Flail Mower Where can I find a front-mounted flail?

[hillfarm]

I've seen very impressive videos of front-mounted flail mowers. For example, here's one on a Kubota.
After looking at these mowers in action, I don't understand why everyone isn't mowing with these things in the front. I wouldn't have neck and back strain looking backwards as I do now and I wouldn't be crushing the brush with my tires before mowing.
I've heard that there are european models with PTOs that are bidirectional so they can be mounted on a front or rear PTO, but I can't find them.
I've found Peruzzo front flails for lawn mowers, but can't find one that fits on a front 3pt hitch with front PTO.

My local JD dealer spent hours searching for a front flail for a compact utility for me to no avail. Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[powerscol]

I've seen very impressive videos of front-mounted flail mowers. For example, here's one on a Kubota.
After looking at these mowers in action, I don't understand why everyone isn't mowing with these things in the front. I wouldn't have neck and back strain looking backwards as I do now and I wouldn't be crushing the brush with my tires before mowing.
I've heard that there are european models with PTOs that are bidirectional so they can be mounted on a front or rear PTO, but I can't find them.
I've found Peruzzo front flails for lawn mowers, but can't find one that fits on a front 3pt hitch with front PTO.

My local JD dealer spent hours searching for a front flail for a compact utility for me to no avail. Any tips?

Thanks!

Try Iowa Farm Equipment.

Iowa Farm Equipment -- Mowers: 3-Point, Pull-Type, Skid Steer, Rotary, Flail & Zero Turn

 

[ericm979]

Some of the Chinese ones are dual front/rear. Beststco has some.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

There is probably not going to be as many options on the cut side for a while yet. In the farming world it has been huge in Europe for a long time and has been available for farm tractors in the US for many years. But will probably take longer for to see a large selection of choices here for a while imao. A lot of cut tractors built for NA don't even offer a front pto (beyond extending mid pto).

 

[leonz]

I've seen very impressive videos of front-mounted flail mowers. For example, here's one on a Kubota.

After looking at these mowers in action, I don't understand why everyone isn't mowing with these things in the front. I wouldn't have neck and back strain looking backwards as I do now and I wouldn't be crushing the brush with my tires before mowing.
I've heard that there are european models with PTOs that are bidirectional so they can be mounted on a front or rear PTO, but I can't find them.
I've found Peruzzo front flails for lawn mowers, but can't find one that fits on a front 3pt hitch with front PTO.

My local JD dealer spent hours searching for a front flail for a compact utility for me to no avail. Any tips?

Thanks!

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Welcome to the forum,

Well as long as I am going to step on this cow pie; he does not know much about them or what they involve.

Unless you want to invest in a Ferrari or German brand articulating sub compact compact mule your going to have more work to do.

Does your mule have a midpoint PTO system? You have to find out first if your mule can be set up with a front mount three point hitch that will be attached to the engine cradle if it has one.

Then if and only if has a mid point PTO to run a reversing reducing gearbox that is attached to the three point hitch.

If your mule has a midpoint PTO for running a front attachment like a flail mower or tedder or a sensible three point hitch snow blower ask for a price providing you give them complete information about your mule.

1. Brand of mule
a. transmission type

2. engine gross horsepower/engine cradle width
a. Mid PTO horsepower
b. Rear PTO horsepower
c. Mid PTO speed RPM operating speed at recommended engine speed for the mid mount mower

3. front tire size
a. turf or lawn tread

4. hydraulic system volume
a. hydraulic system pressure
b all exposed engine or hydraulic hoses at or near crankcase sump
c. location of transmission cooling fan if used
If applicable:
5. mid point hydraulic cylinder
a. hydraulic cylinder bore
b. hydraulic cylinder stroke length
c. hydraulic cylinder rod diameter
d. hydraulic cylinder rod eye inside diameter
e. hydraulic cylinder barrel outside diameter
f. hydraulic cylinder attachment eye width
g. hydraulic cylinder eye attachment pin length

If you have one of the newer mules with the drive over mower decks that will have to be something that Pronovost will have to have your mule for to fit the hitch, hitch frame and mid mount propeller shaft to be sure there is clearance to allow safe lifting of a a flail mower.

You need to contact The Pronovost folks in Quebec, Canada to obtain price for a front mount power take off for a sub compact or compact mule as they are the only ones that build them as far as I know and there is a minimum mule horsepower they use that will determine if they make them economical to own.

When you get into farm tractors with front three point hitches your looking at buying a monster truck in aquisition and installation cost as they are powered by the crank shaft flywheel and are attached to the engine cradle and engine cradle cross member mounting plate.

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

You might consider a different compact tractor: Antonio Carraro TTR44 tractor with Flail Mower - YouTube

We offer the reversible Carraro tractors at 38 hp with a 73" front mount Del Morino flail mower. Although the tractors cost about 20% more than the same-sized standard tractor, their reversibility makes them twice the machine, so they are a good value.

 

[Btown]

That tractor probably has a front mounted Three point hitch. Not many of those in the USA. Maybe some year.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Some tractors have front 3ph and pto but usually larger machines. But then a standard north american flail mower is designed to be pulled and so is oriented wrong. Flails also are quite safe because the business area is tucked between tractor and mower body. Out front and open, well, it might be good for crowd control.

I believe a JD 318 series garden tractor is the ONLY front flail, I have ever seen. European front mowers are often disk mowers for silage. You would find many more side or boom mounted flails as they are much more versatile.

 

[civilian]

I would like to be able to convert a mid mount mower on my BX2230 to work with the front snow blower mount system. I have a Gravely two wheel walk behind with the front mower. So much easier manuevering aound and undet things. Any ideas? Jon

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think I put on twenty pounds since I stopped running after my Gravely front mount. The good news is that my broken ribs have healed from those handles hitting me when that mower struck something, one side or other.