Which Topper

[Ffermer Bach]

No front pto . Why go backwards?

doesn’t matter if I run over the cut grass. It’s only 1.5 acres… Im gonna let sheep come on once cut.
Grass is typical grass meadow…tall grasses in flower (going to seed)

when I worked on a farm with an airstrip we used to top in in reverse, otherwise you get two wheel tracks where the grass has been squashed down and does not get cut properly.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Yeah that's good advice, thanks.

Found this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175166501111?hash=item28c8bcb0f7:g:vskAAOSw2uViCrO8&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoEnX6LLeDVhAmUMD0AS4udQF8p1+pCbjIm2n9cZC/Zsfprc6dT8LfhY61wz7dT70HISRxfnZ9DCgBgWF/x9Malh6w5MPFBKwnqUGk2bhOt0Z9lOUHlrMmP84nsDWU7SQciXIlwiJMfy2IkuXJIWwtYDKwFglGtEBM6i8a8K+3YMHuV+XiVCcX833H3U9tyrWm0gux1ROewuPmnI8prksEjg=|tkp:Bk9SR7j5pZ6-YA

think i'll make an offer!...whats people thoughts?

Kidd topper, good quality and Aeron Valley Tractors are always competitive on price too

https://www.facebook.com/avtractors/photos/2367437583473084

 

[H200GT]

I regularly use a small flail behind a TE20 to cut the field around our house about an acre in size. Does a great job and what takes 20 minutes now would take near 2 hours with a strimmer. If you have no stones then flail all the way, leaves less wheelings as the flail will help lif the grass much better than a conventional topper.

Did a thread on it at the time, see:
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/flail-for-the-fergi.342164/page-2 - post 34 shows it in action.

My brother @JET is a dealer for them, and I’m sure they do larger versions which you would need for a 90hp tractor.

Mower FSM-140 - remetcnc.co.uk

remetcnc.co.uk

 

[steh]

Would it be worth looking into one with its own power unit like the flail mowers you tow behind ATVs?
We have one to do the step bits and bits in some new plated woodland it's a Wessex and seems to do a good job and is robust.
Then the tractor-mounted one we use is an offset, like it as you can see what you are mowing before it's under the mower.

 

[DeeGee]

This is correct!!! Lol

so an offset smaller topper or a 7-8ft topperI that width of tractor is what I’m after…nowt fancy or too expensive as only gonna be used twice a year!

Something like Fleming 6’ semi offset would be ideal for you.
Simple single rotor with swinging end blades and which cuts behind the o/s tractor wheel so there are minimal wheelings to spring back up.

A good second hand machine like this would be between about £500 and £800: I think new would be about £1,200 but this is just a guesstimate. Others will know prices better than I, but IMO a single rotor 6’ should do you fine.

 

[ricardodba]

sorry if this is a daft question - do most toppers come with height adjustment?...would make life easier to cut different heights instead of just taking the tops off the grass...which is why im still questioning a flail and also flail will give better finish especially if im not collecting the cuttings!

 

[Highland Mule]

sorry if this is a daft question - do most toppers come with height adjustment?...would make life easier to cut different heights instead of just taking the tops off the grass...which is why im still questioning a flail and also flail will give better finish especially if im not collecting the cuttings!

Yes - you adjust the height of the skids, which moves the blade closer or further from the ground level. Flail will be better finish, but overkill for what you describe IMO.

 

[steh]

sorry if this is a daft question - do most toppers come with height adjustment?...would make life easier to cut different heights instead of just taking the tops off the grass...which is why im still questioning a flail and also flail will give better finish especially if im not collecting the cuttings!

The ATV one we have has a windy adjuster you can scalp the grass with that if you want the tractor-mounted one we have has a high adjustment but it's not as fine.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

sorry if this is a daft question - do most toppers come with height adjustment?...would make life easier to cut different heights instead of just taking the tops off the grass...which is why im still questioning a flail and also flail will give better finish especially if im not collecting the cuttings!

a topper will have adjustable height skids (4 bolts on each side usually). Flail is jumping up in the price range. Although I have a two rotor topper, I would advise something like an Abbey single rotor for your job.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Abbey 6ft Semi Offset Topper

Abbey 6ft Semi Offset Topper Heavy duty construction Clean cutting Over-lapping gear drive Shearbolt protection Designed for the tough working conditions Small HP requirements and easy manoeuvrability

www.abbeyretail.ie

 

[Dave W]

Yeah that's good advice, thanks.

Found this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175166501111?hash=item28c8bcb0f7:g:vskAAOSw2uViCrO8&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoEnX6LLeDVhAmUMD0AS4udQF8p1+pCbjIm2n9cZC/Zsfprc6dT8LfhY61wz7dT70HISRxfnZ9DCgBgWF/x9Malh6w5MPFBKwnqUGk2bhOt0Z9lOUHlrMmP84nsDWU7SQciXIlwiJMfy2IkuXJIWwtYDKwFglGtEBM6i8a8K+3YMHuV+XiVCcX833H3U9tyrWm0gux1ROewuPmnI8prksEjg=|tkp:Bk9SR7j5pZ6-YA

think i'll make an offer!...whats people thoughts?

That’s about £1000 over priced

 

[H200GT]

sorry if this is a daft question - do most toppers come with height adjustment?...would make life easier to cut different heights instead of just taking the tops off the grass...which is why im still questioning a flail and also flail will give better finish especially if im not collecting the cuttings!

Agree, if you want the best finish I'd go flail as long as you don't have any stoney ground. Think almost all are adjustable by altering the rear roller height and top link length.

Even though you have a small area, if you plan to keep it long term and if you can, I would buy new. May seem expensive now, but in years to come it will look cheap.