Turning with a flail mower

[imarobot]

I purchased a Del Morino Super 158 last fall. I bought it to mow fields with tall grass that only get mowed at the end of the season; well, that and because I wanted one. I am very pleased with how it works for this; and that I satisfied my "need" for this.
I currently use a 3-point FDR2584 finish mower to mow the lawn around my house, about 2 acres, and am thinking about using the flail mower instead and selling the finish mower.
The thing is, in smaller areas with tighter turns I noticed that I have to lift the flail mower so that I not dragging that big heavy roller on the back of the mower across the ground and digging up the ground, then back up, lower it and cut the turn area. With the finish mower, this of course is not an issue. I would be making more tighter turns on the lawn than in the fields.
Is this the nature of the flail mower beast, or is there a way to make smaller turns and cut at the same time?
This would allow me to sell the finish mower and buy another implement I want, no need!

 

[#40Fan]

I'm sure your finish mower has caster wheels on all four corners, correct? Now imagine if the flail mower had four casters! That is what would need to be done.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

All you need to do is lift it just slightly.
To run a flail efficiently the rear roller shouldn't run on the ground all the time anyways.

 

[D2Cat]

You can put some idler wheels on the back of the flail to make it mow like a push mower.

 

[SDT]

I purchased a Del Morino Super 158 last fall. I bought it to mow fields with tall grass that only get mowed at the end of the season; well, that and because I wanted one. I am very pleased with how it works for this; and that I satisfied my "need" for this.
I currently use a 3-point FDR2584 finish mower to mow the lawn around my house, about 2 acres, and am thinking about using the flail mower instead and selling the finish mower.
The thing is, in smaller areas with tighter turns I noticed that I have to lift the flail mower so that I not dragging that big heavy roller on the back of the mower across the ground and digging up the ground, then back up, lower it and cut the turn area. With the finish mower, this of course is not an issue. I would be making more tighter turns on the lawn than in the fields.
Is this the nature of the flail mower beast, or is there a way to make smaller turns and cut at the same time?
This would allow me to sell the finish mower and buy another implement I want, no need!

Yet another reason why I prefer rough cut rotary cutters to flail mowers.

 

[hagrid]

Steps:

- aquire teh BX23S with RCK60 mower deck.
- remove and permanently store backhoe/FEL.
- manicure aforementioned lawn with BX23S.
- profit.

 

[imarobot]

I have the finish mower and also a brush hog. I like the flail mower better, especially in 3' tall grass. I wouldn't put the finish mower through that abuse. The flail mower does a good job at chopping the grass into small pieces rather than leaving piles of long grass like the brush hog does.
Finish mower will a much better job on the lawn of course; my flail has hammer blades.
I need more practice with it more to do the tight turning stuff. I will have to set it so that the rear roller is not on the ground as Wolfman mentioned.

 

[Shawn T. W]

If you have position control on the three point, just remember (or set the thumb screw if you have one) what number you like the flail at for mowing, then when cornering, lift the three point one number, or two if that's needed, then put back for regular mowing ...

 

[imarobot]

If you have position control on the three point, just remember (or set the thumb screw if you have one) what number you like the flail at for mowing, then when cornering, lift the three point one number, or two if that's needed, then put back for regular mowing ...

I do set the limit thumb screw, but I have been setting it to low, allowing the roller to be on the ground. I will have to set it higher.
I also lift the implement a little when turning, but when I do that, I am not cutting the grass which requires me to have to go over that area again to cut what it missed.
I guess I'm spoiled by my finish mower.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Do they make wheels for flail mowers? From my view, they won't stick out as far as a rear mower.

 

[chim]

Most implements have trade-offs or what may be perceived as shortcomings. Sometimes there's a simple solution such as running the pattern in a different direction. Sometimes they are significant enough to try a different implement.

 

[hedgerow]

I have the finish mower and also a brush hog. I like the flail mower better, especially in 3' tall grass. I wouldn't put the finish mower through that abuse. The flail mower does a good job at chopping the grass into small pieces rather than leaving piles of long grass like the brush hog does.
Finish mower will a much better job on the lawn of course; my flail has hammer blades.
I need more practice with it more to do the tight turning stuff. I will have to set it so that the rear roller is not on the ground as Wolfman mentioned.

MY suggestion would be to make a few rounds at the headlands before you start mowing the field. Even with my bat wing mower I make a few rounds on the head lands before mowing a field to be able to raise the bat wing a little when I turn and keep the mowing even that way. If you mow the headlands out first you can lift the fail as much as you want when turning because the headlands are already mowed.

 

[imarobot]

Do they make wheels for flail mowers? From my view, they won't stick out as far as a rear mower.

Don't know. I didn't see any such option for mine.

 

[Petey]

I have a Del Morino Centurian 158 (non-super) - I have experienced the same issue. I thought the flail was supposed to ride on the roller bar, as that is partially what sets the cutting height, aside from the 3pt top link tilt.
It would be cool if there were an option for casters - would be a better all around implement for mowing the lawn without damaging the turf too, eliminating the need for a separate mower.