Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

IslandTractor · Nov 22, 2014

erda said:
So, just trying to figure out a few things. Does a flail mower 'use' as much power as a rotary mower (bush hog)? Also, there seems to be a huge difference in price between some of the brands. Is there a 'substantive' difference?
Thanks.

Flails use roughly the same power per foot of width as bush hogs and finish mowers. I'd say it is more related to the material being cut than what type of mower. There are heavy duty flail mowers intended for roadside maintenance that would typically be six or seven feet wide and run on 60-100hp tractors but there are also lighter duty flails (like the often discussed Caroni) where a six foot flail can be run with a 30hp tractor to cut grass/pastures or a 40hp tractor for the equivalent of what a bush hog will do.

Yes there is a substantive difference between the heavy duty flails and the light/medium duty types. Just look at the spec sheets for total weight to get an idea. For practical purposes, unless you have a contract with the county to mow right of ways and median strips or are running a professional land clearing business, the "light/medium" duty flails sold by JD, Caroni, Befco and others are more than adequate.

Parkanzky · Dec 6, 2014

I've been following this thread for a few months now. We recently purchased a home with a bit of land and the woods is completely overgrown. My long-term plan is to clear all the brush and remove all the trees that are down or standing but dead. I've used a rotary mower, but only on lawn or established paths. So I'm new to working in actual brush. This is mostly wild grapes, vines, or smaller. From what I've read, a flail mower would be able to handle what I want to do and not leave the tall grass/brush laying where I cut it. It would also not hang as far off the back of the tractor as a rotary mower, which would make maneuvering in the woods easier. Right now I keep my box scraper on the tractor all the time and it looks like the flail would be a similar geometry.

What I'd really love is a Ferri ZME 155, because our driveway has a steep slope next to it and it would be awesome to be able to knock that down easily. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have enough tractor for it (I'm right at their minimums) and it hangs a lot farther off the back of the tractor than a fixed flail. Also, I priced one and it was ~$8500, and that's before I add the rear remotes to be able to operate it. I can spend a lot of time walking up and down the drive with my Stihl trimmer and the sawblade on it for $8.5k!

All my reading had lead me to believe that what I'd want is a 59" Caroni (Flail Mower, Caroni, Flail Mowers, Caroni Flail Mower | Agri Supply, 53413). Seems really well liked on here. I didn't get a shipping quote, but I'm assuming I can get it to my door for ~$2k.

But I was doing my due-diligence and came across this: 60

So I can get that for $1050 shipped! The value-leader doesn't get as much mention here, but my general impression from reading this monster thread is that the Caroni is a better mower. My question is, is it $1k better? If I take my time, will this knock down and mulch up the brush out there?

Any advice is appreciated.

sodamo · Dec 6, 2014

I've had my Value Leader 68 inch heavy duty about 4 years and no complaint. I've used it, likely abused it. Still on the original belts (lots of Caroni posts about belts). I did have to replace the bearings on the rear roller. Absolutely no complaints here either of the machine or the support from Betsco. I am on my 3rd set of cutters, but that is probably more a testament of how hard I use it.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

rgr33 · Dec 6, 2014

I have a 5foot Value Leader I bought about 6 years ago. for what you pay, they are ok. I don't know what the newer ones have, but mine had a really pathetic compression fitting on the drive pulleys that constantly worked loose. I finally took tat whole apparatus off and rigged up a keyed shaft with better quality pulleys. still just ok,burns through belts if it gets vines wrapped up in shaft. I would compare value leader implements to Harbor Freight tools. you get what you pay for, and you may have to do some mods to get them to work right

Parkanzky · Dec 6, 2014

rgr33 said:
I have a 5foot Value Leader I bought about 6 years ago. for what you pay, they are ok. I don't know what the newer ones have, but mine had a really pathetic compression fitting on the drive pulleys that constantly worked loose. I finally took tat whole apparatus off and rigged up a keyed shaft with better quality pulleys. still just ok,burns through belts if it gets vines wrapped up in shaft. I would compare value leader implements to Harbor Freight tools. you get what you pay for, and you may have to do some mods to get them to work right

Which model do you have?

It sounds like David has been happy with his heavy-duty 68" and you've had less luck with your 60". The one I'm looking at is "Medium Duty."

For Value-Leader's 60" flail mowers, the light-duty (EF155) is ~550#, the medium-duty (EFG155) is ~750# and the heavy-duty (EFGC155) is also ~750# but comes with a stronger gearbox. The roller, shaft and housing thickness are the same for the EFG and EFGC. The EFGC has a bigger offset.

Parkanzky · Dec 6, 2014

Parkanzky said:
Which model do you have?

It sounds like David has been happy with his heavy-duty 68" and you've had less luck with your 60". The one I'm looking at is "Medium Duty."

For Value-Leader's 60" flail mowers, the light-duty (EF155) is ~550#, the medium-duty (EFG155) is ~750# and the heavy-duty (EFGC155) is also ~750# but comes with a stronger gearbox. The roller, shaft and housing thickness are the same for the EFG and EFGC. The EFGC has a bigger offset.

Sorry, the weights are 557#, 665# and 730#. So there's a bigger difference than I thought between the medium and heavy duty models. The housing is the same thickness, so some of that weight probably comes from supporting the extra offset. The heavy-duty is >150% of the price of the medium-duty though, so it's hard to justify.

Parkanzky · Dec 7, 2014

Anybody else have an opinion on the Value-Leader medium-duty flail? The more I think about it, the more I think that I can't lose for $1050 shipped.

ac2520 · Dec 7, 2014

I posted pictures of sample cuts using the grass blades in post #47 (user name Kybound) in
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...one-used-ebays-flail-mower-5.html#post2499522

I have since gotten hammer blades due to all the saplings that I have left to cut. Grass blades did fine, but hammer blade do much better for what I have to cut. Both mulched the material just fine. BTW, mine is the EFGC 48inch cut

sodamo · Dec 7, 2014

LOL, pretty sure there are a number of opinions here, but what you really need is the thoughts of someone with actual experience with this piece. Just as not everything Italian is a Ferrari, not everything Chinese is the dregs of Harbor Freight.

David
Sent from my iPad Air (built in China) using TractorByNet

IslandTractor · Dec 7, 2014

sodamo said:
LOL, pretty sure there are a number of opinions here, but what you really need is the thoughts of someone with actual experience with this piece. Just as not everything Italian is a Ferrari, not everything Chinese is the dregs of Harbor Freight. David Sent from my iPad Air (built in China) using TractorByNet

Agree. The issue with Chinese goods is not the skill of the fabricators but rather the standards of the marketers back in the USA who write the specs and place the orders. (Typed on an iPhone 6)

Parkanzky · Dec 7, 2014

I also agree. That's why I'm looking for some first-hand experience with this particular mower (EFG155). It sounds like the EFGC series is up to snuff, but it's $1650 instead of $1050. For a few hundred more dollars, I'd step up to heavy-duty. But for >50% more I guess I'll try the EFG155 with or without any direct testimonials.

Edit to add that the deed is done. I've ordered the EFG155 and I hope to get a chance to try it out before the snow starts back up.

rgr33 · Dec 10, 2014

They only had one model back when I bought mine, I believe it was EF 155, which today, is probably the light duty model. I never have had a serious complaint, except with the way the two pulleys attached to the shafts, maybe they have changed that by now. I would ask about that before buying. No amount of tightening or thread lock applied ever lasted long, finally gave up and did what the manufacturer should have done in the first place. By the way, if you are buying from Betst Equipment in Cottage grove Or. they are very responsive with parts shipping. That is where I got mine through Ebay.

rgr33 · Dec 10, 2014

"LOL, pretty sure there are a number of opinions here, but what you really need is the thoughts of someone with actual experience with this piece. Just as not everything Italian is a Ferrari, not everything Chinese is the dregs of Harbor Freight".

Agree Sodamo, what I was trying to convey to the poster was that you get what you pay for with this brand. I have bought several things from Harbor Freight, and I find in general, the more moving parts they have, the more reconfiguring you may have to do. After those modifications, the Harbor Frt. machines, and also the Value Leader flail mower, did their jobs well enough. I appreciate the affordable prices of these made in China implements, that is why I bought one, because I, like Parkasnsky, have an eye for a bargain.

Parkanzky · Dec 10, 2014

I like quality stuff, and I'm usually inclined to spend more up-front to get what I want. But in this case the price difference was so big that I decided to take a chance, knowing that I can rebuild it a few times over before I'll have spent as much as I would have buying a nice Ferri mower.

sodamo · Dec 10, 2014

Champagne taste on a beer budget, I can relate. I don't like getting junk and my wife is quite supportive that I don't. But I also don't like paying for just a name or maybe where made if there is no true benefit of value. Just this year I decided to upgrade my solar, PV system, we are off grid. 7 years ago, I bought US made panels, 25 year warranty. This year I bought made in China panels at 2xs the output for 1/3 the cost, same warranty. I have to wonder, should I still be around in 18 years, what would be available and at what price. Even in another 7, I doubt my US panels will be worth more than the Chinese ones. While I realize this is not on par with a flail as for mechanics, the principle is valid. I'm also of the age that Made in Japan = crap, I think we know how that played out.
A very good friend recently sold his Gearmore flail. It was about 2or 3 years older than mine, very very valuable rust based on what he paid for it.

David
Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

Parkanzky · Dec 17, 2014

Parkanzky said:
I also agree. That's why I'm looking for some first-hand experience with this particular mower (EFG155). It sounds like the EFGC series is up to snuff, but it's $1650 instead of $1050. For a few hundred more dollars, I'd step up to heavy-duty. But for >50% more I guess I'll try the EFG155 with or without any direct testimonials.

Edit to add that the deed is done. I've ordered the EFG155 and I hope to get a chance to try it out before the snow starts back up.

It's here! It's also snowing here, but I will still try to get it together and run it for a little while this weekend.

Utopia Texas · Dec 19, 2014

Parkanzky said:
View attachment 403055

It's here! It's also snowing here, but I will still try to get it together and run it for a little while this weekend.

It will cut better if you attach it to the back of the tractor! :laughing:

Utopia Texas · Dec 19, 2014

Parkanzky said:
View attachment 403055

It's here! It's also snowing here, but I will still try to get it together and run it for a little while this weekend.

It will cut better if you attach it to the back of the tractor! :laughing: