I'm going to need to replace one of my toppers next year - skids have worn through and I don't see it worth replacing the skids given the other issues I've had with this one (a Bomford Twin Blade 2700 (9ft ) - gone through 4 drive donoughts, drive shaft flanges bent, needed gearboxes resealed after 1 year, rust on the body).  I'll probably keep it for the rougher stuff until it gives up completely, but need a robust machine to replace it. So this is by way of a bit of homework...

3 of the rotary/slasher toppers I have all cope with rough stuff with no issues, although the most robust seems to be the cheapest - a 6ft Flemming I've had for 9 years and is in better condition that the bomford! For realy tough conditions (scrub abd uneven ground clearance on building rubble etc) I use a hedger.

2 of my machines have shear-bolts, one a clutch.  The clutch is certainly "easier" but tends to slip in a heavy crop so I use this one less.  Thoughs on clutch versus shear-bolt?

I'm fed up with the finish of the 9ft - the tyre marks show immediately or within a day or so on light to medium crop.  Flail may give a better finish buy I'm also thinking offset would be better (although limit the machinery I have to haul this as the 9ft will currently go behind my old 4000s so saves fuel on light crops rather than using a bigger machine). However, one very important requirement is that it has to be easy to transport (a lot of road work) and get through 9' 6" gateways (pref withough having to remove the skids like I currently have to do sometimes!).

I do have a disc mower but I contract cut 2000+ acres a year of other peoples fields and never quite know what I'll encounter so won't use a mower. I've also got a Wessex topper/mower which is belt driven and useless for any serious work - it gets rolled out when all the others are already in use (or broken).

Tractors are small ranging from 60hp to 95hp but OK to limit to top 2 at 85 and 90hp.

I've never had a flail topper but they seem relatively slow in heavy grass - what do other people think?

So basically I need a 9'+ topper that will get through a 9'6" gate, with a fast work-rate in heavy grass & weed, a good finish on medium/light grass and robust enough not to break the drive train when it encounters something unexpected (concrete/log/gate/axle etc).  Not asking for too much am I? Any recommendations for make and/or model or suggestions/comments on configuration/type gratefully received.

http://www.fleming-agri.co.uk/Images/Products/toppers.pdf

This site may be of help to you.

Fleming make good uncomplicated products that may be a little more expensive than others but usually worth it.

Hi, I have a Bomford 2700 same machine. Many of these machines are the same type spec Flemming etc. Iv'e blown the donought out on one side paided £250 for a new heavy shaft and donought on it. Yes they do the job but you have to be careful with them. Someone i heard put a 10.9 shear bolt in and it nearly wrote the topper off when the bolt did not break!

Major do a good 9ft 3 point linkage off set one which folds on hyd back behind the tractor, like an old drum mower.They have a shear bolt which does use a 10.9 bolt. See what dealers have in stock. Twose do a flail one but i would stay clear of what you did have, as this type are built to a cheap price.

Hi, we have two Connor 9' in line toppers and I think they're pretty good. They aren't too expensive and quite robust whilst not being too heavy. I think they're almost identical to Fleming and LHM as well as a few other makes. We put 10.9 shearbolts in them as the weaker one's break too easily and although we do get the occasional bust-up, considering the misuse they get I think they're pretty good. As far as gearbox seals go I find that putting a tube of grease in with the oil soon stops ( or slows down ) any leaks, and this is cheaper than replacing the complete gearbox ( you can't get parts for the gearbox ).

The beauty of these toppers is that they're not very heavy, which is important on steep land for obvious reasons. Also I think a lighter topper bounces off an obsticle whereas a heavier machine would just sit on top of it grinding away. However if you did want a heavy duty topper, McConnel make one called Topper 9 Rhino which is built like a battleship and probably weighs about the same. Some of my neighbours have them and they say they're very good but you need a big tractor up front to carry them.

You would possibly be better off with an offset model depending on the terrain, but in this area at least, the linkages seem to give up the ghost after a couple of seasons. Your ground may not be as rough. Happy topping.

Hi,

I too have heard that the MConnel Rhino is an excellent rotary blade topper but I have a 2.7m Kuhn flail topper. It is very robust and takes care of most jobs( set aside, brambles, rushes) and leaves a good finish. They make two models one with a roller and one on wheels. I have the wheel version which does not mulch as well but has a much greater work rate. For a really good finish the roller version may be best but work rate suffers. I have been really pleased with this machine, and no problems so far after 5 years use.

Thanks for all the responses so far (do keep them coming as I won't by buying yet). I like the Flemming machines but max fully offset (mounted) is 8' so it would have to be trailed, and the 9' trailed is wider (transport) than my current machines.  I've also looked at Major winged machines too, which look good (but expesive); any thoughts on these? What are they like at 12' or 18' over rough terrain?

I bought a second hand Abbey 9" trailed topper 3 seasons ago and it really is a joy to use. A very even finish with no wheel marks. Obviously, with a 9" cut - two rotors - it can belly on uneven bits but you soon learn to lift her a little on the wheels and steer her, using the ram on the drawbar, around the corners at close on 90 degrees. Also got a spare Lely 9" mower which I took the conditioner off for topping land away from home as the Abbey is a bit wide for some of the narrower roads around here.

I have an Amex topper with a trailing wheet and which is really good for clearing old pasture up to about 5 feet hight. (I have cleared fields of scrub higher than I was seater on the tractor)

It has shear pin and mine is 6' cut which may be a bit small for you. I think they do wider models and would recommend you have a look at them. However, bear in mind I am more of a smallholder at 60 acreas, that most of the guys on the forum.

Thanks PW.  Never heard of Amex but I'm sure it will do nicely   I'll check them out.

For topping we use a disc mower just lengthen the top link and turn the front up. We got skids with the mower but we have not used them, although the pfields tare generally bare enough when we top. the advantages of using a disc mower are that it is well able to cope with the heavy stuff, no shearbolts etc, can travle faster, no tracks of the tractor wheels left.

ogwi:

Never heard of Amex but I'm sure it will do nicely  

Oops. I should have said AMTEX amtexlimited.co.uk

All the best

barndoor:

For topping we use a disc mower just lengthen the top link and turn the front up. We got skids with the mower but we have not used them, although the fields tare generally bare enough when we top. the advantages of using a disc mower are that it is well able to cope with the heavy stuff, no shearbolts etc, can travle faster, no tracks of the tractor wheels left.

I agree disc mowers make excellent toppers. Unfortunately in our case, any field that can be mowed is used for silage production. This means that the rest of the farm has to be topped with a topper operated by a Kamikaze driver[:'(]

NEVER buy an used topper (or power-harrow) from Wales.

Thanks again all.  The problem with the disc mower suggestion for the work I do is they a) are not robust enough and b) need too much maintenance.

I do use on some of our fields in late summet, but cutting other ppls overgrown "fields" (I use the term in the broadest possible sense) means I come accross all sorts of detritus and do not always know where the manhole cover etc is.