Flail Mower Let's talk flail mowers

[K5lwq]

I run a 64” Victory ditch bank mower that weighs 685 LBS on my Branson 4815C. My tractor weighs somewhere around 4,000 lbs with cab and loaded tires. It handles it well but you definitely feel it when you extend it all the way out off of the ground. But never felt tipsy and I run without FWD engaged. Don’t have a picture of it fully extended in the air but here is the way I mow 90% of the time.

 

[Torvy]

I run a 64” Victory ditch bank mower that weighs 685 LBS on my Branson 4815C. My tractor weighs somewhere around 4,000 lbs with cab and loaded tires. It handles it well but you definitely feel it when you extend it all the way out off of the ground. But never felt tipsy and I run without FWD engaged. Don’t have a picture of it fully extended in the air but here is the way I mow 90% of the time.

How do you like that? I have pretty well convinced myself that I would prefer something like this to an RC. I need to keep cost down, but I don't want junk either.

 

[K5lwq]

How do you like that? I have pretty well convinced myself that I would prefer something like this to an RC. I need to keep cost down, but I don't want junk either.

I really like it and glad I bought it but I did have to replace the pillow bearings on the rollers. The ones that came on it did not last long and I am very conscientious of keeping them greased and the grass cut off. I put a much better bearing on but had to modify the housing to get it to fit. Interesting enough grass doesn’t wrap around quite as bad.

My dad warned me when I bought it that I was not going to like it because of the maintenance it takes to keep it going. So far I have not found that unreasonable except when I decided to sharpen the hammers. If dad was still alive he would have gotten a call that day letting him know he was right! That took half the day and I have not run a grinder that much since I quit building trailers.

 

[Torvy]

Which model did you get? Their website doesn't have them available until Spring.

 

[Fallon]

Yeah, I'm just getting advice all over the place, trying to compare apples to apples. Peruzzo lists pretty mowers as compatible with smaller tractors. My advice from a Del Morino dealer was more conservative. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but the only chart, or rule of thumb I have is the one attached.

View attachment 813197

I have a Peruzzo Brush Bull 2200. Much bigger & beefier than those ditch bank ones listed. Apples to orange comparison though as ditch bank stuff has to be smaller & lighter.

It shifts over about 2 feet to the right from whats in the photo. 7.2' working width flail, 6' track width on the tractor. Lots of torque on the 3pt when its shifted offset to the side.

 

[K5lwq]

Which model did you get? Their website doesn't have them available until Spring.

EMSD-64. I ordered mine on May 30th 2020 and received it 6-11-2020. He had a few in stock at the time. Uwe Steuernagel is, was, the owner and was very nice and helpful. I had an issue early on with a cylinder and he sent a replacement right away. I was able to fix that cylinder so I have a backup now. I should order replacement hammers at some point but have not reached out to them in a couple of years. So not sure how well things are going for them but Lou bought his more recently so I would think they are doing well.

 

[workinonit]

Attachments

• 
  IMG_1283[1].JPG

  3.7 MB · Views: 246

Here's my Maschio. Fallon hit the nail on the head. If you want a real flail one of these is the real deal. This one shifts both ways about 2 feet. 10' cut and really heavy. It runs hammers and is badass. I have a Hardee 4' hydraslide ditchbank cutter. That thing is a beast as well but does the job. Those offset flails are light and dangerous. Because of the weight they rate them for smaller tractors. Those things are an easy way to end up in a ditch or upside down.

 

[Sid Dunn]

Does anyone have experience with Iron Craft Flail Mowers vs Del Morino and Land Pride?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Does anyone have experience with Iron Craft Flail Mowers vs Del Morino and Land Pride?

I’d like to purchase one next year. I have an IronCraft tiller and it has been great… very heavy duty, and it’s the medium duty model

 

[Rebeldad1]

I’d like to purchase one next year. I have an IronCraft tiller and it has been great… very heavy duty, and it’s the medium duty model

there is a big difference..... flail mowers dont till. if yours is working great keep it.

 

[Torvy]

I’d like to purchase one next year. I have an IronCraft tiller and it has been great… very heavy duty, and it’s the medium duty model

I'm looking at the FRF 165. I cannot find any info on the size of the hammers. It seems most of this size/type have either 400 or 800 gram hammers. Anyone know what these have?

 

[ning]

I'm looking at the FRF 165. I cannot find any info on the size of the hammers. It seems most of this size/type have either 400 or 800 gram hammers. Anyone know what these have?

They give dimensions of the hammers but not weights.
Do these match one weight but not the other? or are the heavy hammers just thicker?

 

[Torvy]

They give dimensions of the hammers but not weights.
Do these match one weight but not the other? or are the heavy hammers just thicker?
View attachment 814593

From what I can tell they are thicker. Most of my use will be heavy grasses and brush, no lawn.

It can be hard to figure out some of these various flail mower brands. Most are Italian, but a few are Chinese. Same units marketed under different names.

 

[Oh henry]

Hey group I finally finished the bearings and blades I set it up for corse cut when I got it it had 3 rows of 14 blades fine cut calla for 88 stations could I get by with 3 rows of 14 ?

 

[leonz]

Post a picture of the flail mower rotor with knives mounted on it please.
If the flail mower rotor is not balanced you will lose another set of bearings.

 

[JethroB]

there is a big difference..... flail mowers dont till. if yours is working great keep it.

One of my relatives was basically using a flail as a tiller trying to mow very low. He didn’t understand why he went through so many belts and blades.

 

[Gator6x4]

One of my relatives was basically using a flail as a tiller trying to mow very low. He didn’t understand why he went through so many belts and blades.

Tiller or land plane?

 

[JethroB]

Tiller or land plane?

. I’ve been guilty of using my flail as a light land plane a time or two. Roller helps Smooth. Dry sandy loam soil. I just make sure no one is watching. That’s probably right up there with trying to get extra close to a barb wire fence. Disaster in the making.

 

[Gator6x4]

. I’ve been guilty of using my flail as a light land plane a time or two. Roller helps Smooth. Dry sandy loam soil. I just make sure no one is watching. That’s probably right up there with trying to get extra close to a barb wire fence. Disaster in the making.

Last time I got close to a barb wire fence I had to remove a rear tire and take it in for repairs. Now that was fun.

 

[Torvy]

. I’ve been guilty of using my flail as a light land plane a time or two. Roller helps Smooth. Dry sandy loam soil. I just make sure no one is watching. That’s probably right up there with trying to get extra close to a barb wire fence. Disaster in the making.

I've got a lot of that really dry sandy loam right now. Just based on the dust storm created by walking or driving on it, I cannot imagine the soil loss running a flail on it.