OP
2manyrocks
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This Brielmaier flail mower would do it. https://motsir.ee/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Brielmaier-brochure-US-8-pages.pdf
Orec tracked flail vs Grillo wheeled flail vs ride on
- Thread starter 2manyrocks
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Hi 2manyrocks 
You have had a lot of useful input from a number of TBN-members in a short period of time, and that is I think, the strength of this great forum
As you have postet your original post in the 2-wheel tractor forum, you seem to be open to that option. I have had a BCS 740 for 12 years now, and would like to offer some of my experience working with my 2-wheel tractor for almost 400 hours. For reference, I am „model year“ 1958, 6 feet tall, and weighing in at 155 lbs. I consider myself to be in average shape for my age, so you might need to adjust my experience to fit yourself.
I have never had the chance to use a brush mower, so I can’t comment on that, but I have had a Berta 85 cm (34’’) flail mower for almost 4 years now. I also have a drum mower and a lawn mower for my BCS, and I have experience using a sickle bar mower on another 2-wheel tractor.
Mowing has always been a popular topic in the 2-wheel tractor forum, and you are of course not the first one to have had this kind of considerations. If you haven’t done already, you might find a lot of useful information in some of the other threads in this forum.
If compared to more powerful types of tractors and mowers, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that working with a 2-wheel tractor is going to take more time than more powerful options. I have hardly had any easy jobs with the flail mower, so I almost always drive in first gear only.
Last week I was mowing a 1,100 m2 (12,000 ft2) plot of dense green grass with the flail mower. With 20 cm (8’’) overlap, and driving with full trottle in first gear, the job took 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Most of my jobs are tougher than that, and are quite similar to what I see on your photo. In my area briars and honeysuckle are rarely a problem, but we have a lot of blackberry, eagle fern and other plants with up to 1’’ woody stems, which the flail will happily mow. On the following photo you have the operators view as I looks when I begin a job. As the first cut usually has to be full width, I try to find the part of the plot with the least dense material:
Subsequent cuts I usually do with 1/2 to 3/4 working width, depending on how dense and how tough the material is:
The final result might then look like this:
I think the Grillo G110 with the 85 cm (34’’) Berta flail mower will do the job pretty clean, but you are surely in for a workout! 5 acres is quite a bit, and I would do your job with 1/2 working width to allow the Honda engine to maintain maximum engine speed, but also to basically run over the plot a second time, cutting the stems that „survived“ the first pass. Looking closely at the front of your photo, you have a number of stems still standing. Based on my experience, I would need around 35 hours to do the job to the standard shown above, so that would be quite a job for this old man
I got a meadow some years ago that had been neglected for years, and was overgrown with blackberry, briars and even smaller trees. I cut down the trees and took the best parts home for firewood, and left the rest on site. A contractor in my area has a big powerful tractor with a forestry mulcher, and he did a marvelous job in cutting everything - including tree stumps - into small bits to make everything easier to decompose
On top, this mulcher will even out your plot, find any hidden obstructions that might be there, and it will be very easy to keep the plot clean with the flail mower once or twice a year.
Best regards
Jens
You have had a lot of useful input from a number of TBN-members in a short period of time, and that is I think, the strength of this great forum
As you have postet your original post in the 2-wheel tractor forum, you seem to be open to that option. I have had a BCS 740 for 12 years now, and would like to offer some of my experience working with my 2-wheel tractor for almost 400 hours. For reference, I am „model year“ 1958, 6 feet tall, and weighing in at 155 lbs. I consider myself to be in average shape for my age, so you might need to adjust my experience to fit yourself.
I have never had the chance to use a brush mower, so I can’t comment on that, but I have had a Berta 85 cm (34’’) flail mower for almost 4 years now. I also have a drum mower and a lawn mower for my BCS, and I have experience using a sickle bar mower on another 2-wheel tractor.
Mowing has always been a popular topic in the 2-wheel tractor forum, and you are of course not the first one to have had this kind of considerations. If you haven’t done already, you might find a lot of useful information in some of the other threads in this forum.
If compared to more powerful types of tractors and mowers, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that working with a 2-wheel tractor is going to take more time than more powerful options. I have hardly had any easy jobs with the flail mower, so I almost always drive in first gear only.
Last week I was mowing a 1,100 m2 (12,000 ft2) plot of dense green grass with the flail mower. With 20 cm (8’’) overlap, and driving with full trottle in first gear, the job took 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Most of my jobs are tougher than that, and are quite similar to what I see on your photo. In my area briars and honeysuckle are rarely a problem, but we have a lot of blackberry, eagle fern and other plants with up to 1’’ woody stems, which the flail will happily mow. On the following photo you have the operators view as I looks when I begin a job. As the first cut usually has to be full width, I try to find the part of the plot with the least dense material:
Subsequent cuts I usually do with 1/2 to 3/4 working width, depending on how dense and how tough the material is:
The final result might then look like this:
I think the Grillo G110 with the 85 cm (34’’) Berta flail mower will do the job pretty clean, but you are surely in for a workout! 5 acres is quite a bit, and I would do your job with 1/2 working width to allow the Honda engine to maintain maximum engine speed, but also to basically run over the plot a second time, cutting the stems that „survived“ the first pass. Looking closely at the front of your photo, you have a number of stems still standing. Based on my experience, I would need around 35 hours to do the job to the standard shown above, so that would be quite a job for this old man
I got a meadow some years ago that had been neglected for years, and was overgrown with blackberry, briars and even smaller trees. I cut down the trees and took the best parts home for firewood, and left the rest on site. A contractor in my area has a big powerful tractor with a forestry mulcher, and he did a marvelous job in cutting everything - including tree stumps - into small bits to make everything easier to decompose
On top, this mulcher will even out your plot, find any hidden obstructions that might be there, and it will be very easy to keep the plot clean with the flail mower once or twice a year.
Best regards
Jens
OP
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,571
Thank you, Jens. Your attention to detail is magnificent.
OP
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,571
The idea of taking half bites with the flail mower has been suggested a couple of times. Now I'm thinking that means doubling my steps to operate the mower since I'd be cutting with only 1/2 of the full width of the mower.
Is it possible to replace the 13hp Honda with say a 22 hp Predator engine from Harbor Freight and then mow with the full width of the flail mower? 22 HP (670cc) V-Twin Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine, EPA I think both engines have a 1" diameter shaft.
Is it possible to replace the 13hp Honda with say a 22 hp Predator engine from Harbor Freight and then mow with the full width of the flail mower? 22 HP (670cc) V-Twin Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine, EPA I think both engines have a 1" diameter shaft.
OP
2manyrocks
Super Member
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- Jul 28, 2007
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The Predator owners manual states not to use the engine on a surface that is tilted 15 degrees or more. Bummer.
Maybe a Kohler or another brand of engine could be used to increase the HP?
Maybe a Kohler or another brand of engine could be used to increase the HP?
MossRoad
Super Moderator
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- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,924
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
My 2001 model year Koehler CH25 states 25 degrees in the manuals. Some other engines were 20 degrees.
OP
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,571
Haven't called Fecon dealer yet. I'm not so sure I want to operate a machine I'm not used to operating on this slope.
If walk behind rolls over, at least I won't be riding in it.
The grillo dealer told me the clutch in the tractor g110 won't handle more power. The BCS 853 possibly could use the 16hp Vanguard engine but he'd have to do some checking.
If walk behind rolls over, at least I won't be riding in it.
The grillo dealer told me the clutch in the tractor g110 won't handle more power. The BCS 853 possibly could use the 16hp Vanguard engine but he'd have to do some checking.
leonz
Super Member
You should contact the local Spider mower dealer in your area to see if they will rent one of thier all terrain low profile 4 wheel drive mowers or a contract mower who might be able to come by with a spider mower and mow your property for you.
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
I just saw something for sale on FB marketplace that made me think of this thread. Not sure if you will be able to see it but I found the manufacturer's website. Looks like it just may be the tool for the job. Minus all the thorns in the face obviously.
www.as-motor.com
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AS 940 Sherpa 4WD B&S | [COM] AS-Motor
Mähen, wo das Laufen schwer fällt. Ausgerüstet mit einem hangtauglichen Motor und dem geringstem Gesamtgewicht seiner Klasse fühlt sich der AS 940 Sherpa 4WD auch am Hang sehr wohl. Ob Gestrüpp oder Gras, das Kreuzmesser zerkleinert alles. Mit dem größtem Platzangebot ist komfortables Arbeiten...
www.as-motor.com
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