Flail versus rotary

[fredhargis]

I have about 10 acres rented out for tillage. Even so, there may be once or twice a year I would have to mow it. So I'm considering getting a cutter for the back of my B2920. Is there a reason I would choose a flail mower over a rotary for such service...there is almost no chance it would be used for anything else. My small tractor does limit me to about a 5' mower. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[jimmysisson]

search on flails and read to your heart's content

 

[Tarheeler]

search on flails and read to your heart's content

Yep they've rode that horse many times

 

[flusher]

I have about 10 acres rented out for tillage. Even so, there may be once or twice a year I would have to mow it. So I'm considering getting a cutter for the back of my B2920. Is there a reason I would choose a flail mower over a rotary for such service...there is almost no chance it would be used for anything else. My small tractor does limit me to about a 5' mower. Thanks in advance for the input.

Around here flails are used mostly in the orchards where they are set low to mow the weeds until they are as short as grass on a putting green or shorter. Rotary mowers generally are used in the field where 3-4 inch is the usual cutting height. Flails are also used to maintain trails by the horse crowd.

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned this is kind of a Ford v Chevy things brought up regularly. You can probably get an acceptable rotary much cheaper than a flail no more often than you will be using it. The only flail mowers in my area are used for stalk cutting and even for this the rotary cuter is the preferred choice so far.

Not knocking the flail mower, but for the occasional user I don't know if it would be worth the investment.

 

[Artimus]

I hope you have plenty of time- http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/118882-lets-talk-flail-mowers.html

 

[gwdixon]

Flail pros:
Perfectly flat cut.
Mulches cut foliage.
Results look like a golf course.
Does not fling material as much.
Can cut short.
Sits tight to tractor's rear.

Flail cons:
Expensive.
Many moving parts to replace/repair.
Takes more HP to run.
Not so good on tall, dense foliage.

Rotary pros:
Cheap (relatively)
Cuts everything in its path.
Good for pre-discing (or pre-flail mowing).
Fairly easy to work on and sharpen.

Rotary cons:
Creates windrows of debris.
Flings rocks quite a distance.
Rough cut.
Dulls very quickly (depending on terrain and obstacles).
Sticks far out the rear (unless MMM).

Maybe someone else can add more.

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

I went through the same thing you are just different reasons, I almost got a rotary then kept looking and thinking about what I wanted.

I wanted something that would cut a large area quick, I found a 390 Flail from John Deere, HP range is 30-75. We'll I did not think our 35 HP New Holland would handle it but our 60 HP was in the shop.

I hit stuff that was up to 3' tall and our 35 barley dropped rpm. They are out there, ours cuts about 7 1/2 foot. Here is a shot of ours, I've not done anything to the knifes yet but it's cutting pretty good as it is.

 

[TripleR]

I went through the same thing you are just different reasons, I almost got a rotary then kept looking and thinking about what I wanted.

I wanted something that would cut a large area quick, I found a 390 Flail from John Deere, HP range is 30-75. We'll I did not think our 35 HP New Holland would handle it but our 60 HP was in the shop.

I hit stuff that was up to 3' tall and our 35 barley dropped rpm. They are out there, ours cuts about 7 1/2 foot. Here is a shot of ours, I've not done anything to the knifes yet but it's cutting pretty good as it is.

What would a person have to expect to pay for one?

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Looking around I see them for $2500 to $2700, we paid $2900 for this one because it was in better shape that the others we had seen. This one was a one owner and well taken care of. Hope this helps.