CC triple bagger install and use thoughts:
This thing is BIG (compared to lawn tractor-sized unit I'm used to) and comes in a box the size of a coffin which is very heavy. Just looking at the instructions, assembly seems complicated, but once you have all the parts and fasteners in front of you, it becomes very clear and everything goes together perfectly. Extra hardware was provided, primarily because this kit is meant to go on two different types of machines (the other being the "regular" ztr). Upon first look, things seem a little flimsy, but once put together you realize that parts that need to be heavy, are, and the ones that don't, aren't, which is an approach I like in an attachment where you need to limit overall weight.
In use, the thing worked perfectly. I mowed in mid-morning and there was some dew on the grass, off of which I was cutting about two inches. No clogging and the grass chute is somewhat clear plastic, so you can see the grass going through it. Bag capacity is good and I was able to mow big chunks of the yard between empties. The front weights are a necessity and even with them, you REALLY notice the load when going up hill with full bags. Didn't feel unstable, but you want to take it EASY.
Concerns:
One thing I'm not crazy about is that you can't put the ROPS in the full down position with the bagger support frame in place. It is only held on by four bolts, but is enough trouble to remove that I am going to leave it on all the time. So, now have to keep the ROPS in the "middle" folded position, which is a little high for some of my trees. (I know, trim them up...). The thing is, it is SO CLOSE to working. The ROPS folds all the way down until it is tight against the support frame, but the U-bolts won't quite click and I don't think I want it actually touching it and wearing off the paint, rattling, etc., anyway. It only needs another 1/8" or so to clear - so close, yet so far....
The grass chute resembles a very large, clear piece of vacuum cleaner hose, i.e., a coiled plastic "spring" with thin, clear flexible plastic molded over it. The way it is installed is it is "screwed" (counterclockwise) over tabs inside the top chute housing. Works fine and stays in place, but I wonder how it is going to hold up long term, being screwed/unscrewed several times a year. So far so good, but I can already see a tear starting in the thin clear plastic sheath. At least it is extra-long, so there is plenty of room to keep "screwing it" on if the end starts getting messed up.
It's hard to tell how much grass is in the bags. On my lawn tractor, I could just reach back and feel the bags to know the fill-level, but on this, it's too far away. So you just have to guess at it or wait until you don't see the grass flowing in the chute anymore.
Not really a problem with the unit though and don't know how you'd fix it.
Don't like the way the handles are attached to the bottom of the bags. The handles are a webbing material and are sewn to the solid plastic bottom of the bags with something resembling fishing line, then the fishing line is heated and melted to the inside of the plastic bag bottom. I will be surprised if this makes it more than a couple of years before a fix is in order, but we will see....
Attachment of the boot to the mower deck is straight forward, easy and secure.
Overall, the bagger was expensive, but works great and I would buy it again.
