Flail Mower Titan EFGC155 Flail Mower

[Jack Yuan]

I finally fired it up and mowed some of the overgrown weeds. Everything worked as expected and the weeds are now shorter than when I started!

I'm sure as I get more experience I'll be able to understand each setting and hone my configuration. My needs are to abate weeds and to clear some of the wild brush for paths and access.

Some things I noticed:
-This is the only other attachment I own besides a box blade, and I can feel the difference in weight between this and the box blade. Tractor still handles just fine, but it's something I can notice.
-DUST! I live in a desert climate and there's lots of dry dusty dirt, all of it is dry dusty dirt. So when I'm mowing if I catch a small mound of dirt there's an immediate dust storm.
-I turned a 5' tall bush into mulch, it was pretty amazing.
-My Kubota B2601 ran it just fine (I was wondering how it would manage)
-It was fun!

I know that I got the cheapest flail possible, and I don't expect a champagne on a beer budget but this thing did the job for me and I'm confident that if properly maintained this will last me several years. I'll come back and update this thread as I get a bit more experience.

The reason for the dust is that mower's design related to aerodynamics. This is one of the main difference between flail mower and rotary mower. Flail mower has much bigger air absorbing than rotary mower. A good flail mower designer should think about this point.

 

[Teachu2]

I got mine from Betst Co. in Creswell Or.
You can find them on Ebay also if you search for flail mower
They stock parts for what they sell and the parts dept is responsive.

I got the EFGC175 from them. It's just a little larger at 68". I run it behind a 34 hp Kioti, 27+ at PTO. The wife loves the way it cuts! It's right at 800 lbs, so it makes a great counterweight!

 

[anavidi]

I got the EFGC175 from them. It's just a little larger at 68". I run it behind a 34 hp Kioti, 27+ at PTO. The wife loves the way it cuts! It's right at 800 lbs, so it makes a great counterweight!

Cool! How long have you had it? My wife just came home and saw the cut and she was impressed as well. My packing list has 665lbs shipped so I figure it’s a bit less than that.

 

[Teachu2]

It's starting it's third season. I mow about 4 acres of native grass and brush a couple of times a year. I ran the snot out of it the first year, as I was clearing away years of neglect - I mowed down lots of holly oak and a few coastal oaks with it. I think I need to change the belts this year as they kind of took a set over the winter.

It you haven't alreadt bought a Lock-n-Lube fitting for your grease gun, I highly recommend it! LockNLube Grease Coupler | End Greasing Frustration

 

[JB13502]

LockNLube Grease Coupler | End Greasing Frustration[/url]

X2. They may seem a little expensive at first, but once you use one you'll kick yourself for not having bought it sooner.

 

[anavidi]

It's starting it's third season. I mow about 4 acres of native grass and brush a couple of times a year. I ran the snot out of it the first year, as I was clearing away years of neglect - I mowed down lots of holly oak and a few coastal oaks with it. I think I need to change the belts this year as they kind of took a set over the winter.

It you haven't alreadt bought a Lock-n-Lube fitting for your grease gun, I highly recommend it! LockNLube Grease Coupler | End Greasing Frustration

Years of neglect is what i'm currently dealing with and i hope to do what you did by clearing it all once then just running it for regular maintenance.

I'll check out the Lock N Lube thanks for the recco!

 

[Teachu2]

Years of neglect is what i'm currently dealing with and i hope to do what you did by clearing it all once then just running it for regular maintenance.

I'll check out the Lock N Lube thanks for the recco!

Here I was, bragging on this flail - and I caught the right end on a tree and twisted it up. It's offset substantially to the right, so watch it carefully.

It still works, cuts fine, but it can't be good for the bearings. I won't have time to work on it for about ten days, so I'll loosen all the fasteners and see if I can straighten it out. I may weld up a box frame for around the base and reinforce it....or just pay better attention.

 

[Agvg]

You are not first and not the last to find that the orginal design probably was for a very narrow machine, when they started to make them wider they didn't strengthen the frame and a lot ends up in the welding shop, people try to use them like the heavy duty models from Europe and probably US makers and that does not go well.

 

[anavidi]

Here I was, bragging on this flail - and I caught the right end on a tree and twisted it up. It's offset substantially to the right, so watch it carefully.

It still works, cuts fine, but it can't be good for the bearings. I won't have time to work on it for about ten days, so I'll loosen all the fasteners and see if I can straighten it out. I may weld up a box frame for around the base and reinforce it....or just pay better attention.

OUCH! I hope you can straighten everything out!!!

I've been using it a bit here and there with great results. I'm only clearing brush and weeds, no grass. I've got it set up so that the mower has about 12" that protrude right so I keep a close eye on the right side to make sure not to take anything out (or take out my mower).

 

[Teachu2]

Well, I had time to troubleshoot it today. While I managed to get the twist out, as well as most of the bend, the gearbox has issues now. I think I'm going to replace it with a new one from Titan and build an external cage/bumper for protection. Experience shows up right after you need it....

I have used and abused the one I have - without a doubt, it's failure was operator-induced. I have used it to clear away years of brush and small trees, and have hit rocks, stumps, trees, dirt mounds. I have tamed most of my property at this point, and have learned from my mistakes. I will add a few pounds of prevention to the next one, and not exceed it's capacity.

 

[Jack Yuan]

Well, I had time to troubleshoot it today. While I managed to get the twist out, as well as most of the bend, the gearbox has issues now. I think I'm going to replace it with a new one from Titan and build an external cage/bumper for protection. Experience shows up right after you need it....

I have used and abused the one I have - without a doubt, it's failure was operator-induced. I have used it to clear away years of brush and small trees, and have hit rocks, stumps, trees, dirt mounds. I have tamed most of my property at this point, and have learned from my mistakes. I will add a few pounds of prevention to the next one, and not exceed it's capacity.

In fact, flail mower manufacturer should add protection for stump and rock, it always happen when mowing. To save money cost, manufacturer doesn't do so. That's why I see almost flail mower in US market is without that kind protection, much lower level than flail mower in Europe market.

Does anyone see that kind flail mower in US market?

 

[Jack Yuan]

You assemble the lower bushing at wrong position, it should be installed inside the lower hitch like this. To avoild the mower to slip when mowing.

Look at these photos.



And where is the PTO cover on the gear box????? Safety first.

 

[anavidi]

You assemble the lower bushing at wrong position, it should be installed inside the lower hitch like this. To avoild the mower to slip when mowing.

Look at these photos.

And where is the PTO cover on the gear box????? Safety first.

Ah yes that makes sense, I'll move the bushings next time I take the mower out. I took this picture right before putting the PTO shaft on so I took off the rubber gearbox PTO cover. Again Jack, thanks for your flail mower knowledge and help!

 

[Navvet]

You assemble the lower bushing at wrong position, it should be installed inside the lower hitch like this. To avoild the mower to slip when mowing.

Look at these photos.

View attachment 554128View attachment 554127

And where is the PTO cover on the gear box????? Safety first.

Jack,

Do you have an opinion as to the quality of the "AGL 145" mowers.

Thank you

 

[Jack Yuan]

Jack,

Do you have an opinion as to the quality of the "AGL 145" mowers.

Thank you

Well, the AGL ditch mower, it used to be the smallest ditch mower. Some manufactuer call it BCRL ditch mower. They copied it many years ago from Europe.

The AGL145 which Titan is selling, it is the oldest version of AGL histroy. Since Titan would like to be the cheapest on the market, so I can understand why they are still selling this old verison.

I think the key issue for AGL145 if you want to buy is that you need check out these points.

1. AGL use 400gram/0.88lbs hammer or small Y shape knife, so it cannot cut the grass height than 40cm/15inch, it is light duty ditch mower. What grass you want to mow?
2. check out if your tractor has enough weight to balance AGL mower, it is ditch mower for small compact tractor, but I think it is too heavy. If your small tractor has front loader, then everything is fine, if not, be careful, contact with seller for support.

Anyway, I stop selling that old model long time ago.

About its quality, I saw some photos about their products from TBN members, not good as I thought, there is long way to go for their factory vendor. Generally, that factory engineers and production managers are still in the period of producing by "copying", but not "thinking". So I suggest if you can go to have a look by yourself, it's fine if it is acceptable for you. After all, different people has different demand.

I remembered this word very clearly, that was 5 years ago when I visited Berti, their manager told me "think, not copy". I was shocked and very shame at that time.