Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

IslandTractor · Jun 19, 2017

PRCWI said:
Glad I am not the only one who has hit stuff so bad I stalled the tractor. :laughing:

Worst episode was catching a string of barbed wire and wrapping it up! That took a while to cut off. Wish I had grabbed a pic!

I've hit stuff worse than garden hose and firewood. I ran into an unmarked junk car dump at the end of a field and wrapped Lord knows what pieces of sheet metal around the rotor. No damage but I wasn't equipped to remove it in the field.

MainiacMule · Jun 19, 2017

Flail Mower Nation, Greetings and Salutations!

I have read this entire thread, what an informative and enlightening novel! So many folks sharing invaluable info, insight and experience, very helpful. Quick rundown on my situation. I have a Mahindra Max26XL HST and purchased it with a MMM which I quickly realized doesn't fit my needs. I have ~7 acres, and clear between 2-3 of those (the rest wooded) which consists of varying vegetation; average lawn, low pasture, light brush and saplings and pond perimeter growth about half on varying degrees of slope. Based on this thread I believe a flail with knives would work well for me for the majority of my needs. If I need to clear anything larger I will rent a rotary to knock it down and then use the flail to maintain. Here is my question: my dealer gets his non-OEM implements from JS Woodhouse and he is recommending the Sundown FM130 Flail. I cannot find any information on that brand of mowers, some of their other equipment is listed, but not the flails. The 130 has a 51" cut with hydraulic or manual offset and weighs in at 800+lbs. Seems pretty beefy compared to most of the brands/models folks have discussed here of comparable cutting width. I'll try to attach the price list that gives some stats and has a pic of the mower. I asked the dealer for some literature and he told me the distributor said none is available beyond the pricing sheet?! Does anyone have any experience or information on this brand? My mule is rated at 20HP PTO and 2200lb 3pt lift, I have a FEL and rear tires are loaded, so I think I could manage this flail even though its rated for 30HP+. I think ideally I would prefer something a little lighter, 400-500 lbs and rated for lower HP. At any rate, I'm very tentative to purchase this brand w/out more info. Perhaps I should see if he'll take the MMM in trade on another implement (forks or grapple) and go for purchasing a Caroni or Woodmaxx from another dealer, though I was counting on the trade-in allowance to cover some of the cost. Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Shawn

IslandTractor · Jun 19, 2017

Welcome Shawn. I don't know the Sundown brand but they seem like beefy mowers. Not so sure you really need that heavy duty type though. If it were my choice I'd get a quote on the Caroni TL1500 (or better yet TM1500 if they carry it) from Agrisupply. I suspect it will save you quite a bit of cash even with shipping. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Caroni for the tasks you outlined. The equivalent Woodmaxx is probably cheaper too.

Whichever you choose, I agree with your assessment that a flail would be great for your uses.

ericm979 · Jun 19, 2017

I think it's the same as this: https://www.shaktimanagro.com/flail-mower/
Its chinese. The prices you're being quoted are in line with the typical EFGC (see betstco for example).
The design is a little different. Looks like there's an actual tensioner for the belts instead of adjusting the top shaft. Some SFMs seem to have rear doors, not sure all have them.

The HP ratings are suspect as they're identical for models of different width.

It's too bad the side shift is only 11.8" in all sizes.

leonz · Jun 19, 2017

NOPE, NOPE, MOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your mule is too light even with the loaded rears for anything more than a 4 foot wide flail mower
your safer with either a four foot Caroni or Vrisimo orchard and vineyard flail mower and no wider !!!!!!.
You can purchase a Caroni 4 foot flail mower from Agrisupply and if you want I can contact Rodney
Barbour who is the manager of their imported equipment lines to call you with a price for one as
well as spare parts-knives, hangers, etc. IF you call Agrisupply ask for Mr. Barbour and tell Rodney
I sent you to him for a 4 foot flail mower.
Or you can purchase a 4 foot cut Vrisimo orchard and vineyard flail mower and have it shipped directly to you from California where they make them. You could also purchase a Maschio Flail Mower from Iowa Farm Equipment.
The second smallest Maschio flail mower model being the Birba 115 with the 45 inch cut would be more than adequate for your mule and its horsepower and they also ship the mower to you.

If your dealer cannot provide you with any more information on this chinese flail mower walk away
you do not want it, do not buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Maschios group has been making farm machinery in Italy just like the Caronis family but they build
flail mowers for orchard and vineyards in their product line with hammer knives which will handle your
mowing with zero issues.

trinculo · Jun 23, 2017

I've spent two days reading most of this thread and have decided to take the plunge on a flail. I have a Kubota L3240 hydro that claims about 26 Hp at the PTO. I would love to get a mower in the 6 -7 foot range to mower a couple 5 acre meadow that have been maintained with a rotary cutter for several years. Large sections of wild flowers I mow every other year and get 4 ft tall more or less. nothing over 1". Not looking for golf course cut, but something smoother than a bush hog would be nice.

I've been looking at the Phoenix SLE 140 and the Caroni 1900. I also found a good deal on a JD 25A used that seems in good condition, question is do I have enough tractor to pull the 7.5' flail.

Any advise is much appreciated.

shaeff · Jun 23, 2017

trinculo said:
I've spent two days reading most of this thread and have decided to take the plunge on a flail. I have a Kubota L3240 hydro that claims about 26 Hp at the PTO. I would love to get a mower in the 6 -7 foot range to mower a couple 5 acre meadow that have been maintained with a rotary cutter for several years. Large sections of wild flowers I mow every other year and get 4 ft tall more or less. nothing over 1". Not looking for golf course cut, but something smoother than a bush hog would be nice.

I've been looking at the Phoenix SLE 140 and the Caroni 1900. I also found a good deal on a JD 25A used that seems in good condition, question is do I have enough tractor to pull the 7.5' flail.

Any advise is much appreciated.

A lot of the guys around here will say something along the lines of: "If you can lift it, you can spin it." I'm not sure about the other mowers, but my 25A weighs about 650lbs, give or take. Check the lift capacity of your machine, The "5-foot" rule is just a guideline, and I'd say you're close enough to it to get away with a 6' mower.

IslandTractor · Jun 23, 2017

trinculo said:
I've spent two days reading most of this thread and have decided to take the plunge on a flail. I have a Kubota L3240 hydro that claims about 26 Hp at the PTO. I would love to get a mower in the 6 -7 foot range to mower a couple 5 acre meadow that have been maintained with a rotary cutter for several years. Large sections of wild flowers I mow every other year and get 4 ft tall more or less. nothing over 1". Not looking for golf course cut, but something smoother than a bush hog would be nice.

I've been looking at the Phoenix SLE 140 and the Caroni 1900. I also found a good deal on a JD 25A used that seems in good condition, question is do I have enough tractor to pull the 7.5' flail.

Any advise is much appreciated.

My Kioti DK40se has I believe 32-33 PTO horsepower. I mow with my 75" cut Caroni TM1900 generally at about 2100-2200rpm which is less than full 2500 rpm pto 560 speed.

So long as you don't expect to mow thick tall grass and brush at more than a few mph, I think the L3240 will do the job. Just be prepared to run at full PTO power and slow down in the thick stuff. For regularly mowed fields it should be fine.

IslandTractor · Jun 23, 2017

shaeff said:
A lot of the guys around here will say something along the lines of: "If you can lift it, you can spin it." I'm not sure about the other mowers, but my 25A weighs about 650lbs, give or take. Check the lift capacity of your machine, The "5-foot" rule is just a guideline, and I'd say you're close enough to it to get away with a 6' mower.

Times 2

MainiacMule · Jun 23, 2017

IslandTractor

Re: Let's talk flail mowers
Welcome Shawn. I don't know the Sundown brand but they seem like beefy mowers. Not so sure you really need that heavy duty type though. If it were my choice I'd get a quote on the Caroni TL1500 (or better yet TM1500 if they carry it) from Agrisupply. I suspect it will save you quite a bit of cash even with shipping. I wouldn't hesitate to use the Caroni for the tasks you outlined. The equivalent Woodmaxx is probably cheaper too.

Whichever you choose, I agree with your assessment that a flail would be great for your uses.

IslandTractor,
Thanks, happy to be a member! I agree, def more than I need, and more than I should attempt to use based on leonz comments

ericm979

Re: Let's talk flail mowers
I think it's the same as this: Flail Mower Shaktiman
Its chinese. The prices you're being quoted are in line with the typical EFGC (see betstco for example).
The design is a little different. Looks like there's an actual tensioner for the belts instead of adjusting the top shaft. Some SFMs seem to have rear doors, not sure all have them.

The HP ratings are suspect as they're identical for models of different width.

It's too bad the side shift is only 11.8" in all sizes.

ericm979,
That does look like a match. Thanks..

leonz

Re: Let's talk flail mowers
NOPE, NOPE, MOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your mule is too light even with the loaded rears for anything more than a 4 foot wide flail mower
your safer with either a four foot Caroni or Vrisimo orchard and vineyard flail mower and no wider !!!!!!.
You can purchase a Caroni 4 foot flail mower from Agrisupply and if you want I can contact Rodney
Barbour who is the manager of their imported equipment lines to call you with a price for one as
well as spare parts-knives, hangers, etc. IF you call Agrisupply ask for Mr. Barbour and tell Rodney
I sent you to him for a 4 foot flail mower.
Or you can purchase a 4 foot cut Vrisimo orchard and vineyard flail mower and have it shipped directly to you from California where they make them. You could also purchase a Maschio Flail Mower from Iowa Farm Equipment.
The second smallest Maschio flail mower model being the Birba 115 with the 45 inch cut would be more than adequate for your mule and its horsepower and they also ship the mower to you.

If your dealer cannot provide you with any more information on this chinese flail mower walk away
you do not want it, do not buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Maschios group has been making farm machinery in Italy just like the Caronis family but they build
flail mowers for orchard and vineyards in their product line with hammer knives which will handle your
mowing with zero issues.

leonz,
Thanks! When I first saw the stats it seemed like it would be too heavy, nearly 1/4 - 1/3 the weight of the tractor with FEL and loaded rears, but I kept seeing 'if you can lift it, you can spin it' so I thought maybe I was being overly concerned. Taking your suggestions and will pass on the Sundown and take a closer look at the three you mentioned and check in with my dealer about MMM tradein on something else. Appreciate the offer to call Mr. Barbour on my behalf. I will touch base after I do a little more research. Thanks again!

Shawn