Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[deanocraft]

Hey Slckeys, I have been using my Caroni TM1300 for over a year, so here are my observations... I originally wanted a TM1900, but just as I was about to order I found a used TM1300 and bought it because the price was a substantial discount to the new one. I am not certain of the exact width, but it is wider than my tires at 5 ft.

My place is hilly and some of it is tight with trees and fence lines. There are a couple of areas that I mow which require a lot of tight turns. It turns out that I am very glad I found the smaller flail. I think it works better on my property. It has been reliable and I have not lost any knives so far. Last weekend I did lose my belts, so I just got some of the Gates kevlar belts delivered today!

 

[slckeys]

Deanocraft,
Thank you for the info. The 62" model seems like it is overall wider than the tractor tires, but will cut about 1 or 2 inches narrower than total width. I'm thinking I'll keep it offset mostly unless I'm going in between an area. I think I'd like the offset distance of the larger one, but I'm starting to think it's going to be too wide and annoying in certain areas and my house. Thank you for your observations.

 

[McCulley Heights]

I'm looking at buying a Caroni tm1900. I'll be mowing along a 1/2 mile private road with it; shoulders, ditches, and backslopes. Ditches and backslopes aren't steep, as I've been mowing them with my 42" lawn tractor, but it takes so long.

What do people keep on hand for spare parts? When I buy the mower, how many extra shackles and y blades should I buy to replace broken ones when they break.

Thanks.

Roy Jackson, leonz, Dan in MN, and IslandTractor thanks for replying.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

My WoodMaxx FM78 shipped yesterday and I can't wait to try it out. I didn't go with the side shift. I have fences bordering my ten acres but I keep them sprayed where need be and the neighbor's hay burners eat most anything under the remaining fences. Besides, the FM-78 is offset to one side already. My only concern was loading onto my trailer. After some careful measuring and seeing how much I could swing and pin my three point arms to one side, I think I am good there.

 

[Davescho]

I work for a non profit farm/orchard and was just put in charge of purchasing a tractor and implements. I know basically nothing about any of these things, 3 point hitches etc. Anyways, I got a Caroni TL 1200 flail mower with a kubota bx2680 When I moved the top link pin on the mower end from the hole to the slot, to allow for a better mow on uneven terrain, the pin slid out on the side with the cotter pin, warping the cotter pin in the process. Apart from the cottter pin, It doesnt look like anything is damaged, but Im wondering what Im doing wrong, how to avoid the pin angling and sliding out. Thanks for any help.

 

[CADplans]

Apart from the cotter pin, It doesn't look like anything is damaged, but

Im wondering what Im doing wrong, how to avoid the pin angling and sliding out.

Thanks for any help.

You need to add a ,,,,,,3/4" i.d. washer to the top link pin.
you may need to add a washer to both sides of the top link pin.

 

[JimCan]

Stuart, ...me too. I had a field full of 'belches' from years of using a rotary mower ...big-azz clumps of semi-cut stuff. I had to go slow, but the Caroni flail cleaned it up. Now it stays clean and the pasture looks a helluva lot better. (5ac pasture left fallow for 20+ yrs)

Jim

 

[StuartDK45SE]

Stuart, ...me too. I had a field full of 'belches' from years of using a rotary mower ...big-azz clumps of semi-cut stuff. I had to go slow, but the Caroni flail cleaned it up. Now it stays clean and the pasture looks a helluva lot better. (5ac pasture left fallow for 20+ yrs)

Jim

My mower is supposed to arrive Friday and I can't wait. If it gets in early enough, I should be able to try it out for a couple of hours. Things are really dry in my area right now. I think I will mow everything first, then use my drag harrow to help churn up any old clumps that might remain and hit it again with the flail mower. It'll be a learning curve as I have never used a flail mower. You just don't see them where I live at all. I'm also eyeing a couple of potential sites around town to bid on mowing now that I will have a flail and don't have to worry as much about flying debris.

 

[ronjhall]

My flail mower is supposed to delivered this afternoon. Hope there is not a lot of assembly like the chipper.

 

[leonz]

My mower is supposed to arrive Friday and I can't wait. If it gets in early enough, I should be able to try it out for a couple of hours. Things are really dry in my area right now. I think I will mow everything first, then use my drag harrow to help churn up any old clumps that might remain and hit it again with the flail mower. It'll be a learning curve as I have never used a flail mower. You just don't see them where I live at all. I'm also eyeing a couple of potential sites around town to bid on mowing now that I will have a flail and don't have to worry as much about flying debris.

======================================================================================================================================================================


Hello Stuart,

Please do not use your drag harrow after the first mowing. The safest thing you can do with your flail mower if it has the scoop knives or side slicer knives is just mow at right angles to continue to mow the land as using the drag harrow is only going to plug it up with clippings and any existing rocks or limbs it may dig up.