How to justify the cost of a Cyclone Rake?

GolfAddict · Jan 10, 2014

Have you considered a bagger for your 2305? You could collect grass clippings for her when you mowed, as well as the leaves in the fall. Possibly lots more use than just once a year would make it feel more worthwhile...

TXChinook · Jan 10, 2014

Then the solution is simple -- have her do all of the collecting.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ... it's cold enough in the middle of January for me not to want the inside of our house to feel like the out-of-doors...

Look Tractor-Mates... the die is cast... my wife wants one of these infernal devices so it's probably going to happen (she's already said I can't get a new log splitter unless...). What I need here is some encouragement; like, "I use mine three or four times a year and once you have one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it..."... Conversely, if there is genuine evidence that after being used once, the CR is stored and you wonder why you ever bought it, I need to know that

My wife can be reasonable and after having enough logs pile up and the fireplace stash of timber dwindle, she may relent and let me have the toy I want..

smstonypoint · Jan 10, 2014

TXChinook said:
Look Tractor-Mates... the die is cast... my wife wants one of these infernal devices so it's probably going to happen (she's already said I can't get a new log splitter unless...). What I need here is some encouragement; like, "I use mine three or four times a year and once you have one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it..."... Conversely, if there is genuine evidence that after being used once, the CR is stored and you wonder why you ever bought it, I need to know that My wife can be reasonable and after having enough logs pile up and the fireplace stash of timber dwindle, she may relent and let me have the toy I want..

How's this? "Go for it -- it's only money."

Steve

SSdoxie · Jan 10, 2014

I have a Yard Vac and haven't used it in 2 years. I put my leaves on the garden and till them in. What I found works best is mulch them up with the mower and work them into some resemblance of a windrow, then use the leave blower and tractor to blow the leaves into the bucket & haul them off to the garden. This takes quite a few trips with tractor but heck it's all seat time. I have a neighbor that runs the leave blower so I don't have get off the tractor.

two_bit_score · Jan 10, 2014

TXChinook said:
... it's cold enough in the middle of January for me not to want the inside of our house to feel like the out-of-doors...

Look Tractor-Mates... the die is cast... my wife wants one of these infernal devices so it's probably going to happen (she's already said I can't get a new log splitter unless...). What I need here is some encouragement; like, "I use mine three or four times a year and once you have one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it..."... Conversely, if there is genuine evidence that after being used once, the CR is stored and you wonder why you ever bought it, I need to know that My wife can be reasonable and after having enough logs pile up and the fireplace stash of timber dwindle, she may relent and let me have the toy I want..

Like I said you'll probably use it much more than you think once you have it.

Briar Hill Brittanys · Jan 10, 2014

We have about 2 acres for yard, and a bunch of woods that surround us. We don't have a Cyclone Rake, it's an Agri-Fab Mow-N-Vac. Found it for sale by a guy that lost all his trees in the Joplin, MO tornado a few years back. Got it for less than half of the new price. It picks up sweet gum balls, walnuts, small rocks, and such. It would probably pick up a squirrel if my mower was faster. Prior to getting it I'd spend several hours, each day, during the 2 week period it took for most of the leaves to fall, raking and blowing them into piles to transfer via a tarp to the compost pile. Talk about a dreary job! It's hard to calculate the time saved, let alone the wear and tear on me. I wanted one for a long time. When I found the one we got, I wondered how we got along without it. BTW, MY wife let ME get a wood splitter first. She likes the fire in the wood stove.

HTH Mark

orangeandgreen · Jan 10, 2014

Take a look at the Accelerator grass catcher. It's an aluminum box that hangs on the side of the deck and collects the leaves. I have the 5 bushel model and it does a wonderful job. It was around $500.
Accelerator Premium-Aluminum-Grass Catchers

rrrkkk · Jan 10, 2014

You will never regret it, I waited until I was 70 then bought one. Wish I had done it sooner. I put it in 2 different piles and alternate every year. I have enough compost to do what I need.

texas42 · Jan 10, 2014

I have a CR XL. Had it for five years. I have about 3 1/2 acres with 80 pecan trees.
I use it starting in late October and cleanup everything that has fallen.
Then again around thanksgiving and then christmas.
This keeps the yard looking presentable thru the fall early winter.
I use it with a 2320 JD with a 62" mower deck.
Last year I hauled 4 tons of leaves to the local dump that I collected with the CR
It will pick up most anything including dog sh$t but does leave some pecans.
I highly recommend the CR.
If I remember correctly CR will let you try one and if you don't like it you can send it back.

lostcreekranch · Jan 10, 2014

texas42 said:
I have a CR XL. Had it for five years. I have about 3 1/2 acres with 80 pecan trees. I use it starting in late October and cleanup everything that has fallen. Then again around thanksgiving and then christmas. This keeps the yard looking presentable thru the fall early winter. I use it with a 2320 JD with a 62" mower deck. Last year I hauled 4 tons of leaves to the local dump that I collected with the CR It will pick up most anything including dog sh$t but does leave some pecans. I highly recommend the CR. If I remember correctly CR will let you try one and if you don't like it you can send it back.

Have to wonder why you would load a land fill with 4 tons of leaves, that if mulched, will improve your soil and reduce fertilizer cost?