Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,161  
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.
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,162  
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.
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,163  
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.
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,164  
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
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,165  
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.
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,166  
"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?
 
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   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,167  
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!
 
   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,169  
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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   / Let's talk flail mowers #7,170  
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.
 

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