Material Collection Systems?

prosperity · May 14, 2003

In my search for more implements (toys) for my JD2210, I'm starting to look at a material collection system. My main purpose will be for picking up leaves in the fall. I would definitely want it to be PTO driven. I've looked at Trac-Vac® and that seems to be the thing I'm looking for. But......can't justify the cost of a brand new one right now. Are there any other manufactures out there that make a similar unit. This will help in my search for a used unit like this.

Pacesetter300 · May 14, 2003

I understand your desire for PTO driven. I have so many small engines that I change the oil and tune up. - Just counted for the heck of it, I have a dozen ! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif HOWEVER, I use this on my Honda tractor and it is fantastic. Twice a year they have a sale and I paid not much over $1k. Worth a look
Pacesetter

http://www.cyclonerake.com/Pages/prodfeat2.html

prosperity · May 15, 2003

Yeah, eliminating all the extra engines is my goal. But......it looks like I'll have an easier time finding an engine type.

Thanks for the cyclone rake link - looks like a nice set up. I ordered the information for it.

DocHeb · May 15, 2003

Although I'm not sure that none of these sites will be of help from a cost prospective, I will submit them for your consideration:

BlueBird International: Nice units, but all powered by separate gas engines. Would be nice to attach to a trailer so you could pull the setup with a tractor or a truck (or even a beefed ATV on level ground). Their two higher models also include shredders with the vacuums.

Cyclone Rake: Smaller unit primarily for lawn tractors.

Giant-Vac: Primarily truck loaders, but gives other product ideas.

I can't recall a PTO driven vacuum - just chippers.

prosperity · May 15, 2003

Thanks for the links DocHeb and everyone. I've found a lot of information.

It looks like I'll be looking around for a used Trac-Vac®. I talked to my JD dealer today and he said he gets them in once in a while.

Although the capacity of the tow behind units is greater, I like the way the Trac-Vac® 662 uses the 2 barrels. I would be using this for contract leaf pick up in smaller yards, so this might be the ticket. Easy for me to load the leaves in my pick-up.

I also ordered the information for the CycloneRake®. The briefly mention on the site about an un-loader that will lift into a truck. Sounds interesting.

Anyway, always looking for new and different ideas.

Anonymous Poster · May 16, 2003

Anyone know approximately what the 662 costs?

prosperity · May 16, 2003

Just searching through the web I found a list of around $1800

OUCH!

Carl_NH · May 16, 2003

I purchased the Trac Vac 580 last fall with the steel tow cart (24Bu) after having looked at the Cyclone Rake, and making my own with a used motor/vac as I have an old cart. Price for the 580 $1670.

Comparison vs Cyclone rake:
- Metal Box vs Nylon - The zipper on the cyclone has been known to clog and makes it hard to unload.
- Unloading Tracvac is simple - back up and tilt pull away.
- Frame - More HD frame on the TracVac not a fold up design but space is not an issue
- Add-ons - The cyclone rake add ons really add to the cost tho they start at $1300 then the other parts, chute, delivery, and misc add up to be equal to the TracVac.

Overall this package has worked great, but the key is to prep the area (blow leaves out of beds and underbrush) before starting the cleanup.

The vac also works on year old wet leaves and acorns (tho makes a heck of a racket).

Spring thatcing of the lawn and then sucking up all the dead grass was a breeze this year..

If you are going job-job the two bucket set up is better tho makes it harder to unload into a truck.

Carl

Anonymous Poster · May 16, 2003

Ouch is right. That was one of the issues I had with the 2210 (no bagger).

I threw around some ideas and did a little research. I used to be pretty good with a welder and fab work. BUT, I don't have a welder or a place to do it right now and my trailer got stolen last week ( /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif), so I'll have to get another one.
You should be able to make your own MCS with a little angle iron, ducting, and a couple of rubbermaid cans (like the trac-vac). You can order the blower from Deere that is on the MCS, but I don't know how much $$. You could easily rig up a pulley system to run the blower or just find a cheap 5 hp motor.

I'm going to try and draw something up and maybe work out the details.

Carl_NH · May 17, 2003

Russell,

This was the exact road I went down.. Callled around looking for a used vac, and found a blower, and some of the brackets pipe and chute - dealer wanted $950, then would need to modify my cart with a HD frame, build a box etc so this was to many $ vs new.

Looked into getting the blower & motor only, $650. Finally found a cheap Toro push vac $300 at a dealer that sells tracvac - bought it with the intent to make the frame and collection box. It ran fine at dealer, got home started right up ran for 10 min. Stopped it to show my 'new' purchase to the better half and it never ran again even with new gas, cleaned plug and after a half hour of this she said 'go back and get what you want'.

So ended up with a new Trac Vac.

Carl

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2003

( tracvac - bought it with the intent to make the frame and collection box. It ran fine at dealer, got home started right up ran for 10 min. Stopped it to show my 'new' purchase to the better half and it never ran again even with new gas, cleaned plug and after a half hour of this she said 'go back and get what you want'.
)

Ahhh, the old "pity ploy" works every time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Not that I think any of us would use this technique on our loving Wives! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2003

I'm not really looking for the used vac. I just want the blower fan and housing. I have (or access to) everything else I'd need except for the top for the cans.

JackIL · May 17, 2003

If all you need is the impeller and housing why not just order them as parts from Trac-Vac or whatever your favorite brand is. I have done that several times on special purpose vac systems I have put together.

JackIL

KAZZ · May 18, 2003

Believe Me -I have a trac vac 1080 and have just used the professional version with the 6.5 hp briggs of the 662 for the first time on my new tc33D and trac vac is not just something you can copy and expect it to perform correctly. I have been using trac vacs for about 10 years. Starting out with the 580,and there is quite a bit of engineering involved in why they perform so well. The 662 I just used yesterday on about 8 inch high grass,it had gotten that high while waiting for the new tractor. It performed flawlessly and the grass was wet and heavy.

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2003

I'm not wanting to copy what they have..however, if they engineered something that works, so can I (I've got to put this degree to use for something /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)

Carl_NH · May 19, 2003

Russell

As mentioned by others buy the impeller, and housing from trac vac or any supplier then put together the rest. When I looked at the cost of the motor/blower $650 I decided to have them build it and save the time and effort. (plus the leaves were falling)

My only recommendation is when you have a 10+ Lb device rotating at 3000 RPM 3-4' from your head you need to insure your engineering is spot on the first time..

Carl

prosperity · May 19, 2003

( The 662 I just used yesterday on about 8 inch high grass,it had gotten that high while waiting for the new tractor. It performed flawlessly and the grass was wet and heavy. )

Hey Kazz -
I've never used a Trac Vac before, but am very interested in their 662 model. If you would, I have a couple questions:

Does the impeller chop anything up as it goes through? I would primarily be using one for fall leaf pick up. Will it chop the leaves enough to pack the containers fairly tight?

Do you have to empty the containers very often? I realize that this depends on the material you are picking up. Just wondering if the systems chops and compacts to some extent.

Thanks -

Anonymous Poster · May 19, 2003

I was planning on having a quite substantial guard over the shafts/pulleys/blower housings which is more than Kubota has.

If I need to get leaves up, I can borrow my dad's LX178. I enjoy fabrication, so it's not a "necessity" as such, just a way to make stuff for the tractor.