Buying Advice B2320 Grass/Leaf Vac advice

TractorMAC · Sep 30, 2008

Hi I am new to posting but have been lurking since spring. This place is great thanks to everyone who has posted, I have learn a lot here and now maybe will be able to contribute as well.

After reading this forum since March 2008 I just signed up today. I am waiting on the arrival of my Kubota 2320 with FEL and 60" MMM. We have 12 acres of land (2 ac lawn, 3 ac ballfields for the kids and 2 ac of steep sledding hill, the rest wooded).
We also have many maple trees, which are shedding huge amounts of leaves. I am looking at Leaf Vacs. My prior experience with baggers, along with comments on threads here have me convinced that a large trailer vac is the way to go. I also need to be cost consciensous after spending more than I originally anticipated on a B vs the BX, again thanks to comments here on helping me purchase the right size, bigger than I thought.

I have been looking at the Agri-Fab Hard Top Mow-N-Vac Lawn Vacuum for around $999. The concern is the specifications say it will handle decks up to 54 inch width of cut. My MMM will be 60". Does anyone have any experience with this vac on B series Kubota with a 60 MMM?
Thanks
TractorMAC

OrangeGuy · Sep 30, 2008

I used an Agri-Fab trailer vacuum behind my Kubota F2260 with 60" mower for years. Both worked well. However, I did have to purchase a different mower to vacuum connector as the Agri-Fab plastic one was not deep enough to give great results. I can't remember the brand I purchased but it was from the Kubota dealer.

OrangeGuy

hagman · Sep 30, 2008

I purchased a used trac vac 880 about a year ago. I have been very impressed with it's performance and would buy another in an instant. There are always some on Ebay and usually go under the $1000 mark. You might want to check there and elsewhere. Most of the vac systems are so simple there is not a lot to go wrong other than the impeller or motor. Both of which won't break you to replace if needed.

Hagman

CHDinCT · Sep 30, 2008

No specific advice for you but I've run a cyclone rake behind my wheel horse and have been very impressed with the quality of the machine except for the Tecumseh engine, but they have changed over to Briggs Vanguard engines. The material, hardware, fit and finish were top notch. Haven't modified it yet to fit the BX.

redharley · Sep 30, 2008

I run a trac-vac behind my BX2230 and it does all I ask for sure.Even when the leaves are damp, sucks them right up.Check auction site's as mentioned before used price's but leaf season is almost here, used price's will rise for sure.Buy the best you can afford your seldom disappointed.Trac-vac or cyclone rake in my opinion both make top notch machines.

actionaj · Oct 1, 2008

I have a Cyclone Rake bought 4 years ago. Never had a problem with it well engineered machine. Only complaint is it is loud and dusty but thats the nature of the beast. I hope to adapt it to my 2350 deck soon all I need is the boot.

Gator6x4 · Oct 1, 2008

When looking at the units look at the materials hose size. The units with an eight inch materials hose works better with the large decks.

Charlton John · Oct 1, 2008

Welcome TractorMac, Good Luck w/ the new tractor! I have a 2620 and love it!

BrierPatch · Oct 1, 2008

I have to say it is that time of year. There is another thread just started tonight under the owning/operating forum. I am curious what everybody has to say about this. I am leaning towards a trac-vac 3pt pto driven model, one less motor to maintain that will sit unused alot. I hadn't really considered the seperat motor option, but now will keep it in mind. Glad to here the 880 worked great. Trac-Vac's are made about 45 min. from where I live. I have heard of people getting a discount for having it shipped direct and assembling it themselves. They are expensive new.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/129905-3-pt-hitch-lawn-leaf.html

SPYDERLK · Oct 1, 2008

jbrier said:
I have to say it is that time of year. There is another thread just started tonight under the owning/operating forum. I am curious what everybody has to say about this. I am leaning towards a trac-vac 3pt pto driven model, one less motor to maintain that will sit unused alot. I hadn't really considered the seperat motor option, but now will keep it in mind. Glad to here the 880 worked great. Trac-Vac's are made about 45 min. from where I live. I have heard of people getting a discount for having it shipped direct and assembling it themselves. They are expensive new.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/129905-3-pt-hitch-lawn-leaf.html

A vacuum big enuf for a 60" mower will use 10 PTO HP. You may turn out to be pushing the max with mowing towing and running the vac. If the engine bogs down at all you lose some suction and are more prone to clogging.
larry

BrierPatch · Oct 2, 2008

Good point about the pto hp, hadn't thought about that. I would like to think that the 2620 could handle both, but it may be about all it would want. I figure my old B7200 is only 17 hp and runs the same size 60" deck with no problem and the B2620 is 26 hp, which gives me roughly 9hp gross more.

Would like to know if anyone has a 3pt pto driven leaf vac and how much load it is on the tractor running the mower deck?

CHDinCT · Oct 2, 2008

How much does the trac-vac 3PH PTO driven unit run? I'd have considered it had I had my BX when I was looking for a vac trailer. I do like the fact you have one less engine to maintain. I would also think they'd be more affordable given they don't require a separate engine.

BrierPatch · Oct 2, 2008

I talked to my dealer yesterday and got a rough number of about $2500. The 2 to 1 gear box replaces the engine. Not sure what the cost diff is. They say it requires 13.5 pto hp.

Here is the website for trac-vac. They make a model specific for the BX.

Trac-Vac Product List

CHDinCT · Oct 2, 2008

jbrier said:
I talked to my dealer yesterday and got a rough number of about $2500. The 2 to 1 gear box replaces the engine. Not sure what the cost diff is.

Here is the website for trac-vac. They make a model specific for the BX.

Trac-Vac Product List

Thanks. Seems high considering there's no engine, just the reduction gear, which I would think would be required with a separate engine anyway. I think you can get a top of the line Cyclone Rake for $1,700 with a 9hp Briggs Vanguard. Order a Cyclone Rake leaf and lawn vacuum. I did pickup the 3PH adapter for the CR. Will probably order a new boot and boot to engine suction tube so I can hook it up to the BX.

SPYDERLK · Oct 3, 2008

CHDinCT said:
Thanks. Seems high considering there's no engine, just the reduction gear, which I would think would be required with a separate engine anyway. I think you can get a top of the line Cyclone Rake for $1,700 with a 9hp Briggs Vanguard. Order a Cyclone Rake leaf and lawn vacuum. I did pickup the 3PH adapter for the CR. Will probably order a new boot and boot to engine suction tube so I can hook it up to the BX.

That 2 to 1 is a speed increaser and I dont see how that is enuf increase unless it uses a special vacuum rotor. My tracvac has an 8hp engine turning the rotor at direct drive speed of around 3600 RPM, and pulling thru an 8" hose from a 54" deck on a BX1500. It works well, but thick leaves can use all the HP of tractor and Vac.

That $2500 price is not so bad considering. Engines are cheap to bulk buyers. A gearbox and pto is more of a special setup and if the rotor is special too thats $. For PTO use also consider limitations of kinking the u-joints in sharp turns. Edit--- OH, I see! The Vac is tractor mounted and system uses gearbox and belt ratios to raise RPM to 3800. Tractor mounting assembly adds $ too. I bet Engine driven is same or less. Iv had NO trouble with mine in 4 seasons and it just sits all summer.
larry

milkman · Oct 3, 2008

I have the Kubota PTO vac for my BX2200 and it does a good job, I doubt it takes 13.5hp to run, that wouldn't leave enough to run the 60" deck.

Maxfli · Oct 6, 2008

Bought a used Trac Vac 860 PTO for my JD2210, Works very well.

TractorMAC · Oct 6, 2008

Four Days till B2320 scheduled delivery.
Thanks for everyones comments about vacs. I checked out the Agri-Fab Hard top Vac at a the new local Tractor Supply Company Store. The price was right and it looked good so purchased the only one they had in stock because they matched the price Sears and Northern Tool had advertised. It saved me the shipping costs and was about half the price of a Cyclone Rake or Trac Vac.

I have not seen either of those units so I cannot comment on on their quality. The Agri-Fab looks like it is built ok, I don't like the rivets used vs screws and the sheet metal is a bit thin especially on the bottom of the trailer. The Briggs and Stratton engine started up with one pull. The 7" hose is very rugged. Since my B2320 is not due to be delivered until the end of the week, I pulled the vac behind my Craftsman 42" ride on mower. It did a great job, althought when it was full the Craftsman couldn't handle the weight and the wheels slipped, this won't be a problem when pulled by the Kabota.

Ductape · Oct 6, 2008

One thing to consider when purchasing a PTO vac for a 2X20 Kubota......... it was discussed when these came out that when the mid PTO is engaged, the rear then turns @ 1080. So...... a PTO leaf vac designed for a 540 rear PTO will now be spinning at TWICE the speed it was designed for. I would have to assume this is why Kubotas bagger will not work on a 2X20 series tractor.