Lawn sweepers?

[oscer]

Hi fellas, I have a row of chestnut trees in the back yard and although I like having them there for the wildlife the reall leave a mess ever fall. so I was planning on buying a lawn sweeper this year but after looking at them they all seem to be made pretty cheaply. I did a search and read some threads some folks seemed to like the brinlys but when I looked at one at Home Depot I thought it looked just as cheaply made as the Agri Fab I had seen at tSC. I think the Craftsman looks to be the most well built of any I have seen but I was wondering if I could get some feed back from you folks? Thanks oscer.

 

[Steave]

I bought a 42" from Sears after looking around. As you said it just looked as good or better than most sweepers in that range.

I've had mine for 8 years now. It don't see heavy use but has worked fine with no issues. It dumps from your seat with a rope, works well enough.

Sears had 2 styles in the 42" range one a 5 : 1 ratio and I bought the 8.5 : 1. A friend of mine worked at Sears at the time and told me there's a big difference in the faster turning brushes and not a big difference in the price.

I have to admit I don't shop Sears as much as I used to for several reasons but have been more than pleased with the sweeper. Good luck to you.

 

[wolc123]

I have used a Craftsman for about the last 15 years and it has not given me any trouble. I even ran it over once with my old Allis Chalmers model C when I cranked it while it was in gear. After straightening out a few bends, that sweeper has worked like the day it was new. I got it a garage sale, for about $25 I think. I remember that it did not work very good at first, but after I adjusted the height, it worked much better. What I usually do is hook it to my Wheelhorse, 12 hp gear tractor and put the tractor in the highest gear. I bush-hog an area out back of my lawn and I just keep making rounds from the trees up front to the bush-hogged area out back. It is nice to be able to just pull the rope to dump the load without even slowing down. I use a Farmall cub with a light snowplow to push those leaves into a pile back on the "rough". I dump my wood ashes onto that pile over the winter, which makes a nice compost to spread on the garden in the spring. I am looking forward to the leaves this Fall, they are already starting to fall in a few areas.

 

[oscer]

Thanks for responding Steave, I think a read that someone had trouble with the high gear ratio, that when they pulled it it would skid instead of turning the wheels. It doesn't sound like that's an issue with yours and 8 years of service sounds real encouraging. oscer.

 

[Steave]

I suppose if you set the brushes down into the grass very deep it might cause it to slide the wheels but that would happen with any of them. I've never had that issue with mine. Works great.

If I let the grass get to high and have to use the sweeper I usually wait till the next day to sweep. The grass dries and not near as many trips for dumping. Also better dry for the mulch pile. If you pile grass while green it will mildew. As for the leaves get um when they fall.

I'm not sure why it has such a large hopper because it seems to only fill about half full maybe a little more before it needs dumping. I've talked to people with different brands and its the same. It will keep picking up till full but does better to dump often.

 

[Nik]

I bought a 42" lawn sweeper from countrylawn-garden.com and have had it for 3 to 4 years. No problems with it. I have towed this behind my Kubota B3030 and it appears well built and has served me well.

 

[oscer]

Wolc123, I didn't see your reply earlier, thanks, hey I ran over my 031 Stihl chainsaw a few years ago bent the top handle bar all to... I stuck a digging iron in the ground through the handle bar and used it for leverage to straighten it back out , then went back to work. I still have that old Stihl too.

 

[oscer]

I bought a 42" lawn sweeper from countrylawn-garden.com and have had it for 3 to 4 years. No problems with it. I have towed this behind my Kubota B3030 and it appears well built and has served me well.

Nik, do you know who made it? There's one at the local Tractor Supply made by Ohio Steel ( I doubt it is in Ohio though, Kinda like Pittsburg Tool, they are made along way from Pittsburg ) but they don't have one put together for a display so I don't know what it is like.

 

[jimmpatrick]

I bought a 48" one from Northern Tool. It worked very well, but in less than 2 years the metal cog on the brush spindle completely stripped the plastic gear on the wheels. Perhaps I was running it on ground that was too rough, but it seems bad design anyway.

 

[amigauser]

These seem to be heaviest duty pull behind that I have found. They are $$$ though.

Wikco Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper

 

[TripleR]

We really like our Craftsman, but are only on our third year; seems like it will last well though.

 

[oscer]

These seem to be heaviest duty pull behind that I have found. They are $$$ though.

Wikco Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper

That may be the brand I saw a few years ago I cant remember where I saw it though, it had cast iron gears instead of the plastic ones used by the less expensive brands. The cost was $900+ back then. I can't justify that kind of price and thanks to all the thumbs up replies about the sears model, that's the way I'm going. Thanks again to all who posted. oscer.

 

[bjr]

I got the 42" Agrifab. I would not recommend it. It skips a lot of lawn clippings. No matter where I set the roller bar adjustment. I'm gonna try something else some day, cause I'm plumb wore out getting on and off the mower to adjust the setting. bjr

 

[Nik]

I can't find my manual but I think it is made by Ohio Steel.

 

[Bill 55]

I've used a 42" Craftsman for about 7 years without a problem. It sees a lot of use early in the spring when the grass grows fast. I mow almost 5 acres and it is hard to keep up with it.

 

[oscer]

I can't find my manual but I think it is made by Ohio Steel.

They have one made by Ohio Steel at Tractor supply but I didn't open the box to look at it.

 

[oscer]

Hi fellas, I went and bought a Sears sweeper but when I got it home it was not the same as the display model. I called them up and the guy said he would swap it for the one on display. Just wanted to let folks know the store owner didn't even know that Sears had changed them apparently it had the same number.

 

[nap61]

I bought a 42" model from Sear about 18 months ago. It works very well. The main body of the sweeper seems to be heavy duty but the bag assembly is light weight. I filled it to the top and when I dumped it, the side bar (thin tubular metal) bent and after a while, it broke. You cannot let the bag get too heavy. I would buy another one.

Norm

 

[Steave]

Hi fellas, I went and bought a Sears sweeper but when I got it home it was not the same as the display model. I called them up and the guy said he would swap it for the one on display. Just wanted to let folks know the store owner didn't even know that Sears had changed them apparently it had the same number.

If you get the one on display you miss out on the fun of putting it together. Good thing your gonna miss it.

Hope you have good luck with it. I remember the days when the staff at department stores worked on commission and most knew the products they were selling. Not sure how it works now but I can tell things sure have changed.

My Craftsman 42" has been good so far. As nap61 says the bag is a little cheesy but so far adequate.

 

[amigauser]

I just got a deal on a Smyth 52TB sweeper Found it on the local Craigslist. I wrote to the maker in Canada and this particular model is now discontinued but sold for over $4500 new. I got it for $600 delivered. I guess we all get lucky every now and then. I just need to lube it up and makeup a power cable for the electric dump option.

Sweepers | Smyth Welding
www.thymesquare.ca/clients/smyth/pdf/sweeper_52TB_ag.pdf
http://www.thymesquare.ca/clients/smyth/video/52TB Sweeper.rm