Best side-mower?

[Silent1]

I used to cut verges (8000 miles/yr) with a left hand front mount votex, we ended up fitting danfoss electronic spools to where the passenger seat was, without them it’s a pain but with I’d never go back to a right hand flail for verges.

As for votex, they’re bomb proof, ours would bend the front linkage (usually when the breakback reached the end of travel) before damaging anything on the mower and in 3 years both of them only had flails and rollers replaced, nothing broke

 

[Roy Stokes]

Just had a quick look at the Weaving website. If you say that the Agrimasters are good, that's good news because they certainly seem quite reasonably priced. How would you say they compare to other brands in terms of build quality?

All I can go on is my experience with other rear mounted toppers, it is equally as good as anything else I have used if not better, I tend to use it off set most of the time, but I don't mow in lands, I mow backwards and forwards across the field with the topper off set then I'm mowing the tractor wheel mark in the opposite direction which it cuts to perfection, the only other off set I looked at was a Standen at LAMMA a couple of years back, build strength was on a par with Agrimaster

 

[Roy Stokes]

Sorry for the multiple questions, but what are people's views on left hand side versus right hand side flails. We haven't to date used our existing LHS flail to do roadside verges, but it is something that might be useful as an option. The choice really depends on just how awkward it is to look over your left shoulder and operate the controls with your right hand. One tractor we'd use it on has electric spools in the armrest which would probably be easier to use with a left hand side machine. The other tractor though only has manual spools on the right hand side dash would be more awkward.

I have to say it's not something I noticed when using our existing LHS, but then I generally left the spools in float. The new one I hope to use for hedges which will require more regular spool use.

Hedges require a tractor on fairly narrow wheel settings and patience, side arm is much better although over grown sides are taken back quicker with the Z linkage topper

 

[Mark C]

Sorry for the multiple questions, but what are people's views on left hand side versus right hand side flails. We haven't to date used our existing LHS flail to do roadside verges, but it is something that might be useful as an option. The choice really depends on just how awkward it is to look over your left shoulder and operate the controls with your right hand. One tractor we'd use it on has electric spools in the armrest which would probably be easier to use with a left hand side machine. The other tractor though only has manual spools on the right hand side dash would be more awkward.

I have to say it's not something I noticed when using our existing LHS, but then I generally left the spools in float. The new one I hope to use for hedges which will require more regular spool use.

We have a left hand Maschio Giraffona 260. It’s a very well build bit of kit. It was ex show and well priced. I liked the idea of it being on the left for doing roadsides but in reality it’s does take some getting used to. In hindsight I’d have a right hand machine unless you’ve got miles of verges to do.

 

[marshallfarm]

Got a 16 year old muthing flail. Getting towards the end of its life now but it's done a hell of a lot of work. Outlast any other flail by years

 

[Feldspar]

I've been thinking a bit more about flail widths. Speaking to a one dealer they said they sell far more of the 2.6m mowers than they do 2m or 2.4m. I'm a bit worried that this width might be a bit unwieldy, especially when doing the sides of smaller ditches. Using our existing 2m machine, if you want to put it right down into the ditch it can be problematic if the ditch is not a very big one. I.e. you can't lift the link arms high enough to really allow the flail run along the side of the ditch without nose-diving into the far side or the bottom. With a 2.6m this is going to be worse.

Against that though, we have a very old 2.8m ordinary flail mower which is rather on its last legs. Getting something like a 2.6m width would get near to being able to be used for both jobs, which would save quite a bit of money.

 

[Feldspar]

Also, with the Agrimaster ones, I was trying to work out whether they do a worse job of slewing away from the tractor given the design of the PTO shaft to gearbox / drive. In particular, I remember when trying to use our existing side-mower to cut hedges, you had to almost drive in the hedge to cut it properly which meant damaging and scratching the tractor. Is this likely to be a problem with the Agrimaster?

End of this video gives an idea:

One advantage though I can see of the Agrimaster (or others) design where the PTO does not go to the end of the flail head is that when cutting hedges it can get low to the floor so you do not miss out an annoying fringe at the very bottom of the hedge.

 

[Dave W]

Also, with the Agrimaster ones, I was trying to work out whether they do a worse job of slewing away from the tractor given the design of the PTO shaft to gearbox / drive. In particular, I remember when trying to use our existing side-mower to cut hedges, you had to almost drive in the hedge to cut it properly which meant damaging and scratching the tractor. Is this likely to be a problem with the Agrimaster?

End of this video gives an idea:

One advantage though I can see of the Agrimaster (or others) design where the PTO does not go to the end of the flail head is that when cutting hedges it can get low to the floor so you do not miss out an annoying fringe at the very bottom of the hedge.

I’m not sure any of them really clear the side of the tractor properly when lifted vertically

 

[Feldspar]

I’m not sure any of them really clear the side of the tractor properly when lifted vertically

So you just have to put up with sort of driving through the hedge to get it cut if there's a fair amount of thin but long growth on it?

 

[Smiffy101]

Im not entirely sure but i think mulag might do some mowers that reach out thr side of the tractor further they make really specialist highway maintenance mowers so would probably make the votex look cheap

 

[norfolk'n'good]

@Feldspar which one did you go for? Now looking at one of these and leaning towards the weaving one.

 

[Smiffy101]

I saw the other day rousseau a french company do a verge mower that is hydraulic powered with its own pump so has greater reach than a normal verge mower
Heres a video probably as expensive as a hedge cutter but may be worth a look

 

[Feldspar]

@Feldspar which one did you go for? Now looking at one of these and leaning towards the weaving one.

Went for the Weaving one. Definitely happy we went with a wider width. Nice heavy duty flails. Rides across flat ground nicely. Quick to fold up. Competitive price. Seems as well built as others. Downside are greasing main bearings every 4h rather than sealed bearings. Doesn't reach very far out the side when trying to do hedges and it's far behind so slight steering wheel movements result in large movements. When upright PTO guard hits frame, although have been told this can be adjusted. Overall pretty happy.

 

[Feldspar]

Went for the Weaving one. Definitely happy we went with a wider width. Nice heavy duty flails. Rides across flat ground nicely. Quick to fold up. Competitive price. Seems as well built as others. Downside are greasing main bearings every 4h rather than sealed bearings. Doesn't reach very far out the side when trying to do hedges and it's far behind so slight steering wheel movements result in large movements. When upright PTO guard hits frame, although have been told this can be adjusted. Overall pretty happy.

Only thing I've not done a lot of is getting it down in the bottom of ditches. Not sure how good it is at that yet.

 

[norfolk'n'good]

Will it do a reasonable job on hedges without the tractor being in the hedge as well?

 

[Feldspar]

Will it do a reasonable job on hedges without the tractor being in the hedge as well?

I'm not sure about that tbh. Haven't done any myself, just one of our guys tried it for a short bit. I'll try and find a photo with it out to the side for you. Can you PM me your email.