Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[def38]

I have a crazy question. I have a Woodmaxx FM-78 on the way. I have a lot of dead thatch in my hay field from last year. What I need is a tedder (working on it) to get this stuff off the ground where the mower can help chop it up and make it go away. Short of that, would it be possible to remove some of the flail blades and replace them with rake teeth that are just long enough to skim the ground to fluff up the dead thatch? I don't know that the rake teeth would have enough mass to stay extended, but the thatch doesn't take much to fluff. Of course you would have to remove the correct blades to keep things balanced. Thoughts?

I would not change the rotating mass of the flail drum with a mixture of flails as you suggest. Too much opportunity for a severe out of balance situation and potential damage or destruction of the flail drum. A drag harrow is more convenient (no potential hazards, messing with flails and tools) and may cost about the same as a set of special flails.

I have a flail mower and a drag harrow. This spring, I have dragged my 5 acres a couple of times. Now thatch, ant hills, trash and other unwanted irregularities are history leaving the lawn areas receptive to mowing and fertilizer. As suggested, raking with a drag harrow leaves the growth more available for the flail to straighten the grass for a more regular cut. Any thatch left by the harrow is mulched by your next pass with your flail mower

I routinely drag my lawn areas as well as the grass areas on the public road outside my property (the County pays little attention to the rural roadside in my area). But, wait for the Texas Bluebonnets to finish blooming before venturing out onto the roadside (I just planted Bluebonnets in part of my meadow area).

You'll likely find more work for a drag harrow. I find that I drag my lawn areas more frequently resulting in better grass stands. Also, I must admit, I frequently leave shrub cuttings on the lawn for my next mower pass so, a quick pass with the drag harrow keeps things neat and healthy. Most drag harrows are easily pulled with a riding mower or similar so, you don't necessarily need to fire up the Kioti.

 

[ericm979]

Woodmaxx's grass blades are the traditional two piece Y blade with an added third straight blade, like the straight verticl part in Jack's picture. You could buy a set of those, remove your hammers (I'm assuming thats what you ordered with), and use just the straight blades. If you replace all the hammers there should not be an out of balance problem.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, I bout the Y blade. Going to pick up a drag harrow in the next couple of days. I think it will be money well spent and plenty of uses around the place.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, I bout the Y blade. Going to pick up a drag harrow in the next couple of days. I think it will be money well spent and plenty of uses around the place.

Get the heaviest one you can pull so it will work well. Mine weighs about 700 lbs and is 7’ wide. I mostly pull it with one on our tractors but, can pull it with our Polaris Ranger too.

The lightweight ones don’t do well as they do more bouncing than harrowing.

 

[IslandTractor]

Roy, thanks for the flowers but, it was not I who installed the side shift kit but lagreex. My flail is without side shift, made in China and cost a lot less than an Italian model. Now if Sophia would come over and keep me company while I was mowing my property, I'd have one of those Italian jobs in a minute. "Ms. Loren, another cold beer please". Actually, she is a bit old for me...I'm only 79.

I like your taste in women. I've been a fan of SL much longer than I've liked and owned Italian flails. As I recall I was prepubertal when I first saw a movie starring SL (the one where she was an au pair for ?Cary Grant). I was hooked. She's still today a very fine looking woman while the bloom is long gone on others of her generation (Bardot in particular). Class act!

 

[def38]

I like your taste in women. I've been a fan of SL much longer than I've liked and owned Italian flails. As I recall I was prepubertal when I first saw a movie starring SL (the one where she was an au pair for ?Cary Grant). I was hooked. She's still today a very fine looking woman while the bloom is long gone on others of her generation (Bardot in particular). Class act!

Then, there is Gina Lollobrigida...she is older than Sophia so, it would be more like, "Hey good lookin', get off that **** tractor and pour me another glass of Chianti". As for Bardot? Never was a fan.

Another favorite is Miss Fuzzy Britches. She was born near where I grew up but, she wouldn't give me the time of day or even ask for a glass of wine (She probably drinks rum or vodka straight out of the bottle).

 

[IslandTractor]

Then, there is Gina Lollobrigida...she is older than Sophia so, it would be more like, "Hey good lookin', get off that **** tractor and pour me another glass of Chianti". As for Bardot? Never was a fan.

Another favorite is Miss Fuzzy Britches. She was born near where I grew up but, she wouldn't give me the time of day or even ask for a glass of wine (She probably drinks rum or vodka straight out of the bottle).

Saw Raquel at a book signing about 15 yrs ago. She looked good enough to wear the costume again.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Saw Raquel at a book signing about 15 yrs ago. She looked good enough to wear the costume again.

Linda Carter maybe? Costume?

 

[def38]

Linda Carter maybe? Costume?

View attachment 551433

Scares me to death...she's as tall as I am and probably stronger..."Hey you, shut that smelly tractor off and get me another martini, and be quick about it".

 

[ronjhall]

Good reading while I wait for my Flail Mower to arrive.