3-Point Hitch Trac Vac

[warcloud]

i have 54"mm mower on my BX2360. Would like to know if anyone has a track vac 662 (made by Trac-Vac) 3 point hitch grass catcher. is it a permanment mount?. i'm looking for a vac grass catcher that can be removed quickly so i can use other equiptment

 

[Knight9]

Sorry, I don't know much about Trac Vac, but I've been eyeing the Cyclone Rake for a few years. It looks to be very easy to remove and reasonably priced.

Just can't bring myself to spend the money, so I keep using the Manual Rake. :laughing:​

 

[SPYDERLK]

No direct experience with that model. I have one of their pull behind cart models that picks up from my 54" mmm discharge. Mine has an 8HP engine and I dont consider it super adequate -- sometimes clogs even tho Im only feeding it with a mower driven by a BX1500. I wouldnt want less than 8HP scavenging an 8" suction hose. The cart setup is good for me doing leaves. Dumps and clears well. Damp grass is sticky and harder to get to slide out on its own.
larry

 

[zzvyb6]

I have a Trac-Vac equivalent from Woods. I use it either with my F935 or my 1070 MMM. The sucker power is not the main drawback but the hose size is. I convered the discharge and inlet hoses to 12" and it sucks up bricks with 5.0 hp. The trailer screen is also a limiting factor. If it gets clogged, the inlet vacuum is affected.

 

[Jabroni]

I ran a Cyclone Rake for a number of years. Note past tense. While it definitely did the job, it was ....... clumsy, I guess. It was big, and when it's physically attached to the rear of the tractor, the rear swung way out in the corners. Great care had to be taken to prevent tearing a piece of siding off the house, knocking shrubbery over, or wiping the mailbox off it's post. But it definitely vacuumed and did the best job of mulching leaves and clippings. The stuff was ready to use the following season. I also found that although it folds up and hangs on the garage wall, it's one of those pieces of equipment that is better left assembled and ready to attach to the tractor. Putting it together and folding it up each week during mowing and leaf collecting season was just a pain in the azz. I sold it to a fellow colleague who had high hopes just as I did when I brought it back from the New Haven, CT factory several years before.

Personally, I prefer the Kubota grass collector to the 'Rake. It's just that the bags blow for collecting leaves; totally inadequate size wise.
.

 

[snpower]

Call Palmor Products. Some info on their site at http://www.trac-vac.com/

They have always been helpful to me. I have a 580 that I got with my JD X300 which I now use with my 2360.

 

[Wolfwise]

I have a Kubota BX25 and am looking at both the Trac Vac and the Cyclone Rake. I have the 3 bagger PTO system for the tractor but find it lacking power and a pain to set up alone, took me over an hour with a jack to get it hooked up.
My Kubota dealer wants to sell me a Trac Vac 880, 8 HP at over $3000.00 Cdn. and the 1080 model with 11 HP blower is over $4000.00 Cdn.
The Cyclone Vac Z10, 10 HP blower with 10" hose is less than $2000.00 I know accessories and upgraded hoses are going to add to the price plus shipping but all the forums I have read everyone loves their Cyclone Rake unless they bought one under powered for their needs or the small cart ones.
Anyone care to add their 2 cents. Looking for input as well

 

[don white]

I know this is not much help but I just sold a trac vac last month. It was my fathers and they are a good machine.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I like my 880 Trac Vac but have no experience with the Cyclone. I use mine for leaves mostly on my BX1500 w 54"MMM. The cart self dumps very well with leaves. You need robust vacuum to prevent clogs. With your bigger mower I would go with the 11HP unit. Keep the cart under cover when stored and I dont think youll ever have any trouble. Mine is 6 yrs old w/o any problem.
larry

 

[rlsmith]

Dad has an old Trac Vac and only problem we had was with the B&S motor. We like the trailer part of the Trac Vac. We have no problem getting around and up and down slops and soft areas because the 2 wheel cart, ridged frame with wide wheels has done us well doing 4 acres. Our unit I think is getting close to 20 years old.

 

[CHDinCT]

Have had a CR since 2004 and never a problem. I've used it with my BX, though I originally bought it for use with a garden tractor, and it's worked fine. Mine is old and has a 7" hose, but now the larger versions are 8" or 10" on the Z10 I believe. It's a quality made product and customer service is outstanding. In my opinion, you get more for your money with CR vs Trac Vac since you purchase directly from the mfg. No middleman to take a cut. Plus if space is an issue, the CR folds up and hangs on the wall (except for the engine of course).

 

[tpflyer]

I have a cyclone rake on my 60" deck on my 2920 and it works pretty well. If you have the deck low enough it will pick up acorns. It takes me about 4-5 minutes to hook it up. I bought a second draw bar to keep permanently attached to the hitch. I had a BX 22 with the Kubota bagger and it worked pretty well just didn't have the capacity I needed.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I have a Kubota BX25 and am looking at both the Trac Vac and the Cyclone Rake. I have the 3 bagger PTO system for the tractor but find it lacking power and a pain to set up alone, took me over an hour with a jack to get it hooked up.
My Kubota dealer wants to sell me a Trac Vac 880, 8 HP at over $3000.00 Cdn. and the 1080 model with 11 HP blower is over $4000.00 Cdn.
The Cyclone Vac Z10, 10 HP blower with 10" hose is less than $2000.00 I know accessories and upgraded hoses are going to add to the price plus shipping but all the forums I have read everyone loves their Cyclone Rake unless they bought one under powered for their needs or the small cart ones.
Anyone care to add their 2 cents. Looking for input as well

That's funny. We just went through this with our BX25. We were comparing the Trac Vac and the Cyclone Rake. After comparing them, we felt the Cyclone Rake would be a better fit. More options, lower base price, rigid frame, longer vacuum hose, bigger diameter hose, fold-up frame, and plenty of good reviews. :thumbsup:

Ours is being delivered tomorrow!

 

[rgevans871]

I have an 880 Trac Vac which must be going on 15 years old that I bought after my Father in Law was finished with it. The blower housing is dented quite bad from stones being picked up an passing throuh it, but it still does a good job on leaves. I do plug it on occasion if going thru heavy leaves too fast and the leaves don't always come out when the trailer is tilted if they're somewhat damp. I have had some problem with the carburator, but have always managed to get it going. If the carb. is going to give me a problem it's after setting all year and once I work though it, then it runs fine.

I'd not hesitate getting another one if neccessary.

Ron.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have an 880 Trac Vac which must be going on 15 years old that I bought after my Father in Law was finished with it. The blower housing is dented quite bad from stones being picked up an passing throuh it, but it still does a good job on leaves. I do plug it on occasion if going thru heavy leaves too fast and the leaves don't always come out when the trailer is tilted if they're somewhat damp. I have had some problem with the carburator, but have always managed to get it going. If the carb. is going to give me a problem it's after setting all year and once I work though it, then it runs fine.
I'd not hesitate getting another one if neccessary.

Ron.

Run the carb empty for storage. It helps.
larry

 

[freddyr]

i have bin around trc vacs all my life and with one now for 25 yrs, rolled it , hit trees and just about everything else and it keeps on working! no canvas to tear.:thumbsup:

 

[snpower]

A little off topic but...

Last year I ingested a big rock with my 580. Bent two turbine blades. As an entire new part was $150.00, I had the local auto shop bend/weld the existing turbine assembly. It's noisier now and has more vibration; I am hoping that there isn't a huge risk of doing damage to the engine? When I can afford it I do want to get a new assembly.

 

[CHDinCT]

snpower, I had a similar situation with my mower deck power vac bagger that uses a metal impeller. After 15 years or so, I had to take it apart it was so bent, and after trying to bend it back in shape myself, gave up and brought it to a machine shop. They straightened it out and balanced it pretty good for about $60. Of course it's belt driven so no added vibration makes it to the PTO.

On the other hand, my Cyclone Rake turbine blades look just like they did when I bought it 7 years ago except they're a lot dirtier. The CR blade is a high tech polymer that is rigid yet can bend when impacted by a solid object like a rock. I do think a metal blade might be a little better a shredding, but the metal ones will eventually bend up and have to be repaired or replaced.

 

[Redbuggy]

Warcloud .. I don't know if you have taken the plunge yet or not. I have had the CR XL w/the dual wheel option since the summer of '09. Have used it on my 3 acres with lots of Oaks without any problems. To remove the equipment you pull two pins, and unscrew two knobs from the deck - no tools. I don't know what we would do with these leaves without it.

 

[cubowner]

I currently own a cyclone rake it is about 8 years old and LOVE IT! I even used it commericially for multiple lawns so it has seen a lot of use. Now I do not even hook it up to any mower deck I just blow the leaves in to a pile and suck them up like a comericial leaf loader. The end of last year I sucked up a large rock and broke my housing it made a hole the size of a softball in the housing. I thought I was going to have to buy a new cyclone rake setup which would be expensive replacement. Since I live in CT I went to the Manufactuer and explained what happened and the came back with a price if $130 for the replacement of the housing and a new blade. Any time I have had any Issues / questions the manufactuer is always there to lend a hand. I was shocked the manufactuer said why replace something for $2000 when you can repair it for $130 and have it be as good as new. I would buy a cyclone rake again and have even talked other family members and neighbors in to buying the units.