Flail mower

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Detail: flails on the rotating drum Mahschlegel.JPG
Detail: flails on the rotating drum
Two mounted on a Unimog, one at the front, and one at the end of a hydraulic boom Unimog U 400 (2).jpg
Two mounted on a Unimog, one at the front, and one at the end of a hydraulic boom
Used for ditch maintenance Berky Mulcher Typ 5600.jpg
Used for ditch maintenance

A flail mower is a type of powered garden/agricultural equipment which is used to deal with heavier grass/scrub which a normal lawn mower could not cope with. Some smaller models are self-powered, but many are PTO driven implements, which can attach to the three-point hitches found on the rear of most tractors. This type of mower is best used to provide a rough cut to long grass and even brambles in locations such as roadsides, where contact with loose debris may be possible.

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The flail mower gets its name from the use of flails attached to its rotating horizontal drum (also called tube, rotor, or axle). Many implement companies also refer to the flails as knives, blades or hammers. [1] The rows of flails are usually staggered to give a continuous cut for reduced wear on the machine. The flails are attached to the drum using chain links or brackets, depending on the manufacturer. The rotating drum is parallel to the axle of the tractor. The PTO driveshaft along the tractor's axis must make a right angle through the use of a gearbox in order to transfer its rotational energy to the drum. As the drum rotates, centrifugal force pushes the flails outward. [2]

Standard flails are shaped like an extruded "T" or "Y" and a chain attaches to the bottom. There are also proprietary flails with various shapes for shredding larger brush and others that leave a smooth, finish cut.

If a flail strikes an immovable object, it simply bounces off. Other rotary type mowers have a tendency to grab and throw the object out of the mower deck if its small enough. This fact makes the flail mower best suited for areas where thrown objects would cause damage.

Flail mowers may also be used in a more or less upright position for trimming the sides of hedges. They are often called hedge cutters (or sometimes also hedge trimmers ) then. Especially in forestry (agroforestry) some very robust variants of flail mowers – called flail mulchers, flail shredders, or flail choppers – are used.

Flail mowers vs Toppers

Some might also confuse flail mowers with toppers. Flail mowers cut grass very short and fine and can handle rough uneven surfaces, where a topper is mostly used to top off growth such as weeds and long grass. The mulch is much larger in sizes and not as fine when cutting with a flail mower. The topper uses swinging blades instead of rotating blades. Flail mowers are much more versatile in use but do cost more. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hedge trimmer</span> Gardening tool

A hedge trimmer, shrub trimmer, or bush trimmer is a gardening tool or machine used for trimming hedges or solitary shrubs (bushes). Different designs as well as manual and powered versions of hedge trimmers exist. Hedge trimmers vary between small hand-held devices to larger trimmers mounted on tractors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trencher (machine)</span> Construction equipment

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conditioner (farming)</span>

A conditioner is a farm implement that crimps and crushes newly cut hay to promote faster and more even drying. Drying the hay efficiently is most important for first cutting of the hay crop, which consists of coarse stalks that take a longer period of time to draw out moisture than finer-textured hays, such as second and subsequent cuttings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brush hog</span> Powered vegetation cutter

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotary mower</span> Powered vegetation cutter

A rotary mower is a unit of powered machinery that uses a rotating blade or blades to cut vegetation.

Hedge cutter may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atco (British mower company)</span>

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Mower blades are the cutting components of lawn mowers. They are usually made of sturdy metals as they must be able to withstand high-speed contact with a variety of objects in addition to grass. The materials used vary by manufacturer.

Trimax Mowing Systems is a New Zealand-based manufacturer of professional turf maintenance equipment. Trimax designs, develops, builds and markets high quality roller mowers with flail or rotary blade systems. The company's headquarters are located in Tauranga, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brushcutter (garden tool)</span> Powered garden tool

A brushcutter is a powered garden or agricultural tool used to trim weeds, small trees, and other foliage not accessible by a lawn mower or rotary mower. Various blades or trimmer heads can be attached to the machine for specific applications.

References

  1. "PTO Flail Mowers". WoodMaxx (FAQ section of commercial company listing blade type as "hammer blades" and "reversible double Y-blades"). Akron, NY. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  2. Andrew T (March 4, 2015). "What is a Flail Mower, and is it For You?". LawnEQ Blog. LawnEQ. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  3. "Flail mowers explained - everything you need to know" . Retrieved 2021-07-22.

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