Cyclone Rake or other leaf vac

[chucko]

I have a bx1800 with a 60 deck
My yard is in Fl and is 1.5 ac with a lot of mostly oak trees (but some others like banyon,pine, maple, cypress)
oak leafs out number all others bay a truck load to trash can

I had priced a Kubota bagger system and they can make the new bx baggers work with an adapter kit but who knows how long to get it and if it really works right


I started looking at others like DR and Cyclone Rake

I like the price point and size of the Cyclone Classic around $100 but does it has the power to deale with a 60" deck?
Called Cyclone and the recomend the XL by at $1700+ we are getting back into the same price range as the Kubota system. added to that it is big and I am worried I would bang trees and other things

Comments? recomadations?

 

[rrrkkk]

you will have 4 to 5 ' overhang it takes getting used to, it has to be ridig to keep the deck to vacum hose attached. I have had mine 3 years and yes there are some scrapes and bruises where I have hit trees. I need to slow down then I am ok. I purchased the estate vacum for it last year, amazing how well the unit works. And its really big capacity is a plus.

 

[chucko]

What model did you get? and what size mower deck you running?

 

[CHDinCT]

I started with the CR Classic and upgraded to the Commander (next size up) by changing the "bag" out to the larger size, plus some hardware. I use it with my 54" deck on my BX (old 1860 and now BX25) and it works fine. But, I bought mine back in 2004 and the hose size then was 7". I think they've gone to 8" minimum now. I would recommend going up one size to the commander since it empties easier. The classic is square shaped where the commander is wider at the back than the front making dumping a little easier. They always run a one-year, no questions asked return policy I thought (haven't checked recently), so you could always send it back if it doesn't work out. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure you can just adjust your speed if it has any issues sucking it all up in one pass.

 

[chucko]

How does it hook up? just a two pin system on a standard draw bar?

 

[CHDinCT]

How does it hook up? just a two pin system on a standard draw bar?

Cyclone rake sells a three point hitch draw-bar for hooking up the CR. It has two pins so it won't jack knife. I've seen where a few members here have made their own attachment hardware, but if you're not into fabricating something, you just need the 3PH drawbar option. I think I paid $38 back in 2008. I've since modified it by welding a 2" receiver onto it and some steel to hang suitcase weights off of. Here's a pic when I was adding the suitcase weight hangers. If you picture it without the vertical side bars and cross-bar, and without the 2" receiver hitch on the bottom, you can see what the CR hitch would look like.

 

[shallowwatersailor]

I have a Cyclone XL that I use to pickup leaves on my property and pull it with my Toro Wheel Horse 518xi which is close to a BX1500 in size. The hitch has been modified to attach to my custom 2" receiver on the tractor. The nice feature of the CR is that I can hang it on the wall 10 months out of the year so it takes very little storage space. I also have the Estate Hose set for getting in to the fenced area. These are stored hanging from the ceiling in the garage.

It sounds as if you have as many trees as I have. I would recommend getting the large bag as you would be surprised at the volume of mulched leaves.

 

[phiferpharm]

I have the Craftsman ( it's made by Agri-Fab) Chipper/Vac. It is a hardshell box and does a pretty nice job. I do think the Cyclone Rake might be a better way to go due to it's hookup to the mower and pivoting wheels design. Mine is basically a wagon attached to the mower with a long hose (which I have replaced twice in 4 years). It is a pain to navigate around trees.

 

[chucko]

From the looks of that hookup it should just pin to the draw bar that is between my lower links

 

[iptman]

What are peoples' opinions regarding PTO vacs versus engine powered vacs?