[Bywaters]

I am using a 1.2m flail mower behind my superdexta to cut rushes/reeds on my holding

It's working hard but I am wondering if the hammers can be  / need to be sharpened or replaced or does it not really matter as long as something whizzes round ?

My intuition says they need to be sharp

My mower is an ex hire one and does a grand job on brambles etc but does struggle with the amount of rushes I have

[philcaegrug]

I turned the blades on my flail last summer so the back edge was now the leading edge. they had been on for 20 years. Mine struggles with thick rush and the motor bogs down. The best result i find is to slow down for the thick tussocks and cut regularly.

[landroverroy]

I've had a flail mower for years and never felt the need to sharpen.Unlike a rotary mower, which works at a lesser speed and does require sharpening, a flail mower works on speed rather than sharpness. So - as long as the blades are there and rotating at high speed - they will cut.

[Bywaters]

Thanks  Useful to know
I  tightened up the belts over the weekend, stuck to first gear and it worked a lot better.