KennyG
Elite Member
Depending on where you are dumping, you might try reconnecting the hoses to suction them out of the trailer.
Trac-Vac Rehab/Refit
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toolslinger
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That could be interesting... Could even throw the output in to the input of the MacKissic shredder...
Probably too much business though unless I really need to shred them.
The hoeing works fine. I'll just be pushing the pile up once I'm done with the loader. In a season, they'll be completely composted.
Probably too much business though unless I really need to shred them.
The hoeing works fine. I'll just be pushing the pile up once I'm done with the loader. In a season, they'll be completely composted.
Carl_NH
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Never had issues emptying my Trac Vac - the trailer is tapered front to back like 3" (smaller front to larger back) and dumps a brick of leaves in 30 seconds. You can see the piles in the background in this pic - this was a day later - the piles had settled a bit
Vaccing leaves with the wand is very time consuming - for heavy wet leaves I take small 1-2' wide passes with the mower/vac when they are in a thick pile - it works well.
Vaccing leaves with the wand is very time consuming - for heavy wet leaves I take small 1-2' wide passes with the mower/vac when they are in a thick pile - it works well.
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I think the tapered design is relatively new. Mine is the old design, which doesn't have that.
I've never had much of an issue dumping even so. Driving a short while to the dump site on a gravel road settles the leaves into more of a brick. Then I open the rear, dump, and then bounce the front up and down a bit by hand, then drive away with the trailer up. Most of the load come right out, and the rest falls out pretty well. Of course it helps if the leaves are pretty dry.
I've never had much of an issue dumping even so. Driving a short while to the dump site on a gravel road settles the leaves into more of a brick. Then I open the rear, dump, and then bounce the front up and down a bit by hand, then drive away with the trailer up. Most of the load come right out, and the rest falls out pretty well. Of course it helps if the leaves are pretty dry.
Carl_NH
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TerryR -My unit is 18 yrs old I think - this is exactly as I do. I made a number of mods, replaced the 1/4" top mesh screen with 1/2" expanded metal mesh allows more air flow and packs leaves in a lot better - i would say added 10-15% more capacity due to more/better air flow vs clogging of the smaller screen.
Then during dumping I tilt it back pretty hard which does move the "brick" of leaves out somewhat, then drive away in dump position and the brick comes out. But this resulted in the bottom rear door angle iron to bend due to weight/force so I straightened it out and added a 2x4 PT under the angle iron so when dumping it, the 2x absorbs the force.
Then during dumping I tilt it back pretty hard which does move the "brick" of leaves out somewhat, then drive away in dump position and the brick comes out. But this resulted in the bottom rear door angle iron to bend due to weight/force so I straightened it out and added a 2x4 PT under the angle iron so when dumping it, the 2x absorbs the force.
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toolslinger
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Well... That's good to hear. Currently, they're not dumping, but it gives me hope. There's a ton of rust, to the point of rust through in a few spots on the trailer. Could be that's giving me enough friction that the leaves are holding on. Now that the system is working, I plan to address the rust for the sake of longevity, and if it gets me to the point of dumping easily, then all the better. Good info about the rear bending. I'll incorporate that to the repairs, and reinforce it at the time.
Also had to tie the dump lever in place as it vibrated open a couple times so far. Again, it needs some time/maintenance, so that will happen over the next year.
Next season, the JD 140 will have the deck working hopefully. That should help with pickup and mulching. Until then, feeding the hose really isn't all that bad.
Two more loads today. Off to the salt mines tomorrow so I can pay for the repairs to the toys...
Also had to tie the dump lever in place as it vibrated open a couple times so far. Again, it needs some time/maintenance, so that will happen over the next year.
Next season, the JD 140 will have the deck working hopefully. That should help with pickup and mulching. Until then, feeding the hose really isn't all that bad.
Two more loads today. Off to the salt mines tomorrow so I can pay for the repairs to the toys...
Carl_NH
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Toolslinger,
There is supposed to be a spring on the dump lever that must be missing on yours. It's shown in the attached manual - but any spring should work.
Also on the rear 2x4 I just drilled through the bottom of the bed and used 1.5" screws to attach the 2x4 - 24" long - this way when you dump with some force about a 1/3 of the leaves come out. Then drive away. Another trick is to dump on a slope which will increase the dump angle.
Also if you need a new mower deck boot, the agrifab plastic boot $50 is easy to modify and attach to your 140 deck if you dont have the boot on yours. https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...mis8qviput-wivga7ich1-nqloeaqyasabegihfvd_bwe
There is supposed to be a spring on the dump lever that must be missing on yours. It's shown in the attached manual - but any spring should work.
Also on the rear 2x4 I just drilled through the bottom of the bed and used 1.5" screws to attach the 2x4 - 24" long - this way when you dump with some force about a 1/3 of the leaves come out. Then drive away. Another trick is to dump on a slope which will increase the dump angle.
Also if you need a new mower deck boot, the agrifab plastic boot $50 is easy to modify and attach to your 140 deck if you dont have the boot on yours. https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...mis8qviput-wivga7ich1-nqloeaqyasabegihfvd_bwe
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toolslinger
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2013
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- 135
- Location
- NJ / PA
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- 2x Case 646, 2x 8N, MF202, JD300, Case 444, MF 135, JD 140
Fortunately, I still have the boot for the 140's EZ Rake that the blower came with. Still in good shape, and already color coordinates...
No slope to dump on in this case... Compost heap is in the one almost flat field on the property...
My unit must be older than a lot of the Trac Vac parts manuals available... The 1080 parts cut sheet reflects the latch setup I have (mostly). No spring indicated, but, that's a simple solution I'm sure I can add once I dig in to the maintenance. Certainly well worth some engineering if I can get the brick to actually come out the back... Once I treat the rust, I'm thinking I'll likely wax the heck out of the inside... Apart from the protection it affords, the low friction has to help.
No slope to dump on in this case... Compost heap is in the one almost flat field on the property...
My unit must be older than a lot of the Trac Vac parts manuals available... The 1080 parts cut sheet reflects the latch setup I have (mostly). No spring indicated, but, that's a simple solution I'm sure I can add once I dig in to the maintenance. Certainly well worth some engineering if I can get the brick to actually come out the back... Once I treat the rust, I'm thinking I'll likely wax the heck out of the inside... Apart from the protection it affords, the low friction has to help.