bx grass bagger

[rock]

I'd be interested in the baffle as well. The BX bagger I have does not have one, but I have a 54" deck, perhaps the baffle is for the 60" deck.

FYI, I expanded upon my description of the BX bagger in the following post:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...oard=owning&Number=78936&page=&view=&sb=&vc=1

I even took some pictures.

-- Rock

 

[Joyce]

Sonebarn, you posted your original question in May, so you may already have the grass catcher. I have a B2910 as of mid/late summer this year, with a 60"mmm and the grass catcher, GCK60-24B. There is a blower or fan part right where the grass exits the mower deck. This fan blasts the clippings up the tube to the 3 bags in the back. I have not used it for heavy spring grasses yet, but I have taken it into a hay field for mulch. I just went a bit slower, as it really way hay height, and the bags filled a bit quick (I would push the fluffy stuff down once or twice in a run), but it worked like a charm.

Prior to my Kubota, I had an Arien's 12 hp unit with the grass catcher. I liked their buckets as catchers better than Kubota's mesh bags, but I'll adjust. Arien's used to clog l LOT, but I've not clogged my Kubota yet. Lots of power in that blower or fan or whatever it is called. I'm not crazy over how the mesh bags go in and out. I think Kubota could have done better on that engineering, but it works. Hope you got it and like it. Joyce

 

[stonebarn]

Thanks for the reply. I did get the 18 hp BX1800 tractor. My understanding was that the catcher blower would be attached directly to the deck. Not the case. The blower runs off the pto and is mounted at the rear of the catcher like my Ariens 18hp mower had. I was told that on the BX tractors, the deck does not roll on the ground, but is suspended under the tractor so they couldn't mount a blower to the deck. I had thought that having the blower right where the grass exits the deck would alleviate clogging and from your comment it may well. The configuration as it is still clogs in heavy grass. The system is easier to disconnect and clear than the ariens, but OHMYGOD the 3pt hitch catcher/blower attachment is just a NIGHTMARE to take off and put back on, easily consuming an hour of cursing it and using levers, jacks, blocks of wood and so forth. I just can't believe that it is so difficult. The thing weighs a ton and I am hoping that I just haven't gotten the hang of it. I have meant to return to the forum for advice before I remove it for the fall (this weekend?)!

Does anyone here use this attachment? Can anyone tell me how to take it off and put it back on again? The documentation that came with the catcher is useless. Either I am a totally incompetent bonehead (entirely possible) or this is incredibly poor engineering from a usability perspective.

 

[watersjj]

You might look at this bagger by Agri-Fab. All you do is pin the trailer to your drawbar and attach the hose. Takes about 2 minutes. The later models have the suction motor mounted sideways to give the vacuum hose more clearance from the rear tire. I have a BX2200 with 54" mower and it works pretty good on leaves ect. I mow about 1 acre and usually do not have to empty until I've finished mowing.

 

[rock]

Stonebarn,

I agree, the BX Bagger is a bear to put on and take off, especially because you need to remove the lift arms from the drawbars. I put mine on in the late summer and took it off this last weekend. Check out this thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...oard=owning&Number=67799&page=&view=&sb=&vc=1

1) It starts out with a message from me. I was so frustrated the first time trying to hook it up that I thought the thing was built wrong.

2) There are a few messages by rwhitley detailing a "quick hitch - like" gizmo he made to hook the bagger up to his BX.

I find that the bagger is pretty good in the clogging department. It will only clog if I get a stick jammed in the hose then attack leaves. I really bought the thing to handle leaves, I am not really bagging grass. It fills up pretty quick with leaves, but takes a while to fill up with just grass.

I went with the Kubota model as opposed to an Agri-Fab / Trac-Vac model as I did not want another engine to maintain. I paid for the rear PTO, I might as well use it for something! There is a Trac-Vac model that runs off the PTO, but I don't know of anyone who has tried it.

I have to admit, I was surprised at how quickly I was able to take the bagger off and reconfig the three point for normal use this weekend. I suppose as with anything three-point it will get easier to do with practice.

As much as I was originally disappointed with the bagger initially I am liking it more and more. Besides, I didn't touch a rake all fall...

-- Rock

 

[Joyce]

Stonebarn, Your frustrations sound like a direct quote from my husband when he was helping me take off our grass catcher for the season. The initial removal parts are a piece of cake...even I could handle that. But the lift arm business had me in a total quandry. I agree totally about the uselessness of the so-called manual that came with it. I think that the business of playing with the 3 point hitch will get easier with repeated use. At least that's what I keep telling myself. With my frustrations over poor photos to help with this learning curve, I have started taking my own photos. If they come out any good, I will make my own set of directions. I am also looking into buying a shop manual, but I need to find out if it would help me with adjustments that need to be made for changing implements.
I'm surprised about the comment about not being able to have the blower mounted on the deck: suspended deck vs. the roll on the ground. Technically, my deck is supposed to ride on the ground, and does if I am cutting the grass short enough. However, if I set it higher for the 'not quite the golf course look', it is then, practically speaking, a suspended deck. So...the way I see it, how can this be an issue when a deck is a moveable entity??? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I don't know too much about the BX models, as I've got a hefty 2910, and my power source for the deck is off of a mid pto. And I don't know quite how to describe it, but there is another cute little pto that seems to run the blower part. So, maybe it is a moot point? (What I love about this forum, is the ability to get away with varying degrees of technical terms.../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

 

[stonebarn]

Joyce, My understanding is that on the 'B' series tractors, once you lower the deck, the deck rolls along on the ground on it's own wheels and a blower mounted directly to the deck is supported directly by those deck wheels. On the 'BX' series, the mower deck is suspended beneath the body of the tractor, with the deck wheels not rolling on the ground, but only serving to help prevent scalping. A blower mounted to the deck would then tend to weigh that side down and cause an uneven cut. My dealer did not fully understand this until after my unit arrived, much to my chagrin.

As to installing and removing the rear-mounted blower assembly, it would be mind-bogglingly useful to have a step-by-step description of the procedure. I'm just not entirely sure what should be done first, how to I relieve the weight on the pins so that I don't need a sledge hammer and a metal rod to drive out the upper hitch pin for instance, and do I really need to loosen up all of the turnbuckles to get the arms to come off the sides? What step is first, second how do you support the assembly, where do you push and pull, what tools are useful, etc.?

If you, or anyone else, work out a procedure, or have any suggestions to offer before tomorrow when I plan go into battle once again with the blower assembly, please pass them on, and if I learn anything useful in the conflict, I will pass it on as well. If I survive.

Thanks.

 

[Joyce]

Stonebarn,
I don't think my 'one run through' on removing the rear bagger assembly, qualifies for me to be responding here, but the one big mistake that I made on my tractor, was not putting the pins in that hold up the mower deck. I have no clue if the BX models have this same feature. I DO know that the two pins that are supposed to 'slide' in, only do so with the help of one strong man, his wife and 'the next size up' hammer /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. Literally. (I had come across a thread about a 'VON rod' that seems to solve that problem. We WILL be making one.)
Anyway, without the mower deck held up in place, I was working at the arms (not sure of the name here) with 'the next size up hammer', and when the pins released, I was lucky I did not get in the way of them flying out and down. Not my smoothest safety move yet, but, lacking that set of directions that you too want, I am still on the learning curve.
I sure wish I had that manual of what to do first, when changing implements around. It is so frustrating trying to figure it all out, when what I really want to be doing is playing with all the toys. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
Not a chance I can offer anything step by step before you get out there to work on yours. Sorry. Just check that business aobut securing the mower deck up, if it applies.

 

[Charliebrn]

The BX is "pinned up" by a simple turn of the height adjustment knob. Requires you to raise the deck with the hydraulics and then just a turn of the wrist, nothing more.

 

[stonebarn]

Joyce, my concern is about removal of the grass catcher blower assembly that hangs off the rear of the tractor, not the mower deck (although this will be the first time removing the deck).

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by stonebarn on 12/07/01 10:47 PM (server time).</FONT></P>