Tow Behind Grass Sweeper

[Lloyd_E]

Anyone out there have experience with the tow behind sweepers?
Can you sweep and mow at the same time?

Ant experience would be appreciated.

regards,

Lloyd

 

[bontai_Joe]

A rear towed sweeper would only work with a rear discharge mower, and even then I'm not sure it's possible as the speed for mowing is usually different than for good sweeping. I've used sweepers for over 25 years and always did it after cutting. Lawns I did (and still do) had too much manuvering and stuff to trim around to be backing up with a sweeper while cutting. But if your lawn looks like a empty football field, you could probably tow the sweeper offset to the mower for a side discharge deck and get it to work.

 

[63DH8]

I have a side discharge mower and use a towed sweeper. Works just fine. You're limited to sweeping after you're through mowing though. Because the mower deck blows everything off to the side, there's very little to pick up directly behind the mower. I noticed it's not a good idea to mow so everything is piled off to one side if you're going to use the sweeper. If you do, the pile of grass will lift the sweeper high enough to the point where the wheels aren't on the ground. If this happens, the brushes won't rotate. My recommendation is to experiment with your mower for the best results for your sweeper.

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Lloyd,
Around the house I use a C-125 Wheel Horse with 44" rear discharge deck and use a pull behind 48" Sears pull behind sweeper and it works great! I usually only use this sweeper in early spring when the grass is really thick and in the fall when I use it for leaf cleanup. I just mulch all the leaves up and the sweeper does a great job of picking it all up along with acorns and twigs It has a pull rope to dump it so you dont always have to get off the tractor.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I didn't mean to imply that a sweeper wouldn't work with a side discharge mower, just that you would not be able to sweep and cut at the same time unless your lawn is wide open enough to allow offset towing. I've used a sweeper with a side discharge mower for all for the 25+ years I've had the sweeper.

 

[meledward23]

My neighbor has one. He has a ZTR mower that he cuts with and then uses a Garden Tractor to sweep his lawn. Yum, yum, his yard looks good. I really like the result.

Of course if I was 60 and retired I might have the time to travel over 1.25 acres two times in one day three times every two weeks.

 

[Bird]

I use this Agri-Fab lawn sweeper and tow it behind this Toro ZTR. I don't try to tow it and sweep at the same time I'm mowing most of the time. It's not as good as having a grass catcher on the mower, but does a pretty good job, especially if I pull this dethatcher around first. I'm running mulching blades with the discharge chute blocked on the mower and don't use the dethatcher and lawn sweeper too often.

 

[meledward23]

As Bird pointed out this is obviously not the same as bagging (maybe it isnt obvious). Anyway it is far less efficient in collection. But the advantages are as I see them:

1: less grass collected. Bagging over an acre would be a pain.
2: it doesnt leave streaks, as opposed to not bagging and having the clippings not blow out evenly leaving some thicker clipping trails. The sweeper really sweems to take care of that.
3: I have no more thoughts.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Thanks for all the responses. I mow about 3 acres - around buildings, fences and the house. Most of the acreage is clear of obstructions.

I think I may be adding more work. This year, so far, has been extremely wet so when I do get to mow the grass is tall and alot of clippings are left behind. In previous years the clippings just blow out and compost into the grass.

Most retail outlets carry the 36" agrifab model. I have a 50" deck so I should have the 42" collector - special order.

Once again thanks for your opinions.

Lloyd

 

[Bird]

Lloyd, Sears shows to have the 42" Craftsman, which I feel sure is made by Agr-Fab, in stock, but I don't know about in Canada. I looked at the Craftsman at Sears and the Agr-Fab at Northern Tool and think they're identical. Sears was about $10 cheaper at the time. I bought the 38" instead of the 42" simply because I have a 38" mowing deck on my mower and routinely go through a gate that isn't quite wide enough for anything wider. Remember than the measurement given (38", 42", etc.) is the sweeping width. The wheels add to that; about 6" or 8" if I remember right.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Bird,

Many thanks. And, I totally forgot to think about the wheel spacing and sweep width - I guess that's why you guys are here!

The main challenge is convincing the other half how this purchase relates to her new horse barn (that's another story/thread waiting to happen).

I told her there will be a budget line for needed tools to complete the building. I think this streaches it especially when the horse arrives my mowing time will be cut down considerable.

Will check sear.ca.

Many thanks again.

Lloyd

 

[Gatorboy]

I recommend saving your money and not buying a grass catcher. It's better for your lawn to "let it fly"

 

[Molerj]

In most cases I would agree, but there comes a time when you just have to sweep up that grass. Sometimes you just keep blowing the dry grass around & it doesn't seem to break down. Also, a lot of the times the reason for all the grass clippings is the grass is being cut too low. Let er grow for a week & a half, cut er to an inch & a half= lots of grass clippings.

 

[deereman64]

I have side discharge mower and up until now I have been happy to leave the cuttings on the lawn, but this year the grass is clumping badly. Could you use a land rake with wheels instead of a sweeper. I could use the land rake for clearing debris as well and that way avoid buying too many implements

 

[Gatorboy]

Let er grow for a week & a half, cut er to an inch & a half= lots of grass clippings.

A. That's too short to cut your lawn (unless you have Bermuda)
B. You should only cut off 1/3 of the blade of grass, so if you let it grow long, raise your mower accordingly.

 

[Molerj]

A. That's too short to cut your lawn (unless you have Bermuda)
B. You should only cut off 1/3 of the blade of grass, so if you let it grow long, raise your mower accordingly.

I agree, that's not what I do, just what I observe alot of others do.