Lawn sweeper?

IMCA38 · Oct 3, 2006

Yesterday, I ventured to an auction to check out a "Jacobsen 5' 3pt PTO lawn sweeper". I couldn't get in touch with the seller to get any additional information, and I wasn't able to find anything on the net with that limited description.
I got to the auction and was severely disappointed in it's condition. It had certainly seen better days. Nonetheless, I still gave serious consideration to trying to buy it (cheap) and making it my winter project. I could fill the rest of this post with all of the items I saw that needed work. In the end, it was fear of the unknown (gear box, shafts, sprockets, chains, bearings, etc.) that chased me away.
However, I did see a faded "720" on the hopper and a yahoo search confirms that to be the model number. With that, I was actually able to find a couple for sale at different turf equipment dealers.
I have attached a pic of one of the units I found for sale. This unit appears to have had the right drive shaft and front cutter bar removed, but overall, is in much better shape than the auction unit.
After seeing this machine, I'm now very interested in trying to find one. My front yard grass grows as if it's on steroids (even though I don't water or fertilize it!) and I have massive amounts of clippings strewn about all the time.
To this end, I have a few questions for the TBN brain trust:
Has anyone ever used or owned one of these?
How well do they work?
Can you still get vital parts for them?
How much tractor is required to operate one?
I have seen pull type units with auxillary motors, but I think the PTO would be easier.
Thanks
Todd

schmism · Oct 3, 2006

so for this thing to work... you need a rear discharge MMM? or are you supposed to hook this thing up after you have mowed and run over your entire lawn again?

deereman64 · Oct 3, 2006

Lawn clippings have been a real problem for me this year. I finally ended up buying a 42 inch sweeper. I found the best way was to bring all the clippings to a central spot and not empty the carrier in situ when it was full.It meant a few more trips across the field but it did mean I could then use the FEL to push the clippings en masse into a pile.

Judging by your picture,though, your scale of problem is much greater

Farmwithjunk · Oct 3, 2006

IMCA38 said:
Yesterday, I ventured to an auction to check out a "Jacobsen 5' 3pt PTO lawn sweeper". I couldn't get in touch with the seller to get any additional information, and I wasn't able to find anything on the net with that limited description.
I got to the auction and was severely disappointed in it's condition. It had certainly seen better days. Nonetheless, I still gave serious consideration to trying to buy it (cheap) and making it my winter project. I could fill the rest of this post with all of the items I saw that needed work. In the end, it was fear of the unknown (gear box, shafts, sprockets, chains, bearings, etc.) that chased me away.
However, I did see a faded "720" on the hopper and a yahoo search confirms that to be the model number. With that, I was actually able to find a couple for sale at different turf equipment dealers.
I have attached a pic of one of the units I found for sale. This unit appears to have had the right drive shaft and front cutter bar removed, but overall, is in much better shape than the auction unit.
After seeing this machine, I'm now very interested in trying to find one. My front yard grass grows as if it's on steroids (even though I don't water or fertilize it!) and I have massive amounts of clippings strewn about all the time.
To this end, I have a few questions for the TBN brain trust:
Has anyone ever used or owned one of these?
How well do they work?
Can you still get vital parts for them?
How much tractor is required to operate one?
I have seen pull type units with auxillary motors, but I think the PTO would be easier.
Thanks
Todd

I bought a well worn one a few years back. I had plans of fixing it to clean up leaves with. The one I had used a Wisconsin motor mounted on the sweeper to power itself. Seems like it was 14 HP. At that point, parts were still available.

Then a storm blew a tree over on top of it.

I've seen a few still in use. They'll pick up leaves, sticks, grass, and even straw mulch off of new lawns. I wish mine would have survived.

IMCA38 · Oct 4, 2006

Yes, I do have a huge problem with clippings this year moreso than in the past. I had hoped to take a photo to share, but didn't get home before dark tonight. It seems to just get worse and worse. I really think 1 or 2 times a year with something like this would probably make a great difference.
I mow with a RFM, so I'd be looking at a second pass with the sweeper. No big deal if it does a good job cleaning things up. My biggest worry would be the mountain of clipping I'd gather up!

deereman64 · Oct 4, 2006

Relatives from the UK stayed with us over the weekend and they are big into composting. It seems the trick is to generate heat within the pile which you cant do with an open pile. The trouble is how do you construct something that is big enough without a) costing a small fortune and b) looking as ugly as sin

Farmwithjunk · Oct 4, 2006

deereman64 said:
Relatives from the UK stayed with us over the weekend and they are big into composting. It seems the trick is to generate heat within the pile which you cant do with an open pile. The trouble is how do you construct something that is big enough without a) costing a small fortune and b) looking as ugly as sin

I made my compost bin with dry-stacked concrete blocks. It's hid away behind the shop, so looks aren't so critical. It's 10' wide, 8' front to back, and 5' tall. Front is open, save 2 courses of block on the bottom. It's almost impossible to get it filled if done correctly. A good working compost pile will rot away about as fast as you can throw stuff in it. I put 3 or 4 loader buckets of horse manure a year in mine, in addition to lawn waste, garden scrap, and some goodies from the kitchen. Also throw a bit of dirt in for "filler". We use the product in the garden.

schmism · Oct 4, 2006

ive seen compost piles built out of pallets... one on each side with an open top... helps hide the pile but also alows some air movement.

with watering you should be able to compost a 4x4x4 pile in a month... 2 tops. having a couple of working piles helps.

oliver28472 · Oct 4, 2006

I use t-posts with hardware cloth wired to it. It's about 4 by 7'. I don't have a fel so I turn it with a pitch fork. Just moved it to a different location so I could use the old location for a hammock.

sandman2234 · Oct 4, 2006

I recently purchased a used Giant Vac lawn vac. It has a large bin, with a rear opening door. A gasoline motor turns the blower, which sucks leaves, clippings, sticks, pine cones, and most anything not nailed down. It is pulled by a riding mower, so unless your's is rear discharge, you going to have to do it twice. However, I tend to try to mow in a path that continually throws the discharge in one direction, towards the middle of a large square. When I finally get to the middle, I have cut the same clippings many times over, and they are easy to hit one pass with the vac, and I am done. That way I don't have to do the whole yard. If too much is being piled up, I just start a new path and a new pile. It does a great job, so now I don't use the blower on the pto of the Steiner much any more. I also have another blower bought at the same time as the vac, same name brand also, that will be seeing ebay before long.
David from jax

The hopper looks similar to the one on this vac on the Giant Vac unit.

eBay: Used Leaf Vac-GoossenCommercial/Residential Estate Vac (item 260036746204 end time Oct-06-06 10:28:34 PDT)

oliver28472 · Oct 6, 2006

I just saw a brand new one of those Harper Goosen vacs when I went to lunch. They are built for the golf course and sports field folks. Would be nice to have but pricey for most residential use.

sandman2234 · Oct 9, 2006

"Would be nice to have but pricey for most residential use."

And just which one of our toys isn't??? I really need to find a less expensive toy that is still fun to play/work with!
David from jax

oliver28472 · Oct 12, 2006

I don't know how much it was but if I replaced my tractor with the same size new tractor, any brand, this thing would probably cost more than the tractor. On top of that I would have to get a bigger tractor to pull it. And yes I would like to have the new bigger tractor and the big sweeper!

elalexander · Oct 12, 2006

I bought a "Cyclone Rake" three years ago mostly for all of the leaves I have to deal with. It folds flat and can be stored on a wall. Several yard vacs I looked at had a hard plastic container and would be a storeage problem for me. I pull it with a craftsman riding mower. Not sure if it could be hooked to a tractor. A leaf sucking machine for sure, and holds 200 gallons. Also, before I got a three bin bagger for the riding mower I used it when mowing grass........does an excellent job.

Nuru · Oct 14, 2006

elalexander said:
I bought a "Cyclone Rake" three years ago mostly for all of the leaves I have to deal with. It folds flat and can be stored on a wall. Several yard vacs I looked at had a hard plastic container and would be a storeage problem for me. I pull it with a craftsman riding mower. Not sure if it could be hooked to a tractor. A leaf sucking machine for sure, and holds 200 gallons. Also, before I got a three bin bagger for the riding mower I used it when mowing grass........does an excellent job.

Yep, they make an atttachment for my JD 4100. i am still contemlating getting one. I just do not like the idea of nursing a separate gas motor from my diesel.

Nuru · Oct 14, 2006

Nuru said:
Yep, they make an atttachment for my JD 4100. i am still contemplating getting one. I just do not like the idea of nursing a separate gas motor from my diesel.

make that contemplating!

elalexander · Oct 14, 2006

It is another engine to maintain, and it increases the noise and heat on you while sucking up leaves. But.it sure bets raking, blowing etc. When leaves are dry the impeller mulches them up really fine too. If you compost anything that is a big plus. Pricey yes but I'm happy with it.

TooMany · Mar 16, 2014

IMCA38 said:
To this end, I have a few questions for the TBN brain trust:
Has anyone ever used or owned one of these?
How well do they work?
Can you still get vital parts for them?
How much tractor is required to operate one?
I have seen pull type units with auxillary motors, but I think the PTO would be easier.
Thanks
Todd

Not sure how this reply thing works, but here goes my first try. I just bought a Jacobsen 720 PTO sweeper and tried it out yesterday. Ran it behind my 33 hp Kubota tractor and it was plenty of tractor even though this is a large sweeper. I have a huge problem with leaves and sticks and tree debris. My twenty minute test of this unit suggests it's going to be a huge help. It sweeps with little rubber "fingers" that are spaced apart from each other and driven by the PTO. It swept up small sticks and leaves very nicely and nothing got stuck in the fingers. It did tear up some of my damp and soft grass (recent snows) so I now know not to run it on damp ground.

Your questions...

How well does it work? I'd say quite well and it followed very well too. Did tear up some wet grass and I'm going to have to learn a pattern for using it in other than a test run.

Can you get parts? I don't know, but I sure hope so. For me, that remains to be seen.

How much tractor do you need? It worked well on my L3300 Kubota. Power was no issue, but the large size of the sweeper suggests to me that a much smaller tractor may not work as well.

Hope this helps. Now, if anyone knows about the parts issue, I'd love to hear about it.