Vacuum pickup mower deck conversion - which one of you did it?

[MossRoad]

I recall many years ago one of us Power Trac owners closed off the rear of a PT finish mower deck and put a tube across the back of it to attempt to hook it to a collection system. Anyone else recall that? Anyone remember who did it? Anyone still have that deck? Can't recall who did that.

I also remember some experimentation with an articulating deck being modified for a PT. Anyone??? :confused3:

 

[johara1]

MR. , I think you forgot to take your meds…….. lol…….jim

 

[MossRoad]

 

[MossRoad]

No, someone did it. As I recall, they blocked off the back of the deck and cut a strip all the way across the top at the rear of the deck. Then they put on a large diameter pipe over the slot and then they put a large diameter suction hose to the pipe, ran it over the ROPS and back to a cart behind the PT.

 

[MossRoad]

As for the articulated mower deck....

Bob999 had a 72" Lastec articulated mower on a PT1845 in 2011. I think someone else had one before him back in 2003, but that username has been wiped to anonymous.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a thread with pictures of the Bob999's Lastec deck.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/146146-pictures.html

 

[boggen]

is there room between front of the PT and the mower deck to mount a "blower"?

so you could go directly from
deck ->
"custom chut" ->
pipe ->
blower ->
long pipe ->
grass catcher being pulled behind the PT

=============
cut hole in top of deck. attach blower to hole. and block off back of deck. other words blower just sucks all the crud up and sends it through a pipe back to the grass catcher.

*shrugs*

 

[MossRoad]

Now back to the hunt for the grass bagger finish mower!!!! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

He shoots! He SCORES!!!

It was Edward_DiMaria back in 2003 and it went out the left side, not the right. Cyclone rake behind the PT.

 

[MossRoad]

Ed had a backhoe on his PT425, too.

 

[MossRoad]

He added a full-width roller to the 60" finish mower for striping.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a sneak peak at the collection tube on his mower deck. The main subject of the photo is a motor to power a lawn slicer he made...

 

[MossRoad]

Here's the pickup tube laying in front of a core aerator...

 

[MossRoad]

Jackpot!

 

[MossRoad]

Looking for more pictures of the rear of the deck. Can't find them, though.

 

[MossRoad]

WAIT! Looking again at this picture of the deck, I can see a cover bolted in place where the pickup tube boot goes when in use.

 

[PTBill]

Hi MossRoad,

Really enjoyed seeing this solution. Someone has some real talent. I was wondering if anyone has tried to mount a trail mower with an engine like the one in the link below to the same mounting structure as the current 60" mower. I was hoping to find a solution to some of the current PT mower's flaws - at least flaws for my application:

1) Rear wheels leaving marks because they don't rotate...
I have seen images of some trail mowers with 4 caster type wheels - not the one in the link however.
2) No side discharge or mulch mower
This mower has side discharge and perhaps a chute blocker for mulching. Side discharge might make it much easier to fit some type of bagger to a ready built solution
3) Power loss while mowing uphill and engine overheating.
Separate engine would provide power.

I'm guessing the PT425 would probably crush the deck.


Bill

Swisher Finish Cut Tow-Behind Mower with Electric Start — 500cc Briggs & Stratton Powerbuilt Engine, 60in. Deck, Model# FC14560BS | Trail Mowers| Northern Tool + Equipment