l3901 and ditch flail mower
- Thread starter cordsth
- Start date
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Looking at Betstco 57"Ditch offset flail mower, running with L3901. Too much mower for this unit? weight?
I have the 48” one and the weight is no issue. The 57” one only weighs 50lbs more so I think you’re safe there. The only issue would be the hp required is getting close to what our tractors put out at the pto, which is 27hp I believe. But you can work around that by controlling your speed if you are cutting some really thick brush. Buy some extra flails and good grade 8 bolts if you decide to buy it.
This information is from TractorData.com
L3901:
Gear PTO (claimed): 32.1 hp [23.9 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 30.6 hp [22.8 kW]
L3301:
Gear PTO (claimed): 27.7 hp [20.7 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 26.2 hp [19.5 kW]
L2501:
Gear PTO (claimed): 20.5 hp [15.3 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 19 hp [14.2 kW]
L3901:
Gear PTO (claimed): 32.1 hp [23.9 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 30.6 hp [22.8 kW]
L3301:
Gear PTO (claimed): 27.7 hp [20.7 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 26.2 hp [19.5 kW]
L2501:
Gear PTO (claimed): 20.5 hp [15.3 kW]
Hydro PTO (claimed): 19 hp [14.2 kW]
Thanks for the reply. How about when you have it streached out over the ditch? weight from the mower is no problem?
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
I do not know how far the mower hangs out to the right. Nor how heavy it is.
If you have ag tires you can place iron weights on the left side of the tractor as a counterbalance, industrial tires do not have the option of wheel weights. Also liquid in the tires will help.
If you buy a pair of weights both weights can be hung on the left wheel if the tractor needs the extra weight as a counterbalance.
I ran a MF 1528 as a hay cutter. I had a drum cutter that hung out to the right and it was so heavy that when I picked it up the left side of the tractor would lift at the slightest bump. Two iron weights on the left side and water in the tires made the combination useable.
I have an L3901 and a Betstco 65” ditch bank flail mower.
I have no extra weight besides filled R4 tires, and the front end loader.
It handles it just fine, no power or stability issues at all.
It will lift the mower when extended, but when you’re mowing you have it riding on the ground on big roller under the rear of the mower. You only lift it when you’re gone run over rocks or something that will bust hammer teeth.
I’ve used it as counterbalance when on a side hill, I extend it out on the uphill side.
The 3901 does fine with it, I’m actually pretty sure a 2501 would be fine.
I have no extra weight besides filled R4 tires, and the front end loader.
It handles it just fine, no power or stability issues at all.
It will lift the mower when extended, but when you’re mowing you have it riding on the ground on big roller under the rear of the mower. You only lift it when you’re gone run over rocks or something that will bust hammer teeth.
I’ve used it as counterbalance when on a side hill, I extend it out on the uphill side.
The 3901 does fine with it, I’m actually pretty sure a 2501 would be fine.
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Have you used it trimming with it at a 90 degree? Any problems with the weight then?
BTW, I use to live in Renton...
It’s still ok. The bigger issue is the flail doesn’t really mow as well when it’s up in the air, it works a whole lot better when it’s against a surface. But when it is, it’s amazing. It turns everything to mincemeat.
I also have a 5” rotary mower, most are familiar with them, and it has it’s good points, but nothing leaves a clean pulverized surface where there was stickers, overgrown grass and who knows what else like the flail does.
Even on level ground the offset is cool. Once you have one pass cut, you can drive over the mowed part, with the mower off to the side grinding through whatever it is, and you don’t have to drive your tractor through it.
I also have a 5” rotary mower, most are familiar with them, and it has it’s good points, but nothing leaves a clean pulverized surface where there was stickers, overgrown grass and who knows what else like the flail does.
Even on level ground the offset is cool. Once you have one pass cut, you can drive over the mowed part, with the mower off to the side grinding through whatever it is, and you don’t have to drive your tractor through it.
I have both tires filled plus 500lbs in custom made wheel weights so we probably aren’t comparing apples to apples. But the mower is very stable in any position. My only complaint is the bolts that secure the flails are sub par and break on occasion. Sometimes I find the flail and sometimes I don’t. Replace them with quality grade 8 bolts and no issues.