Why a Flail Mower is WAY Better Than a Rotary Cutter!

Chris does a comparison of his Massey Ferguson equipped with a FM2572 Land Pride Flail Mower versus the RCR1272 Land Pride Rotary Cutter!

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#LandPride #RotaryCutter #FlailMower

[HuckabonesEquipment]

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[rexmundi]

I feel like my riding mower can cut grass that high. A 30 year old bush hog and an 80 year old 8n would definitely handle that no problem. I know because that was my old setup. I’d like to see a real test. Like 6 foot high wild roses, iron weed, and blackberry brambles mixed with saplings. The kinda overgrown you don’t go into wearing shorts and sneakers. Which I’d never wear on a tractor.

[ArnoldsDesign]

I actually get a nice finish in a field like with a 60" brush hog. I keep the blades sharp. However, it's the startup vibration, and temporary severe vibration when the blades swing away when hitting something with resistance I don't like. I would like to try a flail mower at some point.

[JeffreySmith]

Not sure you sold me on the flail mower. I can make 2 passes if needed with the rotary cutter, and I can also go a bit slower. I'm not going to use either of those as the "final" cut if I'm looking to get more of a finish cut, it's going to be the first pass on the way to a finish cut. If I ultimately don't want a finish cut, then again I can get what I want for 1/4 the hardware price with a tank of a rotary cutter. I've used both, and while I'm not knocking the flail mower, I don't see the value outweighing the value/cost of the rotary cutter. Thanks for making the video.

[JosephReidNZ]

I like the Cabe TVRP Reverse Mulcher, especially for kiwifruit orchards.

[johnbodman]

The flail mower is a nonstarter as far as I am concerned, I was a turf farmer until I retired, I had a rotary slasher like the one shown and only used it for the long grass as shown. I also had a rotary slasher, mounted on rollers and it did a job so good that it was adequate for turf and that needs to be really good. A roller slasher runs at a fraction of the cost of a flail mower, because it has way less moving parts and no rubber belts. I had a flail mower when I started my business and was very under impressed, changing the flails was a nightmare, while changing two slasher blades is easy. With a flail mower you have to drive slowly, in a low gear with high revs, which is time consuming and fuel consuming. A rotary roller slasher is fast and easy.

[wildbillc]

One thing with a flail mower is they don't require as much horsepower to run them....thinking of getting a 48"-50" flail mower for my BX2680...a flail mower doesn't stick out the back of your tractor nearly as far as a rotary cutter either, and if you aren't cutting brush, or saplings, you don't need a rotary cutter. With my small tractor I get into small spaces that you can't get those big machines, so having a mower that sits closer to the back of the tractor is a huge plus. Although I won't be buying a Land Pride due to their ridiculous price on a flail mower...I'll be going with a BETSTCO 48" flail mower with the flail knives rather than hammers, although you can order a set of hammers and swap them out if needed for heavier mowing applications.

[mw]

Would be nice to see how you are able to adjust the flail mower. Maybe next time.

[jimcan]

Initially, my eyes saw your rotary's rear wheel was not on the ground - the flopping up/dn may be why you saw those skips. I would be curious about the RPM the Furgie was running?  
I have a 6' flail with knives, not hammers, and need 2200rpm on my J-D 40hp to reach the suggested flail speed. I came from an old F-40 with a rotary mower and did not know about rear discharge vs. side when I bought it; it spit out gobs. My Caroni flail at speed cleans the ground up nicely. My neighbor has a 40hp Kubota with 6' deck mower: his property looks nice also. It's all fun-at-work. Jim

[DavidSmith-fruz]

A bit off topic but why is does it seem necessary in these videos to use the center hitch with the bush hog? I mean the wheel holds up the back. It might come in handy if you want to back up and drop it on some heavy brush but other than that I just use the side hitches. Easier on the tractor and does a better job for me.

[ronq]

Big HP difference between the tractors. Rotary cutter is over sized for the box

[stevenwescott]

One comment I have not seen is rotary cutters are able to cut much further away from the tractor as in backing under trees or ditches. Doesn’t necessarily make them better but in some instances it can mow what a flail simply can’t. Jmtc

[theverdictisstillout]

Can a flail mower handle rocks better or worse than rotary? What is the best way to cut weeds and bramble out of a field that has quite a few rocks.

[jeremiahcannon]

Almost Everyone that compares these types of mowers has them placed on the backs of these “ tractors”. Why not avoid the “ tire roll compression” and place the units on the front??? From what I’ve seen, “ Ventrac” has addressed this issue quite nicely… jus sayin

[moriver]

Come on....The 135 was not at 540...That flail is new...The rotary cutter is old and a bigger deal adjusted totally wrong not to mention on a tractor with no power..

[clane]

Good information! Thank you. Why do guys wear shorts and anklets when operating machinery or walking in tall grass. Dangerous! I live in snake country though and my legs are ugly ! 😂

[VineV-Dutch]

It ain't! From Europe, originally, but going back to finish mower from flail. Maintenance costs, buy in price, complexity of maintenance, part costs, are much lower with a finish mower. Besides that: a flail with chip/shred the pieces of grass which makes raking more difficult. You also need less power with a finish mower. Fuel is the most costly in our business, besides labour and my time. Even mowing a little bit more per season, the fuel I save is astonishing. And a better result. And...If you want hay/straw and easy raking and pick up in a grass cart, a flail ain't for you. The pieces are to small. Cattle don't like it and mulch for gardening: you don't want the mulch to compost to fast.
And, on the front I can run a mower, and on the three point, offset, as well. Twice the speed. On less rpm, read fuel consumption, then 1 flail. And I save valuable time. The finish mower can be in the same angles as the flail mowers. That being said: we only have the grassy things here.

[billcolt]

IM cutting 6ft tall white pine and bradford pear mixed in with weeds, , , lets see it cut that and your result, , , , id post a video here but cant, , , , mowed low to the ground 3", , , , and smooth, , , ,

[fiberglassrb]

Shorts? Is this guy going golfing or what?

[billshafley]

Flail mowers are nice but not for $13K!!