Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

DavesTractor · Dec 11, 2018

dieseldoc25 said:
Curiosity, does anyone make an 8-10' flail, 3 point or pull type, with a decent size gear box that's intended to be more than a stalk chopper? I go from an 8N to a 4020, so I have a big jump in HP. I'd prefer to buy a flail the 4020 could run for the extra width. I have 23 acres of currently unused pasture I'm maintaining. Current mower is a Schulte FX-210 10' rotary.

Rears or Vrisimo come to mind. Both are quality products and well built for daily use. As you get more capability as far as shredding, HP demands per foot of width increase quite a bit.

lostcreekranch · Dec 11, 2018

woolyAcres · Dec 11, 2018

Maschio makes some very nice looking units as well as some large ones suited to your new HP. I don't think these come cheap however.

http://www.maschio.com/catalog/category/trincia/en_US

leonz · Dec 11, 2018

Start looking for a used JD290 (7' cut) or a used JD390 (8' cut) if you want used.
New in that size would be a Vrisimo, they occasionally have rebuilt used units at times so it would be best to contact them in California directly.

They sell direct to the buyer as well so that may be an option if new iron is a must.

Fallon · Dec 11, 2018

dieseldoc25 said:
Curiosity, does anyone make an 8-10' flail, 3 point or pull type, with a decent size gear box that's intended to be more than a stalk chopper? I go from an 8N to a 4020, so I have a big jump in HP. I'd prefer to buy a flail the 4020 could run for the extra width. I have 23 acres of currently unused pasture I'm maintaining. Current mower is a Schulte FX-210 10' rotary.

Peruzzo, got mine from The Iowa guys PTO Hydraulic Offset Flail Mowers -- Iowa Farm Equipment My Supper Bull is 8' wide, 1,700lbs & ended up around $7k. When running into yucca or wrist sized woody brush my 40hp machine starts running out of steam but the flail is still going strong (according to the ratings & my seat of the pants measurments). It mows fields & pastures well too giving a pretty decent cut. In theory I could mow a lawn with it too, but I nor people I mow for actually have one.

I think the 8ns were only rated to lift 1k or so on the 3pt. At 1,700lbs the Super Bull or anything similar will be almost double that. You could probably spin it but it would be slow going. Lifting will be the pain point. My L4060 couldn't actually lift the flail on the pallet with forks on the loader when I got it. You could probably run it if you always left the roller on the ground.

The quick hitch adapter was pretty crappy & probably for CAT2 instead if CAT1. The scraper for the roller kept getting jammed up with cuttings & got removed. Other than that it's been bulletproof for the year I've used it so far. Ignore the fact its crooked, that the crappy Kubota valve letting the sidelink leak down.

lostcreekranch · Dec 11, 2018

Fallon said:
Peruzzo, got mine from The Iowa guys PTO Hydraulic Offset Flail Mowers -- Iowa Farm Equipment My Supper Bull is 8' wide, 1,700lbs & ended up around $7k. When running into yucca or wrist sized woody brush my 40hp machine starts running out of steam but the flail is still going strong (according to the ratings & my seat of the pants measurments). It mows fields & pastures well too giving a pretty decent cut. In theory I could mow a lawn with it too, but I nor people I mow for actually have one.

I think the 8ns were only rated to lift 1k or so on the 3pt. At 1,700lbs the Super Bull or anything similar will be almost double that. You could probably spin it but it would be slow going. Lifting will be the pain point. My L4060 couldn't actually lift the flail on the pallet with forks on the loader when I got it. You could probably run it if you always left the roller on the ground.

The quick hitch adapter was pretty crappy & probably for CAT2 instead if CAT1. The scraper for the roller kept getting jammed up with cuttings & got removed. Other than that it's been bulletproof for the year I've used it so far. Ignore the fact its crooked, that the crappy Kubota valve letting the sidelink leak down.

You might have missed that he's upgrading to a John Deere 4020?

Fallon · Dec 12, 2018

rlgustafson said:
You might have missed that he's upgrading to a John Deere 4020?

I interpreted that as he was possibly going to be trading the mower between the machines.

jthibodeau89 · Dec 12, 2018

I love my JD 390. I too maintain About 30 access of hillside pastures. It cuts much better than muy BH 3210, though i can't cut down 4" trees with the flail.

dieseldoc25 · Dec 12, 2018

Fallon said:
I interpreted that as he was possibly going to be trading the mower between the machines.

I have both, but width and HP differences prevent me from sharing many implements between the two machines. I致e slowly been moving to buying bigger implements for the 4020

dieseldoc25 · Dec 12, 2018

Interesting. I壇 seen a few 7 Deere flails at wengers. Went back to look and... John Deere 3pt flail mower - Mowers - Farm Equipment

dieseldoc25 · Dec 12, 2018

If anyone is looking, this is a little narrower than I really want but seems like a really good deal. I called, they're asking $2800 us... https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/27523995/2016-maschio-giraffona-230

leonz · Dec 12, 2018

If any of them are ready to work grab at least one of them as your looking at 8-9K in a new machine with sealed bearings (YUCKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I am not happy that they went to sealed bearings at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

leonz · Dec 12, 2018

dieseldoc25 said:
If anyone is looking, this is a little narrower than I really want but seems like a really good deal. I called, they're asking $2800 us... https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/27523995/2016-maschio-giraffona-230

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This Maschio orchard and vineyard flail shredder is an all purpose mower that needs work but it would be worth restoring over winter it just needs a lot of parts.

It can mow ditches while you are on the shoulder of the road as well as mowing vertical to cut brush back and also elevated with the mower raised by the three point hitch.

jthibodeau89 · Dec 12, 2018

leonz said:
If any of them are ready to work grab at least one of them as your looking at 8-9K in a new machine with sealed bearings (YUCKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I am not happy that they went to sealed bearings at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I modified my 25A to add a grease fittings and installed greasable bearings on the rotor. I'll probably do the same to my 390. I agree that the sealed bearings are a step backwards. I also want to add a'am anti-wrap feature to the ends of the 25A rotor.

woolyAcres · Dec 12, 2018

dieseldoc25 said:
If anyone is looking, this is a little narrower than I really want but seems like a really good deal. I called, they're asking $2800 us... https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/27523995/2016-maschio-giraffona-230

For a 2016 unit that looks pretty heavily used/abused. I guess the price accounts for most of that wear but I'd want to inspect that in person before committing $2800 and an un-known amount of repair.

leonz · Dec 14, 2018

jthibodeau89 said:
I modified my 25A to add a grease fittings and installed greasable bearings on the rotor. I'll probably do the same to my 390. I agree that the sealed bearings are a step backwards. I also want to add a'am anti-wrap feature to the ends of the 25A rotor.

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Hello jthibideaux,

Not trying to be a pain in the backside,

but you will want to hold off on doing that as you will destroy the bearings if and when you weld on the flail mower rotor OR the side plate weldments welded to the flail mower shroud as the current passing through the flail mower rotor will not have a solid path to ground and the grease will cook the bearings. The other thing is that you need to be able to slide the rotor freely from side to side to remove it if and when the time comes.

Leon

jthibodeau89 · Dec 14, 2018

Thanks for the heads up, but i am familiar with proper grounding and bearings. I will ground to the rotor when welding anti-wrap stud to the rotor. The collar will be bolted or welded to the end plates. The unit will disassemble the same as it does now. I will post pics when complete.

chit3522 · Dec 23, 2018

Is anyone familiar with Bush Hog flail mower FH90? One is for sale near me for $1000.

Fallon · Dec 23, 2018

chit3522 said:
Is anyone familiar with Bush Hog flail mower FH90? One is for sale near me for $1000.

I dont believe Brush Hog ever made flails. I think they were just re-branded Ford flails. Other than being old at this point the Ford flails have a good reputation as a light to mid weight flail.

def38 · Dec 23, 2018

jthibodeau89 said:
Thanks for the heads up, but i am familiar with proper grounding and bearings. I will ground to the rotor when welding anti-wrap stud to the rotor. The collar will be bolted or welded to the end plates. The unit will disassemble the same as it does now. I will post pics when complete.

I'll be very interested to see photos of your anti-wrap mod.