Remote control flail mower

[bluedog225]

I don’t see any other threads on this. I’m fairly convinced I’m going to buy a remote controlled flail mower of Alibaba. I’ve got 3-5 or so acres of overgrown pasture in the middle of my place. I’m seeing reports of getting this thing delivered for around $2,000-3,000.

The Gravely Ovis is nice. But it comes in upwards of 10x the price.

I’m prepared to deal with import stuff and working on the probable quality issues. There are some positive reports on the interwebs. Along with some negative reports.

On the positive side, the thing is fairly modular. And most parts can be replaced from online sources. Electric drive tracks. 1200mm flail.

There is a choice on the engine. Gasoline LONCIN 459CC or diesel Koop 195. There’s some medium good reports on the Loncin. And not a lot on the Koop.

Assuming I’m going to have trouble with the engine, sooner or later, which one do you think?

I’d be generally competent to repair or replace a gasoline engine. I’ve never worked on a diesel.

Thanks

 

[whateg01]

Can it move a trailer up a hill?

I don't have an opinion but I'm watching because I think this kind of stuff is pretty cool. Add gps to it and some AI and just say go mow the grass.

What kind of control do these use?

 

[CluelessPro]

I've got a sneaky feeling you're going to get some folks wanting to add your order.

I think for your own expectations if you go at it with little expectations and view it all as an experiment, you'll have a much better time.

 

[djbmw]

I don’t see any other threads on this. I’m fairly convinced I’m going to buy a remote controlled flail mower of Alibaba. I’ve got 3-5 or so acres of overgrown pasture in the middle of my place. I’m seeing reports of getting this thing delivered for around $2,000-3,000.

The Gravely Ovis is nice. But it comes in upwards of 10x the price.

I’m prepared to deal with import stuff and working on the probable quality issues. There are some positive reports on the interwebs. Along with some negative reports.

On the positive side, the thing is fairly modular. And most parts can be replaced from online sources. Electric drive tracks. 1200mm flail.

There is a choice on the engine. Gasoline LONCIN 459CC or diesel Koop 195. There’s some medium good reports on the Loncin. And not a lot on the Koop.

Assuming I’m going to have trouble with the engine, sooner or later, which one do you think?

I’d be generally competent to repair or replace a gasoline engine. I’ve never worked on a diesel.

Thanks

Why do you need a flail mower though? Why not a rotary cutter/brush hog (i assume you have a tractor)?

If you need an offset because of sloped hills... you could DIY one if you have a backhoe...

 

[bluedog225]

I think the remote is just servo controlled actuators for the electric drive motors, height adjustment pistons, and throttle. RC helicopter or airplane stuff.

I was under the impression that flail was more robust for light brush. I’ve got mesquite and youpon holly up to 1”. I don’t care about a manicured finish.

If this thing runs, it will be cheaper than the alternatives (no tractor yet).

And keep me out of the snakes and ticks.

And it’s cool.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Would a rental goat inside an invisible electronic fence be cheaper?

 

[txvwnut]

Flail mowers are more for finish mowing than heavy overgrown pastures, if you look at the cut quality of both machines you'll see long stalky cuts left in piles. A rotary cutter would've chewed that up more and not left quite as big of piles.

 

[djbmw]

I think the remote is just servo controlled actuators for the electric drive motors, height adjustment pistons, and throttle. RC helicopter or airplane stuff.

I was under the impression that flail was more robust for light brush. I’ve got mesquite and youpon holly up to 1”. I don’t care about a manicured finish.

If this thing runs, it will be cheaper than the alternatives (no tractor yet).

And keep me out of the snakes and ticks.

And it’s cool.

My 5' rotary cutter can easily take down trees up to 4" in diameter, keeps me well above any snakes or ticks,... but it does require you to have a tractor with decent PTO power. Having said that, have you looked for well used tractors (25 to 50hp) in your area?

 

[Lassen Forge]

I wonder what kind of a grade it will pull? We use a flail on the back of a tractor to cut grass, scotch broom, and other ugh up in our olive orchard.... but it does take a bit of power to pull it through.

Funny thing was I was watching that GPS Self driving tractor on Clarkson's Farm - if I only had a few hundred thousand for one of those - I would be SO down with it.

 

[Codyboy]

Flail mowers are more for finish mowing than heavy overgrown pastures, if you look at the cut quality of both machines you'll see long stalky cuts left in piles. A rotary cutter would've chewed that up more and not left quite as big of piles.

Flail mowers can do both.
The little toy in the op has finish blades and are probably really cheap steel.
Flail mowers on a tractor with hammer blades will destroy small trees.

 

[Firebrick43]

My 5' rotary cutter can easily take down trees up to 4" in diameter, keeps me well above any snakes or ticks,... but it does require you to have a tractor with decent PTO power. Having said that, have you looked for well used tractors (25 to 50hp) in your area?

What brand/model is that? Most of the 4" capacity mowers are 6' or 7' and need at least 60hp

Flail mowers are more for finish mowing than heavy overgrown pastures, if you look at the cut quality of both machines you'll see long stalky cuts left in piles. A rotary cutter would've chewed that up more and not left quite as big of piles.

Flail mowers have always been mainly marketed as rough cut mower. From chopping corn stalks, weeds, to ditch banks and rocky fields was the running theme in the old Mott flail mower ads. They did sometimes advertise they sold "Fine Cut" versions with different knives but the course cut models were by far the most common.

 

[djbmw]

What brand/model is that? Most of the 4" capacity mowers are 6' or 7' and need at least 60hp


Flail mowers have always been mainly marketed as rough cut mower. From chopping corn stalks, weeds, to ditch banks and rocky fields was the running theme in the old Mott flail mower ads. They did sometimes advertise they sold "Fine Cut" versions with different knives but the course cut models were by far the most common.

Its a Walco Whistler Rotary Cutter (bush hog) that I bought used for a couple hundred dollars (it was beat up and I had to weld a few patches onto the top to get the gearbox back in line). I'm absolutely under-powering it with only ~14 HP to the PTO... but... it gets the job done driving slowly and only really bogs down if there's a bunch of saplings all together in a big cluster (like more than 10 trees in a group). I generally will raise the cutter up and slowly lower it on the trees and CHOP CHOP CHOP watch them shred. Inertia is a great thing!

EDIT: it will even break up rocks the size of your head - but thats about the limit (and, to be fair, you dont really want to be hitting rocks like that too often as its very jarring)

 

[ned911]

I have the same issue - 3 acres, sloped, too much yaupon and large grass. Plenty of rocks too. Been looking for a used DR or swisher tow behind brush cutter without any luck so far.