Clogging MMM -- help!

[nh_bota]

Update.... the dealer has agreed to take the bagger back. I just don't want to deal with it now or in the future. Of course now I need to identify a bagging solution, at least for the times where it's really needed. I'm thinking of the DR Vacuum or the Cyclonerake.

 

[Pks]

Could you use a sweeper? When I pick up grass and leaves I use a 42inch wide sweeper.

 

[nh_bota]

I've thought about a sweeper as a lower-cost alternative. It might just do the trick. Agri-Fab makes some decent units from what I can see.

 

[c-and-a]

HI NH_Bota:

I finally pulled the trigger and got my 2350 delivered about a week and half ago...with the 60" MMM, bagger and FEL...

Mowed twice with the bagger (just came in a few minutes ago from the second mowing) - no issues. The first mowing, I had damp (not real wet, but not dry) grass about 8" high, no clogging. Second time was only five days later, so grass much shorter and drier - again, no issues.

I am keeping my fingers crossed there was something up with your setup.

I did ask the dealer about issues with clogging and tubes rotting - he said people have spoke to him about clogging, but he discovered that they are running with RPM to low. He suggested I run at 2800-3000...

Will post pics of the setup if you are interested in comparing...

Best of luck - Curt

 

[nh_bota]

Kurt,

Hopefully you received a different setup... the scenario you described would have definitely clogged my bagger - no question. I'd be interested to see a picture when you have a moment to post one.

Have fun with the BX -- it's a great machine!

Terry

 

[JWE]

Curt, my experience is similar to yours. I've been using my bagger for three years. I did have it clog once when I was picking up a thick bed of pine needles but that is not surprising. It never clogs with normal cutting even when the grass is thick and heavy. I run my mower/bagger at 3000 RPM. Never had to replace a shear bolt.

My only complaint is that it is a bear to install.

 

[milkman]

I just purchased the bagger for my BX2200 a couple of weeks ago and found that I couldn't mount it with my Pats Easy Change, and like you say, it is a bear to mount. I made brackets so it now fits WITH the PEC and is a piece of cake to mount, lift the blower end about two inches and hook into the lower lift arm, walk around and lift the other end into the other lower lift arm, then tilt forward and insert the top link pin, connect the PTO and the pick up tube and off to bagging. I didn't have to modify the bagger at all, just made brackets to attach the bagger to the lift arms with the Pats Easy Change, of course, the lift arms are attached to the brackets where you normally attach them when mowing. Have one pic, will attach and start another thread when I get better pics if anyone is interested.

 

[tchixarro]

I'm running a Trac-Vac setup on my B7610 with a 60"mmm and I haven't glogged it yet. I've ran this thing through some tall thick stuff and it picked it all up.

 

[milkman]

I'm running a Trac-Vac setup on my B7610 with a 60"mmm and I haven't glogged it yet.

Which model # is that one, I almost bought one similar, but it had two caster wheels under the rear and they retailed for $2100, priced to me for $1900, price and extra engine is the two reasons I didn't get the Trac-Vac, although it is the best looking setup that I saw in my search.

 

[tchixarro]

Milkman,

This is a model 662. I went with the bigger 6.5 hp briggs intek pro which also comes with a bigger turbine unit. This thing mounts to the 3-point hitch so there is no casters. So far I've been extremely pleased with the unit in all aspects. As far as taking it on and off, it literely takes me 60 seconds or less.

 

[c-and-a]

Hi Milkman

I would be very interested in more pics of your brackets/setup...I was somewhat disappointed with the on/off effort which makes me think twice about using any 3PTH attachments.

Having to remove the bagger - which is not much fun, then re-attach the 3 PTH then reverse the process is a huge PAIN...

Any more pics/description would be greatly appreciated!

Curt

 

[milkman]

This week when I have the time, for those not familiar with the Kubota bagger, I will make a series of pics with the original attachment steps and then I'll take pics of the brackets I made and then post a series of pics with the attachment steps with the new brackets. Hope the grass will leave me alone long enough to do that. I'll start a separate thread in attachments.

 

[murphyg]

Hi Milkman, Maybe you should send your design to Kubota. I have a 2230 with a bagger and I take it off a couple of times a year. The real trick is to have shims you can slide under the feet. Then it will line up just fine. It takes me about 5 minutes to get off and about 10 get get back on. The John Deere X series has a really nice design for their baggers.

 

[milkman]

One thing that I thought that was really odd about the mounting of the bagger the way Kubota designed it is the fact that you have to take the lift rods from the rock shaft to the bottom lift arms off to mount the bagger. I would have thought they would have made the lower TPH pins connect with the lift rods fastened to the brackets, the way they are when we have the mower attached normally, it just makes a lot of extra work and then nothing is stationary to help with aligning the top link attaching point. I had the bagger on and off a couple of times before I put the Pats Easy Change back on, and it does get easier after a few times, but they dropped the ball as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Dusty]

Kubota just buys the bagger systems from another company that makes them. They are fairly universal in design and many of the parts will fit other brand tractors. My guess is that the bagger system isn't much of a profit maker for either the manufacturer or Kubota, so they go with as much off the shelf items as they can and don't design specific ease of installation into the units. That would cost more in R & D and production costs. Next time you see a Exmark mower with a bagging system, take note and you will see that it looks just like the Kubota one. Dusty

 

[milkman]

The other day I was looking at the Peco site and a lot of the parts are similar, especially the bags, the cover, and the holder for the bags so I supect that they are the manufacturer of the unit for Kubota.