Chinese/foreign kit

[Wheyibuggermair]

Been a while since I was last on here, but once again advice needed, looking for a decent Flail to go with me David Brown, but everything seems to be Chinese!
I was looking for a UK built piece of kit, but everything I researched turns out to be a combination of Chinese/Italian/ German manufacture!
The odd items of actual UK manafacture I did turn up seemed to be either 'collectors items' or so old they were being sold as antiques or scrap!?
I was originally looking for a solid, basic flail mower, but I've had me head turned by offers of 'verge mowers' that seemingly can cut down the sides of dykes/ditches can be 'offset' to get into the 'awkward bits' and even be set to do basic hedge/tree trimming.
These bits of kit seem to be me answers to my many prayers over the years, given the problems I have maintaining me 40 acres of uneven, bumpy, weed infested wood/meadowland.
But I'm worried about buying without advice, the gear I'm looking at is in the 3k range, I know, pennies to commercial farmers, but a big outlay to those of us smallholders/hobbyists.
As I say,been a while since I was on here, please feel free to redirect me to the appropriate forums.

 

[nick...]

You will get what you pay for.along with probably poor parts supply
Nick...

 

[PuG]

2k to much but recommend Agrimaster:

http://www.weavingmachinery.net/products/flails/fn/

We've had one of these going on 12 years, used heavily and hard, its been faultless. Vastly more useful than one of those side shift 3-point linkage ones simply because you can do ditches, hedges and anything of the type.

 

[Dave W]

You’ll need 2 double acting spoils on your tractor for a verge mower.

Have a look at del morino flails sold by Oxdale products. Good gear and not silly price

 

[PuG]

We've always only used one double and one single, weight of the mower depresses it fine and just have a brass breather on the other double acting cylinder outlet. Also trims to the ground better.

 

[Muck Spreader]

If you buy a verge mower take your time measuring and cutting the pto shaft to size. They need a lot of movement in the shaft.

 

[smcapstick]

Weaving’s machinery is from Poland, similar to mine. It is is good quality but obviously not as heavily built as the likes of a Kuhn VKM.

They’re perhaps 2/3 of the strength... but 1/3 of the price

 

[gorgous]

Have you rung georgebrowns? I think they make the flails inhouse now could be wrong though. http://www.brownsagricultural.co.uk/products?cat=8

 

[Dry Rot]

You’ll need 2 double acting spoils on your tractor for a verge mower.

Have a look at del morino flails sold by Oxdale products. Good gear and not silly price

If buying Oxdale, make sure they can also supply consumables like shear bolts from stock!

 

[icanshootwell]

@Wheyibuggermair Try contacting this firm, i know the boss very well, they will make anything you want to suit your needs.
http://www.protechmachinery.co.uk/html/products.html

 

[smcapstick]

@Wheyibuggermair Try contacting this firm, i know the boss very well, they will make anything you want to suit your needs.
http://www.protechmachinery.co.uk/html/products.html

Not for £3k, they won’t

 

[Simon Chiles]

Weaving’s machinery is from Poland, similar to mine. It is is good quality but obviously not as heavily built as the likes of a Kuhn VKM.

They’re perhaps 2/3 of the strength... but 1/3 of the price

I’d dispute the Weaving topper being 2/3rds of the strength of the Kuhn. A friend of mine bought the Kuhn because he thought by paying a lot more money got a better machine. He’s often burning the drive belts (3) out in tougher conditions. Another friend of mine bought the Weaving and hasn’t had any problems with it. I’ve borrowed it on many occasions and unfortunately managed to find a roll of sheep netting in some brambles and managed to break the belts, however I must point out that the topper is rated at 80hp and I had it on a tractor that punches out nearer 180hp on boost. When I removed the belt guards I found it had 5 belts. I’d say that there are bits about the Kuhn design I like but equally there are other bits that are better on the Weaving. If you asked me to pick the best ( not taking price into account) I couldn’t choose between them, if you factor in the price it’s a no brainer. Don’t forget Weaving’s parts backup is second to none, I can get parts from them quicker than I could from most local dealers.
Judging by the way new Weaving toppers are popping up in every farm I go to they must be selling them like hot cakes.

 

[Dave W]

If buying Oxdale, make sure they can also supply consumables like shear bolts from stock!

I’m pretty sure they will

 

[smcapstick]

I’d dispute the Weaving topper being 2/3rds of the strength of the Kuhn. A friend of mine bought the Kuhn because he thought by paying a lot more money got a better machine. He’s often burning the drive belts (3) out in tougher conditions. Another friend of mine bought the Weaving and hasn’t had any problems with it. I’ve borrowed it on many occasions and unfortunately managed to find a roll of sheep netting in some brambles and managed to break the belts, however I must point out that the topper is rated at 80hp and I had it on a tractor that punches out nearer 180hp on boost. When I removed the belt guards I found it had 5 belts. I’d say that there are bits about the Kuhn design I like but equally there are other bits that are better on the Weaving. If you asked me to pick the best ( not taking price into account) I couldn’t choose between them, if you factor in the price it’s a no brainer. Don’t forget Weaving’s parts backup is second to none, I can get parts from them quicker than I could from most local dealers.
Judging by the way new Weaving toppers are popping up in every farm I go to they must be selling them like hot cakes.

I hope they give you a bit of discount next time you walk in to the yard. You're probably their best salesman

 

[Wheyibuggermair]

You’ll need 2 double acting spoils on your tractor for a verge mower.

Have a look at del morino flails sold by Oxdale products. Good gear and not silly price

Their kit seems aimed at the compact tractor range, I made the mistake of putting one of their flails on my DB, shagged the belts in less than a hundred yards, works great on my compact 30 HP, but oh so slow.
Have to try and figure out what kind of spools I have on the DB.

 

[Dry Rot]

I’m pretty sure they will

I had to import shear bolts from the USA as Oxdale could only supply ONE! Quite rude when I suggested it might be an idea to stock them for the equipment they are selling.

Yes, I know the bolts are probably available in the UK but I like to get the ones specified for the machine before it breaks.

 

[Dave W]

Their kit seems aimed at the compact tractor range, I made the mistake of putting one of their flails on my DB, shagged the belts in less than a hundred yards, works great on my compact 30 HP, but oh so slow.
Have to try and figure out what kind of spools I have on the DB.

I’d suggest you give them another look. The one you have sounds like the older ones he used to sell that were a bit cheap and cheerful. These new del morino things are proper gear

 

[Dry Rot]

I’d suggest you give them another look. The one you have sounds like the older ones he used to sell that were a bit cheap and cheerful. These new del morino things are proper gear

Dave W is in the enviable position of living near Oxdales head office in Chesterfield so he can go in and confront them head on! Quite a coincidence that, isn't it?

 

[Simon Chiles]

I hope they give you a bit of discount next time you walk in to the yard. You're probably their best salesman

Really? Although I’ve never slated them I don’t suppose they chalk many drill sales down to me!

 

[Dave W]

Dave W is in the enviable position of living near Oxdales head office in Chesterfield so he can go in and confront them head on! Quite a coincidence that, isn't it?

Yes I’m 2 mikes from the factory. So what?
I’ve seen first hand and used some of their gear so I can vouch it is good stuff