Cyclone Rake vs. Agri-Fab

[Bob_In_MN]

While I'm planning on waiting until fall to purchase a leaf/debris collection system, walking around my property last night reminded me just how messy the spring lawn can be.

Coincidentally, I received the latest mailer on the Cyclone Rake last night.

So--here's where I'm at:

The Cyclone Rake will cost me approximately $1165. This total would include the base model, plus additional hose and shipping charges.

The Agri-fab sells at Mills Fleet Farm for just under $900. Add in the MN sales tax and you are at $960.

While I won't completely overlook the $200 difference, it's not much money if the CR is the better choice.

My questions/observations:

1. How important is the flexible impeller of the CR vs. the metal impeller of the AF? Does one large rock accidently picked up mean a ruined impeller on the AF?

2. How durable is the bag of the CR? Will I be replacing this bag in 2 or 3 seasons? The AF's walls are made of metal and the top is plastic.

3. How well does the hitch on the CR work. My concern with the AF is that it pulls like a conventional trailer and may give me problems getting close to objects. The total length of my 4010 combined with the AF would be considerable.

4. Does the CR really mulch leaves. It's hard to tell from the video or the flyer just how fine the leaves are. My Honda Mower has a bagger, but no mulching system and in the fall I can't go more than 75 feet without stopping to empty the bags. I've got 6 large oak trees by my house and the leaves are plentiful in the fall.

Any other observations from current owners. I know several people on TBN have the CR (Junkman maybe?). Does anyone have an Agri-Fab.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Bob

 

[LGinIA]

Bob, I am located in N. Central IA and purchased the Commercial version last year. It does a great job and has lived up to all the direct mail hype. Cyclone Rake will provide you with local owner telephone numbers (with their permission) for testimonials and maybe you can inspect locally. You may drop by if you are in this area and I will give you a hands on demo. What I like about Cyclone Rake:
Portable, trails very good, light. durable and will do a great job of cleanup. Dislikes: You will have to rake most of the leaves out of the trailer (not too difficult). I would recommend the vacuum hose attachment.
Good luck.

 

[JackIL]

Bob,

Two of my neighbors each have the CR standard version and they think the performance is quite good. One has as 42 inch deck and the other a 60 inch deck. The one with the 60 inch deck has to go rather slowly in heavy leaves, but it does the job. You might want to consider the larger CR for a tractor the size of the 4010.

When I have looked at their dumped piles of vacuumed leaves, they are quite pulverized. I have seen the AF unit, but not the results of its work.

One nice thing about the CR concept is that it takes very little storage space. Everything comes apart and folds up flat except for the engine-impeller unit itself and it is on caster wheels.

CR sells a general purpose "boot" which thay say you can use if there is no boot made specifically for your deck. I am sure you can get one from JD. I assume it is likely to fit better and be easier to put on and take off than the CR version.

JackIL

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Thanks to both for your input.

LGinIA--not sure what part of north central IA you are in. I get to Fort Dodge (probably more central than north) once per year in June.

I'm looking hard at the CR--I really like how little space it takes up when you're not using it. Even with my pole barn, regular barn and 2 car garage, space is at a premium.

Bob

 

[ducati996]

This is just my own experience but I was looking hard at either one of these units at the same time I bought my Cub Cadet 3204 w/44" deck last May. I thought I would need all the help I could get with leaves and small branches until I tried the 44" deck with the mulch plug. I was beyond impressed with its mulching capabilities with knee high leaves and small twigs ( larger ones should be picked up). It did an unbelievable job on my yard, and others...
I guess the point is if you have a good mower already with good mulching capability, you may not need a CR or Agri-fab unit after all...I'm glad I found this out before I bought one... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Duc

 

[alzwelding.com]

Bob- I use a Blue Bird, 35 bushel capacity 8HP heavy duty Briggs. This is the best investment I ever made, I can let the grass get too long now and not sweat it, just hook up the bird and vacuum up the hay! I paid $1200 for this rig, used 2 seasons, dealer threw in this 317 on the deal.(I repowered and repainted it) Anyway you will love your lawn vac, no matter what brand you buy. Al Z /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[alzwelding.com]

Here's the Blue Bird

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Hi Al,

Being that you are also from MN, can I ask where the Blue Bird dealer is located? I guess I've never heard of Blue Bird before.

Thanks

Bob

 

[shoppintractors]

http://www.bluebirdintl.com/products/vacuums_chippers/index.html

 

[steve_niceguy]

I just bought my commercial cyclone rake. I also didn't know which to pick the AF from Northern or the CR I picked the CR just got it together last weekend. it's well made and I took it out and tried the wand part.. that's what I'll mostly use. it was great I sucked up leaves that have been on the ground here in Massachusetts since the pilgrims landed! it really left nothing but dirt.... I was impressed.
when I ordered it the guy really tried to sell me a LOT of extra's.. like the double wheels and the heavier duty hose... he said at least get the heavy hose for the mowing deck to the CR and I did that for 25 bucks when I got it.. WOW what a difference I should have gotten all the hoses in the heavy style. you can push your finger into the standard hose and just about push it through.. but the heavy hose.. NO WAY it's STRONG ..on my 5 minutes of useage I sucked up a lot of small sticks.. the rubber blade chomped it up ok... but the CR cost me almost 1800 and I had one of CR's 250 off coupons! so the commercial model was only 1250 and it still cost 1800. and I didn't get the power unloader... I may send for that someday.. but the AF will chip branches my CR won't so when I go out to vac up the leaves I'm going to have to pile up sticks..... I think if I had to do it over again I would go with the AF... but I've NEVER seen a AF.
ALSO I'm using a 27HP Craftsman tractor to pull it... I just went to sears and looked at their attachment flyer.. they sell something JUST like the AF.. I think it's an AF made for sears... it was 999!!! and you would not have to pay the shipping!!! I paid over 200 for shipping and I live about a 100 miles from where they make the CR

good luck.. but look at the sears unti.. you may like it.

 

[OrangeGuy]

Bob in Mn

I have the Agri-Fab trailer vacuum system. I originally used it with my Allis Chalmers 620 tractor and 60" MMM. It worked great! I purchased a Kubota F2260 Front Mower with a 60" deck and used the same system with it. It was a bit more troublesome because I had to add to the discharge hose length making the entire rig a bit long.

However, I have to agree with DUC and question if you need the vacuum system. With the Kubota F2260 Front Mower, I can cut my 4 acre lawn so quickly that I rarely generate any "grass clipping windrows". Consequently, I have not used my Agri-Fab system in a couple years.

My system has always been shedded and is in "like new" condition. Since we are both in Minnesota and if you would be interested in a used Agri-Fab Vacuum System, send me a PM.

OrangeGuy

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Here's an update on my search for a material collection system.

Thanks to TBN, I was able to set up a meeting with OrangeGuy (quite an appropriate name by the way). As it turns out, O.G. lives less than 6 miles from the farm where my dad grew up and less than 10 miles from where I grew up.

Anyway--on a prior visit, we were able to come to terms on the price of a used Agri-Fab and last Saturday I stopped by to pick it up. I purposefully left about 2/3 acre of grass get 4-5 inches long and used the system Saturday night.

Initial Impresssions--bring on the leaves. This thing works great. When I was done, the container was about 2/3 full and the way the clippings were blown in made them very dense--very good reduction. I couldn't believe how large the pile was once I pulled it out. When the material is blown in, it's compacted almost like a hay bale.

While I'm sure the Cyclone Rake also works well, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to purchase this well maintained unit. It really boiled down to the fact that this thing will get used 6-8 times per year. I probably paid a third of what a new CR would go for and while I can see the manuverability of a CR would be a nice feature, the AF will work just fine.

My only question is will my mom's JD LT 180 (17 HP Twin) pull the AF? I couldn't even tell it was behind my 4010, but from my experience of unloading it myself, I know there's some weight to this thing. I'd like to use it in the fall to take care of my mom's leaves, but it would be nice not to have to trailer my tractor as the AF fits nicely in the back of my pick-up.

I'll post a pic or two next week.

Thanks again O.G.

Bob

 

[shoppintractors]

<font color="blue"> My only question is will my mom's JD LT 180 (17 HP Twin) pull the AF? </font>

I have a tow-behind trac-vac that I used for 14 years pulled by a 12.5 HP Twin Bolens rider. I new it was getting full when I could feel a little tugging from behind. This was on flat land, no hills. You might need another boot to fit the end of her mower deck. I think you'll be fine with 17 HP on flat land.

Don

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Thanks Don--I think I'll try it with my mom's tractor. There's a hill on her property, but not so steep that I would be afraid to go down with the AF in tow.

If the hill combined with a full load feels like too much for the 180, I'll have my brother bring in his 425.

Bob

 

[OrangeGuy]

Bob,

I am happy to hear that my used Agri-Fab Vacuum System is working out well for you. Better getting used 6-8 times per year rather than gathering dust.

It was a pleasure meeting a fellow TBNer.

OrangeGuy