Tractor rotary mowers differ from other types of mowing equipment in several key aspects, including their design, operation, and applications. Here are some of the main differences:
Design and Configuration:
Tractor Rotary Mowers: These mowers are specifically designed to be mounted onto tractors and are powered by the tractor's power take-off (PTO) shaft. They typically feature a horizontal rotating blade or blades housed within a deck or housing.
Flail Mowers: Flail mowers utilize a series of horizontally rotating blades mounted on a central shaft. The blades are attached to flails or chains, which swing outward to cut vegetation. Flail mowers are often used for heavy-duty applications and can handle rough terrain and dense vegetation.
Sickle Bar Mowers: Sickle bar mowers feature a reciprocating blade that moves back and forth in a horizontal plane to cut vegetation. They are commonly used for cutting hay and other crops in agricultural settings.
Cutting Mechanism:
Tractor Rotary Mowers: Rotary mowers employ a spinning blade or blades that cut vegetation with a slicing motion. The blades are typically mounted on a spindle and rotate horizontally at high speeds to achieve a clean and efficient cut.
Flail Mowers: Flail mowers use a chopping or shredding action to cut vegetation. The rotating flails or chains strike the vegetation at high speed, breaking it down into smaller pieces before being discharged from the mower.
Sickle Bar Mowers: Sickle bar mowers cut vegetation using a reciprocating motion, similar to the action of a hand-held sickle. The blade moves back and forth across the cutting swath, slicing through the vegetation with a scissor-like action.
Application and Terrain:
Tractor Rotary Mowers: Rotary mowers are versatile and well-suited for a wide range of applications, including mowing grass, weeds, and light brush. They can be used on flat or gently sloping terrain and are ideal for maintaining lawns, pastures, and roadside vegetation.
Flail Mowers: Flail mowers are designed for heavy-duty applications and are capable of cutting thick vegetation, brush, and small trees. They excel in challenging terrain, such as ditches, embankments, and rough terrain, where other mowers may struggle.
Sickle Bar Mowers: Sickle bar mowers are primarily used for cutting hay and other crops in agricultural settings. They are effective for mowing large areas of grass or crops and are often used in conjunction with hay balers for harvesting operations.
Size and Capacity:
Tractor Rotary Mowers: Rotary mowers come in a variety of sizes and cutting widths to accommodate different tractor sizes and applications. They are available in widths ranging from a few feet to over ten feet, allowing them to cover large areas efficiently.
Flail Mowers: Flail mowers are typically larger and heavier than rotary mowers, with wider cutting widths and higher horsepower requirements. They are designed to handle tougher vegetation and larger areas of land.
Sickle Bar Mowers: Sickle bar mowers vary in size depending on the width of the cutting bar. They are generally smaller and lighter than rotary and flail mowers and are well-suited for smaller-scale agricultural operations.