topper vs flail mower

[popeye151]

probably a silly question but whats the difference (as in whats the difference between the results...)

toppers a cheaper to buy but do a rougher job? flail mower is neater and mulches grass down? but more ££

we have a 6ft topper but it cuts pretty rough. Also seems to leave drag marks from the skids. Maybe i dont have it set up right? the chains are slack when im topping. gets worse when im reversing and topping cos it kind of digs in

cheers!

 

[glensman]

probably a silly question but whats the difference (as in whats the difference between the results...)

toppers a cheaper to buy but do a rougher job? flail mower is neater and mulches grass down? but more ££

we have a 6ft topper but it cuts pretty rough. Also seems to leave drag marks from the skids. Maybe i dont have it set up right? the chains are slack when im topping. gets worse when im reversing and topping cos it kind of digs in

cheers!

Keep the lift arms so that the skids are just skimming the ground and sharpen the blades with a buffing disc.

 

[L P]

Flail does a better job, but more power hungry, more moving parts and slower. If you're happy with the job the topper does keep it. As above keep front of skids floating not rammed on the ground, they aren't designed as skis, but to stop blade hitting the ground on rough patches

 

[popeye151]

Thanks
Possibly the blades need sharpening? It cuts the grass but it's pretty rough. I suppose I'd like it cut a bit shorter and nester.
What part needs sharpening? Just the ends that spin independently from the main spinning arm?

 

[Wisconsonian]

Take a look at new blades and see what should be sharp, and as importantly, square. If you don't know what to sharpen, the tips of the blades are probably rounded off far enough that they won't cut on the 2,3,4" of the tips. If you want to keep using rounded worn blades like that, you can grind back a step for that rounded part, so that the edge is radial to the rotation, but no longer in the same line as the rest of the less worn sharp edge. Just so you don't have to grind back the whole blade 1/2" or more to get a straight sharp edge.

 

[IOW91]

A flail will be alot more money, do a much neater job, but as has been said will need alot more power. If your just tidying a few paddocks up with a small tractor, pick the topper up a bit so the skids aren't hard on the ground, sharpen the blade up a bit and it will be fine.


If you want it mulched and neat like a bowling green and have a sensible sized tractor then flail is the way to go.

 

[Muck Spreader]

I would say they are different machines for different jobs. If you are just needing to keep pasture tidy a topper is fine using less fuel and needing a lower hp. If it's for controlling rougher land with rushes, bracken, brambles etc it has to be a flail.