bx grass bagger

stonebarn · May 7, 2001

I am thinking about getting a bx1800 and am wondering how the grass baggers work; the one that has the blower mounted on the mower deck and blows the clippings back into bags that hang off the end of the tractor.

Anyone have any experience with them?

rock · May 7, 2001

Stonebarn,

I started a similar thread

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...oard=owning&Number=37103&page=&view=&sb=&vc=1

around two months ago. Some good info from folks, especially MReeter who was kind enough to post a picture. The jist of what I hear is, the Kubota bagger works good, but not as good as... I didn't pull the trigger yet on a bagger system (I figure I have a few more months before I have to worry about bagging). Still kinda leaning towards the trac-vac

http://www.trac-vac.com/852,854,856.htm

but I think I might rather not chew up that much space in the garage.

-- rock

stonebarn · May 8, 2001

Rock,
Thanks for the reply. I currently own an Ariens with a bagger system. It has a funnel off the deck that feeds into an 8" (or so) tube. This powered by a blower at the rear powered off the rear pto by a fan belt. It shoots the grass up into the top of a large bag unit that hangs off the back of the tractor. It works pretty well, but will clog if you try to go through too much heavy stuff.

I can believe that the trac-vac system may work better but I don't want that much stuff trailing behind me hindering manueverability.

I am wondering if the Kubota system tends to clog in a similar way and is cumbersome to install and uninstall as I only do part of my property with the bagger (around the house), the rest I just let spew around (fields).

MReeter · May 10, 2001

Yes,We have a Kubota Bagger for our BX,I was also planning on just grooming our "formal" lawn around the house,shop etc.Believe it or not,we have had a pretty wet spring so far,and it's all we can do to keep the grass knocked down,let alone bag it.We have yet to use it.I'm "planning" on hooking up the bagger this weekend. If all goes well,I'll let you know how it performs.A friend of ours has the same bagger and he has used it and says "it works great".

Gerryma · May 11, 2001

I have the bagger attachment for my bx2200,it mounts on the 3pt and runs off the rear pto.It works really well.I had alot of pine cones this past fall and it scooped them up(&needles). Once you get used to working with the 3pt hitch it goes on & off in just a couple of min.
I had a Ariens gt18,and I found that the bx out turns the garden tractor.

MReeter · May 14, 2001

Stonebarn,I did take time to hook up our bagger,and seems to work very well.We've never owned a previous catcher,so I really don't have much to compare it to.I will say the unit runs very quite and smooth,seems to have a great deal of "vacuum" and has a fair amount of capacity.We bagged about three acres and it did'nt plug once.The distance from the end of your 3-point links to the rear of the bagger is approx. 29".the unit is approx. 54" wide,so maneuverability is not a problem.The unit is very well built,and should last for many years.

stonebarn · May 15, 2001

That's good to hear. Your unit has the blower at the rear, running off the rear pto, right? Does anyone have the unit that mounts on the mower deck itself? That is what I have ordered.

MReeter · May 15, 2001

Yes.the blower is located on the right sight side of the unit,it is driven by the rear pto,then through two gear boxes,thus powering the blower.The blower is attached to the deck via a flex hose about 6-7 inches in diameter,which is attached to the "boot" that is attached to the deck itself.A hole needs to drilled in the deck to accommodate a "baffle".The baffle helps direct the clippings into the boot.I hope this makes sense,if your Dealer installs it,no problems.If you put the unit together and install yourself, the owners manual has detailed instructions the even I could follow.Good luck,you will like this bagger.

jgh · Dec 2, 2001

20011202

Hi, Mike, hope this reaches you and the others in spite of the age of the series on baggers.

You mentioned that a baffle was needed in the BX mmm deck when it is used with the Kubota bagger. We just bought a BX (2200) and a 662-K Trac-Vac. It seems to work reasonably well (wish it had more capacity!), but it does clog fairly easily so I wonder if that baffle is needed for it as well.

Thanks for anything you or anyone can add!

Jim