BX - cost effective grass clipping collector

[AceDeuce]

Technique might be the least expensive solution. If you change your mowing pattern based on the conditions, i.e. dry grass, damp grass, or leaves, you can greatly minimize what needs to be picked up.

In the fall, I mow in one direction only which allows me to blow all the leaves into the wooded areas of my property. During the summer (if the grass is growing at all) I'm usually not concerned with picking up the clippings because they are so fine and dry. I generally mow from the perimeter inward with the discharge facing out. I also open the deflector chute so the clippings scatter as widely as possible. During peak growing seasons (spring and early fall) the grass is usually either damp or has a lot of moisture in the blades. At these times, I still mow from the perimeter towards the center, but face the discharge chute inward and keep the deflector down. This allows me to windrow most of the clippings while the small stuff gets mulched. When I'm finished, all I have to do is rake up a neat strip of clippings in the middle of each pattern. To facilitate the admittedly manual process, I'll drag a large tarp behind the tractor and rake the clippings onto it, then drag it over to the woods and dump them.

 

[drtydeed]

Simple solution = Gator Blades. You don't need a bagger if you cut correctly (no shorter than 3"). Mow in straight lines (alternating direction). This method double cuts the clippings...no need to bag. Besides, it's much better for your lawn. Clippings account for at least 1/3 of your lawn nitrogen needs.

 

[Egon]

As stated, cut your grass higher and just leave the clippings. Best thing you can do for your lawn. Maybe put on some mulching blades.

Longer grass is healthier, more drought resistant and helps choke out some unwanted plants.

 

[AMR]

I had a BX23 for 3 mowing seasons with the bagger. It was awesome, the combination did a fantastic job, good for the leaves too. I loved my bagger.

I upgraded to a B3030 last fall. I ordered the bagger but it did not get delivered with the machine. I mowed about 10 times and decided that I don't want the bagger anymore. Leaf season was a little more work but not too bad, I don't have any trees in my yard, just at the edges. Mowing was on balance faster without the bagger, much faster, I mow 2+ acres, I would empty about 5 times on average. I cut about 30 minutes off the time, I think that the B3030 just goes faster in M where I used to mow in turtle with the BX, plus I used to dump the grass a little way off the lawn.

I researched pluses and minuses and decided that it will be good for the lawn to have the clippings, but I do hate wet grass on my shoes. My compromise is that I took the bagger value and put it toward a Land Pride core aerator to prevent mulch build up. I keep my grass at about 3.5".

 

[marvindmartien]

Hi to all you Bx owners.

I have been using my BX24 with 54" finiching deck. Against my dealer advice I bought the mulching kit for it. He told me that there was complaints on that kit, that it left lines and accumulations of grass clippings. For the first few times that I have cut the lawn (1.5) acre, was without the mulch kit. At the time of delivery the dealer didn't have it in stock so they sent it trough the mail.

Here is my complaintes on that kit.

1- You have to remoove the deck to install it.
2- It is a bit tricky to install, instructions are not the greatest.
3- There is a accumulation of grass that builds up between the kit and deck. It will rust out alot faster.
4- It is more like a permanent modiffication, the blades have to be replaced , the remooval of the deck and the instalation of the plug takes alot of time and effort (cuts on my beer drinking time!!) it would be nice if it was a quick install for when you have to cut long grass.
5- It will leave trailes on clippings if the grass is wet or too long.

Here is my good points.

1- IT will NOT leave trails, clumps and piles of clippings if the grass is dry and cut often.
2- You don't have to get rid of the clippings.
3- The lawn needs less watering.
4- Cuts down on weeds and makes the grass stronger.
5- No maintenance and won't clutter your garage.
6- The cost is 1/10 of the bagger (more beer money)
7- And the best of it, less time waisted (more beer drinking time!!)

I have not tried the bagger or the mulch kit on different decks but I would recomend it for the finishing deck. It mulches leaves and grass very finely, no more raking.

 

[RonR]

I also have the 54" MMM and mulch kit.

Had I known more about it when I purchased the BX, I would have skipped the mulch kit. As stated, it's a major thing to add or remove it. I have not mowed that much with it, so I might not be a valid reviewer.

What I do know if that one time when I had the mulch kit off, I spent about an hour and fabricated a steel plate to bolt over the outlet of the mower.

For me, it worked as well as the mulch kit on my fescue. And it cost me almost nothing (time and some scrap iron).

If I had "do-overs" on the purchase, I'd skip the mulch kit.

ron

 

[Volfandt]

I use a combination of gatorblades and a cyclone rake to control my grass and leaf debris.

I like to compost so I collect grass clippings every 3rd mowing (or sooner if the grass is growing faster) and collect up all the leaves.

When I don't collect the grass clippings I mow to where I side discharge in alternate directions which doesn't windrow.

The cyclone rake works fine but it extends the length of the BX23 by 7 more feet which hinders manuverablility so when I use it I side discharge into several long windrows then mount the cyclone rake to collect them up.

Kubota makes a hard clamshell rear bagger for the European market that comes in two styles and both can be dumped without leaving the seat. One is a low dump and the other is high dump. I'm sure they'd be great sellers in the North American market but don't understand why they aren't offered.

Good luck

 

[jsh159]

Point may have been made already;
The BX catcher works well but it is dedicated to a tractor platform. The after markets with the external engine usually can be used if you upgrade tractors. Deck to tube chute may have to purchased for the new one.

 

[dannydan3]

Anyone used the Agri Fab pto driven model? My dealer has an old one that he said he would mount/adapt to my bx2200 for about $400.
It has set out in his lot for quite awhile and I wonder if this is a sign that the PTO models are somewhat less than desirable.

 

[dannydan3]

Simple solution = Gator Blades. You don't need a bagger if you cut correctly (no shorter than 3"). Mow in straight lines (alternating direction). This method double cuts the clippings...no need to bag. Besides, it's much better for your lawn. Clippings account for at least 1/3 of your lawn nitrogen needs.

Having had the mulching kit on my 60"mmm and darned near choking my lawn to death in the process, I wonder if the gator blades would produce the same effect.
After I removed the mulcher and spent many hours dethatching my lawn, I have had good results blowing the clippings into the center and then raking up small pile of fine clippings that are left over.
So, are the gators much better than the mulching kit could ever be?
Or is the Agri-Fab the only real solution for lots of leaves?