Scag Zero turn mowers

[GarethM]

So you've got the tractors and want to spend 7k.

 

Personally I'd just bite the bullet and spend 2k on a small flail the same width as the tractor.

 

Or keep you're eye out for an ex council front flail ride on mower that's going to be diesel and a hell of a lot more comfortable and safer.

 

As realistically the neighbours aren't going to pay more than £50 an hour for mowing.

Edited Sunday at 10:49 by GarethM

[Muddy42]

Agreed, buy a PTO driven flail for one of your tractors. Tractors and PTO drive is for fields, rotary ride on lawn mowers are for lawns.  The only place id consider a walk behind is for steep banks or awkward places like orchards, but most of the time that can be tackled with a strimmer rather than a dedicated machine. 

[doobin]

26 minutes ago, Muddy42 said:

Agreed, buy a PTO driven flail for one of your tractors. Tractors and PTO drive is for fields, rotary ride on lawn mowers are for lawns.  The only place id consider a walk behind is for steep banks or awkward places like orchards, but most of the time that can be tackled with a strimmer rather than a dedicated machine. 

For 7k he’d get a small alpine tractor and topper! Way more fun. 

[Grassyass]

We have both scag flail & rotary mowers , the flail is best on long grass that is only cut occasionally not as fast as a rotary, out front ride on with a flail deck is the best option better than a rear flail on a compact tractor ,faster and a better finish, as when you have the mower behind you flatten the grass with your wheels first , walk behind mower are good on slopes ,but takes it out of your legs after a full day ,

[Kia]

11 hours ago, Grassyass said:

We have both scag flail & rotary mowers , the flail is best on long grass that is only cut occasionally not as fast as a rotary, out front ride on with a flail deck is the best option better than a rear flail on a compact tractor ,faster and a better finish, as when you have the mower behind you flatten the grass with your wheels first , walk behind mower are good on slopes ,but takes it out of your legs after a full day ,

Thanks—finally someone who actually read my post and responded with the kind of answers I was looking for, rather than just pushing what worked best for them! Really appreciate it.

Do you have any 36" machines working on slopes?

On our hay field headlands I am trying to keep the cut strip no wider than 48" if possible, I have now the chance of a rotary 36" which I can put dual wheels on for some bank work.. 

[GarethM]

5 minutes ago, Kia said:

Thanks—finally someone who actually read my post and responded with the kind of answers I was looking for, rather than just pushing what worked best for them! Really appreciate it.

Do you have any 36" machines working on slopes?

On our hay field headlands I am trying to keep the cut strip no wider than 48" if possible, I have now the chance of a rotary 36" which I can put dual wheels on for some bank work.. 

Do whatever you wish, most of us here have been farming for decades longer than we care to remember.

 

You're not reinventing the wheel with your idea, we're realistically trying to save you money 1st time around.

 

We've all had these ideas, wasted money and flogged ourselves and than gone back to what we suggested because it's works and is safer.

 

As the saying goes your dime, you're time.

[Muddy42]

1 hour ago, Kia said:

Thanks—finally someone who actually read my post and responded with the kind of answers I was looking for, rather than just pushing what worked best for them! Really appreciate it.

Do you have any 36" machines working on slopes?

On our hay field headlands I am trying to keep the cut strip no wider than 48" if possible, I have now the chance of a rotary 36" which I can put dual wheels on for some bank work.. 

 

To be fair you did ask "what sort of stuff will the flail cut through?".  Plus you said you had various tractors, a quad and flail and that you wanted less machines, without really specifying which ones you wanted to sell.  Don't be surprised if you get vague answers.

 

Personally I try to use the most HP, ride on and least manpower for the job.  Even if that means reversing into corners and into trees, its easier than a walk behind or a strimmer. Front tractor mounted flails are even better, although you get less warning of an obstacle, not that that matters much with a flail.

 

Why not hire a walk behind flail and see how much sweat pours when you walk it round a field?  I did this a few years ago, then bought a tow behind flail. Thanks

 

[david lawrence]

Reverse drive is handy 

[Grassyass]

9 hours ago, Kia said:

Thanks—finally someone who actually read my post and responded with the kind of answers I was looking for, rather than just pushing what worked best for them! Really appreciate it.

Do you have any 36" machines working on slopes?

On our hay field headlands I am trying to keep the cut strip no wider than 48" if possible, I have now the chance of a rotary 36" which I can put dual wheels on for some bank work.. 

 

[Grassyass]

We have twin wheels fitted on the 48” ,reason being if you put twin wheels on the 36” it’s as wide as a 48”  but there is no reason you couldn’t,