Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Kscessnadriver]

I’m new to owning a flail mower, so here I am. I picked up a Titan Implements FMWR175 (68 inch) flail a few months ago, and finally started using it recently. I’m mowing roughly 6 acres of pasture land that’s currently not being grazed, so things grow fast. I’m trying to run it on a Ferguson TO30 (poor choice I now realize). It cuts great on well manicured grass, but anything taller than about 5 inches I’m unable to mow the entire width of the mower. Am I wrong, or so I simply just not have the power to run the mower? Thanks

 

[AGTtactical]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think Titan is the worst of the various flail mowers. The roller is only 4" in diameter, and often scalps in soft soil (most others are 25% larger). Various guys have written about the silly placement of grease zerks on the Titan, and the some have said that the zerks aren't standard. Various guys have complained about the Titan models on this forum. Most seem to love all the others. That aside, its probably a power issue. I grew up running a Fergusson, and it did all we asked of it, but its too weak for this mower. Only 29.3 engine hp, and 28 PTO hp. While Titan does claim a minimum hp of 30, the recommended hp is 40-60 HP (tractor), so you can bet your tractor is too small.

 

[DogT]

After seeing the talk about these flail mowers, I've been thinking about one. I always thought these things cost $10 grand and up. I could do with one for a lot less than that if they work. Currently I'm using a JD2020, 54 pto HP, with a 7' NH 451 sickle bar. I don't have a rake or baler. Which means that to cut the fields 3 times a year, I have to wait for mostly very dry conditions, there's always a lot of chaff in the fields. I currently cut about 20 acres on not very flat ground (foothills of the Blue Ridge) and a fair amount of trees, outcrop rocks, etc. which takes me about 4-5 hours per 10 acre field on 2 sides of a stream. There are no level spots, everything is on the side of a hill from the stream up. I was wondering if I should pick up a 68' or so and see how it works. $2000 is not that much and if it needs a few mods, I can deal with that, I can't deal with $10K.

This year is especially horrendous with all the rain we've had, it's hard to mow between storms and the grass is tall and the weeds have come up under the grass. But I've got the mower moving through the stuff even if it's wet. Only thing is once in a while it bogs down in the cutters and I have to back up to clear it.

I'd still use the NH to get on the banks and under the tree lines. Are these things really worth the money? I've read that back roller is too small, but the soil here is generally pretty hard unless I get in a swampy/spring area which is impossible to get into this year anyhow.

 

[leonz]

After seeing the talk about these flail mowers, I've been thinking about one. I always thought these things cost $10 grand and up. I could do with one for a lot less than that if they work. Currently I'm using a JD2020, 54 pto HP, with a 7' NH 451 sickle bar. I don't have a rake or baler. Which means that to cut the fields 3 times a year, I have to wait for mostly very dry conditions, there's always a lot of chaff in the fields. I currently cut about 20 acres on not very flat ground (foothills of the Blue Ridge) and a fair amount of trees, outcrop rocks, etc. which takes me about 4-5 hours per 10 acre field on 2 sides of a stream. There are no level spots, everything is on the side of a hill from the stream up. I was wondering if I should pick up a 68' or so and see how it works. $2000 is not that much and if it needs a few mods, I can deal with that, I can't deal with $10K.

This year is especially horrendous with all the rain we've had, it's hard to mow between storms and the grass is tall and the weeds have come up under the grass. But I've got the mower moving through the stuff even if it's wet. Only thing is once in a while it bogs down in the cutters and I have to back up to clear it.

I'd still use the NH to get on the banks and under the tree lines. Are these things really worth the money? I've read that back roller is too small, but the soil here is generally pretty hard unless I get in a swampy/spring area which is impossible to get into this year anyhow.

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If your willing to invest in a used JD25A or JD290 flail mower you will not go wrong.

They come up on tractorhouse, auction time, iron planet and other rags and you can buy municipal flail mowers
at auction as they are not that badly used and you can buy parts for all of them.

Other than purchasing a 4 foot cut caroni as new iron and waiting until it comes in you do not have many options.

Do not let anyone at agrisupply tell you they cannot get a 4 foot cut flail mower from the Caroni Family and if they do I will call
Rodney Barbour myself and mention it to him as they bring in container loads of Caroni AG products several times per year.

 

[AGTtactical]

I'm leaning toward a Woodmax FM-78H. It has the hydraulic option, so you can move it out under bushes so you don't have to get the right side of your tractor into the brush. It's less than half the price of the Landpride I was looking at, which has no hydraulic option, and only a 1 year warranty. Woodmax has a 2 year warranty. Woodmax blades can be swapped between duckbill and Y blades...LP says "we don't recommend doing so." The Landpride is far heavier, and has an 80 hp gearbox, so it probably is more durable, but for the price of a Landpride, I could buy two Woodmax mowers. I've been on the phone with both companies...both have great tech support. Caroni mowers seem to have a good reputation, but its been very hard to get any info out of them.

 

[Kscessnadriver]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think Titan is the worst of the various flail mowers. The roller is only 4" in diameter, and often scalps in soft soil (most others are 25% larger). Various guys have written about the silly placement of grease zerks on the Titan, and the some have said that the zerks aren't standard. Various guys have complained about the Titan models on this forum. Most seem to love all the others. That aside, its probably a power issue. I grew up running a Fergusson, and it did all we asked of it, but its too weak for this mower. Only 29.3 engine hp, and 28 PTO hp. While Titan does claim a minimum hp of 30, the recommended hp is 40-60 HP (tractor), so you can bet your tractor is too small.

I fully understood what I was getting when I purchased the Titan flail. For my use, and how often I was going to use it, it simply didn’t make sense to go spend 5x the money on a comparable flail. While a few of the grease fittings don’t make sense (the roller specifically), I think some guys may not realize it’s all in metric. That said,. I am happy with the cut I’m getting at this point, when I can run it in short grass. I guess I’ll shop around for something on the higher end of 40-60 HP. Thanks for the confirmation in what I suspected.

 

[leonz]

Everything you need to know about the caroni products is available on the Caroni Families company web page and they respond to e-mails. They have been making and exporting farm machinery for over fifty years.
The entered the US market less than 20 years ago through Agrisupply and a few others on the west coast.

caroni spa – TECNOLOGIA & NATURA

 

[AGTtactical]

Everything you need to know about the caroni products is available on the Caroni Families company web page and they respond to e-mails. They have been making and exporting farm machinery for over fifty years.The entered the US market less than 20 years ago through Agrisupply and a few others on the west coast.
caroni spa – TECNOLOGIA & NATURA

Not really. Even when you select the English version, much of the info is in Italian...see this: Flail Mowers TL and TM Series – caroni spa. Landpride and Woodmax provide much more detailed and clearer info on their sites, and they have a number you can actually call from the actual company, not some third party selling it. If you know, what's the number you call for Caroni tech support? (not Agrisupply). Where is the link on the Caroni website for the diameter of the rollers? What is the blade tip speed of a 1900? What is the gear box HP rating? I really want to compare Caroni to the others, but the information is so limited, or at least more difficult to find.

 

[leonz]

IF you like I can send you the PDF copy of this information that is in 4 languages.
It is also available for down load at no cost to you.

Most of the gearboxes used on Italian machinery and many others are made by Comer.

The rotor diameter I am not positive about but I believe it is the same diameter as the flail mower rotor but that is easy enough to check with the folks at agrisupply as you can ask for Mr. Barbour.

The flail mowers they make are also based on the roto tiller design frame where they use and share many of the same components-gearbox/cross shafts/bearings/seals etc.

The Caroni Company telephone numbers are

Telephone: 39 017 140 1346 ext. 7

Facsimile(FAX): 39 017 140 3750

The number 39 is the country code for Italy which needs to be dialed first and you can direct dial both their telephone and facsimile(fax) numbers. They will respond personally to e-mails and by mail as well.

Take a lot of time to see how these machines are built and look at how the bearings are installed and how the inner bearing housing is attached to the side weldments and the location of the seals before you make any decision.

I hope this helps you in your decision.

 

[AGTtactical]

Thanks Leonz.