orlo
Platinum Member
Here is a short (But still probably too long) of my thoughts on the powerflow system for the 2305.
Background:
I've had a Cyclone Rake Commercial (300 gallon bag) for about 2 years now. I've used it with the 2305 (62C deck) and also with an older Craftsman GT5000 Garden tractor.
Review of powerflow system.
I've used the powerflow system all of twice now. Once in the rain last week and once today on a beautiful sunny day in Vermont.
Rainy day:
Got to fill the bags once then it just kept clogging, ripped everything off and mowed without any bagger.
Today:
(Note that the grass has not been vacuumed this season so it had a lot of grass clippings on it) - Had been mowed last week in the rain so it wasn't that high.
We had got quite a bit of rain up here so I let the lawn get dry enough that when I touched the clumps of 'grass poop' left over from previous it was dry.
Mowed about 1/8 an acre easily but then I had to empty the bags. The empty indicator worked nicely. For the next 7/8's of an acre I continued to get frustrated since it kept clogging and I'd stop, disassemble it, then continue. Had to empty maybe 4 more times for this next 7/8'ths of an acre.
Backyard (about 4-5 acres of mowing). First few laps are almost 1/2 mile each (about 1000' long then maybe 150feet wide = 2300 feet.
Worked well but I was emptying every lap (Yes, every lap) with overfull bags for about the first 8 laps. Then I could empty every 2 laps. When I got to the center where there was a ton of 'lawn' poop' for a few laps I had to empty every 1/2 to 5/8's a lap (Yes, twice each lap). When I was almost done (and my mowing square very small) I could probably do 8 laps before emptying.
Impressions:
o I will not continue to use this in VT since the empty rate is way too high.
o It does empty easy but if you don't immediately notice the full indicator
the chute and probably the blower will jam up with stuff.
o When the blower gets jammed it's a royal pain, you are stuffing your
hand through an impeller to pull the grass that's jammed 'pre blower'
to free it up. If not this then you are burning your fingers (on
the hot pulley and belt removing the unit from the deck to clean it
properly.
o To take the thing fully off the tractor requires removing two
huge bolts from the draw bar, re-installing the right draft arm,
and taking out a small bolt that holds the left draft arm to the
mower lift arm (Independent lifts don't need this).
o The 2305 has plenty of power so I didn't notice less power when
I mowed (I could still mow the light stuff full speed in high). What
I did notice was that fuel consumption increase a lot from the
new load of the blower.
o The quality of the construction (blower and bag mounts) on the
deere unit is great.
o I really don't like the blower mounted on the deck and would prefer
a separate power unit (Like other ones Deere sells) or like the CR.
with a separate power unit if the boot clogs at the deck you just
remove a hose, clean it out and reconnect it. No impeller in your way.
additionally with the CR I can keep the unit (not the mower) running
on low and suck up all the lawn poop I dump on the lawn from cleaning
out the boot.
CR vs Powerflow.
Capacity: No contest, CR wins.
Emptying: The power flow wins. The bags empty easy but you empty
them a lot more. The CR emptys easy for very dry stuff
but not as easy for anything even damp.
Efficency: I think the CR does a better job but I think it's more due to
the pulling action of the separate power unit rather than the
'pushing' action of the deck mount unit.
Clogging: The CR wins. It does clog much less. In two years I've only
clogged the blower twice (Only when the 300 gal bag is full).
most of the time it's a quick clog in the boot. Clearing the boot
on the power flow is a pain.
Manueuverability:
Power flow wins. The bags don't add that much length to the
tractor.
Mulching: Tough to tell with grass but the CR (With it's huge, high speed
impeller) really breaks up the grass. I think it wins here but
both units produce pretty packed grass mulch.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but I figured a few folks would be interested.
the belt to remove the unit from the deck to really clean it pro
Background:
I've had a Cyclone Rake Commercial (300 gallon bag) for about 2 years now. I've used it with the 2305 (62C deck) and also with an older Craftsman GT5000 Garden tractor.
Review of powerflow system.
I've used the powerflow system all of twice now. Once in the rain last week and once today on a beautiful sunny day in Vermont.
Rainy day:
Got to fill the bags once then it just kept clogging, ripped everything off and mowed without any bagger.
Today:
(Note that the grass has not been vacuumed this season so it had a lot of grass clippings on it) - Had been mowed last week in the rain so it wasn't that high.
We had got quite a bit of rain up here so I let the lawn get dry enough that when I touched the clumps of 'grass poop' left over from previous it was dry.
Mowed about 1/8 an acre easily but then I had to empty the bags. The empty indicator worked nicely. For the next 7/8's of an acre I continued to get frustrated since it kept clogging and I'd stop, disassemble it, then continue. Had to empty maybe 4 more times for this next 7/8'ths of an acre.
Backyard (about 4-5 acres of mowing). First few laps are almost 1/2 mile each (about 1000' long then maybe 150feet wide = 2300 feet.
Worked well but I was emptying every lap (Yes, every lap) with overfull bags for about the first 8 laps. Then I could empty every 2 laps. When I got to the center where there was a ton of 'lawn' poop' for a few laps I had to empty every 1/2 to 5/8's a lap (Yes, twice each lap). When I was almost done (and my mowing square very small) I could probably do 8 laps before emptying.
Impressions:
o I will not continue to use this in VT since the empty rate is way too high.
o It does empty easy but if you don't immediately notice the full indicator
the chute and probably the blower will jam up with stuff.
o When the blower gets jammed it's a royal pain, you are stuffing your
hand through an impeller to pull the grass that's jammed 'pre blower'
to free it up. If not this then you are burning your fingers (on
the hot pulley and belt removing the unit from the deck to clean it
properly.
o To take the thing fully off the tractor requires removing two
huge bolts from the draw bar, re-installing the right draft arm,
and taking out a small bolt that holds the left draft arm to the
mower lift arm (Independent lifts don't need this).
o The 2305 has plenty of power so I didn't notice less power when
I mowed (I could still mow the light stuff full speed in high). What
I did notice was that fuel consumption increase a lot from the
new load of the blower.
o The quality of the construction (blower and bag mounts) on the
deere unit is great.
o I really don't like the blower mounted on the deck and would prefer
a separate power unit (Like other ones Deere sells) or like the CR.
with a separate power unit if the boot clogs at the deck you just
remove a hose, clean it out and reconnect it. No impeller in your way.
additionally with the CR I can keep the unit (not the mower) running
on low and suck up all the lawn poop I dump on the lawn from cleaning
out the boot.
CR vs Powerflow.
Capacity: No contest, CR wins.
Emptying: The power flow wins. The bags empty easy but you empty
them a lot more. The CR emptys easy for very dry stuff
but not as easy for anything even damp.
Efficency: I think the CR does a better job but I think it's more due to
the pulling action of the separate power unit rather than the
'pushing' action of the deck mount unit.
Clogging: The CR wins. It does clog much less. In two years I've only
clogged the blower twice (Only when the 300 gal bag is full).
most of the time it's a quick clog in the boot. Clearing the boot
on the power flow is a pain.
Manueuverability:
Power flow wins. The bags don't add that much length to the
tractor.
Mulching: Tough to tell with grass but the CR (With it's huge, high speed
impeller) really breaks up the grass. I think it wins here but
both units produce pretty packed grass mulch.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but I figured a few folks would be interested.
the belt to remove the unit from the deck to really clean it pro
