Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[DocDryden]

I have a JD 110TLB with 33 pto hp.
I've been using a JD 25A for 4 years with no issues.
I've always wanted a JD 390 off-set, well I finally bought one from CL.
The JD web site said the Minimum hp is 30, the used manual I bought said Minimum is 40 hp.



It was missing a skid shoe or a Runner as JD calls it

Missing teeth on the v-belt

It has 10 new blades mixed in with the old ones, that might be causing it to shake / vibrate.
(new blades 7 oz old blades 6.4 oz)

Got it home and found out the roller was locked up. (freed it with a 4ft pipe wrench)

A crack in the 3pt hook-up

Boy do I need a BEER!

 

[otus_branch]

Just for the sake of knowing more about these machines and your piece of mind:

You do not want to grease the heck out of these machines. 4-6 pumps every 6 or so hours of mowing is all you need unless you plant on mowing for longer periods of time as they are selaed on one side and you need to prevent blowing out the seal in the inboard side.

...

IF your worried about price The smallest Del Morino Mounted Flail mower from EA or the Peruzzo boom mounted mower(from Iowa Farm Equipment) will give you more flexibility simply because of thier range of motion and increased potential for income from mowing contracting work.

The Peruzzo Girafetta and its bigger brothers have cast hammer flails and have a stronger knife versus the Delmorino Orchard and Vineyard mowers that have the very heavy heat treated side slicer knives both of which provide a very good mowing result.

Please keep in mind that many good used John Deere 25A, 290, 390 model flail mowers come up for sale and they are an excellent option for your needs as well as they will let you mow right down to 2 inches in height with little trouble.

Many equipment resellers also place excess new and used equipment up for sale on tractor house and auction time.


It may be much more beneficial to invest in a used 25A, 290 or 390 for now to get used to these fine flail mowers and go from there; and if you decide to add a second implement a small boom mounted unit from Del Morino or Peruzzo it will let you have a more versatile implement for your use and for a potentional second source of income from mowing.

AND these fine implements will out last your current mule and also work very well if you decide to trade in the current mule and go to a larger engine and frame size/implement carrier.

I am not trying to cloud the issue I just want you to be an informed consumer of information.

Thanks leonz for the welcome perspective. I've enjoyed reading your experiences with various flails in this thread and some of the others where you also posted.

I'm trying to avoid older iron in this particular purchase if possible. I know that the types of problems presented by DocDryden (great JD flail you found there, sir!) just downthread from my post are all fixable, but they are more than I want to tackle at present. At the moment, I need to find something I can hook up and run with.

Regarding size, this flail will be used to clear and then maintain about 5-6 acres (depending on how the tractor behaves on the steeper ground) that has not been consistently mowed or grazed since 2014. I actually have a 32" Del Morino rotary brush mower and a 31" Palladino flail mower for my BCS, but there's never enough time required to clear even a portion of this ground with these little units. I need a bigger flail that I can hook-up once or twice a year and go to town. Mowing for others for $$$ is conceivable, but not a big priority. With my little Palladino, I have learned to temper my greasing to (hopefully) the right amount, though I wish that the manufacturers designed the seals to allow for grease to bleed to a visible location when one adds just enough.

The budget, size, and age requirements for my situation pretty much limit me to Caroni, Del Morino, or Woodmaxx. If the Chinese steel and bearings of the Woodmaxx are really inferior, then I'll go with one of the Italian models. However, the photos, features, and yes, marketing of the Woodmaxx look far superior relative to the costs. The ability to get a hydraulic-side-shift model ready to go for ~$300 more (vs Agri-Supply's model of 'for $1,000 we'll eventually send you a bolt-on hyd kit but no instructions'), the easy-access hatch for knife maintenance, the supposedly automatic belt tensioning, the slip-clutch PTO shaft included, etc. are all compelling advantages, IF the flail otherwise performs as expected.

Before making any decision though, I want to hear from owners of each model. Posts here at TBN by owners of the Caroni make me confident that ordering their TM1900BSC from Agri Supply could be a workable solution, if a little less feature-rich than Woodmaxx. The 6' Del Morino does not seem to offer a whole lot of advantage compared to either, and the more I read the more I think that a 7' flail is too large for the L-39, which is rated as 30 HP at the PTO.

Thanks & keep the replies coming!

-otus

 

[doneill127]

Woodmaxx is using NSK bearings according to the Website.

 

[ericm979]

A recent Woodmaxx purchaser reported on this forum that his unit is a "new version" that has no rear door and a manual belt tensioner.

 

[leonz]

Hello Otus branch,

Just so you know this can be done you can order the TM1900 with the hydraulic side shift factory installed when the unit is
assembled in Italy by the way so no worries there.
There are a lot of good used flail mowers for sale so you will not lose anything in buying one from a dealer if you intend on mowing only twice a year.

 

[ronjhall]

A recent Woodmaxx purchaser reported on this forum that his unit is a "new version" that has no rear door and a manual belt tensioner.

Unless I missed it. The poster purchased a 54" model that did not have rear door and tensioner. My FM-62H has all the features that come on a Woodmaxx. It is little over a month old.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Unless I missed it. The poster purchased a 54" model that did not have rear door and tensioner. My FM-62H has all the features that come on a Woodmaxx. It is little over a month old.

Are you still happy with it Ron? I’m still “looking” at the FM-78H for my LS XR4155HC. It came with three rear remotes so, I won’t have to disconnect top or side tilt cylinders, to use the side shift.

I’d really like the FM-88H but, I’m 6 PTO HP shy of the minimum 50 HP required. My 3-point is CAT2.

I keep hearing rumors that LS understates their PTO HP and that one or more dealers have actually done dyno tests on some models.

Haven’t been able to run that down so ........ that’s my excuse for sitting on my hands and not getting an FM on order.

 

[doneill127]

It was my post and you are correct it was a 54”. The 54 appears to be a a diffent design from the larger ones. FWIW neither the door or they’ll adjustment is an issue. There’s a rubber flap on the back I can lift to access the blades and I kind of like the simplicity of a a jack screw to adjust the belt. So far it working well.

 

[Fallon]

Are you still happy with it Ron? I’m still “looking” at the FM-78H for my LS XR4155HC. It came with three rear remotes so, I won’t have to disconnect top or side tilt cylinders, to use the side shift.

I’d really like the FM-88H but, I’m 6 PTO HP shy of the minimum 50 HP required. My 3-point is CAT2.

I keep hearing rumors that LS understates their PTO HP and that one or more dealers have actually done dyno tests on some models.

Haven’t been able to run that down so ........ that’s my excuse for sitting on my hands and not getting an FM on order.

I ran a 7' flail on my L3200. 32hp, 25PTO if I recall. My current L4060 has 40hp, probably 35PTO & I run my new Peruzzo Super Bull 2200 on it, 87" working width, 1,700lbs (my machine couldn't quite lift it with the forks on the pallet. I have to run a bit slower, but they run fine. I'd rather go wide & slow than bouncing all over the cab with a skinny mower going fast.

 

[otus_branch]

I ran a 7' flail on my L3200. 32hp, 25PTO if I recall. My current L4060 has 40hp, probably 35PTO & I run my new Peruzzo Super Bull 2200 on it, 87" working width, 1,700lbs (my machine couldn't quite lift it with the forks on the pallet. I have to run a bit slower, but they run fine. I'd rather go wide & slow than bouncing all over the cab with a skinny mower going fast.

Hmmm... Fallon's got me reconsidering the 84" Del Morino as a potentially viable choice...

-otus

 

[StuartDK45SE]

I guess I have about 20 hours on my Woodmax FM78 now. Cleaned it up last night and inspected things before I put it back in the barn. Didn't notice anything out of place or unusual. I'm happy so far. It will leave some tall clumpy weed stragglers sometimes, but most grass it cuts up fine and the clippings decompose quickly which is what I was looking for. The knives are going to last a LONG time just mowing grass, especially since I can flip them around at some point.

PS, the 6ft Modern Manufacturing Super Sunshine brush hog is for sale. Like new. Will deliver in the Houston area.

 

[otus_branch]

Excellent photos & description, StuartDK45SE, thanks!

What have you experienced so far with the "solid state" (as described at the Woodmaxx site) belt tensioner? I wonder about the longevity of such a device in a tractor implement subject to the acidic grass residues, shocks, and vibrations that a flail mower experiences. On the other hand, a lot of tractor components are solid state these days...

Nice Bush Hog you have for sale there, but I'm too far geographically, and too far down the flail mower path to be your buyer. Good luck!

-otus

 

[ericm979]

Unless I missed it. The poster purchased a 54" model that did not have rear door and tensioner. My FM-62H has all the features that come on a Woodmaxx. It is little over a month old.

Yea, that's the one. The point I was trying to make is that Woodmax shipped a unit without those features. They may be changing designs. So if those features are important it'd be a good idea to verify with them that the unit you order has them. The new one sounds a lot closer to the generic chinese EFGC units that you can get from a number of resellers.

Also Woodmaxx's minimum HP for their woodchipper is way lower than what I'd consider the real minimum. They rate my 8H at a minimum 19 pto hp. I have 32 and when chipping larger material I have to set the feed very slow. It's an 8" chipper but at 19 hp you're not going to be chipping material anywhere close to that size. While there's reasons to have an 8" chipper for chipping much smaller material, their min HP rating gives the impression that it'll be fully functional but slow. To me fully functional means chipping material close to the capacity. They may have the same low minimum for the flails. I'd compare with other manufacture's ratings for units of similar cutting width. It's not possible for one to be radically more efficient than others of the same design.... physics is physics.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

Excellent photos & description, StuartDK45SE, thanks!

What have you experienced so far with the "solid state" (as described at the Woodmaxx site) belt tensioner? I wonder about the longevity of such a device in a tractor implement subject to the acidic grass residues, shocks, and vibrations that a flail mower experiences. On the other hand, a lot of tractor components are solid state these days...

Nice Bush Hog you have for sale there, but I'm too far geographically, and too far down the flail mower path to be your buyer. Good luck!

-otus

I took the cover off the belts a while back an everything looked okay with no signs of slippage and the pulleys and belts were remarkably clean. The tensioner feature is one of the reasons I chose this model.

 

[Fallon]

Hmmm... Fallon's got me reconsidering the 84" Del Morino as a potentially viable choice...

-otus

It got things done. Not fast, but it covered equal acres per hour to the 5' rotary cutter. For comparison the track on my L3200 was 5', the mower is a 7' (working width I think).

Probably going to dig it out of retirement next week. Have a rocky/trashy mowing job comming up again. Its survived it before with minimal knife damage (and I have 30lbs of half worn knives). I wont feel too bad if the mower takes a beating. New hammers on my Peruzzo aren't going to be cheap, nor do I want to damage my new mower. I expect the Y knives will take a lot less damage from rocks too.

 

[ronjhall]

Are you still happy with it Ron? I’m still “looking” at the FM-78H for my LS XR4155HC. It came with three rear remotes so, I won’t have to disconnect top or side tilt cylinders, to use the side shift.

I’d really like the FM-88H but, I’m 6 PTO HP shy of the minimum 50 HP required. My 3-point is CAT2.

I keep hearing rumors that LS understates their PTO HP and that one or more dealers have actually done dyno tests on some models.

Haven’t been able to run that down so ........ that’s my excuse for sitting on my hands and not getting an FM on order.

Still happy after about 20 hours of use. If I was to second guess my purchase. Maybe I should have gotten the 78” model without slide. My 22 PTO HP tractor handles the 62H with no problems. Cut 3 acres today in half the time it took with rotary cutter. Plus it looks much better.
My tractor has 3 remotes. So no problem with slide option.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Still happy after about 20 hours of use. If I was to second guess my purchase. Maybe I should have gotten the 78” model without slide. My 22 PTO HP tractor handles the 62H with no problems. Cut 3 acres today in half the time it took with rotary cutter. Plus it looks much better.
My tractor has 3 remotes. So no problem with slide option.

Thanks Ron, glad it’s working for you. Your thoughts of maybe you should have bought a bigger FM is what has held up my decision. There are few (actually none that I’m aware of) flail mowers in my area so, no local help and none of the local tractor / equipment dealers know anything about them. I’m getting all my knowledge here.

Did your B-2910 come with rear remotes or did you add them? I had B-2710 and I had to add remotes.

 

[ronjhall]

Did your B-2910 come with rear remotes or did you add them? I had B-2710 and I had to add remotes.

I added the remotes. 2 valves are mounted under FEL valve. They have front and rear quick connects. Third valve is mounted on fender behind 3ph lever. Do not use them a lot. But do have top and tilt. Set them up for my rear blade. Third valve is for a cylinder to change blade angle.

 

[otus_branch]

I took the cover off the belts a while back an everything looked okay with no signs of slippage and the pulleys and belts were remarkably clean. The tensioner feature is one of the reasons I chose this model.

The Woodmaxx belt guard does look better than guards on some other companies' models, and I'm glad to hear that everything underneath looked good!

 

[davemhughes]

I noticed on my Woodmaxx 78 that after running it the main roller flail shaft is pretty hot the touch right near the belt driven bearing area. I greased it up but I plan to watch it as I do not want a bearing failure on a new tool....that would irritate me to no end.