building a grass vac... can i use a chipper/shredder

[purpony]

Been thinking of building a grass vac... any problems why i couldnt use something like this for the pickup? Just use the engine and housing mounted on the back of my tractor.

would the impeller need to be changed or would it work as is?

 

[J_J]

I don't believe there is enough surface area on the impeller to develop a good vacuum.

A Trac-Vac or a Cyclone unit would be a good investment.

 

[jdonovan]

Been thinking of building a grass vac... any problems why i couldnt use something like this for the pickup? Just use the engine and housing mounted on the back of my tractor.

The impeller on my grass vac is 18" diamater, and 7 inches deep, also has 18 HP engine.

I think you'd be disappointed with the suction that unit develops.

 

[phiferpharm]

I have the Craftsmen Chipper/Vac, which works fine when combined with "bagger" blades on the mower, but is not very effective when just using the hose by itself. The chipper side is opposite the vacumn inlet and the impeller is different. How big is the motor on the chipper?

 

[deereman75]

I have the no-name brand version of that (selling it next weekend for $250) ($50 more then I payed for it) it has a fair bit of power but no where near enough for a leaf and lawn vac. It will just clog constantly and not function at all. It would be a good idea if it was a more powerful unit and you replaced the chipper shredder disk with a 4 blade fan.:2cents:

 

[purpony]

thats what i was thinking also.. there probably would not be enough suction.

 

[deereman75]

If I was doing this (which I want to, but we have no use for it, and my dad said no) I would find a 10hp or so engine and build a 4 blade fan with a square plate as a back and weld on blades from the center to the corners (like an impeller), and build a housing out of .125'' steel.:2cents:

 

[Kevin M]

The used Trac Vac I have has an 8hp briggs and draws like crazy ! But I would go with at least 5hp motor. Honestly if you could find a Little Wonder Push Blower or something similar that would be an excellent starting point. The landscapers sell these cheap after they forget to put oil in them.

 

[redharley]

my advice,buy and older trac-vac model [can be found off season for very resonable price] you will always have the base of want you want.You can build adapt from this to what you want.I would start with and 8" suction hose model if you intend to do a lot of leaf suction.Also will handle damp grass better.My original used on cost me $250 I used it a year with just making a boot to fit my deck. next year made larger cart, added external hase atachment for wife's flower beds.Purchased a new brigg's engine and installed in previous years plus a few other inprovements.My total investment is less than $800 and a little time over last 7 yr's.