new topper needed

foreman

I need to buy a topper in the coming weeks.

Fleming seem to be well built.
Anyone buy one recently and how much for 7ft and 8ft on 3 point linkage.

Anyone recommend any other brand.

Thanks for the feedback

GreaseGunner

In the line of other brands, we got a 2nd hand 7ft Major a few years back and it has stood us great service. Can't say how she compares to the build of a Fleming but she did all we asked of her with no bother anyway

Miname

Buy an old rotary or disc mower instead, far cleaner finish and at least you can use to mow down a field as well.

MfMan

Miname wrote: »

Buy an old rotary or disc mower instead, far cleaner finish and at least you can use to mow down a field as well.

No good on bumpy or rutted land, not all land to be topped is billiard-table smooth you know. I've a trailed 8ft Connor which I find very good for my needs - easier than a mounted one to set cutting height I'd say.

lakill Farm

Bought a good 2nd hand major 8ft in summer 2013 for €1150 I think

Got it sandblasted and repainted and new decals in the spring and a few stone guards repairs for €350

It sound last me at least 10 years more

foreman

Buying new.
Fleming have now got galvanised skids.
Havent got prices yet.. over 3k i assume

lakill Farm

foreman wrote: »

Buying new.
Fleming have now got galvanised skids.
Havent got prices yet.. over 3k i assume

worth looking at major .

I have a fleming bale carrier and powerbox. bought them in Longford

But major do a good topper

Chemical Byrne

My sister has a Major flail topper for doing a few roughish fields. Slowish but great for rough places where you could meet something.

I recall meeting a set of old muckspreader chains doing one field that hadn't been touched in years. Music!

kevthegaff

Chemical Byrne wrote: »

My sister has a Major flail topper for doing a few roughish fields. Slowish but great for rough places where you could meet something.

I recall meeting a set of old muckspreader chains doing one field that hadn't been touched in years. Music!

9ft Conor good reliable topper

Zr105

foreman wrote: »

Buying new.
Fleming have now got galvanised skids.
Havent got prices yet.. over 3k i assume

Not to be smart but galv skids is completely pointless IMO, the galv will be worn off the bottom the first day out then the rust will get under the galv anyway, and the skids are more likely to either wear out or get bent long before they'll rot,

the main body on the other hand will rot out quicker than you'd like if not looked after, there's a lot of nooks and cranys on most of the toppers that hold wet grass which eats metal.

8ft fully offset Connor here, it's our second Connor and to be honest fairly disappointed, the first was alright, but there were sections not even painted on the new one, like in around the main pivot and I had to set the relief valve as it kept folding itself back on flat ground, few other bits like had to modify the safety bar yokes on the front to allow for wider tires, and a few other bits like that

foreman

Thanks for the feedback folks.

Galvanised skids will shurely last longer than painted ones.. nothing as bad as looking at a new machine that hasnt been painnted properly..

severeoversteer

hit a sizable stone with a trailed major the other day

stone was about 9 or 10 inches in diameter

the topper split it in half and hurled it 20 yards up the field :rolleyes:

not a bother to it

foreman

Good man

foreman

Topper or a rotovator u have

CloughCasey1

foreman wrote: »

Topper or a rotovator u have

One of those stone mulchers!! That stone had to have put some form of dent on blade.

ganmo

What type of stone?
I was expecting ya to say the topper split

White Clover

Bolt sheared ??

severeoversteer

no damage thank god,
didn't even see the stone to be honest

topper fine;)

Green farmer

I've a basic connor topper knocking around the place for the last 15 years. Use it on rough grazing fields, where you'd usually go through a few shear bolts. Never left me down. Even mows down the odd furze and blackthorn bush

smokey-fitz

Hit a rock the other day with my topper, an old vintage votex :P broke the blade in **** and sheared the bolt the holds the blade to the gearbox. Done a right job on it...
Only use it for the rough grazing, weeds, under fences ect. Hard get parts tho, Spaldings in england and votex themselves are the only places, and took a few days to track parts down.

simx

Have a 7ft offset abbey here since '97, the father always washed it after every use and I continue that, it really stands to it, all steel still perfect, not one weld/plate put on it, should last a good blast longer here, good topper would recommend one

whelan2

simx wrote: »

Have a 7ft offset abbey here since '97, the father always washed it after every use and I continue that, it really stands to it, all steel still perfect, not one weld/plate put on it, should last a good blast longer here, good topper would recommend one

have an abbey here too, 7 years old this year, had a ruscon before that-broke our hearts:cool:

Chemical Byrne

I hit a few large stones that had fallen down off a bank and were concealed in nettles with the Major flail mower last year. The machine jumped 2 foot off the ground and I burst off a few of the lugs holding the flails and cracked several mower. Clonmel Farm Machinery had lugs for it and a half day with the grinder and welder had me going again. Just was glad the gearbox was OK.

lakill Farm

Chemical Byrne wrote: »

I hit a few large stones that had fallen down off a bank and were concealed in nettles with the Major flail mower last year. The machine jumped 2 foot off the ground and I burst off a few of the lugs holding the flails and cracked several mower. Clonmel Farm Machinery had lugs for it and a half day with the grinder and welder had me going again. Just was glad the gearbox was OK.

the health and safety implications :P

* did you prepare a method statement?
* issue warning letters to everyone within 50 miles of dangerous stone splinters
*did you wear PPE
* have you a ticket for abrasive wheel
* did your tractor and flail have its annual maintenance check by a qualified technician
* have you your hazchem licence for handling tractor diesel and lubes

couldn't resist