woodmaxx flail mower?

[dalola]

Good to hear!

Can anyone comment on cut quality with a higher setting (4"+), especially when finish mowing? I never finish mow under 4", and some have said cut quality is not as good above 2-3". Just curious if anyone has noticed that as well.

 

[RoyJackson]

Woodmaxx delayed shipment from mid-July to late August...that sucks.
Agri-Supply has the Caroni units in stock, but they don't have the hydraulic side-shift kits...don't even sell them. Anyway, any money saved buying the Caroni would be eaten by shipping costs (Woodmaxx provides free shipping).
Well, hopefully Woodmaxx will receive their flail mowers earlier than late August...

Update 2017-06-30, 1646:
Well, ended up going for a Caroni and the hydraulic side shift kits are sold by Agri-Supply. the associate at Agri-Supply went above and beyond the call of duty.
So, all told, with the hydraulic kit and shipping, it's going to be a few hundred dollars more than the Woodmaxx...but I'll have the flail mower in about two weeks (rather than 8). I'll have to order and install the hydraulic side shift kit once they're in stock (mid-July)

 

[gbw]

Is there any reason not to look at the Value-Leader flails?

Or does anyone own one?

They sell for considerably less, as low as $1325 delivered for the 28 scoop blade 68" model. Sold under several names, Titan and Farmer Helper are 2 I know of, both have model EFGC175 for the 'heavy duty' 68" model. But other than what they say in their advertising, which sounds good, I know nothing of them.

 

[sidecarist]

Good to hear!

Can anyone comment on cut quality with a higher setting (4"+), especially when finish mowing? I never finish mow under 4", and some have said cut quality is not as good above 2-3". Just curious if anyone has noticed that as well.

I have mine all the way up. I'd guess that its at about 5" Most of my cutting is on pasture etc. and not very smooth ground. I did cut part of the lawn that had clover that was very thick and the ZTR mower was struggling. It cut it well, but would leave clumps occasionally. If the mower had been lower it would have had more vacuum effect and reprocessed the clover better eliminating the clumps.

Its cut quality is very good over all. Not quite as good as my ZTR but then again it will go places and mow things that the ZTR couldn't possibly do. If I had to rate is I would say that cut quality is 80% of what the ZTR is.

Hope that makes sense for you.

 

[Ricn]

I believe the top cutting height of the Woodmaxx is 4 inches maximum adjusted at the roller. AT least that is what Woodmaxx told me when ordering one. Adjusting the top link might get someone a little more..

Ricn

 

[dalola]

Thanks sidecarist, good info! Just not sure what to do....can't afford a $2000 experiment. Currently looking for a good used RFM, but if I haven't found anything by August, may give the Woodmaxx flail a shot. I suppose if it doesn't work out, I shouldn't have too much trouble selling it, as they seem kind of hard to get.

 

[Ricn]

Ordered mine on 4/28, model 62H having side to side hydraulics. Joel at Woodmaxx told me that in general, the units are all pre-sold when getting their shipments in. Mine is now on the delivery truck headed west so should be here soon; shipping via Old Dominion Freight Co.

Ricn

 

[leonz]

if your worried about buying a flail mower you can check for municipal surplus auctions as they generally have lots of flail mowers in them for sale and you wont be out $2000.00 or just invest in a 47 inch Caroni flail mower.

 

[IslandTractor]

Woodmaxx delayed shipment from mid-July to late August...that sucks.
Agri-Supply has the Caroni units in stock, but they don't have the hydraulic side-shift kits...don't even sell them. Anyway, any money saved buying the Caroni would be eaten by shipping costs (Woodmaxx provides free shipping).
Well, hopefully Woodmaxx will receive their flail mowers earlier than late August...

Update 2017-06-30, 1646:
Well, ended up going for a Caroni and the hydraulic side shift kits are sold by Agri-Supply. the associate at Agri-Supply went above and beyond the call of duty.
So, all told, with the hydraulic kit and shipping, it's going to be a few hundred dollars more than the Woodmaxx...but I'll have the flail mower in about two weeks (rather than 8). I'll have to order and install the hydraulic side shift kit once they're in stock (mid-July)

I think you'll be happy with the Caroni. My TM1900 is now ten years old and doing fine.

There are a few tricks of the trade to consider. For starters, if side shift is critical you can just set the mower up side shifted manually and leave it that way so long as you don't need to drive into a garage or barn. Takes maybe 15 min to switch from normal to side shift with hand tools. Faster with air tools. I find that the normal position gives me about 12" of cut outside right rear tire and that is sufficient for cutting near fences and trees. Probably need the offset kit to cut under fences.

You're in VT. If the land is rocky, be prepared to lose occasional sets of knives. AgriSupply sells replacements but many Caroni owners buy knives and stronger clevises from Flailmaster. Part numbers buried in the long flail mower thread. Clevises from Flailmaster require modification with big vice and grinder to fit but don't break like the lighter Caroni clevises. I suspect the Caroni clevises are designed to be the weak point. I've switched to Flailmaster and never had one break. If Inbought a new TM1900 I'd take off all the Caroni clevises, knives and nut/bolts and sell them to other TBNers as replacements. AgriSupply charges about $17-18 for each set. Selling the 28 sets new would more than pay for the purchase of the less expensive Flailmaster replacements. Caroni sets are absolutely fine if you are not in rocky soil.

Flail gearboxes often dribble oil out the vent cap. Can fix that if it bothers you by inserting a spacer to raise it up. Metric threads. Again part number and source listed in big flail thread.

Caroni supplied belts are not Kevlar. Buy a spare set of three Gates Kevlar B43 belts. You'll need them by the second season. Kevlar belts last me about three or four seasons.

Grease each day you mow. All bearings on mine are fine after ten years.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think you'll be happy with the Caroni. My TM1900 is now ten years old and doing fine.

There are a few tricks of the trade to consider. For starters, if side shift is critical you can just set the mower up side shifted manually and leaving that way. Takes maybe 15 min to switch from normal to side shift with hand tools. Faster with air tools. I find that the normal position gives me about 12" of cut outside right rear tire and that is sufficient for cutting near fences and trees. Probably need the offset kit to cut under fences.

You're in VT. If the land is rocky, be prepared to lose occasional sets of knives. AgriSupply sells replacements but many Caroni owners buy knives and stronger clevises from Flailmaster. Part numbers buried in the long flail mower thread. Clevises from Flailmaster require modification with big vice and grinder to fit but don't break like the lighter Caroni clevises. I suspect the Caroni clevises are designed to be the weak point. I've switched to Flailmaster and never had one break. If Inbought a new TM1900 I'd take off all the Caroni clevises, knives and nut/bolts and sell them to other TBNers as replacements. AgriSupply charges about $17-18 for each set. Selling the 28 sets new would more than pay for the purchase of the less expensive Flailmaster replacements. Caroni sets are absolutely fine if you are not in rocky soil.

Flail gearboxes often dribble oil out the vent cap. Can fix that if it bothers you by inserting a spacer to raise it up. Metric threads. Again part number and source listed in big flail thread.

Caroni supplied belts are not Kevlar. Buy a spare set of three Gates Kevlar B43 belts. You'll need them by the second season. Kevlar belts last me about three or four seasons.

Grease each day you mow. All bearings on mine are fine after ten years.

Thanks for the advice, IT!!

I'm looking forward to getting the mower. I've priced the side shift kit (not in stock right now)...purchasing that would put the Caroni cost a bit more than the Woodmaxx. But I just can''t wait another 8 weeks for the Woodmaxx.
I'd already read a couple of your posts about the time it took to shift the 3PH frame (and I do have air powered tools) as well as your posts about Flailmaster. Although I planned to buy the hydraulic kit (when they're in stock at Agri-Supply), I think I'll go the manual route for a while. I can always go for the hydraulic kit later since it's an easy retro-fit.

I was mowing the field (3-4 acres...never hit a rock) with a Frontier (Woods) finishing mower. That's a great mower, but too many clumps when the grass was more then 4-5 inches high. The clumping was why I decided to go with a flail mower.

One thing I was a bit concerned about was the weight difference between the Caroni and Woodmaxx. The Woodmaxx is 200 lbs heavier then the Caroni. However, I found the different is due to the hydraulic side shift...once that's installed on the Caroni, the weight difference is negligible.

Good possibility I'll have more questions once the mower is delivered (in about 2 weeks).

 

[leonz]

Hello Roy,

Do not hesitate to read and reread the Caroni manual and ask questions and then ask more questions after you start mowing. Once you start mowing at a 2 inch cutting height you will hear a very familiar sound of a high end vacuum cleaner and you will be able to recut the clippings again if you purchased the side slicer knives.

About me I am still using the new knives we bought in 1992 and I mow brush and good sod with it.

I am not happy that I can no longer buy the tapered side slicers as they benefit from their aerodynamic design with the much longer tapered cutting edge which increases each knife pairs ability to lift cuttings up and over the flail mower rotor to dump them back on the ground.

When the knife pairs are at the speed of 2,200 RPM+ they look like the unfolded wings of a WW2 single engine airplane sticking out from the fuselage of the aircraft

With my Mathews Company Lawn Genie I do not require tools to replace knives as the knife hangers are spring tensioned and the slotted knife pairs have room to slide sideways as the speed of rotation increases to create the aerodynamic lift which creates a greater pressure gradient under the flail mowers shroud.

I have a 28 year old Wen wet well grinder to resurface the knife edges when needed and by using a wet slow speed grinder you maintain a cool grind on the cutting edge preventing the loss of the temper in the heat treated steal used to make the side slicers.

Micro-Mark - The Small Tools Specialists has their low speed wet well grinders on sale now for $80.00 and change plus shipping and tax.


leonz

 

[RoyJackson]

Hello Roy,

Do not hesitate to read and reread the Caroni manual and ask questions and then ask more questions after you start mowing.


leonz

I like that wet-dry grinder...good price too!

One question, although it isn't too important.... Is the Caroni Quick Hitch compatible?

I have a John Deere I Match (several years now) which fit the Frontier RFM and an ancient Woods Bush Bull rotary cutter. I was told by Woodmaxx that the I Match doesn't work with their flail mowers
I did buy a standard QH (with an adjustable upper hook) from Agri-Supply which should be here before the mower...I'm hoping either the I Match or QH work.

 

[leonz]

I am not sure if the Caroni is Quick Hitch compatable but if you send the caroni family an e-mail through the company portal they will respond in short time with an answer for you Roy.

I have to go walk the wifes weiner dog so......

 

[IslandTractor]

Roy I also don't know about the quick hitch compatibility. Maybe post a question the big flail thread. If you know which measurements are important I'm happy to check mine.

 

[Molalla1]

Is there any reason not to look at the Value-Leader flails?

Or does anyone own one?

They sell for considerably less, as low as $1325 delivered for the 28 scoop blade 68" model. Sold under several names, Titan and Farmer Helper are 2 I know of, both have model EFGC175 for the 'heavy duty' 68" model. But other than what they say in their advertising, which sounds good, I know nothing of them.

I have had the Value-Leader 60" VL-EFG155F for 3 years now. I use the "Y" blades. It has been outstanding. I am still on the original belts, blades, everything. I had to cut 4-5' thick pasture grass this year, was slower but did a great job.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy I also don't know about the quick hitch compatibility. Maybe post a question the big flail thread. If you know which measurements are important I'm happy to check mine.

The spacing between the lower links and the distance from the lower links to the top link. I can't recall the ANSI spec, but I think the measurement from the lower to top link should be 19"

However, don't bother measuring...when the QH and mower get here, I'll know then.

Thanks IT and Leonz!

 

[dalola]

Well, I chickened out on the flail. Combined the difficulty to even get a smaller unit (no one currently has any stock), cost, and uncertain how it would cut at 4-5+ inches. Plus, I found a very clean used Woods RM48 rear finish, so I jumped on it. Should have it next week. I will continue to follow the flail threads, still have a curiosity about them, but for now, sticking with more of a known (for me) performer.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their ideas & experiences.

 

[Ricn]

Sounds like you made a wise choice. The Flail mower may be in your future at some point. We have used our JD rear finish mower for years and in general, it has performed very well. Our Flail mower arrived today, the Woodmaxx 62H model and, hope to have it mowing very soon. Not an easy item to move around either so very happy to have forks on the tractor, something we should have got years ago...

Good Luck with the finish mower.

Ricn

 

[Z-Michigan]

I have my new Woodmaxx FM-78 here, assembled and on the tractor. Just 1 hour of mowing so far but so far, so good. It seems to mow slightly better than I remember for my Caroni TM1900 flail, both with the same type of knives. I'll be posting a full review as a new thread when I have enough time to say a bit more.

 

[Ricn]

Z- Congratulations on getting the Woodmaxx Flail and like you, I will post more after using mine at some length. The 62H mower arrived this am so got right to it, tough work for me now at my age but finally after 5 hours of fitting everything it is on and running! **** thing is heavy but guess that is a good thing. Had to replace the hose fittings as they did not fit my third position factory hydraulics from Kubota. After spending $110.00 both hoses now connect and disconnect fine. Also ran into an issue with the side to side cylinder as when moving the mower, the gear housing safety metal enclosure hit both hose fittings where they are screwed into the cylinder so movement is about 2 inches either way for now. Tomorrow, I plan to remove this cover cutting down the corners enough to clear ok, a minor thing really but one would think Woodmaxx would have fixed this on other mowers knowing of the issue. My Son stopped by helping with cutting and stalling the driveline so mower is now operational making a few test passes across the field. Also need to lower the roller one hole for higher cut and perhaps remove the skid plates if necessary as right now they gouge the grass a little when turning. Perhaps lowing the roller will help that, have to see.

Ricn