CarlGlas
Gold Member
Hey, Capt. why don't you buy some baby goats in the spring and they can take care of keeping your lawn trimmed and fertilized. Then in the Fall, you can have BBQ Cabrito. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Lawn Sweeper
- Thread starter Bird
- Start date
OP
Bird
Epic Contributor
Well, I said I ordered it. Sears' website showed the 38" one to not be in stock at any of the 3 stores closest to me, but I could order it for home delivery and did. I got an order confirmation e-mail, then a few hours later, got another e-mail that demand had been so high that they were out of them, so they removed the lawn sweeper from the order, but charged my credit card for the dethatcher attachment and were sending it. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif How would you use a dethatcher "attachment" if you don't have the implement you attach it to? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif So I called Sears last night and got a fellow who said he'll cancel the order and issue a credit on my credit card. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I'd still like to have that 38" one, but don't want the 42" one.
I'd still like to have that 38" one, but don't want the 42" one.
Ford960
Silver Member
I had a 42" unit that I bought at Lowes several years ago and used it to get the leaves up every fall. Unless I mulched the leaves first the hopper filled up so fast that I spent most of the time dumping it. My dad also had one but didn't like his because he said that it was too hard to dump. You can't dump it by pulling on the rope, I always had to get off the tractor and lift the hopper from the rear. He was right, mine was hard to dump also and the huge pile of leaves were always an eyesore.
Next time that I get the urge to do something like this I'll look into a vacuum/mulching type of unit.
Ford960
Next time that I get the urge to do something like this I'll look into a vacuum/mulching type of unit.
Ford960
OP
Bird
Epic Contributor
I discovered that the local Northern Tool store had the 38" Agri-Fab sweeper in stock for the same price Sears showed the 38" Craftsman (Sears was $10 higher on the Agri-Fab). However, when I measured it, the overall width would require me to open the drive gate instead of going through the walk gate as I usually do. Then in Internet searches, I found that Agr-Fab also makes a 30" model and I found that Sears has it available for home delivery but not available in the stores. The 30" model will also be easier for me to store when not in use. So I've now ordered that one. And instead of the dethatcher attachment, I just bought a separate dethatcher at Sears yesterday. Northern Tool had what looked like almost the same dethatcher, but with 1/8" tines while the Craftsman has 3/16" tines, and the Craftsman was $20 cheaper than the one at Northern Tool. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif It took me almost an hour to assembly the dethatcher and I noticed a sign at Northern Tool that they'll assemble them for you for $50. Wish I could get that job. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
buckle97
Platinum Member
Bird,
I have the 42" sweeper to go behind my 42" cut Craftsman lawn tractor. I have never used it for grass, but I have to use it every fall for the leaves. The first fall my wife and I were dating she came over to help me rake leaves one weekend /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. She obviously didn't know what she was getting herself in to /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. We raked all day Saturday and all afternoon Sunday. We might have gotten a quarter of the leaves raked that weekend. The next year she told me there has to be a better way to do this. I bought the sweeper and we finished all the leaves in one weekend. I can't imagine getting rid of all my leaves now without the sweeper. I ride around picking up the leaves, dump them in one location and Angie pushes them onto the fire. I am able to dump a full basket fine from the seat by pulling the cord, although I'm sure grass will be a lot heavier in the basket than leaves. I have no doubt that you will love the lawn sweeper.
Lawrence
I have the 42" sweeper to go behind my 42" cut Craftsman lawn tractor. I have never used it for grass, but I have to use it every fall for the leaves. The first fall my wife and I were dating she came over to help me rake leaves one weekend /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. She obviously didn't know what she was getting herself in to /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. We raked all day Saturday and all afternoon Sunday. We might have gotten a quarter of the leaves raked that weekend. The next year she told me there has to be a better way to do this. I bought the sweeper and we finished all the leaves in one weekend. I can't imagine getting rid of all my leaves now without the sweeper. I ride around picking up the leaves, dump them in one location and Angie pushes them onto the fire. I am able to dump a full basket fine from the seat by pulling the cord, although I'm sure grass will be a lot heavier in the basket than leaves. I have no doubt that you will love the lawn sweeper.
Lawrence
OP
Bird
Epic Contributor
Lawrence, I wanted it for both grass AND leaves. My two live oak trees don't shed a bunch of leaves, but the 5 bradford pear trees drop quite a few, and next door is a huge cottonwood from which I get a lot of leaves on the yard and in the rain gutters. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Of course the plan is to chop them up with the mower first, then sweep them up.
Joe1
Platinum Member
Do the sweepers work as well or better when you mulch vs just cutting the grass? Particles are finer and seem to go away when I mulch.
Are the sweepers supposed to pick up as much as the vacuum models?
You're approaching 17,000 posts. Wow!
Are the sweepers supposed to pick up as much as the vacuum models?
You're approaching 17,000 posts. Wow!
bontai_Joe
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2004
- Messages
- 834
- Location
- northeast PA
- Tractor
- Deere 316 (Kohler) Deere 316 (Onan) Deere 210
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do the sweepers work as well or better when you mulch vs just cutting the grass? Particles are finer and seem to go away when I mulch.
Are the sweepers supposed to pick up as much as the vacuum models?
You're approaching 17,000 posts. Wow! )</font>
Sweepers do not work as well as a vacuum, but they cost a lot less, and are able to be used on any tractor you own now or in the future with out adapters for the chute.
Are the sweepers supposed to pick up as much as the vacuum models?
You're approaching 17,000 posts. Wow! )</font>
Sweepers do not work as well as a vacuum, but they cost a lot less, and are able to be used on any tractor you own now or in the future with out adapters for the chute.
OP
Bird
Epic Contributor
Joe, I would expect the other Joe's answer "Sweepers do not work as well as a vacuum" to be right because it sounds logical, but I have no personal experience yet with either. I mulch also and plan to continue simply because I don't want that discharge chute sticking out on the side in such a small yard. However, I'd still like to be able to sweep up at least most of the grass clippings, leaves, and twigs, so I hope the sweeper works pretty well. Sears sent an e-mail last night saying it had been shipped, and gave me a UPS tracking number, and the UPS website today says there's no such number. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Bird,
I bought a 42" AgriFab last summer after posting the same question... Great investment.... It picks up anything I want it to, leaves,grass, even my gravel driveway if its set low enough... I have my 10yr old tow it and the little guy dumps it from the seat all the time without a problem.
I bought a 42" AgriFab last summer after posting the same question... Great investment.... It picks up anything I want it to, leaves,grass, even my gravel driveway if its set low enough... I have my 10yr old tow it and the little guy dumps it from the seat all the time without a problem.