BX - cost effective grass clipping collector

[JWK1]

Hi All, I'm trying to figure out how I can gather the clippings from my 2 acre lawn for compost without buying the $1800 Kubota collector thing. This year I just can't add that on to the cost of tractor and needful implements. I don't even know how much clippings the Kubota implement holds. Anyone know?

My wife and I were discussing the possibility of the BCS 2 Wheel Tractor for the next couple of years, but we are both of the opinion that I don't have enough time to do all the extra manual labor that will demand. I'm also going to turn 52 in May and I don't see me still walking behind a mower in another 10 - 15 years. I'm looking at these things as long term usage tools. I don't really want to be selling and buying up in another 3 - 5 years.

So, anyone know a fairly effective way of collecting all those grass clippings without having to rake the entire 2 acres?

 

[ChuckinNH]

I'm in the same boat! Other companies make collectors that work with the BX. Trak Vac, DR, Agri Fab, and Cyclone Rake come to mind. The downside is that most of these are also expensive, most tow behind the tractor, and most have their own engine to listen to, and maintain. In your shoes, perhaps I would spend the money on the tractor now instead of a less appropriate solution, and get by with an inexpensive lawn sweeper. Those can be had for $200+. I found they work pretty well if the brushes are maintained, and you let the clippings dry just a bit before trying to collect them. Hopefully, in the future you would be able to purchase the kind of collector you like, and would already have a very good, and useful tractor. Sometimes we have to take smaller steps to get where we are going. Mulching is another, and good option, of course, though mulching kits might not be available for all the decks offered...... it would pay to ask about that first.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I have the Kubota Bagger and it holds, on paper, just shy of 10 bushels.

Given the number of trees on my property and my low interest in having another engine to feed/maintain, I had no trouble with the cost of the bagger...by the trees alone, nothing else would work.

How often you need to empty it is, obviously, a direct function to how often you mow. I manicure approximately 1 acre of lawn and IF THERE ARE NO LEAVES, I can mow my entire lawn with two "dumps" of the clippings. Heretofore, I haven't had a sprinkler system, so in the most perfect of growing conditions, this translated to mowing every 5 to 7 days at the absolute peak. I expect every 7 days to become the norm with a sprinkler. 2 loads with no leaves.

Things get more sticky with leaves. If I don't say on top of them (suck them up every 3 or 4 days at the peak), I could empty my bags 20 times in a run. Staying on top of it, I can get that down to emptying them 3 or 4 times, perhaps.

In summary, the Kubota bagger is VERY effective. It gets clogged with sticks or very wet grass, but in normal useage it packs the grass to heaping in all three bags every single time. I have heard of tow-behind PTO driven bagging units that are probably worth a look, but I didn't dig too deep because of my trees and varied terrain (up to 30% side-slope).

Hope this is helpful.

 

[ToadHill]

Sorry I don't have a picture but a neighbor who wanted some green matter for composting made a chute out of a wood frame and covered it with airplane fabric. He offset the hitch on an old trailer so it ran to the side of his mower , put a light wood box on the trailer and ran the fabricated tube from the discharge to the box. If he ran the engine at full speed and kept ground speed slow it worked just great. I don't believe he had $100 invested in the whole thing.

 

[Jabroni]

I owned a Cyclone Rake before getting my BX24 with the grass collector, and find the Kubota collector capabilities pretty close to that of the Cyclone Rake. What is disappointing is the limited volume of the bags. To have all of that pickup power, and then stick 3 medium size nylon bags on the back doesn't make sense to me. Still, I recommend it. It's much easier to manuver than a traditional tow behind like a Trac-Vac or the hook-directly-to method that Cyclone Rake uses.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

You can't can't get by more cheaply. It takes a certian amount of power and complexity to shove 60" of grass up a tube.

 

[c-and-a]

I have the Kubota bagger and have been very pleased with...as KeithinSpace, I too manicure about 1 acre and with a sprinkler system (running twice a day) I mow every four days and dump the 3-bags twice over the acre.

Works well in most all conditions - even wet grass...

I use it to collect leaves after I do a very quick blowing to remove the bulk...

While I bought it as part of the original purchase - I think you may have a bit of wiggle room on the price if you press hard - but I am sure it varies by dealer...

Good luck

 

[KeithInSpace]

You can't can't get by more cheaply. It takes a certian amount of power and complexity to shove 60" of grass up a tube.

It would have taken me 3 paragraphs to say that. You're awesome.

That said, if I had the stones, I think the whole rig could handle ANOTHER 3 bags making a 18 to 20 bushel system. It'd involve cutting into that pretty hood on top, extending the steel bag hangers, etc. Dunno. Probably one of those ideas I would deploy on something that cost $100, but would have a hard time cutting into my very pretty bagger system. Maybe when I retire in 20 or so years...maybe I'll do it around then.

 

[Harry c]

I converted a PECO Provac 12 to fit my BX24. It was intended for a Zero turn mower. It works better than I could have hoped. It empties instantly with one handle and without leaving the seat. I made my own quick attach system. It goes on with one pin. I used my neighbor's rig with bags once and found that to be way too much work. The PECO is mounted on the tractor and only sticks out about 24 inches (maybe less) No maneuverability problems at all. I still have work to do on the boot but it actually works pretty well as it is. The PECO does have a separate Kohler 6 Hp motor but it should last as long as I do! Wear your earmuffs though. With the tractor flat out, the 6 Hp motor, and that large blower screaming, the noise is pretty amazing. Some day I'll get around to posting pictures and such if anyone is interested.

 

[BotaBigot]

...That said, if I had the stones, I think the whole rig could handle ANOTHER 3 bags making a 18 to 20 bushel system. It'd involve cutting into that pretty hood on top, extending the steel bag hangers, etc...

I, too, have been giving the idea of increased bag capacity some thought. Not for grass...but for leaves (during peak leaf collecting, I can fill the bags in 5 minutes...the bagger's that efficient). Rather than more bags, I thought I'd look into larger (taller) bags. Shouldn't be too hard to check other brands for bag dimensions. My concern would be the added weight when full. I'm also going to try some Gator blades to see if they will chop leaves finer.