If the tractor and Implement Business doesen't work out, this man has a great future as a presenter. Always enjoy his Vids, interesting and informative presentation and great delivery. I have no need for a flail mower or 90% of what he shows but always enjoy the vids and learn something. He is a great representative for his company.

That was by far the best information on a flail mower I ever got. I’m glad someone finally addressed why they run the flail mower low to the ground.

I've been trying to decide between a flail and rotary and this is the most helpful video I've seen comparing the pros and cons of a flail mower. Thank you!

Your review and description has really helped me decide. I have been on the fence on to buy or not to buy. The feed back on the comments helped win me over . Thanks Neil !

I don't know why, but watching that flail mower chew through that grass was incredibly satisfying!

Have been trying to decide between rotary and flail and this video helped so much! Thanks!

Always interesting how trends go on the web... flails are the new hotness lately. Great review of real world use vs. others I've seen so nice job! Sharing the Y-blades jammed stick experience and the larger frame ~25hp engine PTO B2650's performance in High range (resulting in mower "skipping") were especially insightful. Especially helps those of us debating between 25hp vs 32hp+ range tractors!

Anyone that has never used a flail mower with those y knifes has no idea what there missing . Used one for 30 years now . Awesome performance . They cut so close when desired and really mulch everything up fine for better regeneration of the grass and also get rid of lumps and clumps on trails . I mulch up too two inch brush . There a wood chipper shredder also 👍 They are well worth the extra money . Good review 👍👍👍

Great video thanks for the education, now i know why mike morgan likes doing business with you folks.

Nice review Neil. Pretty much nailed the pros and cons. I've never had the need for one. Thanks for the videos.

Damn that hydrostat is screaming. We use many machines with hydrostats, but none seams to be nearly as loud. (Mobile Excevator, Aebi Twoaxle mower, singleaxle walk behind mowers, remote controlled Mowers,...) The remote and singleaxle mowers have about 20-30hp Diesel an petrol. If you hear those sounds from these machines, you have low oillevels or something is broken. And we use nothing else than flail mowers. If you get the feeling with those machines and play with the 3point you can really effectively dig into wooden material without throwing stuff around like a rotary. For mountain regions with stones, we use chains instead of the Y-Knives on the remote mower. Those flailheads are indestructible! Greetings from europe.

Great video Neil!!! Always love your content.

Best salesman on the internet!

Always educational - great options.

I ran a rotary in a vineyard for a while. After we pruned the vines in the spring we had to pick them up because we tripped over them and they were hard to work around. The rotary mower just cut the off what ever was sticking up like it was grass. Our local tractor dealer called me one day and said that someone had traded in a flail mower, did we want to check it out. The next day he dropped it off. It was a five footer, had hammer blades, and was made in CA. I hooked it up to our Massey 135. It worked great! It sucked the prunings up and spit them out looking like they'd gone through a chipper. I found if I could run over it, the mower would cut it. One big key is to match your forward speed to what you are working in. Most of these mowers are intended to run at 540rpms. In heavy stuff, gear the tractor down until you get a clean cut.

We used flail mowers in the '60 for a finish mower on lawns. With normal mowing it works great, better than a rotary finish mower, in my opinion. Love watching your attachments segments! Thanks.

Great video as always Neil!

Just the information I was looking for.

Excellent video. Thank you!

I own a Delmorino flipper flail. Awesome implement

I have hammer blades on mine and do my lawn . It will also chop up 1 1/2 inch alders . Has a roller on the back for height adjustment , you can fine tune height with top link adjustment . Highly recommend

i hhave a flail on my farmall cub.it does a great job mowing our lawn,and will cut high grass with ease.i did however catch a garden hose in our neighbors high grass,it jammed it tight as a drum.was a 20 minute project to unwrap that one,

Great video on the Flail mower Neil. And important discussion about support and parts availability when buying a new attachment or implement - super important to be able to easily access parts and service on your investment to keep it running with minimal downtime. Thanks!

Very well explained. Thank you

Learned something again today!

I have heard flail mowers were used roadside, fairways and parks because they didn't throw debris 360 deg and 100 yard like a rotary would. Most material discharged out the back but you had to watch stuff thrown back at the tractor with the unit off the ground. There are a lot of tests and reviews on almost all the video channels. Thanks Neil take care

Neil if you have time you should check out a landpride flail mower they seam to be built to handle bigger brush I bought a 48 inch with my bx23s and it is very heavy on the tractor and will stall it if started below 1/2 throttle but once i got it running it will digest more than a smart person would put it though it seems to be a different animal

💥 Only once I have gotten a large branch jammed into my flail mower. There is a big difference between the hammers and knives however. The best way to dislodge material that gets stuck is to use a reciprocating saw or a small chainsaw. Multiple passes are often needed with a flail on large brush but the finish cut is better than a brush hog. Given the choice flails work better behind small tractors. Great vid! 👍 *Keep on tractoring!*

Interesting video Neil as I have been running that exact model Del Morino flail (hammer version) on a 26HP here in France for 2 years now and am very happy with it. It’s also called the FunnyTop here ! Hasn’t missed a beat, even when I cut a neighbour’s field where much of it was taller than me (when seated on the tractor) and it was not just grass. It did it nearly all in just one pass - as you say, you can’t run it off the ground - I only had to go over a couple of small areas twice. Very impressive. Would agree with your comments in general - it’s more durable and powerful than you think initially for its size and I’ve seen it chuck things like stones out a fair distance - it pays to keep people well clear when in use ! Thanks for the review

That catch problem is probably why the old Ford flails do not counter-rotate. My 50-year-old Ford 907 will just eject things like that branch out the back rather than pull it up over the cutter bar. There's also a lot more space between the cutter bar and the shell, so it would take something very large to get trapped there. I changed out the Ford T-knives for Mott-style knives, and it works as well as any modern flail.

looks like it would give you a finish mower like cut on pasture but using something designed more for taller weeds/grass vs a finish mower. I know I run a 72" befco finish behind the 2650 and it is all it wants when the grass is heavier

Neil - love your channel, reviews and insights - have to disagree with your flail application summary - here in NZ heavy clearing and heavy mowing work is really commonly done with flail mowers tackling up to 15cm hard wood branches and stumps with big hammer flails (berti, seppi, vigolo etc are commonly used) - very different to what you're demonstrating mowing a field so I do get your context.

When you went fast, LOL!

You have explained the usage so much better than others have. I thought that a flail could be just as good as a brush mower but now I see it is not.

Will it hook up to a quick hitch, like say a Landpride QH05?

Would love to see this run side by side on the same field , against a rotary cutter or flex wing in particular. Maybe a colander with TTWT

I agree buy Quality. Not the other stuff!

You have convinced me that there’s no practical use for a flail mower except for the mythical, flat weedy field with no sticks, stones or discarded trash. That cab weight has that little tractor rocking like a boat.

Any reason you aren't making use of the offset feature and mowing such that you aren't running over ALL the material you are going to cut?

I have a Del Marino on my B2601 and really like it.

Cummins and Bricker is on the same high level as Messicks. They set me up with some parts for a Canadian snowblower several years ago. I'm currently considering a ditch bank flail, sometimes referred to as a verge mower.

What will work best for very old woody blackberry? Thanks 😊

Italy has a great many very small farms of 2-30 acres, unlike here in the USA. That's why they make good small implements.

Interesting ...I have been considering a flail. The mower may be quiet but those hydrostatic drive tractors would drive me up a wall

Around here they are pretty much just a more expensive finish mower. Their design just does not support cut rough ground. They handle taller grass better then a rotary finish mower but if you want a nice finish the grass will usually shorter anyways.

could you try the hammerhead style cutter on that grass

Large flail mowers are used to mow weeds in orchard rows, at least in California. The ground needs to be almost bare for the nut harvesters to work properly. Flail mowers work best to get that really low cut height.

I have a B2650 as well what is the size of this flail mower and approximately what is the cost?

Part of the branch issue is to do with the size of the mower. I work 100 acres of orchard and we mow it with a large flail with grass knives, there’s much more clearance between the barrel the blades are attached to and the sheet metal of the flail, we often have large branches up to three inches on the ground hidden in the grass for obvious reasons and have never had any issues with branches getting stuck in the mower

Are these mowers quick hitch compatible?

Flails are much more difficult to sharpen and replace blades that rotary cutters or finish mowers. However, also much safer in terms of discharging cuttings that rotary cutters or finish mowers. Hence often used on roadways or around buildings such as schools.

Test the LP one next. Surprised that wasn’t the one reviewed. And I believe you are mistaken about a rotary vs flail on small trees and brush. It mulches it much better. For me the flail wins in also every aspect, except cost. It’s more complex and costs about double a rotary cutter.

“There is a Weed here that is as High as Me!” Best quote ever!!! Lol

What size and model is that and could a kubota B7500 run one that big Messick Equipment

Where do you buy the SAE 140 EP oil for it?

I bought a 48" flail with hammers for our B2650. I needed to clear about 3 acres for our retirement home. The land was solidly overgrown with brush, vines, tall grass and saplings up to 3" diameter (8-10' tall). The mower performed great. Drove with the tractor in low due to uneven ground and general debris. Saw nothing but mulched grass and wood chips out the back. I did come across about 20' of old barbed wire which wrapped around the drum faster than I could turn off the PTO. Bound up the drum real good and broke both drive belts on the mower, but did not shear the PTO pin. Took about an hour to clear the mower. Had new belts with me so I was back up running a little while later. Knives are better for grass, but hammers do ok on grass if you're not looking for that manicured look. Plus hammers would have chewed up that small branch that bound up his knives.

Neil are these QH compatible

Hi messick tractor.. i sure got excited the other day i watch you youtube all the time .so im a trck diver from canada. And i was driving in south west of Pennsylvania and saw a big sign.. i started yelling messick messick.. my wife just looked at me ask is i was allright..lol..

Neil got a question for ya. I just got a quote from you guys for one of these Del Morino ditch-bank flail mower and I am not sure of the size. I have the Kubota B2650 (same as your video) and was thinking about getting the 55" wide Del Morino. I would like to get the 63" but am worried thats too much weight hanging off one side of the 3-pt lift arms. Someone had told me that a 48" would be a better match for the Kubota B2650 but i wanted something wider than the tractor. So the question is what size ditch-bank flail mower would be appropriate for my machine the B2650. Much appreciated as always!

How does the land pride flail mower compare to this Del Marino? Im more concerned with durability and longevity than price. Not sure why but there are ZERO videos on the Land Pride which sucks i like to research things before i buy but there is nothing out there on the Land Prides.

So, what size is that mower, and is it the ideal size you would run on that B2650 or on a LX2610? I don't think you ever mentioned it in the video.

Can all catagory 1 implements attach to any brand of tractor with Catagory 1, three point? Are pto drive shafts the same standard length for catagory 1 implements regardless of the make of the implement?

... and drive the other way round with the offset mower, then you are only with one wheel side in the uncut grass. =)

I'm actually thinking about a flail mower in lieu of a mid-mount for my lawn on a B01 series. I think I could access more areas of my lawn and open up my offerings to customers to cut heavier brush, etc. (I have no intention of doing regular grass cutting for hire). I also like the ability to offset capability of that one. Are there models that can offset hydraulically w/a add'l rear SCV?

Great video as always. What size flail mower could I run on my L3400 and L4060HST?

Neil you say that these flails take less horsepower than a rotary mower, what is a good estimate on hp requirement and does that change with the size of the machine? Also, what should I look for when buying one of these used?

Hi Neil nice video you did a video some time ago with a titan flail are they comparable in quality and price

I'm considering buying an offset flail mower for my Kubota MX5200. What would be a suitable sized offset flail mower for a tractor of this size?

Will this connect to kubota's quick connect 3-point?

Time to adjust your slip clutch?

Quite surprisingly that was a very rookie assessment! I guess the experience with flail equipment isn't exactly there, yet! The day you see flails "digesting" an entire trees, tree stumps and the likes. And leave a trail of perfectly mulched material. That will regenerate better and faster into the soil, beside looking very decent! I guess then your opinion will be quickly updated to reality. ;-)

You left one blooper in ... you were doing a demo on a flail until the very end. And then you tried to sell a tiller. Is that why I want to flail and tiller now? What a salesman!

What's the price on that mower

Neil, can a LX2610 run a ditch/bank flail mower, or is that too much for it's HP ? If NO what flail would you recommend for the LX 2610. Would rather do flail over rotary cutter..

What I would like to know is if a flail mower can finish mow wet grass when my zero turn can't do to clumping.

Can you change directions of the blades.!!!

Would definitely not handled the area of 1 to 2 inch trees I took out with my rotary cutter. (had to go in slow, in reverse, with that...) But it will be a good choice for some people.

Standard mower for Europe ... we only use rotary cutting on lawn mowers.

Grass on our property gets that tall in ten days...

I have MX6000 Kubota what is the largest width flail mower I can use- Y blades ?

That drive system is loud on that tractor.

I dont know if you are familiar with the Ford 9N. It has 23 ish hp and 90 ft/lbs of torque. But would the 9N handle it alright

Sticks Don't jam a brown 416👍

2:05 watch out for that butterfly....

I bought a Maschio Bufalo 300 from Messicks in 2018 which is a 12’ flail for tractors with 150-300HP PTO... I run mine with a Fendt 724 and have jammed the rotor running over a log. I have shredded logs I couldn’t see in deep grass but they were somewhat rotted. Where my mower excels is grinding up Autumn Olives and cedars up to 3” thick which are soft wood. That’s not something these compact models can do.

If you're mowing grass with this, how do you keep it from jamming up on the sides of the roller and flail drum?

Here in britain and ireland we cut football pitchs with flails u can get fine cut flails for them do ye get major farm equipment in the state u could verticut with that flail u just demo with

Neil this time i cant agree with you. I would always prefer flails over rotaries for woody conditions.... we run a 150cm flail with gras knives on our bx at home. branches up to 2-3 inches are no problem. only thng left are small pieces of wood which will rot fast. I work on an orchard and where we use big flails. branches causing our issue are no problems. they mulch it down and that´s it.... but you brought the wrong equipment this time for mulcing down a forest or the wrong company... since this flail isnt build for it. there isnt enough room between rotor and the metal. and you got no hammers... greetings from germany

Does anyone else want to know the rest of the lyrics of that "Helping hand" song?

Maintenance on a flail is high compared to a bush hog or finish mower. They do have a purpose. I feel that Neil skipped over alot of info here. Notice, no discharge to speak of, that makes mowing around building, cars and people much easier and safer. Most flails have a big steel roller across the back that is used as the height adjustment. This also helps lay the grass down and flat. It also makes it harder to pull across the ground. They only really work going forward, backing under a tree doesnt work so well unless you lift it up, back up, put it down amd drive forward. For perspective my 30pto hp pulls an 88 inch flail easier than a 6 foot bushhog in grass with a 4 inch cut.

Sold. Definitely want one. Could you pull it behind a b2401 please. Maybe do a comparison. Talk about the 1000 rpm pto.

I find a lot of what you are saying is actually against what I have personally experienced. I find hammer knives to actually work better in grass than the knives. Also, the flail I operate can pulverize limbs up to about 3 inches. In fact this is why road departments use them for right of ways. I have a 53 inch behind a John Deere 1025r. They are much safer than a rotary cutter, they won't throw something hundreds of feet out the back.

Weird, I've been shopping for flail mowers a lot recently...

why do almost all the flail mower reviews ignore the ability to mow at 90 degrees? does this model not support that feature? like for trail maintenance and hedge row trimming??

Can the little 1880 handle a flail mower

Just get a browns 416 brush cutter. Skip the flail save money.

Belts burned up after 8 hrs use. Had to cut off old belts and can't get new belts on.

use hammer blades

Dead nuts perfect.

What size is that flail mower?