Lawn Vac ideas

I swore to myself I would own a tractor lawn vac by now but I still rake n cuss every season. Researching online new Cyclone Rakes, Trac Vacs, DRs, Craftsman etc… too expensive. CL had some results but a 5 y/o $800 Trac Vac 580 will do the job but is just too darn big to store in my garage or shed right now. I only really need to vac grass and leaves from about a quarter acre tops with no separate chipping/ shredding needed at this time.

Anybody ever build their own vac? Several sites have impellers and housings for sale through parts network but they look pretty thin at 11 gauge. One brand was polymer. No knives or flails are needed. I’ve been through the tractor forums, mfg. sites and youtubes for ideas.

I’d plan a minimum 5-6hp horizontal ¾” shaft engine w/ ball bearing pto for power. I could fab a shaft mount impeller from 3/16” steel for durability. EX.: 11” dia. 4 vane impeller = 8.4 lbs, 5 vane = 9.25 lbs. Shop balance on test shaft w/ 2 brg. blocks just to eliminate the heavy spot(s). Fab my own housing. 7” intake hose, 6” discharge. Rigid mount would be too much for my 15hp Husqy tractor. No big trailer either, too much to store, maybe a dolly type. Saw a clamshell collector bin I liked, could use a 20 cubic foot rooftop carrier turned vertical for easy dumping. I can do this work inhouse except for dynamic balancing.

Your experience, thoughts, ideas, .02, do’s/ don’ts?

TIA

My father built one.

He started with a Jackson trailer and added an angle iron frame, aluminum sides, a vent screen and a fabric bag hung by hooks. He mounted a weight box on the back of the tractor and bolted the remains of an old Air Rake to it. He connected everything with flex hoses.

It was a lot of work and wouldn't have been worth it, but he already had the trailer, Air Rake and access to the aluminum. A few years later, he bought a Trac Vac.

I'm sorry, am I missing something? Do you currently use the tractor for cutting your lawn? Get a bagging attachment and call it done?

Maybe even this? http://lawntractorleafbag.com/

1988RedT2 wrote: Maybe even this? http://lawntractorleafbag.com/

Damn... I absolutely NEED one of these.

I have a huge lawn. I switched to mulching blades and never looked back.

Farm Show may have what you are wanting

http://www.farmshow.com/

Woody wrote: I have a huge lawn. I switched to mulching blades and never looked back.

when I had a lawn to cut, mulching blades are the way to go. I used to "cut" the lawn in fall to mulch down the leaves too

I also mulch the grass and leaves here. I can only spend so much time working on the lawn.

Woody wrote: I have a huge lawn. I switched to mulching blades and never looked back.

We tried that and it's been a dismal failure: clumps of clippings, really bad thatching... inconsistant cuts. The deck on the mower we have just doesn't let mulching blades work properly. I'm reattaching the bagging set-up this afternoon, not that I relish the idea of hauling grass clippings to the dump every few weeks again.

Ian F wrote: I'm reattaching the bagging set-up this afternoon, not that I relish the idea of hauling grass clippings to the dump every few weeks again.

What?! That stuff is gold, man! Compost it!

1988RedT2 wrote: I'm sorry, am I missing something? Do you currently use the tractor for cutting your lawn? Get a bagging attachment and call it done? Maybe even this? http://lawntractorleafbag.com/

I was never a fan of baggers although I only used the push mower type before. That tractor leaf bagger looks promising, i'll look into it further. Thnx

fasted58 wrote: I was never a fan of baggers although I only used the push mower type before. That tractor leaf bagger looks promising, i'll look into it further. Thnx

Another post turns into an attack on the 'baggers. Seriously though if you have the space compost it for your gardens or neighbors it you have one into gardening.

In reply to Wally:

I have plenty of room out back to compost. My grandfather would compost everything in a pit... clippings, leaves, table scraps etc. then cover w/ dirt and age to perfection. I swear he grew the best tomatoes in the county.

For mulching mowers to work well, you really need to mow your yard at least once a week, sometimes twice a week in optimal growing weather.

I just mulch, and rarely have any thatch left over. Of course on 1/5 acre and a decent sized pushmower, I look at it as some nice fresh air, not a major chore.

My lawn sweeper works great on leaves and grass clippings.