Flail Mower VS. Bush Hog?
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Topic: Flail Mower VS. Bush Hog?
Posted By: Claus
Subject: Flail Mower VS. Bush Hog?
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 10:16am
| Any of you guys use a flail mower instead of a Bush Hog? Any advantages? Seems like the maintenance of a flail mower would make it less feasible. |
Replies:
Posted By: albatros_3
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 10:43am
| I just sold my Ford 918H 91" cut flail mower. I also have a 6' brush hog as well. I depends on what I needed done. The flail mower had more maintenance than the brush hog, but did a cleaner job when cutting grass. I would recommend a flail mower for mowing light stuff that is not so tall or if you want a nicer finish. It did a nice job grinding everything up. There was a little more greasing than the brush hog. Also the blades would need attention. There were reversible, so when one side wore down, you could unbolt it, flip it and bolt it back on with a new edge. I also believe it's easier on the tractor and mower because if you hit something, you only have a few small blades of the many hitting it rather than two large blades hitting something. If you need some bushes or small trees cut, I would recommend the brush hog. I only sold it because most of the blades needed replacing and it was pretty heavy for my Ford 3600 diesel. Picking it up made the Ford really light in the front. I plan on finding something similar to a 918L. I don't need a mower made with 1/4" plate steel for mowing a few pastures. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 3:52pm
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I have a JD 6'6" flail mower. Yes a flail mower has more wear parts than a brush hog but they are a couple bucks each not $75 or $100. The flail mower cuts square and so fits into corners better than the brush hog. My flail mower main shaft turns about 1800 RPM and at 4 or 5 mph each flail gets to the bottom about every 6 or 8" of travel and with only one flail per cutting path, it cuts a scalloped surface unless I use the slowest ground speed I can about 1.5 mph. It will take tractor hood (MF-135) high weeds at 5 or 6 mph, just won't leave a lawn smooth surface. The JD I have uses the same flails as JD stalk choppers. Other brands of flail mowers do cut park grass smoothly so probably have three or four flails in line in each revolution to cut more often. Gerald J. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 4:17pm
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I have a patch of bluegrass in my CRP ground. It had the best stand till I started mowing it with a brush hog type mower twice a year to keep weeds down. every time you mow, you windrow the left overs so that makes a strip that can kill out the grass and leave a place for more weeds to grow. From what I have seen, the flail mower will not have this effect as the cuttings are spread evenly. I use to have Brady flail chopper and sold it cause I couldn't pull it with the 45 in tall grass. Sure wish I had it now cause I think it would do better on bustin up the mulberry trees when I mow. Just have to mow narrower strips or mow B4 it get's too tall. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Eldon (WA)
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 4:22pm
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I just mowed my back field with my 8' Bush Hog at 8 mph.....looks like a lawn. Try that with a flail mower.... ------------- ALLIS EXPRESS! This year: |
Posted By: Eldon (WA)
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 4:23pm
------------- ALLIS EXPRESS! This year: |
CTuckerNWIL wrote:Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 4:36pm
My 5 ft JD Gyromower doesn't windrow as bad as the 5 ft 3 pt Ford. Wish I knew how to make it not windrow ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: captaindana
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2012 at 6:02pm
| I use a 7 foor Mathews Co Rotary Sythe in place of a hog. It takes lots of power in fine grass, course is a piece of cake. I bought it new in 76, only use it 20 acres a year maybe. It's an incredibly heavy built weed weapon with 10 grease fittings and an oil cup to drip on the drive chain. |
Posted By: Clay
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 3:24pm
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I have a 9 foot Mathews Company Rotary Scythe. Excellent work horse of a machine. Only problem is sometimes it can scalp. A MC Rotary Scythe is a great tool for fluffing wet tangled hay. Should you have a technical question, call the Mathews Company and they will connect you with some of the most knowledgeable helpful service engineers. These guys know their stuff and are eager to help.
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