Power to run a topper

[dhallworth]

Hello,

We've got a Marhall 804 tractor which I believe was around 82hp when new and are looking for a flail type topper to run.

Initially we were looking for an 8 foot flail but have been told that around 100hp would be required to run something like this. Our tractor isn't down on power, it's had a full engine rebuild, new turbo and it's turned up slightly but I don't want to put it under to much strain.

Does anyone have any experience of running an 8ft topper on the back of something this size?

Thanks,

David.

 

[Timbo]

Course itll run a 3m topper for thistle n nettles.. any heavy long grass mulching, you'll be down the gears tho. What have you got to cut ?

 

[dhallworth]

We've got a small holding of 25 acres, we cut 7 acres of it with a twin drum mower for haylage, the rest of the fields just get topped to tidy them up. I'm not cutting it short or trying to scalp the ground.

David.

 

[tanker]

10hp per foot is a rough guide..as long as you can keep the revs up and blades fairly sharp and not ask too much of it I don't see it's out of the question..We've got a 10ft flail on a 110hp MF which goes fine and we used to run it on a Case 5120 sometimes a while ago and that managed,albeit not quite so easily..

 

[Oscar]

Will be fine for topping but if trying to reclaim ground or rushes then it will be hard work. However once you have an edge, you could take half a cut and overlap you re previous cut ?
Alternative but only been out a year is a Major Connor. It's actually heavy duty small diameter discs which do a flail type job but lower horsepower requirement. My brother in law runs a 8 ft one on a T4 NH( 75hp ) and have to say it does a good job and is well matched.

 

[AnyOldName]

The Marshall will have real horses too!
I’d expect it to be capable in everything but very overgrown areas, where you’ll need to change down a few gears (I know that’s not fashionable these days).

 

[neilo]

We've got a small holding of 25 acres, we cut 7 acres of it with a twin drum mower for haylage, the rest of the fields just get topped to tidy them up. I'm not cutting it short or trying to scalp the ground.

David.

Is the rest of the ground relatively flat? If so, could you not just use the drum mower to top it, giving a lot faster regrowth than slashing it with a flail?

Hard to justify anything but a very cheap topper on 18ac a year of ‘tidying up’ i’d Have thought.

 

[Boohoo]

Flail type will have an effect on the power requirement, Y flails need less power than whaletails

 

[Deutzdx3]

2.5m topper will be ok on 82hp. On real heavy stuff just go slowly. We run. 2.5 on 80hp and 95hp. Can stall both of them if we want in bracken or reeds no bother. As said, go for Y flails unless you have the need to pulverise scrub. Make a better job on grass than hammer flails and use less HP.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Depends on how much stuff you are trying to top! IE density of the grass/weeds, the cutting height, the nature of the machine itself and your forward speed. You will cut anything with anything nearly if you go on steady, conversely some toppers that keep the material inside for a time need near 200hp if you are a ham-fisted nutter in the seat.

 

[PuG]

We run our flail mower on Ford Plough Master 75 for years, (which is a Ford 5000).

She's always been upto it.

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The Agrimaster FN flail mower is a rear mounted, multipurpose, right hand operated flail that can be used ‘in line’ behind the tractor or offset. Find out more.

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[timmyboy]

Getting it started is the biggest challenge. Once running you should be fine.

 

[amadfarmer]

I run a 2.5m browns flail on a 100hp landini. It will do it but get into any thick spots and it will stall the tractor easily if your not quick on the clutch. I found our old 685 case ih ran it better. Old school HP. If your only topping off a stalky grass and and not trying to clear a thick crop it will do it fine. 8” of Grass is a lot harder than say 3ft of thistles. But forget any decent reeds. You are gonna need more ponies for them.

You can see a video of what you can cut with a 100hp on my Facebook page @daipophamcontracting

 

[dhallworth]

Thanks guys.

I’m it’s mostly grass with some thistles and nettles thrown in for good measure. Most of its relatively flat and the bits that aren’t aren’t that steep.

The Marshall doesn’t like holding the twin drum mower off the ground and when it’s in the ground it cuts it to short and leaves a lot on the ground so it looks a mess.

Will see what I can find now I know it should run it without to much drama.

Thanks
David.

 

[roscoe erf]

must be something wrong here my 9ft flail topper is easily run by my 85hp jd does not struggle to start it or keep it going and if you want a good job topping the slower the better munches through anything