go for the 4 acres of field I plan to maintain at my new house. Then I saw the ditch or embankment flails which would make cutting the section near my driveway and the dam for the retaining pond possible instead of spending large amounts of time with a weed eater. The issue I'm seeing is that many are only designed around higher HP tractors or list high tractor weight to safely run. This will mostly be run in grass less than 1 foot once I do the first cutting so I figure I can fudge the HP numbers a bit but want to make sure that I don't buy something that the tractor can't handle safely.

Current plan is to buy a Kubota L2501 so looking at 25HP and around 2623lb.


I'm on a budget so most likely looking at the lower end brands:

Victory EMSD-56 Embankment Flail Mower Standard Duty .... Says 25HP required but doesn't list any bare tractor weight

Bestco FL-AGL145 ... 25HP+ but list 4000lb min for tractor weight

Does anyone run these on a L2501 or similar tractors and what is your experience? Am I asking for to much out of the tractor and should just stick with a fixed flail mower?

 

[mred2]

Is that HP for the engine or the PTO HP. Also you can add the weight of the FEL and fill the tires, but I don't think it will be enough. I sure there are people on here with more knowledge on the SCUTS.

 

[dan4jeepin]

That is the engine HP. I'm planning on a HST so it cuts your PTO HP all the way back to 19. Seems the HP requirement is one of the major draw backs of flails but I've read plenty of people running them on tractors with even less power.

 

[Rebeldad1]

buy the flail mower. take it to the dealer you are purchasing the tractor from. hook it to the 3point and see how stable it is reaching out.
if it is too light you could step up to the next size tractor

 

[Stonehaller]

I have a Ferri 61" ditch bank flail mower I use on my L39 for mowing ditches and around the pond. The L39 is quite bit more tractor than an L2501. Without the backhoe, it is about 6000 lbs (I have loaded tires). The tractor handles the mower fine but a L2501 would probably need a counter weight. You may want to consider a smaller mower.

 

[CoyPatton]

My fear is that with the extended weight out to 1 side of the tractor and have a tendency to already be on a side slope, that the 2501, is not enough tractor weight wise for what you want to run. One of the ways the mfg can protect themselves from to light a tractor is to bump up the HP required which means the tractor is naturally heavier.
Having said that, do not take that as freedom to go with a much lighter tractor. I further fear that you can not add sufficient weight through filled tires and/or wheel weights and FEL to overcome the tip factor.
Either look at a heavier tractor or a smaller fail mower with more reach potential.
And never mow the pond sides or ditches without the ROPS UP and your seat belt tight and secure! You are safest in the seat in a rollover.

 

[dan4jeepin]

Larger tractor with more weight wouldn't make much sense for what it will be used for most of the time. I'd say I'm already pushing it a bit by going with an L over the smaller SCUTS.

Each company seems to have different requirements listed for similar weight and designed flails which is what is confusing me so much. Example Maschio has a 62" one that only says 20-40HP and no mention of tractor weight. There is also a video of a 4.5 foot one being used on a JD 1025 which is a very light weight tractor.

 

[mred2]

Most of the weight on a flail is riding on the rear roller. The real weight problem is when you are putting it out to the side in the raised position. On level ground, you can move it out to the side with it down and moving. With it in the air and out to the side, you have to have weight to off set it. You can go back down to the smaller flail. Betstco AGL125 is HP 20 with a weight of 3400 lbs.

 

[mred2]

AND PUT WATER IN THE TIRES!

 

[leonz]

I've seen the giant flail thread on here and went thru a large chunk of it which has convinced me that a flail mower is the way to go for the 4 acres of field I plan to maintain at my new house. Then I saw the ditch or embankment flails which would make cutting the section near my driveway and the dam for the retaining pond possible instead of spending large amounts of time with a weed eater. The issue I'm seeing is that many are only designed around higher HP tractors or list high tractor weight to safely run. This will mostly be run in grass less than 1 foot once I do the first cutting so I figure I can fudge the HP numbers a bit but want to make sure that I don't buy something that the tractor can't handle safely.

Current plan is to buy a Kubota L2501 so looking at 25HP and around 2623lb.


I'm on a budget so most likely looking at the lower end brands:

Victory EMSD-56 Embankment Flail Mower Standard Duty .... Says 25HP required but doesn't list any bare tractor weight

Bestco FL-AGL145 ... 25HP+ but list 4000lb min for tractor weight

Does anyone run these on a L2501 or similar tractors and what is your experience? Am I asking for to much out of the tractor and should just stick with a fixed flail mower?

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NOPE, NOPE. NOPE;



You have to invest in a used row crop mule like a MF135, MF165 or MF175 with adjustable rear and front wheels to do what you want to do and the smallest Peruzzo boom mower you will be fine as long as you have the tires loaded and use suitcase weights.

A Peruzzo boom mower will be able to mow everything you need to mow as long as you do not exceeed the 15 degree slope rule for the row crop tractor.

The other option is a used orchard or vineyard tractor like a kubota 8540 low profile orchard or vineyard tractor.

 

[metalbender]

Tractor Time with Tim has you tube vids on the subject. I have a Mateng, Chinese 54 inch for my Massey 1742. I think it's around 4000 lbs. Rocks the tractor when I shift positions. Definitely has it's place for some applicarions. Will do everything a brush hog will do and more. I do have an old Bush Hog though, that I abuse instead of the flail for some jobs.

 

[kthompson]

You need to measure the mower and your tractor very carefully. I have one on a Kubota L6060 and it does not extend as much as I thought it was going to and you need it to get past the rear tire for cutting with a down angle or I do.

 

[Jchonline]

You have a 4000# mower on a 4000# tractor? I bet it rocks it around lol!

 

[metalbender]

Guess I should have said the tractor is 4000 lbs. Thinking and typing at the same time gets confusing, one gets ahead of the other.

 

[TerryR]

I'm running a 60" Peruzzo Fox Cross ditch and bank flail on a John Deere 870, which weighs 2700 lb before loading the tires, and claims 28 engine hp, gear drive. My tires are loaded, and set as wide as possible, and it handles the Fox Cross, but not with an abundance of extra capacity, especially on side hills. The Fox Cross weighs 640 lb, and that matters a lot when it's extended and in the air. It's pretty light for a ditch and bank mower - I don't think you would want to go heavier with the tractor you are looking at.

I cut my field twice a year, so it's two to three feet tall when I cut it, and the mower fully loads the 870, especially when going up hill. If you cut more often you could get by with less hp than I have.