flail mower

[WJH]

I have a BX 1880 i recently purchased. I would like a flail mower. Will I be underpowered with a 48" flail? Kinda wishing i had bought a little more power but i wanted the 48" mower deck

 

[Elliott in GA]

Question: Why do you want a flail mower?
It seems that you already have a mower deck for a high quality cut on grass. If you want to cut rougher stuff, you would be better served by a rotary cutter - for example a Land Pride RCR 1242 or similar mower should work with your BX (you are just under the recommended HP, so go slow in thick stuff). A rotary cutter is also much less money for a tougher mow.

 

[WJH]

Question: Why do you want a flail mower?
It seems that you already have a mower deck for a high quality cut on grass. If you want to cut rougher stuff, you would be better served by a rotary cutter - for example a Land Pride RCR 1242 or similar mower should work with your BX (you are just under the recommended HP, so go slow in thick stuff). A rotary cutter is also much less money for a tougher mow.

I like the shorter length for my trailer, lower horse power requirement, and a better quality cut from what my research shows

 

[Elliott in GA]

I like the shorter length for my trailer, lower horse power requirement, and a better quality cut from what my research shows

OK - the flail is more compact. However, I do not think you will have much of a difference in required HP or width of cut with your tractor; I could be mistaken.
As to quality of cut, you already have a mower deck for grass, and the difference in cut quality between a lower powered flail and rotary cutter in the brush/rough will not be that great. You also have to factor in some of the disadvantages of flails (such as cost and jamming with sticks/rocks/debris - flails have be to close to the ground to cut).

Good luck with your hunt. In case you have not seen it, here is the Messick's youtube about flails, complete with a jam.

 

[mcmxi]

I have a BX 1880 i recently purchased. I would like a flail mower. Will I be underpowered with a 48" flail? Kinda wishing i had bought a little more power but i wanted the 48" mower deck

As someone who owns and uses both a rotary cutter (RCR1884) and a flail mower (Del Morino Centurion Super 158) the flail is way easier on the PTO in terms of shock, way smoother and quieter, and definitely requires less hp to operate efficiently.

Is a flail the perfect tool for everything, no, but it's an excellent implement for tall grass or brush but not designed for 4" diameter logs. The shorter length of a flail has many advantages whether it's turning, trailering, transitions etc. I'm using the flail tomorrow to cut a friend's field rather than the rotary cutter, in part because I can offset the cutting head and keep the tractor out of the tall grass, but also because it's shorter for my trailer and tractor, and it's nice to run for hours and hours.

 

[D2Cat]

I just came in from mowing a field with a 7' flail. I power it with a Deutz 6206 which is about a 60 HP tractor. Don't really need that much tractor but it's the smallest one I have at the farm. It actually does a nice job of clipping off everything above an assigned height. I have made some chains with metal notches to lock the chain in and the ends go on the 3 pt pins and by the top link on the tractor. I have the mower set up so I can mow the grass/weeds at about 8". I was thinking I should take some pictures but I leave my phone, keys and wallet in the truck when in a field.

I don't have a problem with sticks, rocks or debris when I mow no matter what style of mower I use, but a flail mower is very forgiving since each flail is free to move as necessary if something was struck.

 

[skeets]

Do not sell your BX mower deck short. It is well built and will stand up to tons of abuse. My BX has cut big grape vines I have pulled down, wild roses, black berries brush and just about anything I could drive over. Remember good sharp blades make a big difference no matter what type of mower you are using,,, your milage may vary

 

[mcmxi]

An upside to the flail I have with hydraulic offset and the ability to rotate the cutting head is that it's really easy to take care of the hammers. Maybe a downside to a flail is the cost of the replacement hammers if that's what you use. I just priced 24 hammers for my Del Morino and it's about $530 with shipping. Way more than the two blades for my RCR1884 (and yes, I have two sets for that cutter).