Finished Lawn Vac Boot

[raykos]

Hi all,

Previously I had wondered about using a 'Agri-Fab' boot on my 54C mid mount mower deck; thanks for all the responses, appreciated them.

Well, I did get the 'Agri-Fab' boot, made the modifications, and it seems to be working fine thus far. Attached are some pictures. I had ordered the chute from Agri-Fab for $37.50 + $8.00 S&H; and as far as the time it took to make it, it was about a 2 beer job.

The cut out I made using a sabre saw with a metal cutting blade. I then screwed on a 1/2" x 1/2" piece of aluminum to strengthen the bottom and later cut the screws flush using a dremel with a cut off wheel(also, probably could have used rivets instead of screws). The boot is attached to the deck using some old garage door hinges along with the rod & the spring from the original safety chute; a hole is drilled at the end of the rod for a holding pin. The last picture shows the chute at work on the first test run.

Ray

[zzvyb6]

Nice work !

I like the garage door hinge idea because it provides the kind of access and reinforcement that these units need. I just used some rubber cargo straps to pull it into the mower outlet.

The hinge forces you to take the safe route if and when you get a plug. Small sticks and tree bark are the problem for me.

I also tend to turn the chute around when doing fence lines. I just drive the tractor along the fence and suck the leaves directly into the vacuum.

Last week I removed the impeller from the motor and changed the blade action from strait blades to curved blades to scoup the debris towards the outlet chute. The blades are soft steel and very mallable. Suction and debris size were much improved.

Just wish I could unload without having to leave the seat. Why don't you work on that one and post your results next week?

[Deadman]

The tubing seems way too small for the discharge that a big mow deck will put out, does it plug in wet grass?

[dmg]

Nice Job !! That looks good, My next step is to fasten the chute in a similar way and get rid of the bungy cords.

[Maxfli]

Really Nice Job. My situation was just slighly different. PTO Trac Vac with 8" Input. I didn't see an AgriFab 8" option. I bit the bullet and bought the Trac Vac boot for the JD 54C and the fit is very good. So far working great and no engine to maintain. My setting is like your lots of Old Oaks and Hickory. Now what I would like to find is some 8" quick disconnect options for the Vac Tubes, expecially at the trailer.

[raykos]

Hi Deadman,

Don't know about clogging with wet grass, just built it. However, it had no problems when I first used it; actually the vacumning went faster than it usually took with my older mower, and it seemed like there were less clogs caused by twigs & branches lurking underneath the leaves. I think the power of the bigger deck & tractor does a better job of breaking them up into smaller pieces so they don't snag as easily.

[cast_and_blast]

Nice job Raykos!

Scott

[Maxfli]

Raykos,

I added Gator Blades to the mower deck last summer, I think is is making quite a difference as well. Now the problem is when I allow the trailer to almost completely fill (36 to 40" in depth), the compaction of fine material (almost powder) makes it to heavy for me to dump. I have to drag some of it out by hand to get it light enough to lift. I am going to have to use it a little more to get used to when it should be emptied.

Bruce

[raykos]

Hi all,

For those members who mentioned something about emptying the leaf cart, I just posted some pictures in the "Do-It Yourself" forum. They may or may not be of some help to somebody and or give somebody an idea of another way to make cleaning up leaves a little easier?

Ray