WE BOUGHT A DITCH/BANK FLAIL MOWER!!!!!

After almost of year of research and saving, we finally added an offset ditch/bank flail mower to our list of weapons to maintain our property. This is the Betstco AGL-145 (link below) made by Farmer Helper Machinery, and it's a beast of a mower. It weighs in at 750 lbs, so you are always aware that it is back there behind the tractor. I would definitely not want the next size bigger with the 2038R, though it seems to handle this one with relative ease. I still have a lot of learning to do as far as properly using it to it's fullest capability, but that will come with more experience. I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I have enjoyed making it.
#2038R #merica #flailmower
A special thanks to ‪@TractorTimewithTim‬ and ‪@StoneyRidgeFarmer‬ for inspiring this purchase. I know this isn't the Maschio brand that they use, but thanks none the less for their videos using these ditch/bank flail mowers.
www.cazenoviaequipment.com/
www.boltonhooks.com/
betstco.com/product/fh-agl145/

[@houndsmanone4563]

Man, that did a really nice job. Some of those weeds were over a foot high and thick. The flail mower seemed to mulch up the vegetation. I never knew the flail mower was that powerful. Enjoyed a full-watch. 👍🏽🙂

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you very much!! I more than impressed with what this mower did. In my mind I honestly thought this stuff was too tall and thick for a flail, I just wanted to see what it was made of, but it did an outstanding job. I will however finish it with the brush hog, then maintain it from there with this mower. Thanks again for watching.

[@patsymcneil6603]

They were over 4ft. high and that machine just ate it up!!!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

@@patsymcneil6603 you're right, this was very tall and very thick, about 3 weeks overdue for mowing. But I was waiting for this flail to show up so I could see what it would do.

[@joshuacantu101]

So satisfying to watch you cut that tall grass thanks for sharing

[@ElkCreekAcres]

They are amazing mowers for sure.

[@cherylcowden9676]

That cuts like a hit knife thru butter. Watching is very mesmerizing

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, it still amazes me and now I have about 35 hours of use on it.

[@brotoubrotou3164]

I know absolutely nothing about farm equipment but the flail is incredible. One minute you have 4’ high grass/weeds and the next they have evaporated into thin air. Where did they go? Lol. Must be magic.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I've asked myself that same question LOL, It is impressive for sure.

[@tomcarter9816]

Nice! Looks like a very handy implement to have, and it looks like it does a nice job too.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It does do a great job, even better now that I'm learning a little more about how to set it up.

[@kimculver1038]

Nice unit. Does a good job. Can't wait to see what it will do with more experience.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Me too, experience will help a lot with this. I have found controlling it is similar to our discbine. The big difference is that is pull type implement, but otherwise, one scv for in and our and one for up and down.

[@kathleenlucht1921]

Amazing job! Amazing machine! Thank you Sir! 🌹

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@richardbourque2604]

That was awesome amazing machine reliable doesn't disappoint That really gives great clean cut nice video great 👍 great grass cutting piece of machinery thankyou really appreciate watching your video God bless y'all and your lovely family 😎✝️☝️✌️💕👏Richard see ya!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!!

[@damon235]

You may want to add some wheel spacers that extra width will give you more stability. I have one on a boomer 50 and even with large front weights and ballast they do give you a few squeaky bum moments. A neighbour had a 1.2 on a boomer 25c subcompact , the most dangerous set up I’ve ever seen just a push on the rops was enough to start it tipping 😲

[@ElkCreekAcres]

This one wasn't too bad on this tractor, I have the factory 2.4' wheel spacers, fluid in the rears and two sets of wheel weights. But, even with all that, you definitely know it's back there.

[@bradpiovesan8550]

The cut on this flail is really impressive 🙌🏼

[@ElkCreekAcres]

That it is!!

[@that6.7guy30]

well, I'm sold on this, seen it online, searched for a video, found this. that cut looks amazing! definitely will come in handy for my dich and other areas!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it is, the lower cut the better it does, very handy tool.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Love my Flail! Mowing today with it....looks like a zero turn has mowed it! Bummer the PTO shaft let go on ya

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Nah, the shaft is fine, the shield came loose is all. Been a good mower, like it more each time I use it.

[@DarkVoidIII]

This flail mower was quite impressive, it didn't sound like it was making the engine strain much, if at all, even on the heavy and thick weeds. Weeds just mulch out of existence under this excellent mowing attachment! I'm no farmer, but I lived on a farm in my early years and we never had anything as good as this on the mower attachment. I'm in Australia and I've run a Cox 2-blade mower over similarly bad lawn we had on a 1/2 acre block, that ride-on ate grass as fast as this flail mower does!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, it goes without saying that we are very impressed. My father in law has been a farmer his whole life, he says the same thing, never seen anything mow like this.

[@darter216]

That cut better than expected….great job

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It sure did, money well spent after seeing what it can do. Thanks for watching

[@sharonlewis6258]

I love that flail mower.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks, the more I use it the more I like it too.

[@rodshepard3967]

Very nice, Pat. Been waiting for this reveal. Lol. You will get a ton of use out of that! Congrats, man!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Rod, I hope it serves us well.

[@bigjim5723]

hey i like it-like u said every attachment has its place for work. heck that's why we need so many of them ha!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Haha, that's what I keep telling my wife.

[@lisawaters2585]

Wow! Great mowing tool!!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it is, thank you!!

[@lovejcdc]

Great video and that thing is a freakin beast of a machine. It didn't matter what you put it through it just ate it. Fantastic job

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Bigfoot, I agree!!

[@kennybaughman5032]

I'm impressed with the cut! Cool pice of equipment

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I was impressed too, I've watched several videos, but seeing it first hand has made me a believer.

[@AnaHernandez-cd9ok]

Good job good job I love the machine and the cuts and work beautiful good job❤

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, it works very well.

[@mikerequa820]

Congratulations on your new flail mower that is really nice does a great job can see where it would be safer mowin ditches cut down on pucker part. Thanks for sharing

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, I agree, it is much safer for ditches and banks.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks buddy

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Anytime, I really appreciated your video with the offset flail. I had been looking and thinking for almost a year, your video put me over the hump. I am super impressed with this mower, the more hours I put on it the more I like it.

[@jan_phd]

Whoa, that' a slick device... looks good!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks, it is pretty neat.

[@gloriaalagao542]

Excellent machine and good job done Sir,,!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@Meadowsj57]

It’s s satisfying watching... it do te job for sure...

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!!

[@thomasstittjr6167]

👏 👏 👏 Nice attachment !! 👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you.

[@MsOldfart1]

well done sir,a good piece of equipment and you were doing a fine job .congrats from little old new zealand.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

thank you for the comment, I'm looking forward to warmer weather and using that mower again.

[@joannablake8199]

Thats one mean beastie of a grass cutter ... love it !

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it is, thank you for watching.

[@captainkirk1745]

Great job! Fun to see your land transformed to quickly and neatly. Looks to me like it was money well spent. Of your mower is feeling "tippy", when you have it hung way out, maybe you can get axle extenders for added stability, just a thought. Thanks for sharing with us!!! 😃

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks for tuning in, it was just an odd feeling at first, got used to it in no time.

[@jamesberg3106]

Congratulations. It’s a beast

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It sure is!!

[@nathanslawnsandgardens]

Oh yeeeaaaahhh

[@FabbedFun]

I've heard some people can watch mowing videos for hours. Never understood that, but dang the cut on that thing is kinda therapeutic. Great video!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!! I'm the same way, I can usually watch for a little while, but then it's just back and forth.

[@tombartlett7448]

I have the same flail mower. My second year and still working great.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

That's good to hear, I've got about 35 hours on mine, seems like a well built mower.

[@deerpathacres4426]

Glad I watched this video. Been looking for an attachment for my Mahindra 1626 and I almost bought a King Kutter 48 but after watching this video I'm going to get a flail mower instead. Much cleaner cut and will handle what grows on our 18 acres.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Glad mu video helped.

[@williamortiz8636]

Damn!!! That’s a bad ass machine!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Haha, sure is, does a nice job.

[@kennethhuff7158]

I like the results, good job, worth the cash.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@ranger2316]

SNAKES!! That thing is a beast. It sure works well though. Thanks.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Sure is, thanks for watching.

[@mrd2170]

U are doing a great job

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@RedogZuk]

Sweet set up

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!!

[@tino.roelofs]

Thank you sir for this nice video

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you for watching

[@OudomOfficial]

Wow, This machine cut very well 👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it does, I'm still impressed every time I use it.

[@OudomOfficial]

@@ElkCreekAcres Nice 👍

[@jjacres129]

Nice mower congrats you’ll get a lot of use out of that

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I hope too, but as I discussed, it won't be a replacement for the brush hog, each has it's place.

[@BG-vq9fd]

Looks like it works well.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It does, real clean cut.

[@shogunkeith699]

Great machine more please 👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, I’ll try to make another video before seasons end.

[@deanmoore420]

That does a good job I’m thinking about buying one 👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I'll sell you this one Dean. Our priorities have changed and I'd like to sell the flail to pay for a disc mower for cutting hay. Send me a PM through Facebook if interested, I'm only about 45 minutes from you.

[@Katyhillfarmer]

Nice That will come in handy

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Sure will, not just banks and ditches, but those harder to reach places. Being able to have the mower cutter under trees without having the tractors getting tangled in tree branches is a blessing. Been awhile since you put out a video, everything okay brother?

[@billburkhart]

Pat I would really appreciate a video on the hydraulic requirements for that unit. Looks like the right machine for me I’m just a little concerned about the hydraulic requirements

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Coming soon!

[@jennifermarcum5849]

I LOVE IT❤

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@neilclarkson6060]

Looks to be a fine advertisement for the attachment. Nice choice.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks, it is a nice machine.

[@neilclarkson6060]

@@ElkCreekAcres you are welcome. Keep up your stream. I know next to nothing about farming but try to pick things up from your stream. Cheers, mate.

[@derekknight5069]

Definitely well worth the money spent bro!!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

They are nice.

[@IronGears.186]

lawn mower is impressive with this amazing machine

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it is!!

[@portalvidasimples5837]

Very Nice.

[@donnierobertson3088]

Nice job and video like always

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Donnie!!

[@brianwoodall1627]

If I had a farm or even a big yard, I need to get a cut down and there’s not sick. I’ll be using that in a heartbeat got Isabella machine repair. Whatever it is they did your homework and I didn’t

[@jerridavis6462]

Enjoyed from Texas!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@patbarlen2764]

Wow that things the bomb.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I agree, works better than expected.

[@martinchristian7270]

Wow! Instant mulch.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes sir, pretty impressive.

[@edgundlach2811]

Hi Pat. I'm new. Liked your video. Really, really nice tool. It worked great. I could sure use that around my homestead. My house sits on a half acre of land. Lol But seriously, happy for you. I enjoy watching people succeed. Gonna go now and watch some of your other videos. My name is Ed, married dad of 3 boys. 18, 19, and 21 yr old. From a small town about 25 miles west of chicago. Retired plumber. We always get to know you who that put videos out. I thought you might be interested in who watch. Best to you. Sincerely Ed

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Ed, I appreciate the kind words. I have taken a bit of a break from the channel, we just have some things going on in life that are more important at the moment. I will be back with more content once things get ironed out, and a full explanation to our absence will be provided.

[@berlinetta____2680]

Oh yes. Now ya talkin!!!

[@lindashultz1904]

Amazing machine

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Indeed it is, thank you for watching.

[@tiothomas5201]

Well Done.. Much Power! Very Nice... One More Subscriber, now from Brazil! Congrats

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!! I agree, it’s a beast.

[@small-timegarden]

Flails are the best. The finish is unlike anything else

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I agree, I can now say I've seen the light!!

[@richardtutor8331]

I like it man . It did a very good job.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you sir.

[@rodneyscrivner2504]

Congratulations Pat, You can never have to many implements or as us tractor guys say Toys... Lol Enjoy

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I agree 100%, much more fun having choices. Lol

[@rgd2598]

Too true.... without implements a tractor is just an expensive single person 4wheel utv ...and a slow one at that

[@BimaSakti-jm7up]

Good job.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!!

[@Michael-tq5il]

I like it. 👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Michael, I do too.

[@richardforster9816]

In the UK we have been using Flails for "years ". Turn it 90deg. and you have a hedge cutter. Sometimes chains with knoobs one the end other times angled blades.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

We're a little slow over here, but they're finally catching on, I love this mower.

[@AustinsMichaels37]

Great content

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@alk315]

They cut good when the blades are sharp. But it takes several hours to sharpen each individual blade. And install back on rods.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Not so bad of a job with hammer blades, but I know what you mean if I had grass blades. Nice thing about hammer blades I guess, I don't even have to take them off the mower to sharpen them.

[@repo3673]

Impressive

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Yes it is, thank you for watching.

[@deanmoore420]

Nice mower congratulations cuts good

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Dean

[@deanmoore420]

@@ElkCreekAcres No problem buddy

[@deanmoore420]

@@ElkCreekAcres that’s great

[@user-yd4wc7zf5s]

Hello, you should try put pro-cam on cutters back side so we can see how smooth cutter works...Keep it up and you got a new Subscriber + Like , greetings

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you for subscribing, I’ll keep the camera angle in mine.

[@johndeno562]

I like the cut , that does a nice job.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks John, I was impressed, even though it was cutting at least 2-3" lower than I'll set it for from now on.

[@ernestlmorellsr]

First time seeing this machine, and I like it, I think I have similar ones like it, Germans ones.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

They are nice for sure.

[@denisewildfortune4058]

Nice! I have places where I could use this, but not enough to justify it. Love watching you use it though! Keep an I on your leveling lift link. TTWT recently discovered that he bent his and thinks it might be from using an offset mower.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I saw that video too, funny thing is, from here on out I'll be better with it. I actually learn a lot about the use of our different implements from watching my own videos. I will get better and definitely keep an eye on the 3 point, this flail could easily mess things up.

[@justmejustine1958]

Greetings from central Florida

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Greetings, welcome aboard.

[@tropuii8329]

Nice machine 👌👌👌

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@charlesmurphy1510]

That thing is sweeeet!

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Indeed it is!!

[@tomkeating65]

I hope I'm not to late. But the top link determines the height of cut. I used to operate a tractor that two flails on it. One on the 3pt and one mounted the right side giving a mowing width of 12 feet. The right side was hydraulically driven. All on a 47 hp Ford tractor.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you for you feedback. I have since figured this thing out, you are correct, mostly. The rear roller determines the actual cut height, the top link insures that it is properly set to the desired cut height. What I do is lower the 3 point until the roller is flat on the ground and then the top link adjusts to make sure the cutter is level. That is at least my understanding from reading the manual.

[@denselvq]

nice video dude ! Looks like the drive shaft was wobbling a bit towards the end tho might want to check that out

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you, I've checked it out, the shield was loose, but the shaft is good and running true.

[@projectswithjw]

Thats just what my 1025 needs 🤣👍

[@ElkCreekAcres]

They make smaller ones.

[@projectswithjw]

@@ElkCreekAcres Someday when I'm not suffering from broke-itis 👍

[@jamesflanagan1753]

Like a lot 🌀

[@lyerger8232]

Nice video !

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you!!

[@michaelpolakjr8120]

Cool

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thank you

[@jekjr1957]

I pull an AGL 165 a good bit. I run it off of the loader control valve and use the float option that is in the loader valve a lot. That gives an extra level of float to follow the ground contours. DO NOT back up cutting with one. I have had to weld on mine two or three times because of it breaking where the hitch connects to the main cover. Also in my applications the hammers dull easy if there are rocks and so forth in the stuff you are cutting. I have ordered a set of the Y knives and the spacers ect to install them to run those instead of the hammers. It does indeed do a good job though. It could use a little thicker material though to make it more substantial. It is definately not as rugged as it needs to be.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I hear that. I have made some adjustments and now it's cutting much better, or not as many rocks being found. It was set for 1 1/2" initially, I now have it set for 4" and it still does a nice job of cutting without finding so many rocks. I'll keep an eye on the areas you mentioned, and yes, I never mow in reverse. They wouldn't cut very good backwards anyway.

[@user-pn5un6qs6m]

On your 165 . What size tractor are you using???

[@jekjr1957]

I run a Kubota 3560 with a cab on it. I sold my AGL 165 since I shared that but it handled it fine. @@user-pn5un6qs6m

[@frankponte4031]

Nice rig there Pat but it might be time for a larger frame tractor to happily run that new ditch bank mower.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Hope my wife doesn't read your comment Lol. It will be someday, I've been sizing my implements lately where I can still run them with the 2038R but would be a little more comfortable on a 3 series.

[@toddbehrends1373]

Great machine!! I have a couple of applications that I think I could use it for. But, I don't want to go buy a tractor just for 2 different properties.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I can understand that.

[@BobsOutdoorActivities]

Wow! Congrats! Yes, I am eager to see you cut with it raised a couple of inches next time. You mention it weighs 750lbs. When you're using it are you keeping your front bucket on? Looking forward to the next video.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

Thanks Bob, I have raised it up now that I've figured out the height adjustment holes. I later discovered it was set for about 1 3/4" of cut height, I now have it set at 3 3/4" and might raise it to about 4 1/2", I think the cut will be much better there. I'll have to watch the video again, I can't remember if I had anything on the FEL. I don't think I did, but I went out again and did the fence line in the horse pasture and did definitely put the bucket on for weight balance.

[@naomibryant3172]

Now that's mean machine

[@ElkCreekAcres]

That it is!!

[@robnewman6101]

Inventive.

[@oliverholt9683]

Just saw your video today. I have had a Ferri boom fail mower for many years. I run it on a John Deere 790. It’s a 30 hp machine. The boom reaches out to about 8 ft. The mower head is only about 3ft. It’s great for those side hills and reaching into ponds and doing the tops of overgrown stone walls but mine does not cut as nice as yours. It has a tough rubber shield on both front and back. I am debating removing one or both because the fails don’t seem to clear the grass so it ends up just packing down the grass in front when it gets stuffed with material. It will cut at a right angle though and is good for cutting back small limbs growing into your way.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

That’s quite a mower, I wish mine boomed out, I have to get pretty close to ditches and banks. But it still works well.

[@oliverholt9683]

@@ElkCreekAcres it’s nice that I can reach out and reach into ponds and easily do ditches but some days I think I could do a better job with an 8ft sickle mower. I have yet to figure out how to keep it from clogging with grass. Brush and bushes seen to go through it better.

[@pc5569]

That was quite a secret purchase. In the tall thick grass I think it has a better cut than the rotary cutter. Enjoy.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It definitely cuts much nicer, but what wasn't clear in the video is that tall grass being so thick was making that work too hard. I had to slow down to a crawl a few times to keep the belts from slipping. I think once the heavy stuff is cut this will do a beautiful job of maintaining the fields.

[@shannalangley4927]

Shannalangley yes love you McAlester girl 🖤💜❤🧡💛💚💙

[@brianwoodall1627]

That is the beast if they made something bigger if they did me something bigger net imagine with Zak you do that’s

[@jls7006]

Takes me bake to cutting hay with the mow machine

[@ElkCreekAcres]

I hear you, it is nice being able to do that too as well.

[@rrtrax5013]

Nice hydraulics.

[@michaelmartin9618]

It definitely did a nice job. I heard it bog down just once and just for a few seconds. So I take it the roller on the back determines cutting height? I first thought it was riding on skid shoes on the sides of the machine.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It does have side skids, but yes, the rear roller determines the height of cut. But, the roller was set for a very low cutting height, so at times it was in fact riding on the skids too. After that experience I did realize that in the future I would do the first cut with the brush hog and then maintain it with the flail from there on. The flail just does a much nicer cut, but IMO a belt driven cutter is not necessarily designed for that heavy thick grass like that.

[@perrinayebarra]

Talk about a hot knife through butter.

[@ElkCreekAcres]

You're not kidding, I couldn't believe it myself.

[@Scuba11000]

Man that thing cuts the stuff up nice ..... way better than a bush hog ( I bush hogged a couple of hours today and its not even close to that good looking once done )

[@ElkCreekAcres]

It does a beautiful job, but this tall thick grassy stuff is pretty tough on this cutter. In the future I'll first knock it down with the brush hog and then maintain the rest of the season with this, I really just wanted to see what it was made of.