If you've already been searching for a way in order to handle overgrown pastures without wrecking your own equipment, the sundown flail mower is probably currently on your radar. It's one associated with those pieces associated with equipment that floods a very specific gap between a delicate finish mower and a heavy-duty brush hog. People often ask me why they need to bother with the flail mower when a rotary cutter is generally cheaper, and honestly, it comes down to the quality of the particular cut and exactly how much you value your windows—and your shins.
Why Choose a Flail Mower Over a Rotary Cutter?
Most of us was raised using a standard rotary cutter, usually called a brush hog. They're great for knocking down tall saplings, but they have a few major drawbacks. First, they're huge. They will stand out way at the rear of the tractor, producing it tough to control in tight spots. Second, they can turn a stray rock and roll into a fatal projectile.
The sundown flail mower works differently. Instead of 1 or 2 big blades spinning horizontally, this has a horizontal drum covered in dozens of little blades (or "flails") that spin vertically. Because the drum is enclosed in a steel casing, the debris is mostly pushed all the way down into the ground. It's a great deal safer if you're mowing near fences, roads, or buildings. Plus, it mulches the grass since it goes, which means you don't end upward with those long, ugly windrows of dead hay sitting down on top of your field.
Getting to Know the Sundown Collection
Sundown has carved out the nice niche with regard to itself by offering implements which are tough enough for serious homesteading but don't cost just as much as the high-end industrial brand names. Their flail mowers are generally classified by their pounds as well as the type of blades each uses.
The Blade Factor: Y-Blades versus. Hammers
When you're looking at a sundown flail mower , you usually have got two choices for the cutting advantage: Y-blades or T-hammers.
- Y-Blades are better regarding grass and light weeds. They're lighter, which means the particular tractor doesn't need to work as hard to keep the carol spinning. They provide the cleaner cut that almost looks like the finish mower in case you keep them sharp.
- T-Hammers are usually heavy-duty chunks of cast iron. These types of are what you need in the event that you're clearing brush, thick brambles, or small saplings. These people have a lot of mass, so once that carol gets up to date, it'll smash through nearly anything that matches under the terrace.
Setting Upward Your Mower with regard to Success
I've seen plenty associated with people get discouraged with their sundown flail mower mainly because they didn't get the time to set it up correctly on the three-point hitch. When it's not degree, you're going to obtain an uneven lower, and you might even put unnecessary tension on the PTO shaft.
Begin by making sure your own tractor's lower raise arms are even. Once you've connected up the mower, use the top link to level the particular deck. You really want front side of the mower to be just a small bit more than the particular back—maybe a quarter-inch—so the blades can "suck" the lawn up and mulch it before it hits the rear roller.
Speaking of the particular rear roller, that's another big benefit of the Sundown models. The roller follows the contour of the ground, which helps prevent scalping. It furthermore helps pack lower the mulched materials, which speeds up decomposition. It's a win-win for your soil.
Maintenance That Actually Matters
Appearance, no one likes spending Saturday early morning with a grease weapon, using a sundown flail mower , it's not optional. That will drum is re-writing at incredibly higher speeds—usually around 2, 000 to three or more, 000 RPM. That will creates a lot associated with heat and chaffing.
The bearings on the major rotor are the particular most important points. When you let these run dry, you're looking at a very expensive and irritating repair job. I give mine a pump or two of grease every single four to 5 hours of actual mowing time. Don't overdo it, although; you don't need to blow out the seals.
Checking the Gearbox Essential oil
The transmission will be the heart of the machine. It takes the power from your PTO and turns it ninety degrees to generate the belts. Usually check the essential oil level before you head to some sort of long day associated with mowing. If this looks milky, that will means water provides gotten in, and you need to change it out instantly. Most Sundown units use a standard 80W-90 gear oil, but check your particular manual to be certain.
Belt Tension will be Key
The ability from the gearbox goes to the brake disc using a set of V-belts. If these are too loose, they'll slip and smoke when you hit a thick patch of weeds. If they're too tight, they'll place an excessive amount of pressure on the bearings. You should be able to deflect the particular belt most an inch with solid thumb pressure. When you start listening to a squealing audio when you indulge the PTO, it's time for you to tighten all of them up.
Operating Tricks for a Clean Cut
A single mistake I observe beginners make is definitely trying to mow too fast. The sundown flail mower isn't a race car. Since the blades are usually smaller and right now there are more of them, they require time to process the material. If a person fly through the particular field at higher speed, you'll keep behind "mohawks" associated with uncut grass.
Listen to your own tractor. If the engine starts to bog down, slow your ground speed yet keep your motor RPMs up. You need that PTO spinning at exactly 540 RPM to get the best mulching action. If the brake disc slows down, the blades lose their own centrifugal force plus won't cut cleanly.
Dealing along with Thick Brush
If you're making use of hammer blades to clear thick brush, don't try to take it all in one pass. Raise the mower upward using your problem, knock the best half off, and then come back for a second move at the desired height. This protects the particular machine and provides you a much much better finish. It's also a lot easier on your tractor's clutch.
The reason why the "Sundown" Brand?
You may wonder why people choose this specific brand within the a lot of others available. From what I've seen, it's in regards to the balance of excess weight and durability. Several of the cheap "no-name" flail mowers use very slim steel for the particular housing. If a person hit a rock, it can in fact dent the housing and interfere with the rotor.
The sundown flail mower utilizes a thicker gauge of steel that can handle the casual "clunk" from the hidden stump or even stone. The parts, like the gearboxes and the PTO shafts, are also standard sizes, which usually makes finding alternative parts a great deal easier later on. There's nothing worse than having a damaged machine in the middle of 06 and waiting 6 weeks for a proprietary part to deliver from overseas.
Is It Worth the Investment?
At the end associated with the day, the sundown flail mower is a good investment in your property. If you're just mowing the flat, manicured back garden, it's probably overkill. But if you have a few acres of meadow, an orchard, or trails through the woods, it's the game-changer.
It leaves the ground looking significantly cleaner than a clean hog does, plus it's far more long lasting than a finish mower. You don't have to be concerned about "windrowing" (those clumps of lawn that kill the particular lawn underneath), so you get the peacefulness of mind knowing you aren't likely to launch a rock and roll through your neighbor's windshield.
Maintain it greased, maintain the blades sharp, and don't attempt to mow a forest of three-inch maple trees, and your Sundown mower will certainly likely outlast your tractor. It's 1 of those tools that, once a person start using this, you'll wonder how you ever got by with just the standard rotary cutter. Happy mowing!