Describe the grass collection system

[Anonymous Poster]

I understsand the grass collection system (GCK60-BX???) for the BX is a 3-point hitch design. I can't find any good pictures of it. Can any of the owners out there run me through the basics of operation and their review of it? Is the tractor 3ph lift used? How is the dumping of the grass done? Is there a vac motor on it, where is it, and how is it powered? What is the overall tractor width with a 54" deck and the collection system mounted?

-Mark

 

[Jeff396]

Hey Mark,

I guess I can help you with a few of your questions. I looked at the bagger for the BX2200 but ended up purchasing a B7500 with the GCK60-24B. The main difference between the two as far as I can tell is where the blower motor takes its power from. The GCK60-22x blower takes its power from the rear PTO which sucks the grass into the three bags. The bags are mounted on the rear of the tractor but at least in the case of the B7500 are independent of the 3pt lift. When I got mine I was concerned about if the same lever lifts the MMM and the 3pt hitch that the bagger would be going up and down. It doesn't. To remove and empty the three bags you simply open the lid which is held shut with rubber straps and lift each bag out independently. The bags hang from a metel frame. As far as the width it adds I cannot answer as I know that is where the two systems differ. Mine adds approximately 2" as the part that attaches to the mower takes the place of the rock deflector. I think mine works quite well. The biggest problem is that the capacity is too small requireing emptying often and the tube that goes to the bags will clog if you don't catch it before the bags are completely full. I also understand that mowing in wet grass can be a problem. I hope this helps.

Jeff

B7500HSD, LA302 FEL, 60"MMM, Grass catcher

 

[rock]

Mark,

I recently purchased the bagger for my BX2200 with a 54" deck. I've been meaning to write a review of it, but have been pretty busy. A poor excuse for not giving back to the board from which I have taken so much, so here goes.

My catcher fits the description that Jeff gave for the one he has on his B7500. Three bagger, gets it power from the rear PTO etc... Although it does use the three point hitch system it does not go up and down with raising and lowering the mower.

What you do is remove the lifting arms that attach the hydo actuator to the draw bars (if my three point lingo is off, forgive me). Now the draw bars simply act as pivot points. Remove your top link, connect the bagger to the draw bars (it has stands built in) and tip the whole thing forward. There is a "T" bar that engages into the ears where the top link goes.

It is s real bear to connect. And takes two people and coaxing from a mallet to get the top link pin in. I put mine on two months ago and have yet to take it off. I even mowed for a while without the grass tube connected as I bought the thing to pick up leaves, not grass.

I have used it once so far. It pick up grass and leaves really nice, but the three bags really fill up fast. I grew up with a Simplicity rig that threw the leaves into a trailer. It could go for a while between dumping but when I stop and think about it, with all the back and forth I do on the hydro pedal on my property a trailer probably isn't all that practical.

So there's my two cents. If I really get motivated I'll take some pictures and post them. I promised my dealer a review of this rig to as mine was the first he sold as well, so I should get on the stick. Ah, only thirty more years until retirement...

-- Rock

 

[Jeff396]

Wow, I am amazed at how much I am finding is different between the BX2200 and the B7500. My dealer installed my bagger for me and when I took delivery I was handed the two lower arms with the two turnbuckles for adjustment attached and the upper rod that I think clips up in the back of the BX. Some sort of bracket is then bolted on right near the PTO with a hole in the center so you can still use it if the bagger is removed. I was just wondering if the pieces I was handed are what your catcher is attached with? That is are we talking about the same thing. I just went down to check mine. I leave the bars that come off the lift arms on as they continue to raise and lower the mmm. The top attaches where the top rod was removed from. Definately a lot different. Also my fan for the bagger runs off of one of the blade heads on the deck and is located where the grass would normally discharge. The reason I am so shocked is that I was very seriously considering the BX2200 but at the last minute went larger. I was under the impression they were vary similar but apparently that is not the case.


Jeff

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by jeff396 on 10/30/01 04:34 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You might consider a Land Pride Mow 'n Vac. It's an enclosed pull-behind trailer with a 5 HP engine. Holds a LOT of clippings and leaves (the vacuum fan re-mulches the leaves from the mower deck - great compaction). Less than $1K.

 

[Jeff396]

Definately would have been my first choice except that the amount of times I have to back up along with the numerous hills would of made it impractical.

Jeff

 

[frank_f15]

tpete: thanks , i never heard of that, but it sounds like just what would fit the bill for me. will check it out.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have to deal w/ hills, lots of backing up, trees, etc. Not a problem at all. It's a pretty slick unit. Oh, and it's a tilt trailer which dumps out the back, so it's simple to unload.

 

[rock]

OK, I took the time and the pictures!

Here is a picture of how the BX Bagger attaches to the 3pt. hitch. Notice the missing connecting bars that normally go from the actuator to the lift arms.

 

[rock]

Here is a picture of the chute that mates to the 54" deck. The arrow points to a pin that mates to a hole that you need to drill in the deck.

 

[rock]

Here is a picture of the hole you need to drill in the deck. Instead of putting it where the instuctions tell you to. I would use the factory measurement for the vertical positioning...

 

[rock]

and base your horizontal positioning on where the hole will wind up on the inside. I didn't want to break the weld in the ridge where the two pieces of the deck meet on the inside. I think you can see that in this picture. FYI I was holding the deflector up with one hand when I took this picture.

 

[rock]

Here is a picture of the chute connected. It is held on with a rubber strap, the hook of which goes into an existing hole that you simply widen with the same bit used to drill the hole for the pin.

 

[rock]

The width from the widest point on the port side of the tractor, the mower deck, to the widest point on the starboard side of the tractor, the outside of the bagger assembly is about 68 1/2" (I have the 54" deck remember).

I did indeed look at the Agri-fab, but the ones I could find seemed a bit smallish for the BX. Also, I really wanted to use the PTO to drive the impeller on the vac. I bought that dang PTO for some reason! I also really didn't want another engine to do maintainence on.

I also looked at the Trac-Vac

http://www.trac-vac.com/

because you can get one that runs off the PTO. There is a special one that fits the BX, so if you order it, don't forget that distinction. I thought this model was pretty cool and was kind of on the fence between this one and the Kubota model. It was a bit more pricey when you added the trailer in, but it appears to be well built.

OK, That's it.

-- Rock

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Jeff & Rock, thank you very much for all of your help. The local dealer did not have a bagger set up and the Kubota literature and website did not show the bagger so I was blind as to my questions.

My problem is a storage one complicated by the desire to have more bang for the buck. Let me explain a bit. I already have a older compact tractor which is similar to the Kubota B7500 or B2410. I got it as a tractor loader backhoe for various projects. Despite being 20 years old it is pretty much on par with the new Kubotas with one exception. My tractor will take a belly mower but not if the loader subframe is on the tractor. So the beauty and ease of the quick detach frame mounted back hoe and loader goes away if I want to belly mow with it. I have enough obsticles that a drag behind mower or vacuum trailer are not an option. So, I have been looking at lawn tractors that I could squeeze into the packed garage since I am not going to give up the tractor shed. After realizing the wide array of low end junk on the market and tossing out the zero-turn mowers (too big, expensive, and can only mow) I arrived at the Kubota BX series or the Kubota G2160 DirectShoot. I demoed the DirectShoot and my wife and I loved it. It is only 48" wide, has a self contained rear discharge collection system, and a hydraulic 14 bushel dumping system. But when I look at the price tag it is too close to the BX sub-compact tractors. If my situation changed in the future (sold the big tractor loader backhoe or moved) the BX would be a more practical rig because it is a true tractor and has a higher resale value than the lawn tractor. So I swing to the BX but the footprint for storage is bigger, the bagger is not as nice, and I will end up spending about $2,000 more for an already pricey lawn mower. Argh!

After comfirming my thoughts about the BX, my answer seems to be the DirectShoot based on price and that it is the best solution for me all around. I could get into a BX for the same money by buying a used BX though. I have seen one with a loader for $8900 that I could horsetrade the loader off for the bagger.

So many tractors and yet so little time........

Thanks again,
Mark