Lawn sweeper hookup conversion

[kenjroy1]

This is a conversion I recently made to a new Craftsman 42 inch "pull type" lawn sweeper (see photo). Since I'm terrible at backing up any towable attachment, I now can pick up my sweeper when the hopper is full, and back right up to a trash pile and dump. I don't have to get off of my Bota, and can raise the sweeper high enough to make the pile fairly high. Just something to share.

 

[wowbw7]

Now THAT'S the way to do it. congratulations. i wish i had a 3pt on my Deere tractor, i'd steal your idea. good job

 

[Zick]

That's sweet, I've been thinking about picking up a cheap pull behind sweeper and that make it work even better!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Speedbump7]

Great idea, I am interested in how it performs when turning.
And additionally my sweeper's basket would probably not support the clippiings if I lifted it, did you reinforce the basket?
Again, nice job, gives me some inspiration.

 

[kenjroy1]

Thanks for the comment. Perhaps you could fabricate a lift system using a 12 volt actuator.

 

[kenjroy1]

Glad to help.

 

[kenjroy1]

This sweeper is new, and is replacing a 38" AgriFab I 've been using the past 5 years in the same way. The AgriFab hopper is in excellent shape (no tears). The hopper is always suspended a few inches off the ground anyway, so will hold a load regardless. As for as turning goes, I've always made gradual turns when the sweeper is down. When I make sharp turns, I lift it a few inches to lesson any side strain on the wheels. The wheels of the old AgriFab show no wear at the hubs, and I've made may a turn with it.

 

[Zick]

Any reason you went to a craftsman from Agrifab beside the 4 extra inches? Just curious since you said your Agrifab was in excellent shape.
Curious as to hear which one works (pickups) better.

 

[kenjroy1]

The AgriFab did work fine but had a rather small hopper. The Craftsman has a hopper almost twice the size of the other. That means fewer trips to the trash pile. On top of that, my daughter has been wanting one, so I'll pass the AgriFab to her. Good thing I kept the towing hardware for that one. The Craftsman seems to pick up a little better due to the brush rotation being faster, but the AgriFab always did a good job on leaves, grass clippings, and pine needles.

 

[CBW1999]

That s really cool!
Have you had a chance to use it? I'm just curious how the frame will hold up with lots of grass in it- will the frame twist or bend?

I have been pondering some type of grass collecection system for myB7510, this idea certainly has some potential.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I've got a similar Craftsman sweeper, and like it a lot. I'm still using it in tow-behind mode, because backing a trailer has (for some odd reason) never presented a challenge to me. That said, this design has some other benefits. Most notably, crossing areas you don't want swept. I can't cross my gravel drive with my sweeper without getting my clippings (which I compost) full of gravel. I also have to hold the basket up when going from the barn to the yard to keep from filling the basket with gravel and debris from the paths and accesses around the barn.

The wheels are turning....thanks, I think I have a fab project in my immediate future.

 

[kenjroy1]

Go for it. I know just what you mean about the gravel, etc. I've got another idea about sweepers that I would share, but the cost would be higher and involve making one almost from scratch. I don't have all necessory tools and money, though. My dad always told me that it's not a dishonor being poor, but can be unhandy.

 

[kenjroy1]

No problem I know of. These types of sweepers have the hopper hanging from two side arms mounted to the end plates of the body. The weight of the full hopper remains the same, whether you pull it or lift it. As the photo shows, my anchor points (3pt) are at each end, close to the wheels. Even the third link pull is distributed closer to the wheels. I've only used the Craftsman once to test it, but in 5 years of using the old one, I've hit bumps, etc. in the yard that have caused the sweeper to be jolted around a lot, and it continues to hold up. Keep in mind that my BX1500 has a single action rear lift, not double. So there's no danger of pushing down on the sweeper with the 3pt.

 

[Temp97]

You are a genius

 

[kenjroy1]

Thanks, but am far from being that.

 

[dillo99]

Very nice. I had the same idea this fall and rigged mine up temporarily. I don't have pictures but I basically connected the tow point to my 3pt drawbar and then I used a chain to link to the sides of the sweeper. Raising the 3 pt hitch raised the sweeper. I tried the temporary set up to make sure it would work and I was quite pleased. It easily allows for the load to be driven to wherever you want it for dumping.

So this summer I will rig up a permanent approach similar to yours. Thanks again for sharing.

 

[kenjroy1]

You're right. It works quite well. In fact, I used mine yesterday to pick up leaves. Thanks for responding.

 

[actionaj]

Good job. I am thinking of doing something similar with a AgriFab pull behind aerator.

 

[kenjroy1]

That'll work. Like your tractor. Must be brand new or you just waxed it.