trac-vac 854bx

[ericecon]

I just finished using the trac-vac for the first time and love it. I do have some questions from others with a trac-vac hooked up to their bx24 via 3-point.

I assembled the machine myself, with assistance from more mechanically inclined friends. The dealer wanted $350 to assemble it and I decided that I'd do it myself. The real challenge was figuring out how to conntect it to the 3-point as there's a diagram of parts but no written directions on how to hook up the stabilizer bars or what to connect them to. I emailed trac-vac with this problem and they sent a picture of it set up on a 3 point but it wasn't even a kubota tractor.

Anyway, my problem is this: the pto shaft isn't level and the trailer is sloped down because the hitch on the back of the motor is so high. The stabilizer bars prevent the 3-point from going any lower. Is there some trick to this? The picture of my tractor with trac-vac doesn't look the same as anyone elses as my trailer is angled down to the back.

I also would like someone to let me know if they have a problem with raising the mower deck once the trac-vac is attached to the 3-point. My deck is down and when i raised it up the trac-vac raised up and then when i lowerd the deck, and trac-vac, the tractor wouldn't start. It took some jiggling of the pto shaft before the tractor would start again. It must be one of those safety features. Am I supposed to fully tighten the bolts on the stabilizer bars so the trac-vac doesn't go up or down? Won't preventing it from going up prevent my deck from going up as well?

Anyway, if someone with more experience than me could address some of these questions I'd appreciate.

Thanks in advance,

Eric

 

[milkman]

I will show a picture of the BX2200 and assume that when mowing the BX24 has the same provision for the lift arms to keep them from raising and lowering when the mower deck is raised and lowered. If your BX24 has the tabs shown in the white circle, move the lift rods to the position shown in the picture, before you attach your blower.

 

[ericecon]

Thank you very much for the pic and for your help.

Unfortunately, the bx24 has a slightly different setup that what the 2200 has probably due to the backhoe.

I have done as your picture suggested but now the arms are slightly higher than they were before. The lifting rod will of course go down in height but the left side won't go down further as it's lift arm is fixed length.

Anyone have any ideas how i can lower the lower arms to the appropriate height after fixing the lift rods to fixed points? I suppose i could find longer lift arms but that seems a bit much for this.

 

[ericecon]

maybe i'm supposed to detach the lift arms completely? I suppose i could replace the pins you bend with the round kind on the connecting pin between the lift rods and lower arms so i can do this much quicker and not have to buy (and bend) straight pins everytime i want to use the 3-point for anything other than the trac-vac.

As it is now, the left stabilizer bar gets in the way of the left lift arm so i can raise or lower the mower deck. This can't be the right setup.

 

[teachdocs]

I just finished using the trac-vac for the first time and love it. I do have some questions from others with a trac-vac hooked up to their bx24 via 3-point.

I assembled the machine myself, with assistance from more mechanically inclined friends. The dealer wanted $350 to assemble it and I decided that I'd do it myself. The real challenge was figuring out how to conntect it to the 3-point as there's a diagram of parts but no written directions on how to hook up the stabilizer bars or what to connect them to. I emailed trac-vac with this problem and they sent a picture of it set up on a 3 point but it wasn't even a kubota tractor.

Anyway, my problem is this: the pto shaft isn't level and the trailer is sloped down because the hitch on the back of the motor is so high. The stabilizer bars prevent the 3-point from going any lower. Is there some trick to this? The picture of my tractor with trac-vac doesn't look the same as anyone elses as my trailer is angled down to the back.

I also would like someone to let me know if they have a problem with raising the mower deck once the trac-vac is attached to the 3-point. My deck is down and when i raised it up the trac-vac raised up and then when i lowerd the deck, and trac-vac, the tractor wouldn't start. It took some jiggling of the pto shaft before the tractor would start again. It must be one of those safety features. Am I supposed to fully tighten the bolts on the stabilizer bars so the trac-vac doesn't go up or down? Won't preventing it from going up prevent my deck from going up as well?

Anyway, if someone with more experience than me could address some of these questions I'd appreciate.

Thanks in advance,

Eric

You are either missing parts or not installing it correctly.

On your Kubota, the lower trailing arms are normally attached to the lift arms (one side is adjustable). You need to detach these at the lift arms, carefully cross them inward and lay next to the PTO shaft. I use a bungee cord to keep them in place and out of the PTO shaft.

At this point, the Kubota trailing arms will not be supported by anything and the ends will be lying on the floor. Now install the TracVac bracket in these arms. There are two additional pieces of metal (you may be missing these) that should come with your TracVac. One end slips over the bracket pin thru the lower trailing arm and the other end extends to the upper center mount pin. Repeat this for the other side. The trailing arms and new bracket are now supported directly from the top mount pin. The stabilizer bars are tightened to prevent side to side movement.

The top of the bracket is held in place by a thick flat adjustable plate that is also included. Adjust it so the bracket is level.

Now you can raise and lower your mower anywhere you want (the lift arms ane not attached to anything).

Once you get the hang of it, will take less than 5 minutes to install.

Here are a couple of picture links:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/3175/size/big/sort/1/cat/529

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/3174/size/big/sort/1/cat/529

 

[teachdocs]

After I read your thread more carefully, you have a PTO driven TracVac. I purchased the unit with its own engine.

Therefore, your mount may be different than mine to accomodate the PTO shaft. I would bet the principle is basically the same. The mower should lower and raise independent of the TracVac which should remain level and stationary.

If my ideas don't work, call up TracVac. they are a great company and will take care of you.

 

[teachdocs]

From the TracVac website:

Note: Most tractors require a special lift kit to bypass the stabilizer arms as the lift mechanism for the mower deck. Check with your distributor for these applications.

Model 854 and Model 856