Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Nuru]

I use a TM1900B behind my Kubote L3130 and I expect that the PTO hp of a B3030 is about the same. The lesser weight of the B3030 should not be a problem when you have a FEL.

Vernon

hmm, will i need fron weights on a 3520 or 3320 CAb to run the Caroni on the back?

 

[texbaylea]

hmm, will i need fron weights on a 3520 or 3320 CAb to run the Caroni on the back?

I am not familiar with those tractors but the TM1900 is about 600 lbs at about 2' behind the pins. At worst a few front weights would suffice.

Vernon

 

[IslandTractor]

A good bit of the weight of the Caroni is on the rear roller. I can barely tell the mower is back there most of the time. Even with a lighter tractor like a Kubota I'd think it would be not much more than the equivalent of having a rake on the 3PT which may weigh a bit less but is catelevered further out than the mower.

 

[Nuru]

A good bit of the weight of the Caroni is on the rear roller. I can barely tell the mower is back there most of the time. Even with a lighter tractor like a Kubota I'd think it would be not much more than the equivalent of having a rake on the 3PT which may weigh a bit less but is catelevered further out than the mower.

Island, I have some slopes, now i don't mow horizontal on a steep incline, but i am using a MMM now, should i have any conerns with regards to the front end? I was thinking as long as I don't do something silly, like lify it while mowing on an inclie, i should be fine, as the caroni seems like it would help with stability where I have to mow horizontally on an incline for a short run.

 

[Nuru]

I hope to pull the trigger on the tractor deal on Monday, just trying to sharpen my pencil along with the dealer sharpening theirs! Once that is done, then I will turn towards the Caroni order on Monday and probably pull the trigger on that too.

So we can switch knives and go from finish type mowing to brush/field mowing right?
Do we have to change the roller or can we just change the knives/hammers?

 

[Nuru]

OBTW, any other flail mower tips beyond the many that we have in this conversation?

 

[texbaylea]

I hope to pull the trigger on the tractor deal on Monday, just trying to sharpen my pencil along with the dealer sharpening theirs! Once that is done, then I will turn towards the Caroni order on Monday and probably pull the trigger on that too.

So we can switch knives and go from finish type mowing to brush/field mowing right?
Do we have to change the roller or can we just change the knives/hammers?

I believe that you could change knives but since you would only have half the total number of knives you would not achieve the same cut as a TL finish mower. If you sharpened the edges of the B blades you would probably get a better cut on grass but less life for the blades. Caroni lists A and F rotors for the TM1900 but it is not something Agri Supply carries right now.

I just took a look at their web site and there was a large range of parts in stock. I think that they are serious about supporting this product. I wonder how much TBN has had to do with the interest in Caroni flail mowers.

Vernon

 

[Nuru]

I believe that you could change knives but since you would only have half the total number of knives you would not achieve the same cut as a TL finish mower. If you sharpened the edges of the B blades you would probably get a better cut on grass but less life for the blades. Caroni lists A and F rotors for the TM1900 but it is not something Agri Supply carries right now.

I just took a look at their web site and there was a large range of parts in stock. I think that they are serious about supporting this product. I wonder how much TBN has had to do with the interest in Caroni flail mowers.

Vernon

Hmmm, an additional rotor, well that is probably a few hundred bucks i guess. i will research that and see what I can find out about the use of other rotors. i will report back.

 

[texbaylea]

Hmmm, an additional rotor, well that is probably a few hundred bucks i guess. i will research that and see what I can find out about the use of other rotors. i will report back.

From the prices I saw for replacement rotors you could almost buy a new mower. The finish cut rotors I saw were for the TL models and they were pricey.

Check it out, please

Vernon

 

[bucmeister]

All this discussion about the different rotor types has me confused. Guess I missed that portion of the discussion. What are the different rotors for, which is best for what?

Went back a couple of pages, found the link to Caroni and read their explanation of the different type. Basically now I see the "A" as average cut, "B" as brush cut, and "F" as fine cut. Not sure that is really what it means, but it works for me.

 

[Eagleview]

OK heres a few pics of the lighter material , i hav,nt got the pics of the taller stuff yet but you will have an idea . I had the mini excavator and rake pulling the stuff out around the rocks before i traded it in on the new 23tonner which is now working on the same place . Have a look at the before and after shots from his rock ledge and towards his rock ledge , as you will see from the landmarks these shots are taken from the same places . You may need to turn your monitor upside down to view them

 

[Nuru]

Yeah I saw a $900 rotor for the unit on Agrisupply or another site, but i was hoping to find someone with a much better price ro just go with the stcok stuff and see how it works out.

 

[Eagleview]

This is a shot of that same rock face , remember that my little excavator is exactly the same height as my TL100A tractor and keep in mind this is not the worst area . You can imagine how hopeless he felt standing there with his knapsack sprayer and this daunting "Trifid" laughing at him , it's not laughing now . I told him his place made Cambodia look like a walk in the park .

 

[Nuru]

All this discussion about the different rotor types has me confused. Guess I missed that portion of the discussion. What are the different rotors for, which is best for what?

If you take a look back on the thread during the Caroni discussion, there were two type of Caroni flails discussed, one that is good for finish mowing and one that is good for brush/field mowing. You can switch rotors and teeth to get the other cut if you can afford to have a second rotor. If I can find one for under 500 bucks, I might do it. Or just see what the stock cut buys me.

 

[IslandTractor]

Island, I have some slopes, now i don't mow horizontal on a steep incline, but i am using a MMM now, should i have any conerns with regards to the front end? I was thinking as long as I don't do something silly, like lify it while mowing on an inclie, i should be fine, as the caroni seems like it would help with stability where I have to mow horizontally on an incline for a short run.

I don't see how a flail would be any different than a finish mower on slopes. The weight is low just like on a finish mower or bush hog. I have one area with a slope of 15-17 degrees and when mowing it with the caroni and dk40se I go slow but it feels about the same as when I used a bush hog with my ck20. I am not sure what you mean by having concerns regarding the front end. I leave my FEL attached all the time so I've never mowed without it but the Caroni is not so heavy that you'd really need an FEL for counterbalance I don't think. Besides, with at least some (?most of the weight) on the rear roller only the lightest tractors might have any need to consider the effect of the weight on the 3PT.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yeah I saw a $900 rotor for the unit on Agrisupply or another site, but i was hoping to find someone with a much better price ro just go with the stcok stuff and see how it works out.

I would strongly suggest just going with the TM1900B and seeing how the cut works for you. Unless you are mowing golf greens I think you'll find that the cut is fine. If you want a fine cut just go more slowly or run the engine at true PTO speed (I almost never mow with RPMs above 2100 or so which is 20% less than standard PTO speed).

These mowers may have the parts available to change blades but they really are not made to be quick and easy switches. I'm aware that some people have talked about using different types of knives and hammers on their mowers but I believe that is actually not how most flails are used.

 

[Nuru]

I don't see how a flail would be any different than a finish mower on slopes. The weight is low just like on a finish mower or bush hog. I have one area with a slope of 15-17 degrees and when mowing it with the caroni and dk40se I go slow but it feels about the same as when I used a bush hog with my ck20. I am not sure what you mean by having concerns regarding the front end. I leave my FEL attached all the time so I've never mowed without it but the Caroni is not so heavy that you'd really need an FEL for counterbalance I don't think. Besides, with at least some (?most of the weight) on the rear roller only the lightest tractors might have any need to consider the effect of the weight on the 3PT.

Thanks for the input, and yep you probably are correct that I am probably being a little more worried than I should about this.

 

[Nuru]

I would strongly suggest just going with the TM1900B and seeing how the cut works for you. Unless you are mowing golf greens I think you'll find that the cut is fine. If you want a fine cut just go more slowly or run the engine at true PTO speed (I almost never mow with RPMs above 2100 or so which is 20% less than standard PTO speed).

These mowers may have the parts available to change blades but they really are not made to be quick and easy switches. I'm aware that some people have talked about using different types of knives and hammers on their mowers but I believe that is actually not how most flails are used.

Island, that is really the current primary plan. I am hoping that it does work as everyone is saying and yes, I do not have a golfing green level of lawn.

 

[SpringHollow]

My Power Trac 1850 is rated for 45 degree slope with the 90" bush hog but only 40 degrees with the 96" flail mower.

Ken

 

[Nuru]

Can you elaborate on why the difference? Is it because the flail mower is taller and stocky?