Kuhn TBE 19 flail mower: Clean side cuts

Kuhn’s TBE 19 verge mower is a versatile tool for field edge and
roadside maintenance. To put it simply: it does a clean job.

KEEPING IT BRIEF

Is manufactured in Italy.
Can be offset by 1.59m and has an overload protection built in.
The TBE 10 is Kuhn’s lighter offset topper and comes in widths of 1.53, 1.79 and 2.14m.

Although we mostly see the VKM rear-mounted and BP front/rear flail mowers in the UK, Kuhn has a much wider range of mulchers that are manufactured at its Molinella factory in Italy.

One of these machines is the TBE 19, which we borrowed when we were carrying out our 100hp tractor comparison (profi 4 and 5/2026). With a power requirement of up to 110hp, and weighing in at just 785kg, the 1.79m wide flail was a good match for our seven tractors.

The model in question has a Cat II headstock, and, when in its parked position, sits on two stands at the front and the sturdy 168mm diameter smooth roller at the rear. There are three hydraulic hoses — a double-acting for controlling the offset and a single for the head position, though none of them are labelled. Our machine also had the optional wide-angle pto shaft — well worth having if you plan on making full use of the mower’s offset ability.

Hammer tools

From the range of flails on offer, our model was fitted with 20 hammers, each weighing 1.31kg. Kuhn recommends these for low, light, thin vegetation and grass. For brush, wood, or hedges you’re better advised to opt for Y-blades.

Five flails are mounted in each of the four rows along the rotor. They spin at 2,325rpm with a 540 speed pto.

With the tractor in the 540 speed, the TBE’s shaft rotates at 2,325rpm, resulting in the flail cutting the material at 52m/sec or, to put it another way, 187km/hr. The TBE 19 was shaving the verges, leaving a clean finish with finely chopped material. This result is also due to the welded-in counter blades that further improve the shredding of the mown material. The working height is adjusted via the tilt produced by the tractor’s top link and/or rear roller.

It’s also striking how quietly the mulcher runs. A freewheel is integrated into the mulcher’s drive system. As is typical with offset mulchers, the operator needs to be mindful of the pto shaft when working in its offset position.

The arm has 1.59m of movement to the side. That’s a lot of travel, adding to the TBE’s flexibility.

The side movement is controlled using the mulcher’s parallelogram linkage with its sturdy 140x60mm profiled tubes with an impressive 1.59m of travel to the right, so it can be pushed completely alongside the tractor’s wheel — excellent.

Overload springs

Two sturdy coil springs provide overload protection. Should the driver overlook an obstacle, the springs give way and the flail swings back. Additionally, there is a bolt on the three-point hitch. If this is released, the mulcher also swings upward.