Leaf blower into leaf vacum trailer

gdicks · Apr 5, 2017

I've been looking into DIY leaf vacuum setups and they all seem to revolve around a motorized impeller creating a vacuum to pull grass and leaves to the trailer.

I have a leaf blower kicking around and got to thinking I can blow the grass from the mower deck instead of pulling the grass from the trailer...

Has anyone tried this or can anyone identify any reasons why this wouldnt work. My thinking is a setup much like a leaf vacuum trailer but attach the blower at the mower deck to blow the clippings as they leave the mower deck, through the tube and into the trailer.

Out to Lunch?

MossRoad · Apr 5, 2017

I've seen a couple videos where someone did just as you plan. The put the leaf blower right at the output of the mower deck and blew the clippings up the pipe. As I recall, they were made with wood, sheet metals, duct tape and bailing wire.... but heck, that's how prototypes are made. :laughing:

You gotta remember that leaf vacuums are usually running a lot larger engines than hand-held leaf blower. That's because (I think) they are spinning heavy impellers that mulch the leaves up as they come through. They need to keep the RPMs up on the impeller as the leaves and grass clippings come through.

texasranger556 · Apr 5, 2017

The cheapest bagger systems for small riding mowers just attach a pipe to the mower deck and run it to the rear of the mower across a couple bags. Some change out the blades for ones with higher fins to generate more suction/air movement. They work ok for dry grass and leaves but plug up if the grass is wet or you go too fast.

TMGT · Apr 6, 2017

There was a post on tbn not long ago where someone built what you are talking about, seemed to work ok for him.
I went the traditional route for my vac, helps mulch the leaves more and can handle more volume then the blower could.

boggen · Apr 6, 2017

if fan blade and what ever is driving it, is not setup to handle "mulching" of grass, twigs, leafs, and more so the rocks that will end up flying and tearing up the fan blade, you most likely be better off setting it up like a shop vac, wet/dry vac. were it sucks stuff up and empties into a box, and then some sort of cage / foam (something) to protect fan blades, and then air gets sent out.

squirrel cage fan/blower, example furnace blower fan, or blower fan for a central A/C setup in home. i would most likely set my eyes on.