Bought a Power Broom - What Do I Use it For?

[Hysyde]

I kind of jumped the gun and bought a older Kubota F3219 power broom to put on my F2100. Attachments for these machines are becoming rare an I figured I should be able to flip it if I don't find much use for it.


I remember running these as a teenager working for a landscaping company and using it for spring clean-ups and de-thatching. I can't recall if we used them for fall clean ups and leaves and such.

I was really hoping I might get some use out of it windrowing leaves, pine cones and corn debris from neighboring fields. Would adding a set up casters in place of the drop legs help with this?

I thinking it might work as a landscape rake of sorts where I've cleared bush but a lots of debris (twigs, bark, etc.) remains?

I use a handheld power broom for gravel in my ditches and on the grass, and this will definitely help with heavy years.

I know it needs asset up brushes which I'm figuring is going to set me back about $600 (should I go full poly or 50/50 ploy/metal?). It will have about $1100 into it at that point. It's a big enough piece of equipment and roof space is limited, so if I don't finda good use for it, it may have to go.

 

[Tomtint]

They work well for dethatching lawns, and removing a few inches of snow.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have always thought about getting a broom for light snow and slush, or to clean down to pavement after plowing.

 

[Ford850]

Would be nice to use to broom gravel/stone out of grass and back onto driveways in the spring.

 

[bridge4]

How do these effect grass? I know on hand held power brooms they recommend the rubber paddles because the bristles can tear it up. Anyone have any experience? I'm interested in this tools many uses as well.

 

[mikester]

I kind of jumped the gun and bought a older Kubota F3219 power broom to put on my F2100. Attachments for these machines are becoming rare an I figured I should be able to flip it if I don't find much use for it.


I remember running these as a teenager working for a landscaping company and using it for spring clean-ups and de-thatching. I can't recall if we used them for fall clean ups and leaves and such.

I was really hoping I might get some use out of it windrowing leaves, pine cones and corn debris from neighboring fields. Would adding a set up casters in place of the drop legs help with this?

I thinking it might work as a landscape rake of sorts where I've cleared bush but a lots of debris (twigs, bark, etc.) remains?

I use a handheld power broom for gravel in my ditches and on the grass, and this will definitely help with heavy years.

I know it needs asset up brushes which I'm figuring is going to set me back about $600 (should I go full poly or 50/50 ploy/metal?). It will have about $1100 into it at that point. It's a big enough piece of equipment and roof space is limited, so if I don't finda good use for it, it may have to go.

Let me know when you want to let it go. I cant think of any uses for it either.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I got a 3ph broom for free, Sandblasted and painted it, bought new decals. But it still needed a new broom or segments. Power brooms are expensive new but very cheap on the used market. I had to drop my price by half before it sold. Maybe if it had a new broom, but I didn't want to put yet more time and money into it.

 

[Hysyde]

I'm all gravel, so snow won't really be part of the equation.

 

[Captain Dirty]

I got a good deal on a 39" power broom for a two-wheeled tractor because the machine had set for so long the bristles were distorted (more on that later).

Works OK to sweep dry leaves on fairly short grass. I have caster wheels and think I would have problems with drop legs and skids. My lawn is certainly not putting green or bowling green flat, and I often make divots. (Think of the scalping one can get with a string trimmer.) I have not found a way to get it to sweep inch and a half stone back into the driveway satisfactorily. Your machine is larger, and I would be interested to hear how it performs in the "neighboring fields".

Re the brushes. By putting each brush on a baking sheet in the oven at a low heat I was able to let gravity straighten the bristles somewhat. Constant monitoring was necessary. I guess the bristles were extruded, and if they got too hot they would "draw up", i.e. become shorter and thicker. I did order a new set from Zarnoth Brush Works, Clinton, WI; they were the only source I found for the size I needed.
I opted for all poly as I had read somewhere that the poly/steel were exceedingly aggressive.

 

[Hysyde]

Yeah, my lawn is anything but flat and scalping is definitely on my mind. The corn trash is what blows into my yard after the combine comes through in the fall. It's pretty substantial.


I'm tempted to try a set of casters with fresh bristles to see how it does with leaves and corn husks but that's a substantial investment and big enough piece of iron to have sitting around for the odd novelty use. The rubber paddled (handheld) power broom is a workout in the spring, but it's been my tried and true method for dealing with gravel over the years.