Foggy, and any other. Flail mower question.

[omicron1792]

I don’t have any experience with a flail mower. I’ve basically been using a bush hog to mow trials and such. I now have lots of clover and such I’ll need to keep cleaned up as well as my trails to justify a flail mower.

Any advice would be appreciated. Mainly will be grass and grain and food plot cutting. Probably still use my bush hog for rough stuff.

Was looking at Titan 72” for 2200. Don’t really want to spend 5-6k for this, but tell me if I’m wrong.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I love a flail mower and have been using one for about 20 years. They are not great for very tall grassy weeds and woody brush. Keeping the blades sharp is very important, and sharpening them is fairly time consuming. But for mowing food plots and fields I prefer them over brush hogs as they pulverize everything and leave smaller bits behind that break down quicker and do not smother the standing crop.

 

[Foggy47]

When I bought my flail mower I kept my bush hog for rough duty things. However I have never put my bush hog (rotary cutter) back on my tractor after getting my Woodmaxx Flail Mower. I dont think the Titan brand was yet on the market......so I did not research that brand. I had read so many good reviews on the Woodmaxx Flail mower (and their other products) that I bought that brand.

I really wanted the heavy hammers when I bought.....but could only get a unit with the knives. And I bought an extra set of knives and a set of replacement belts at the time of purchase.. A screw backed out on the flail mower and that bolt head shredded a belt for me......so I was glad I had the spares. Never have changed the knives or sharpened them to this point. I have rolled some fence wire into the knives and an old fence post and some old steel from the pioneer times. No damage to the unit (or me) but it was allot to cut it free. The lift-up access panel is nice for such stuff. I've been able to cut brush to at least the same size as I would tackle with my rotary cutter.

I have no concerns for safety with the flail. It makes a much superior mulch and disperses it uniformly across the cutting width. I should sell my rotary I suppose......as I have little use for it now.
I did get a wide enough machine to cover my rear tires and a hydraulic side shift which is somewhat helpful to keep my tractor away from tree limbs when mowing along the trail and food plot edges. Also better around my building site. My hydraulic top link and hydraulic side shift allows easy adjustment to the mower. Nice features.

I have cut through a heavy stand of saplings to 4" diameter to form new trails and bedding spots. I did think I would use my old rotary cutter for this stuff.....but have not done so. The flail just chews it up and leaves you with mulch (and a few sharp sticks poking out of the ground).

Finally......it pretty much stays on my tractor as a ballast box when doing loader work. It's more compact with it being closer coupled to my 3 point than other implements......and it's fairly heavy. I'd own another Woodmaxx product in a heart-beat.

 

[Foggy47]

^ Just saw this post from nearly two years ago. I still have not used my rotary cutter since buying the flail mower. Have not found a need for it. I should sharpen the flail knives.....as I have nicked up the knives somewhat on rocks. But it still cuts nice. Flails are great machines. I should sell my 6' rotary cutter.

 

[momark]

I've thought seriously about getting one, but I read somewhere that you can't back up while cutting as it can cause some kind of damage to the belts or some such thing. There are a lot of places I need to back into some fairly rough stuff. What say you? Is this true?

 

[omicron1792]

I've thought seriously about getting one, but I read somewhere that you can't back up while cutting as it can cause some kind of damage to the belts or some such thing. There are a lot of places I need to back into some fairly rough stuff. What say you? Is this true?

I’ve never seen that to be true. I back up with mine without issue.

 

[Foggy47]

I've thought seriously about getting one, but I read somewhere that you can't back up while cutting as it can cause some kind of damage to the belts or some such thing. There are a lot of places I need to back into some fairly rough stuff. What say you? Is this true?

My flail is labeled "Dont back up. Damage will occur." The only thing I see that can be damaged is the roller cleaner (angle iron) that is directly behind the roller. I do some minor back up at times....but try to avoid backing up in heavy brush. Never have heard that you can damage belts that way. In heavy brush....I would lift the flail to about a foot off the ground....then back up into the thick stuff.....and set the flail down and go forward. Not been an issue to me. I have gone thru some pretty heavy stuff.

 

[jsasker007]

I back into places to mow all the time without issue.

 

[jsasker007]

Hydraulic side shift would be a nice option. Mine is just fixed and centered but it is wide enough to cover my tracks and then some. Probably sticks out past the tractor tires 8-10" on each side. I have my 4052r pretty much designated as my flail mower tractor and also use the mower as some extra weight when I'm doing loader work.

 

[Foggy47]

I went to google to see why you should not back up with a flail mower. Seems that grass can wrap in the flails and cause it to burn the belts....just as said. I've not experienced this.....but try to mow forward. I know that tall grass is a tough requirement with a flail as it tends to spend allot of time chewing it up and reducing it to fine mulch. In real tall grass....mine will bog down pretty fast. I just go slow in tall grass and get along fine with mine.....but if you have allot of tall grass you intend to mow....there may be a faster machine.

Here are some do's and don's from the web:

https://www.becksidemachinery.co.uk/post/tips-for-using-a-flail-mower

 

[SwampCat]

How would a flail mower be in johnson grass.

i have a jd 65 hP - 55 at pto. I easily run a 7’ rotary cutter. From what I have read, I would not be able to go that wide with a flail. How fast is a flail compared to rotary?

 

[Foggy47]

How would a flail mower be in johnson grass.

i have a jd 65 hP - 55 at pto. I easily run a 7’ rotary cutter. From what I have read, I would not be able to go that wide with a flail. How fast is a flail compared to rotary?

I have a 38 HP Kubota which puts out 30 HP at the PTO due to AC and Hydro losses. I operate a 78" wide (6.5') Woodmax with the side shift. Fits just beyond my tractor width. I'd think this size or a bit wider would be fine on your tractor. The only place I need to slow down is in deep thick grass as it takes a bit more time to chew up all that mass within the machine. It does not spit out "clumps' as happens with a rotary bush hog.

With a hydrostatic tractor, the width is not such a big deal as you can slow your ground speed as the RPM's decrease due to the heavy load from such thick grasses. On my land, I seldom need to chew up heavy grass like that.....but I have a few areas. In woody and brushy cover, or over most crop types the flail mower chews it up and leaves a nice mulch layer over the top.

I have a rear access panel that can be lifted up for service to the flails......and I suppose if that was propped open it may spit the grasses out from the mower faster?......but mine is not equipped to do so. I think some other models offer such a feature??.....but not sure. For me it's almost a non-event......but every now and again I have to slow my travel speed and let the machine clear the load it is chewing up. That mulching effect is what takes a bit more time in heavy grass.....but it is SO worth the time to get an even layer of fine chopped mulch.

 

[SwampCat]

Would this be problematic for a flail mower? A field of johnson grass?

 

[Foggy47]

Would this be problematic for a flail mower? A field of johnson grass?

View attachment 69880

I think it would cut your ground speed to about 1/2 of the time it takes a rotary cutter. Maybe a bit more. If you could cut it sooner it would not slow you up so much. Deep thick grass does take more time to chew up.....no doubt about it.

 

[matinc]

Swamp has tall is that Johnson grass

 

[SwampCat]

Swamp has tall is that Johnson grass

Yes