Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Is this to rough? It's near me but I wonder if it is to much work to get it right

That's about twice what it would be here. I bought a used SHD88 for $1200 that had less rust, but more dents. I'd keep watching.

 

[DieselBound]

Okay thanks guys. I am in need of a heavy mower and from what I've read in this very long post a flail is a better investment than a rotary. There are a couple of deere 25As nearby but they are more money ($700 and 1000). There is also a Mott that looks in good shape but the guy is asking close to $3k for it.

"better investment" is a bit tricky to assess. RCs operate nearly maintenane-free; they last almost indefinitely; and, they can take a lot of abuse abuse. A flail is more delicate; not maintenance-free; they can't really take abuse (not in the way an RC can)- I jammed an 8" diameter chunk of wood in my flail and, thankfully, didn't hurt it (but it took me a lot of work to get it dislodged- had to resort to drilling to break it up): I could hit stuff like this with my RC repeatedly (though not looking to do so) with little concern (other than my nerves being rattled by the racket).

Flails can work well for mowing lots of grass (my requirements) as well as some light brush (also my requirements). If I had to go out to do battle and couldn't afford a break-down (if I were working for money with the equipment I have) I'd be running my RC: time will eat into profits, perhaps less so than equipment repairs would. I have hundreds and hundreds of hours running an RC. Only have about 20 hrs running a flail, but I can state that I am already quite aware of the differences in operation/care.

 

[Fixastuff]

Totally understand what your saying but why isn't a smaller lighter duty brush or flail mower manufactured for smaller excavators with lower flow rates using a smaller drum or or brush cutter blade hence being able to use a lower flow smaller hydro motor, and a lighter duty frame, Personally I'd never consider a smaller excavator or light duty mower attachment if my intended purpose was to clear land.
Thanks for the reply J

I've seen the smallest lipa run on a bobcat e10 with good results. Many people like to crap on the mini/micro excavators and say they can't do X, when they really have zero experience with it...everyone I've talked to that actually has one on a small machine thinks it was a great purchase.

 

[jjeff]

I've seen the smallest lipa run on a bobcat e10 with good results. Many people like to crap on the mini/micro excavators and say they can't do X, when they really have zero experience with it...everyone I've talked to that actually has one on a small machine thinks it was a great purchase.

I've rented quite a few I was amazed at the work I could do with one using just the bucket, a smaller mini would be perfect for my needs especially if I could find and use something for weed and small brush control, digging up small stumps in narrow tree rows, etc. thanks for your insight.
J

 

[Rebeldad1]

I've seen the smallest lipa run on a bobcat e10 with good results. Many people like to crap on the mini/micro excavators and say they can't do X, when they really have zero experience with it...everyone I've talked to that actually has one on a small machine thinks it was a great purchase.

I have a Lipa on my E26C and find its really bhandy to keep the growth away from the road. Try that with your kubota tractor. cuts down over the bank as well as up hillsides. about a 16' reach from the pin.

 

[arto98607]

"better investment" is a bit tricky to assess. RCs operate nearly maintenane-free; they last almost indefinitely; and, they can take a lot of abuse abuse. A flail is more delicate; not maintenance-free; they can't really take abuse (not in the way an RC can)- I jammed an 8" diameter chunk of wood in my flail and, thankfully, didn't hurt it (but it took me a lot of work to get it dislodged- had to resort to drilling to break it up): I could hit stuff like this with my RC repeatedly (though not looking to do so) with little concern (other than my nerves being rattled by the racket).

Flails can work well for mowing lots of grass (my requirements) as well as some light brush (also my requirements). If I had to go out to do battle and couldn't afford a break-down (if I were working for money with the equipment I have) I'd be running my RC: time will eat into profits, perhaps less so than equipment repairs would. I have hundreds and hundreds of hours running an RC. Only have about 20 hrs running a flail, but I can state that I am already quite aware of the differences in operation/care.

By "RC" do you mean brush hog or rotary cutter?

 

[jjeff]

I have a Lipa on my E26C and find its really bhandy to keep the growth away from the road. Try that with your kubota tractor. cuts down over the bank as well as up hillsides. about a 16' reach from the pin.

I learn something new everyday Lipas a specific unit not an acronym for something lol. Thanks for the great information it's just what I'm looking for!

 

[DieselBound]

By "RC" do you mean brush hog or rotary cutter?

Sorry, Rotary Cutter/Brush Hog.

 

[DieselBound]

Posted this in the "TODAY'S SEAT TIME" thread and then figured that it should be here as well.

Was out for a second mowing with the MXZ220 and decided to try out the flail in some really tall stuff just to see what would happen. About 7' tall, first mowing of the year (it's a dead-end short stretch which I was figuring I was going to mow with my 6' bush hog). Contrary to the manufacturer's warning to avoid mowing really tall grass, I didn't experience any issues (no sense of grass wrapping up in the flail- I'm going to open it up and take a look, but after mowing this section I went on to mow a lot more more normal height grass and the flail operated as expected). Was actually impressed on the cut. SLOW going, but the same would be the case with my 6' bush hog.

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[bigaledge32]

Greetings,
I am posting after using this site quite a bit to research tractor/ implements that I have purchased. Thanks to everyone that has contributed as there is a wealth of knowledge available here. I have my dad’s old flail mower, which my best guess it’s an old Mott but no tags or numbers I can find. While researching to find new knifes for this I discovered the ditch bank flail mower which is exactly what I need to mow the creek that divides my property. Then I priced them out north of 7k and thought this wasn’t going to happen soon. More reading and I found the imports not from Italy. Seems like for the most part everyone was happy with them. I decided to purchase a nova tractor BCRM 175 mostly because they had in stock. It arrived in 6 days and took a couple of hours to assemble. I used it for a short time and was initially very impressed with what it can do. I would recommend adjusting roller to highest cut on the first try as I destroyed a few rocks on my first cut, it dinged up a few of the hammers but they still seem to cut pretty well. Itching to get back on it in a couple weeks and see what else this thing can do. I included some photos of both and maybe someone can tell me more about the old one as I will be repairing it and putting it back in operation. Thanks to all for their input and opinions as it has been very helpful for me.

 

[p0opstlnksal0t]

Anyone know anything about cartiner flails?

 

[dieselscout80]

Greetings,
I am posting after using this site quite a bit to research tractor/ implements that I have purchased. Thanks to everyone that has contributed as there is a wealth of knowledge available here. I have my dad’s old flail mower, which my best guess it’s an old Mott but no tags or numbers I can find. While researching to find new knifes for this I discovered the ditch bank flail mower which is exactly what I need to mow the creek that divides my property. Then I priced them out north of 7k and thought this wasn’t going to happen soon. More reading and I found the imports not from Italy. Seems like for the most part everyone was happy with them. I decided to purchase a nova tractor BCRM 175 mostly because they had in stock. It arrived in 6 days and took a couple of hours to assemble. I used it for a short time and was initially very impressed with what it can do. I would recommend adjusting roller to highest cut on the first try as I destroyed a few rocks on my first cut, it dinged up a few of the hammers but they still seem to cut pretty well. Itching to get back on it in a couple weeks and see what else this thing can do. I included some photos of both and maybe someone can tell me more about the old one as I will be repairing it and putting it back in operation. Thanks to all for their input and opinions as it has been very helpful for me.

bigaledge32, what is the cutting height range of your Nova BCRM 175?

 

[leonz]

Good morning bigalege32,

I want to welcome you as the newest resident member of the "Flail Mower Nations" from the Great State of Michigan.
I am always interested in new reports of the resident sasquatch's and any reports of black helicopters.
I worked with folks from White Pine, Michigan many years ago. Its a real shame what happened to the mine when Louisiana Land
and Development scaled back the mines operations and to see it shut down and flooded was a real shock.

 

[leonz]

Anyone know anything about cartiner flails?

They are made in Cambridge, Ohio by MOTRIM Inc. P.O. Box 850 43725

1-740-439-2725

They make a lot of boom mounted mowers and tree trimmers along with PTO and hydraulic drive flail mowers.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I've read through much of this thread, but not all. I don't think I've answered my question from what I've seen so far.

My grandparents-in law and I share a zero turn. I'm not sure what will happen to it when they pass away.

If I ever need a mower I plan to buy some sort of mower for my bx1880. I think I would like a flail due to its multi-purpose capabilities. I have some areas under and around my Leland Cypress trees that grow up with woody weeds that I have to hit with a string trimmer and brush cutter head. I don't have any saplings that I'd be chewing up. I also have some aggressive thorny vines of some kind that come up, maybe as big around as my thumb.

The 1880 is limited on PTO horsepower, but my gut tells me I could mow my lawn and trim this type of junk okay with a flail and my tractor. Do y'all agree? I'm guessing a 48" model.

I also like that I could put dethathing flails on it and either dethatch the lawn, or tear up th surface a bit for future seeding projects.

 

[bigaledge32]

bigaledge32, what is the cutting height range of your Nova BCRM 175?

According to the manual 20-75 mm

 

[bigaledge32]

Good morning bigalege32,

I want to welcome you as the newest resident member of the "Flail Mower Nations" from the Great State of Michigan.
I am always interested in new reports of the resident sasquatch's and any reports of black helicopters.
I worked with folks from White Pine, Michigan many years ago. Its a real shame what happened to the mine when Louisiana Land
and Development scaled back the mines operations and to see it shut down and flooded was a real shock.

Thanks for the membership. This is our resident Sasquatch, no black helicopters but many maize and blue ones

 

[dieselscout80]

According to the manual 20-75 mm

I was hoping it was really more than what their website showed.

For a tool used to mow ditch banks it seems really a goof up to have the low end be 20mm (about 3/4") I wonder what the engineer was thinking?

It seems like say 2" to 5" would be mower usable unless they marketing it towards say a golf course type application.

 

[bigaledge32]

I was hoping it was really more than what their website showed.

For a tool used to mow ditch banks it seems really a goof up to have the low end be 20mm (about 3/4") I wonder what the engineer was thinking?

It seems like say 2" to 5" would be mower usable unless they marketing it towards say a golf course type application.

I guess that they send unit at lowest setting for shipping purposes but I should have put it on the highest setting first for the maiden voyage due to the many rocks that are everywhere. Fortunately it seemed to destroy the rocks instead of the hammers.

 

[leonz]

Greetings,
I am posting after using this site quite a bit to research tractor/ implements that I have purchased. Thanks to everyone that has contributed as there is a wealth of knowledge available here. I have my dad’s old flail mower, which my best guess it’s an old Mott but no tags or numbers I can find. While researching to find new knifes for this I discovered the ditch bank flail mower which is exactly what I need to mow the creek that divides my property. Then I priced them out north of 7k and thought this wasn’t going to happen soon. More reading and I found the imports not from Italy. Seems like for the most part everyone was happy with them. I decided to purchase a nova tractor BCRM 175 mostly because they had in stock. It arrived in 6 days and took a couple of hours to assemble. I used it for a short time and was initially very impressed with what it can do. I would recommend adjusting roller to highest cut on the first try as I destroyed a few rocks on my first cut, it dinged up a few of the hammers but they still seem to cut pretty well. Itching to get back on it in a couple weeks and see what else this thing can do. I included some photos of both and maybe someone can tell me more about the old one as I will be repairing it and putting it back in operation. Thanks to all for their input and opinions as it has been very helpful for me.

Hello bigalege32,

I thinkk it is a Mott flail mower, either way you can get parts for it and help from the Flail Mower Nations resident members.