How many use a bagger collection system?

[Badfinger]

Hi Guys, I'm looking at using one on a X585 w/62" MMM.

How many use or recommend a collection system for grass or leaves?

How well does the mulching attachment work?

Would you only use the bagger for leaves ?

Thanks, I appreciate you comments.

Jim

 

[beenthere]

I favor the Deere MC519 cart over the bagger system, and have a hydraulic ram to dump the cart when full. Can't fathom the chore of emptying those bags of dusty, leaves by hand.
But I pick up all the fall leaves (when the 65 mph winds don't do it for me like this year) on about 6 acres of hardwood trees and actually enjoy the 'chore' (most of the time never getting off the tractor).

 

[2nstonge]

I had your same set-up; the 585 w/62C MMM. Unlike Beenthere, I didn't like the MC519 cart/collection system. The chute would clog with grass clippings quite easy (even mowing every week). That would mean stopping, shutting down the tractor, dicsonnecting the chute, unclogging it and the mower deck by hand, getting piles of clippings everywhere, putting it back together, firing up the tractor and then driving back & forth over the area to suck up the spillage. Pain. The dump feature worked fine but because of the low rear end ground clearance of the cart when dumping I wasn't able to get a pile of clippings. It would have to be dumped like a dump truck spreading gravel on a road and then raked into a pile or moved by hand to a point where I needed it. Due to the mesh liner at the top of the cart cover I found it to be just as dusty as bagger systems. I switched to a power flow 3-bagger system when I traded up to a 4110 last year and never looked back. It can be just as dusty as the cart, and you do have to lift the bags, but it plain works better for my needs, although, you'll find lots of folks here who like the MC519.

I have mixed emotions about the volume of leaves either system will pick up. I found myself making a partial pass of the yeard and then having to drive across the yard to dump them. Not bad if you're looking for alot of seat time but I found it a nuisance. Went with a hand held Stihl blower and a tarp this year and it took less than an hour to do what usually took me 2-3 hours to do with the tractor. Again, just my experience, others may have had a better time of it.

Don't have the mulcher so can't speak for that.

-Norm

 

[Dirtboy]

Hi Jim, I just purchased an X485 with Deeres 14 bushel power flow system. All I can say is good bye to my rake /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have mature maple and english walnut trees on my 2 acre yard. I picked them when dry , I picked them when wet ( not my nose) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I even sucked up walnuts and pine cones. I only wish the capacity was higher but its not realy that bad. Adios Mike

 

[Garrabo]

I mulch my grass year around for the organic matter recycle benefits. also, throwing leaves away is a waste, the microbes in the dirt need the recycled leaves as well as the dirt. mineralization is the benifit to mulching the leaves, just dont mulch to a point in the winter to where you have a big layer build up that exceeds the rate of decomposition.

 

[beenthere]

Wow!
That's a bummer. I've had my 519 cart since '99 and never had the problems you share. But having a hyd. dump attachment, makes a big difference, I'd admit. I've experienced some additional plugging with my X series blower in comparison to the old 400 series blower, but figured it was wet and somewhat frozen leaves I was trying to get at the last minute.
For dumping, I'd put the dump up, and then back into the pile, actually bulldozing the leaves further into a big pile. No scattering as you found. But I didn't have much experience using the hand dump feature. Went to the ram almost right away. My dealer is apparently one of few that has the hyd. dump kit for the 519 carts.
I will do up to 30 dumps of packed leaves in a 1-2 hour leaf-pickup day. Not a lot of time considering the 6 acres I clean up.
This dump also works good with a trailer, as I can back in and dump, as well as bulldoze the leaves up pretty high and pack them in. Works good when in town and needing to haul the leaves away.

 

[beenthere]

Here is the MC519 dumping. It stands up pretty straight and doesn't leave much in the cart. By reversing, the pile can be bulldozed pretty easily, and pushed up to 5 or 6' high.

 

[KTD]

Wow!

I have the 519 cart but I didn't know that there was a hydraulic dump available.

My cart is on a JD 425. Does anyone know if the hydraulic dump will work on this tractor?

ktd

 

[2nstonge]

Thanks for posting the pics Beenthere. I bought my cart in '04. It had 'hydraulic assist' - looks like yours but without the hydro lines to the tractor. Give the handle a tug and it would pretty much lift itself. The hydraulic strut was similiar to what you'll find on an SUV rear hatch.

I tried the rear bulldozer technique and the cart tended to ride up the pile as the pile got bigger rather than push into it. Then as I would pull forward material would catch on the undercarriage of the cart and get pulled out along with the cart.

I think I paid about $1000 for it and was pretty well frustrated with the whole thing after a year of use. When the dealer offered me the same as I paid for it on a trade-in (trade-up) it was a no-brainer. I know alot of folks praise their 519 but it just didn't work well for me.

Best, -Norm

 

[beenthere]

Right, the spring-loaded strut of compressed gas is what I replaced with the ram. The ram lifts the cart box higher than the strut, so it is lower to the ground for dumping and pushing.