Pull behind leaf vacuum

[windcatcher]

iPhones have a compass app and a measuring tool that have inclinometers in them. You'd set a 2x4 on the slope you want to measure, start the app on your phone, and set the edge of the phone on the 2x4. BINGO! There's your slope angle in degrees.

I just found a clinometer that works on Android. I've installed it and it appears to be working. I'll take it out to the field this week once it dries up some and get the slope. Thanks for the tips. It's much appreciated.

 

[MossRoad]

No problem. I want to do similar out at my property in the spring. :thumbsup:

I've always been curious as to the exact angle some of the slopes I go up, down and across are.

 

[edgarrian]

I have trac-vac manufacturing about 10 miles from the house here in Indiana. I went there and dealt in cash. i was able to save about 700 dollars on mine. Anyways it works great as its PTO driven. I went this route bc i didn't want another motor to take care of. I have picked up leaves when they are a bit wet and never once plugged. We have 8 acres of woods that our house sits in so you can only imagine how many leaves we get. Before the leaf vac I used a backpack blower and it would take sometime to get them all moved. Sometimes I have to do that now b/c it was a wet fall. I cut out a small area by my driveway to dump the leaves. Makes it nice. I have a mountain of leaves in the area.

 

[art]

Trac-vac is the best we have ever sold! That includes the other brands I have seen mentioned here! The tapered trailer is the easiest to unload even when the leaves and grass is wet. Yes I said wet! They have put more into the design of the blower fan and they are quite specific as to the sizes for applications. You can buy cheaper units but this is the only one that I'd buy at this point. We have them out where people have worn out the original engines in commerical duty and they are still going!

 

[windcatcher]

Having a Trac-vac would be nice, but both of my tractor type mowers do not have the pto options. Those tractors never had the options available to them.

I'm now combing the craigslist ads and any other place I can find to see if there are any used Cyclone units for sale in good condition and for a reasonable price.

 

[texas42]

Don't fret too much about the Trac-vac. When I was looking, Trac-vac wouldn't give me the time of day.
Local dealer was useless, and area distributor just gave me the runaround. I could see that any help or parts I might need would be a problem. That's when I went with the CR and glad I did. Placed my order and had it in 5 days. Excellent customer service and very helpful on any questions. 8 years later still satisfied with my Cyclone Rake.

 

[windcatcher]

Texas42, yeah I'm not too worried about the Trac-Vac. I've only seen one advertised in my area, and it was beat up pretty bad. Of course, any piece of equipment can get beat up by a careless owner.

Question: In looking at the specs on CR's website, their two first entries suggest using a deck size of 38" - 42". Do you know a reason for this? That almost sounds like the units can't take any extra leaf intake to me. Both of my mowing decks are over that amount size wise. One deck is 50" and the other is 54".

I found another used CR that is close to new, but I need to find out about the deck opening first. No need to buy something used that will not work with my current equipment.

 

[tjkubota93]

You can adapt any cr to dang near any deck. If you don't want to make the parts, they will sell them to you.
My 48" deck can put out too much for my cr if I drive over foot or 2 foot deep piles of leaves. During normal use it works wonderfully.

 

[windcatcher]

You can adapt any cr to dang near any deck. If you don't want to make the parts, they will sell them to you.
My 48" deck can put out too much for my cr if I drive over foot or 2 foot deep piles of leaves. During normal use it works wonderfully.

Thanks for the reply on that. I was thinking the same thing, but those charts make things confusing. I don't need any help getting confused. I can do just fine on my own.

 

[KennyG]

Texas42, yeah I'm not too worried about the Trac-Vac. I've only seen one advertised in my area, and it was beat up pretty bad. Of course, any piece of equipment can get beat up by a careless owner.

Question: In looking at the specs on CR's website, their two first entries suggest using a deck size of 38" - 42". Do you know a reason for this? That almost sounds like the units can't take any extra leaf intake to me. Both of my mowing decks are over that amount size wise. One deck is 50" and the other is 54".

I found another used CR that is close to new, but I need to find out about the deck opening first. No need to buy something used that will not work with my current equipment.

I think they are being conservative, but the lowest two models have a smaller 4 blade impeller and then they go to a larger 5 blade unit (with a more powerful engine). That's why I went with the Commercial Pro but I have a 62" deck.