Cyclone Rake Z-10 On Order

[CompactTractorFan]

Well, did not get to assembling it yet. Most of today has been consumed with battery problems...

Also snowing right now...

 

[texas42]

I put a spacer on the top of my mower deck of about 3/4" to bring the bottom of the boot almost flush with the bottom of the mower deck.
This way I have very little boot extending below the mower - less chance of hooking it on something.
Two seasons has worked great.

 

[CHDinCT]

Any thought?

Kevin, I got confused and thought your pic was actually CTF's. Anyway, yesterday was a mess with power out most of the day and snow to clear not to mention lots of downed limbs, etc. so I did not get a pic of my boot on the MMM. How did you make out with your mod's? Looks like if you made up some spacers to put on the bolts sticking up from the MMM you could easily raise the boot up - much like texas42 suggested.

 

[kday64]

All,

It turns out that a 2x3 is nearly a perfect fit for what I need. I am going to rip about 1/4 of an inch off the 3 side and drill to holes and rethread longer bolts.

I did call Cyclone Rake about my problem, they were very helpful and very polite. I sent this pictures and measurements and they were able to identify a better fitting boot however it will cost me $40 in gas to pick up a new boot compared to the $.30 for new bolts and another reason to visit my local hardware store.

All I need now is an houre to finish assembly, the snow the melt and a weekend to suck up the neighborhoods leaves.

:drink:

Thanks all for the help. This shall be the best leaf season ever! If they ever fall...

~Kevin

 

[CHDinCT]

Well, a little late, but here are a few pic's of the CR boot on my BX25. Looks like it's just about even with the bottom of the 54" MMM. I measured the tube opening on the boot and it's 8" even though my hose is the old 7" version. CR uses a reducer fitting that connects the hose to the boot. I assume with the 10" hose on the high end CR models, the boot has to be deeper by virtue of the 10" diameter hose connection.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Well, finally got the Cyclone Rake all assembled. Got a little time in today using it. Have a few observations:

#1. Power unloader hose seemed too small to fit over the chute that it attaches to. We were barely able to get it on and it's just on like an inch.

#2. Power unloader again, when you have a full load (especially of grass clippings) it takes a longgg time to unload. The vacuum hose also gets clogged a lot when unloading...

#3. Getting the vacuum hoses on the roof rack is big pain. They just want to coil up.

#4. This is more in the tractors part, but with the 3-pt drawbar you can't raise the mower without the CR going up with it.

#5. One of the attaching pieces inside one of the hoses came loose and fell off resulting in the Cyclone Rake "eating" it...


That said, it sure is nice to just drive around and pick up debris off the lawn. :thumbsup:

Oh, and the whole rig JUST fits in the garage (both length and width wise).

I'll post pics soon.

 

[KennyR]

Well, finally got the Cyclone Rake all assembled. Got a little time in today using it. Have a few observations:

#1. Power unloader hose seemed too small to fit over the chute that it attaches to. We were barely able to get it on and it's just on like an inch.

#2. Power unloader again, when you have a full load (especially of grass clippings) it takes a longgg time to unload. The vacuum hose also gets clogged a lot when unloading...

#3. Getting the vacuum hoses on the roof rack is big pain. They just want to coil up.

#4. This is more in the tractors part, but with the 3-pt drawbar you can't raise the mower without the CR going up with it.

#5. One of the attaching pieces inside one of the hoses came loose and fell off resulting in the Cyclone Rake "eating" it...


That said, it sure is nice to just drive around and pick up debris off the lawn. :thumbsup:

Oh, and the whole rig JUST fits in the garage (both length and width wise).

I'll post pics soon.

I've been following your post and considering a Z-10 to replace my DR commercial vac next year. Glad it did a great job picking up the lawn

Re: #4. the only way to stop the the 3 point hitch from raising/lowering while using the mowing deck on a BX is to disconnect the 3 pt arms from the hydraulic lift arms and reattach them to the non-movable frame holes on the rear of the tractor. It takes only about 30 seconds to switch back to the hydraulic arms when you ned to lift with the 3 pt.

 

[FELMOW2320]

I've had the cyclone rake for about 12 years on a ZD21 and my 240 JD.Over those 12 years i've kept up between 10 -14 yards.I've replaced the bag twice,the aluminum frame the that holds the bag twice,three sets of casters and went to the dual wheel set up the third time,replaced the frame twice and welded and patched numerous times,2 boots that goes on the deck,repaired cracks in the blower housing and the engine worked on twice for sticking valves( not a big fan of Tecumseh engines).For what i've put it through I can't complain.I also bought the long extension hose to get leaves up.The long hose stops up way to easy so I just remove the hose from the mower deck and use that if the pile of leaves is too big to run over with the mower.If you wait till the grass or leaves is blowing out the top vent you will probably have to pull some out by hand because it is packed in so tite before it will dump.When I bought the 2320 I got the bagger attachment so I will be selling my CR.I do miss the capacity of the CR versus the bagger and the CR grinds the leaves up smaller than the bagger.

 

[CHDinCT]

CTF, not surprised on the power unloader taking long to empty the bag. That was my thought when I reviewed it on the CR web site. I have plenty of space to dump mine (big mulch pile in the woods) so I didn't bother with it. I guess if you need to blow the picked up leaves into an inaccessible area, it's a necessary add on. I am surprised you've had any clogging issues. Again, I have the 7' hose and have the 17' extension for picking up around the shrubs, etc., and that thing only clogs if a stick or two get sucked in and wedge sideways, so I try to avoid picking up too many of them. If I hold the end too near the ground, it will suck down to the ground and actually pull me down a little. I try to keep the hose end at an angle to avoid that.

On the 3PH raising up with the deck, yes that is a function of the MMM lift linkage being tied to the 3PH, but, I find I can raise the deck all the way up, then lower the 3PH quite a bit before the deck starts to drop. For traveling to the unloading site, I raise the deck fully, then slowly drop the 3PH until I see the deck start to drop. The alternative, like KennyR said is to fix the 3PH to the frame. Something I think I'll do at some point but more to shorten up the overall length of the tractor + CR.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I've been following your post and considering a Z-10 to replace my DR commercial vac next year. Glad it did a great job picking up the lawn

Re: #4. the only way to stop the the 3 point hitch from raising/lowering while using the mowing deck on a BX is to disconnect the 3 pt arms from the hydraulic lift arms and reattach them to the non-movable frame holes on the rear of the tractor. It takes only about 30 seconds to switch back to the hydraulic arms when you ned to lift with the 3 pt.

Yes, I tried putting them in those holes, but then the drawbar would be too high.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

CTF, not surprised on the power unloader taking long to empty the bag. That was my thought when I reviewed it on the CR web site. I have plenty of space to dump mine (big mulch pile in the woods) so I didn't bother with it. I guess if you need to blow the picked up leaves into an inaccessible area, it's a necessary add on. I am surprised you've had any clogging issues. Again, I have the 7' hose and have the 17' extension for picking up around the shrubs, etc., and that thing only clogs if a stick or two get sucked in and wedge sideways, so I try to avoid picking up too many of them. If I hold the end too near the ground, it will suck down to the ground and actually pull me down a little. I try to keep the hose end at an angle to avoid that.

Yeah, we have a large compost bin we dump all the debris into.

When it clogged was when I was using the power unloader. It did not clog as much in the hoses as it did at the end of the vacuum hose.

On the 3PH raising up with the deck, yes that is a function of the MMM lift linkage being tied to the 3PH, but, I find I can raise the deck all the way up, then lower the 3PH quite a bit before the deck starts to drop. For traveling to the unloading site, I raise the deck fully, then slowly drop the 3PH until I see the deck start to drop. The alternative, like KennyR said is to fix the 3PH to the frame. Something I think I'll do at some point but more to shorten up the overall length of the tractor + CR.

OK, I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the help!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Well, have some pics of the Cyclone Rake:

The biggest problem I'm having now is the top screen keeps getting clogged with grass (I have the "grass screen" installed). It clogs after a few minutes of use. The bag them balloons and after a while the whole screen assembly will just blow off. Anybody have any advice?

On a side note, that thing sure kicks up a lot of dust.


We are getting all the kinks worked out, but I think this will be a worthwhile investment. We mowed today, and it did a great job of picking up all the leaves and clippings. We have plenty of compost material now!
All that said, so far I would give it 4 stars.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

^^^The 6th pic shows the clogged screen^^^

 

[KennyR]

Thanks for posting the pics and summary of your first major leaf pickup with the Z-10.

Q: Is the grass screen an accessory or a normal part of the collection bag?

From the looks of your pictures, the 3 pt. attachment also seems to put the Z-10 about a foot further back from the BX, with a longer collection hose from the boot. Did you look at the "regular" (non-3 pt attachment) or perhaps Cyclone Rake could send you one to try?

Good luck with your new unit. It's been a record year for leaf-dropping in the midwest.

 

[CHDinCT]

The biggest problem I'm having now is the top screen keeps getting clogged with grass (I have the "grass screen" installed). It clogs after a few minutes of use. The bag them balloons and after a while the whole screen assembly will just blow off. Anybody have any advice?
compost material now!

Can't really help on that since mine only came with one screen and it never clogs very badly. It did, however, come with a stiff bristle brush to clean the screen and other parts. Did you get that with yours?

KennyR, I think CR only makes the 3PH hook up for the BX, or any 3PH equipped tractor. The CR needs to hook up to two fixed points so it can't be pinned to the frame-based drawbar. Having two hitch points is how they prevent it from jackknifing. I have seen some members here make up their own frame-based hitch, like this one, which does shorten the overall length of the tractor and bagger. Unfortunately, this design won't quite work on the backhoe models due to the BH subframe, but it could be modified to work I think.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Thanks for posting the pics and summary of your first major leaf pickup with the Z-10.

Q: Is the grass screen an accessory or a normal part of the collection bag?

From the looks of your pictures, the 3 pt. attachment also seems to put the Z-10 about a foot further back from the BX, with a longer collection hose from the boot. Did you look at the "regular" (non-3 pt attachment) or perhaps Cyclone Rake could send you one to try?

Good luck with your new unit. It's been a record year for leaf-dropping in the midwest.

Your welcome. The grass screen came with the unit along with the leaf screen. Like CHDinCT said, I don't know how the "standard mount" would work with the BH subframe...

 

[kday64]

Hey all,

I felt like it has been to long since I posted that I resolved my issue. So here is a video of me on my CR-XL. (My mowing deck is nothing like CTF's, maybe it is because I have a fine cut?)

As you can see I was a bit excited and I still need to adjust the 3pt swing quite a bit but the CR didnt mind at all. I should have also lowered the 3pt a smige or more just so the CR was actually level.

All in all I will give it 4 stars. And I really enjoyed the power unloader as well. I just need more leaves to fall!

~Kevin

Kevins new toy - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/embed/mFKZ8tUPLNY

 

[kday64]

Oh yeah I really enjoy the 3pt hitch mount for the CR. It is nice to be able to raise the trailer's front end up an extra foot so it is easier to empty!

 

[Adirondaks]

Kday 65
Kevin great video. At 0.46 it looks like you miss that car by inches and on one lap you almost get the tree. I took delivery of a XL a week ago but I have no tractor to pull it. When I ordere they asked if I wanted to use the 3pt hitch. I got the feeling that there was 2 choices I said yes and recd the 3pt hitch adapter. if I said no I think i may have gotten the frame conection. watching your video I may get a rear view mirror

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Hey all,

I felt like it has been to long since I posted that I resolved my issue. So here is a video of me on my CR-XL. (My mowing deck is nothing like CTF's, maybe it is because I have a fine cut?)

As you can see I was a bit excited and I still need to adjust the 3pt swing quite a bit but the CR didnt mind at all. I should have also lowered the 3pt a smige or more just so the CR was actually level.

All in all I will give it 4 stars. And I really enjoyed the power unloader as well. I just need more leaves to fall!

~Kevin

Kevins new toy - YouTube

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself

Nice video!!! :thumbsup:

One little side note, you might want to pay a little more attention to the swing of the CR.

I also see you had a little clogging when using the power unloader too...