Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[Nuru]

I have been following this thread on and off, and was wondering which brand gave the most bang for the buck? Caroni?? We have a MF 1523, and the more I read the more I like the sound of flail over rotary.

Thanks in advance.

Will

Depends on what you are doing, if you are doing anything approaching commerial work and the use is consistent, I would pay a bit more and go for the beefier units. But they are expensive!

Otherwise, Caroni and BETST are the best while being the most frugal. Or get one used.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have been following this thread on and off, and was wondering which brand gave the most bang for the buck? Caroni?? We have a MF 1523, and the more I read the more I like the sound of flail over rotary.

Thanks in advance.

Will

The two value brands being discussed are the Caroni and the BETST. There is a good amount of TBN experience reported on the Caroni flails and Caroni is a very well established Italian company with a long standing distributor in the US (AgriSupply). The BETST is the newcomer from China and seems like a good bargain based on limited reviews. Not much of a track record for either the mower or distributor though. Still, the BETST is so cheap it might be worth it for some folks, especially if you live in the northwest.

 

[WilliamBos]

The two value brands being discussed are the Caroni and the BETST. There is a good amount of TBN experience reported on the Caroni flails and Caroni is a very well established Italian company with a long standing distributor in the US (AgriSupply). The BETST is the newcomer from China and seems like a good bargain based on limited reviews. Not much of a track record for either the mower or distributor though. Still, the BETST is so cheap it might be worth it for some folks, especially if you live in the northwest.

Thanks. Would you happen to know who the Canadian distributor of Caroni is??

Thanks,

Will

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks. Would you happen to know who the Canadian distributor of Caroni is??

Sorry, no clue. I cannot recall if any of the Canadian TBN members with flails have Caroni's. They'll probably chime in if they do. If not, maybe AgriSupply would ship one from North Carolina if there is no Canandian distributor.

 

[shimp]

this one is only 23'.....

23' Alamo A-Boom Flail Mower - eBay (item 170218478250 end time May-16-08 12:53:11 PDT)

 

[DirtHauler]

Quote from e-mail May 6th 08:33 (a.m.);

"Right now we are out of stock on the Flail Mowers. We expect them to be in
from port by May 23rd maybe sooner."

{copy/paste, no punctuation or spelling corrections made}

Well, not sure when you ordered yours but I ordered a TM1600BSC, which was a special order, 3/05/08 which had to come from Caroni, Italy. It was suppose to leave port 3/28/08 but the ship was delayed till the 30th. Was suppose to ship to South Cal but ended up on east coast @ N.C. on 4/20.
Container had to clear customs. Was shipped from east coast to west coast and arrived at my local freight "will call" 5/01. All in all, I figure that was pretty good time considering I was originally told it could be up to 120 days for a special order.

And while on the subject, Caroni's are very well made as compared to some of the more expensive ones. As an example, last year I had a job to do and was VERY thick and tall (5-6') weeds with rocks every where, too much for my TL1500 to do and needed a mower with fewer blades that I could use, with my back against the wall, I went to a local dealer and a flail with a name that starts with the letter "B" and American made, paid $2,980!( can buy two Caroni's for that price). Well right away backing under some brush I bent the so called scraper bar, next I bent one of the "ears" where lower lift arms attache when I "lightly" back under a tree a hit a rock, got the job done. Went home and straightened everything out. Next job...... back into a corner of very thick grass, hit a old pier block, bent the "scraper" and the opposite "ear" bad ( cheap, soft thin metal). This year..... picked up some wire.....where did it go? right into the rotor bearing (no bearing guards) how to get wire out; 1.) remove belt cover (pain) 2.) remove belt tensioner 3.) remove lower pulley. 4.) get allen wrench to loosen bearing set screws. 5.) remove rotor/bearing support plate. 6.) remove wire. 7.) notice "factory" belts are already shot and not the same numbers! Reverse order to assemble, install two new belts ($50 for two) and the "Mickey Mouse" front rubber guard torn and hanging. I've had to do this bearing thing twice!!
The "side skirts" are also worn down, getting any kind of parts from that dealer don't happen either, great lip service tho. Thank God my Caroni got here before the real heavy mowing season starts. I now own two Caroni's and have only replaced the blades and belts once on my TL1500 in the three years I've owned it. If I need parts, I call Agri and they're here in a few days, that "other" brand......ordered two blades to replace a cracked one three weeks ago......still waiting.

 

[IslandTractor]

And while on the subject, Caroni's are very well made as compared to some of the more expensive ones. As an example, ....

Here is another example: ran over a partially exposed angle iron which was promptly ripped out of the ground by the Caroni TM1900 and immediately wrapped around the rotor shaft. Stalled the tractor. I grimaced and got off to see what had happened. I was then able to manually turn the rotor backwards and free up the angle iron to remove it. I then started things up and gritting my teeth I engaged the flail. Mower could have cared less and went back to work without a blink. I think it just wanted a little coffee break.

 

[sunspot]

Agri Supply Caroni Update

I just got off the phone with Beverly at Agri. She told me that the mowers are in America. I was also told that one of the few that came in is designated for me.
I don't have much more to add but that she marked her log to re-check the shipment and for me to call her back on Thursday.
I'm fairly sure that TBN member Foozle has ordered one and maybe Reg from what he said about emailing them.

BTW, I was in a Tractor Supply store over the weekend and looked at a Caroni finish mower. It looked like a very well made item. Much better than the other finish mowers in stock.

 

[Reg]

Agri Supply Caroni Update

I just got off the phone with Beverly at Agri. She told me that the mowers are in America. I was also told that one of the few that came in is designated for me.
I don't have much more to add but that she marked her log to re-check the shipment and for me to call her back on Thursday.
I'm fairly sure that TBN member Foozle has ordered one and maybe Reg from what he said about emailing them.

BTW, I was in a Tractor Supply store over the weekend and looked at a Caroni finish mower. It looked like a very well made item. Much better than the other finish mowers in stock.

Didn't they also tell you on the 10th that it had shipped to you on the 9th ?

Puzzled in Mass.

 

[sunspot]

Didn't they also tell you on the 10th that it had shipped to you on the 9th ?

Puzzled in Mass.

You are correct.

I didn't trust what the guy told me after you posted about your email so I called Beverly today.

 

[jimgerken]

Since you guys are all tuned up on flail techology, let me ask you a couple questions. I have a grass runway of two acres to mow, its all flat (no hills), and is like a really tough lawn. It is somewhat thick and sort of growing in clumps. I need it mown to about 3 inches tall, but don't want to mow it every week to keep it that way. In the past, mowing with a lawn tractor, if I didnt get over there every week, or less, it would overgrow and cause me a lot of stress on the tractor trying to get it hacked back down. So, there are no tree saplings, or tall brush, just thick probably overgrown turf, sometimes 8 inches tall and I want it mown to 3 inches. I have 22 pto hp. I have been considering buying a RFM. Does this sound like a good job for a FLAIL MOWER instead? Can I run the 59 inch Caroni with my 22hp, in these conditions? Thanks!

 

[KentT]

There's currently a used 5-foot Ford flail mower on eBay in Illinois for $300 Buy It Now -- if anyone is interested. At that price, it would be a relatively inexpensive test drive...

 

[Nuru]

Since you guys are all tuned up on flail techology, let me ask you a couple questions. I have a grass runway of two acres to mow, its all flat (no hills), and is like a really tough lawn. It is somewhat thick and sort of growing in clumps. I need it mown to about 3 inches tall, but don't want to mow it every week to keep it that way. In the past, mowing with a lawn tractor, if I didnt get over there every week, or less, it would overgrow and cause me a lot of stress on the tractor trying to get it hacked back down. So, there are no tree saplings, or tall brush, just thick probably overgrown turf, sometimes 8 inches tall and I want it mown to 3 inches. I have 22 pto hp. I have been considering buying a RFM. Does this sound like a good job for a FLAIL MOWER instead? Can I run the 59 inch Caroni with my 22hp, in these conditions? Thanks!

Does not sound like you will get out of mowing it weekly, that is the growth pattern of the grass. The flail will be stronger than your current mower apprently and that is what you want. Some of the guys were tossing around a number like 5 hp per foot of flail mower, but i do not know how accurate that is.

 

[IslandTractor]

Some of the guys were tossing around a number like 5 hp per foot of flail mower, but i do not know how accurate that is.

I think the rule of thumb posted by Dave (Mahindra and flail dealer) was 4hp at PTO per foot of flail as a general guide for mowing pasture and lawn. A bit more hp for bush hogging brush etc.

A 22hp at PTO tractor should have no trouble with a 5ft flail.

 

[sunspot]

I just got off the phone with Beverly at Agri. The mowers are at Agri and are getting ready to ship. Mine should go out Monday.

 

[CurtC]

I cancelled mine just before it shipped, so if someone wants one just off the boat, now is the time.

I had buyer's remorse on 1800 bucks for a mower I don't really need for 3-4 acres of mowing. Maybe in a year after some more bills are paid and the economy firms up in Michigan.

 

[Nuru]

I cancelled mine just before it shipped, so if someone wants one just off the boat, now is the time.

I had buyer's remorse on 1800 bucks for a mower I don't really need for 3-4 acres of mowing. Maybe in a year after some more bills are paid and the economy firms up in Michigan.

that is kinda why i decided to take a chance on the BETST as the one I wanted was only $975 and another $250 shippping

 

[Grapeman]

Thanks CurtC! I called and ordered a new Caroni Tm1900BSC from Agri Supply this morning. Spoke with Bev, (nice lady), and it should arrive here late next week. Tailgate drop here at farm. Probably got your cancellation. I will let everyone know how it works out.

 

[Grapeman]

As mentioned, I'm getting a new Caroni mower. I'd like to throw out another point for discussion. I have several rotary cutters and a 5' Kuhn flail chopper. I have used a chain toplink for several years and feel its the best way to go for general mowing. It seems to protect the tractor from having the toplink try to drive itself thru the tractor when the rear wheels are in a dip or lower than the front and tail wheels. Also allows the mower to flex if it hits something. Any thoughts?

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

.....hmmm...that's a good idea.....i wondered why i saw that in some pics.....

thanks!

As mentioned, I'm getting a new Caroni mower. I'd like to throw out another point for discussion. I have several rotary cutters and a 5' Kuhn flail chopper. I have used a chain toplink for several years and feel its the best way to go for general mowing. It seems to protect the tractor from having the toplink try to drive itself thru the tractor when the rear wheels are in a dip or lower than the front and tail wheels. Also allows the mower to flex if it hits something. Any thoughts?