Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Iberian]

One other point to consider since you are in ID is the shipping will probably be about $4-500. You may want to be patient and see if you can find a local mower. Too bad they are soo big. Hard to pay $500 shipping on a $1900 item.

 

[Hunhunt]

Thank you leonz and Island Tractor for your input. I know what you mean about rocks as we live on a limestone butte and the rocks seem to compete successfully with the vegetation for production vigor. I can pick the fields and avoid most of the big rocks but our place has a lot of topography to it as well so you tend to catch the ground if you aren't careful. I've been using a horse drawn sickle bar mower towed behind the tractor or a UTV to clean up the weeds that the horses don't touch (mostly mustard that cuts easily). Rabbit brush and sagebrush are invasive so I have to trim them back along fencelines occasionally. That is why I have been interested in the Caroni TM1900BSC and other similar Italian mowers. Island Tractor, you're comment about the sales model for AgriSupply gives me more of a perspective on the differences in pricing between the various manufacturers. For instance, the similar Morino mower is about $600-$700 dollars more than the Caroni but the difference in weight is only around 10 lbs. The Peruzzo is about twice the price of the Caroni and, at 728 lbs, around 12% heavier. I realize that you don't buy these machines by the pound but weight does give some indication of how relatively beefy the deck material and rotor might be.

 

[Greenland South]

Rigustafson,
It's a Sicma T-180

 

[lennyzx11]

Guys, I think my belt has stretched. Leonz id'd this old flail as a possible Interstator. It is six foot wide.
Anybody want to hazard a guess on the proper size
And brand of belt to start with. I haven't used it a lot since I got it and decided
To work it tonight hard to see if its way try replacing all the blades. Which I think it is.
Comments good and bad are welcome.

 

[whirly]

Looks like the same size sheaves and tensioner as my Mott 72 which takes a C-51 or CX-51 belt.

 

[lennyzx11]

Looks like the same size sheaves and tensioner as my Mott 72 which takes a C-51 or CX-51 belt.

Thanks. What's the X difference mean?

 

[whirly]

The X is for "cogged" belts. I use them on my Mott but that is my preference as they seem to work better but YMMV.

You might also look into the spring for your tensioner. If it is weak it won't keep the belt tight on the sheaves ... like it was stretched.

 

[Steave]

The X is for "cogged" belts. I use them on my Mott but that is my preference as they seem to work better but YMMV.

You might also look into the spring for your tensioner. If it is weak it won't keep the belt tight on the sheaves ... like it was stretched.

I also have a mott 72 with the C-51 belt. I don't think any brand makes a C-51 using kevlar. The smallest C size belt in kevlar is about 70". I might try one of those cogged belts next time and I'm pretty sure I need a new tension spring. Might just add another spring to see if it will help. It's not a big problem but I hear it slipping sometimes.

lennyXZ11 that's a great built mower you have and it's definitely worth putting on new knives if it needs them. I've tried different brands of belts on many different mowers and I can't tell that much difference in any of them except the price. The better known the brand is, the more expensive it is. Kevlar belts are better for certain situations and I use them whenever I can find the size, but C-51 is not one of them.

 

[whirly]

I've bought Gates and some of the auto store brands and found that they don't really last any longer than the least expensive belts I buy from VBeltCo on the internet.

 

[troverman]

They make a MiniMax now in 48, 60 and 72 inch sizes and the smaller one is around that price. I really prefer the Mighty Max, but the smallest is a 70" cut, but it's a touch over $5k in price. They are very, very good mowers but certainly are priced like something built very well right here in America, in fact right here in California. They are so smooth and quiet.

I do realize that most folks can't justify the cost unless they mow a ton or mow commercially.

I have an old 48" Vrismo. I had no idea if it was a "good brand" or not when I bought it some years ago. I use it for commercial mowing and couldn't be more pleased. It is incredibly heavy duty - it is actually heavier than most much larger models by other brands. I have never replaced a bearing yet. Even the belt is awesome...kind of like a snowmobile belt.

I am going to order a Titan (Chinese) made 6-foot flail in a couple of weeks. I have a 30-acre slope job that I do frequently...but it is all just grass. I'm not pleased to have to get a Chinese mower...but budget requires it. We'll see how it holds up.

 

[troverman]

Here's a picture of my old 4-foot Vrismo Mighty Max. Very heavy for its size but it has mowed a huge amount of tall grass behind my small B2920, and I've even used it behind my larger L4310.


And one more pic showing a section of the sloped field this small tractor and flail mower combo has done many times...

 

[Iberian]

Here's a picture of my old 4-foot Vrismo Mighty Max. Very heavy for its size but it has mowed a huge amount of tall grass behind my small B2920, and I've even used it behind my larger L4310.
View attachment 518835

And one more pic showing a section of the sloped field this small tractor and flail mower combo has done many times...View attachment 518836

I almost bought the MightMax as it was a solid unit. Found out also these are made here in the USA while their MiniMax line is made in China. If you are mowing a lot with a small tractor these look like the strongest unit I found.

 

[Techspec360]

I've noticed that all of the economic versions of the 60" flailers seem to be out of stock (caroni, Farmer helper, bestco, value leader, victory). Is this because they all are the same unit? Or did I just miss this year's allotment?

 

[DoubleDeere]

Found out also these are made here in the USA while their MiniMax line is made in China

Major disappointment if the Minimax is actually made in China. I've had my eye on the Mini because of the lighter weight and my intentions of mowing only pasture grass with it. The light weight was an advantage to me on my hilly terrain. Now I need to find out for sure because I don't want to pay the premium price for one made in China. Thanks for the heads up if it is true, Iberian.

 

[JimCan]

Terry, or others.... Does your Caroni leave what I call 'wheel misses'? I have turf tires on my 40hp JD and it appears the weeds/grasses get laid down and the flail does not suck them up 100% so I am left with two rows of bristles in the cut. Would those cup style, hammer knives do better .. can you mix the two style knives?

Still, I am 500% happy with this as a basic pasture and frontage cutter. I have had both a 72" finish mower and 5' bush hog styles that left the place in a mess. I can even cut right after a rain and still not get clumping and knots of weeds like before.

Jim

 

[Fallon]

I've noticed that all of the economic versions of the 60" flailers seem to be out of stock (caroni, Farmer helper, bestco, value leader, victory). Is this because they all are the same unit? Or did I just miss this year's allotment?

Missed this year's allotment. It takes a while to move big heavy stuff over from Italy & China. Also, they don't sell as well during winter for some reason.

 

[Fallon]

Terry, or others.... Does your Caroni leave what I call 'wheel misses'? I have turf tires on my 40hp JD and it appears the weeds/grasses get laid down and the flail does not suck them up 100% so I am left with two rows of bristles in the cut. Would those cup style, hammer knives do better .. can you mix the two style knives?

Still, I am 500% happy with this as a basic pasture and frontage cutter. I have had both a 72" finish mower and 5' bush hog styles that left the place in a mess. I can even cut right after a rain and still not get clumping and knots of weeds like before.

Jim

My old Ford 917 leaves uncut tire tracks in heavier grass. It has side slicers.

 

[Techspec360]

Missed this year's allotment. It takes a while to move big heavy stuff over from Italy & China. Also, they don't sell as well during winter for some reason.

Got it! Thanks!

 

[RoyJackson]

I've noticed that all of the economic versions of the 60" flailers seem to be out of stock (caroni, Farmer helper, bestco, value leader, victory). Is this because they all are the same unit? Or did I just miss this year's allotment?

When I first ordered my Caroni TM1900 (73" unit) from Argi-Supply, they were out of stock. When the 73" mowers did come in, there were 16 or 17 in stock (in the mail order inventory). There are 14 in stock now (near the end of the mowing season) . I just don't think any of the stores/retailers bring in many units at a time.
The 59" mowers are, as you wrote, out of stock

 

[IslandTractor]

I've noticed that all of the economic versions of the 60" flailers seem to be out of stock (caroni, Farmer helper, bestco, value leader, victory). Is this because they all are the same unit? Or did I just miss this year's allotment?

Caroni is Italian made. The others are Chinese and some might be just rebadged. Not sure.