This is a follow up to the video that I made about the plugging issues with my new Cyclone Rake Z10. Thanks to Cyclone Rake's great customer support I now have a great working unit that is trouble free.
That is awesome! A company that actually sends a team out to investigate and gather data? A team that actually works with you to solve a problem? I'm blown away! Thank you for sharing!
They gave me a choice. Return it for a full refund or they would see if it could be made to work properly with my deck and grass type. They really stand behind their product. Switching to a smaller diameter hose with a higher velocity has made it a great working yard vacuum. They take pride in their products and customer support. Thanks for watching.
It just got another good workout cleaning up this years mess. Still no issues since they switched me to a smaller hose. They stand behind their products. Thanks for watching.
Great video and fascinating story! Ran across this video because I'm thinking of purchasing a CR. Thanks for capturing the before, after, and later. This really shows how patient you were to work with the company, try their suggestions, and brainstorm further to resolve your problem. I believe all the trials and effort on your part, crafted you into a CR engineer- so they could/should hire you to help resolve other people's problems/ complaints. Hopefully you tackle all problems in life with such finesse. P.S. Your yard looked fantastic at the end.
I highly recommend them. This has been working fantastic since the hose size was downgraded. Seems like every type of grass and mower deck combination can present a problem when collecting. I use it to collect about 50 cubic yards of mulch each year for the garden and have not had any problems since the original issues were solved. It's a great machine that really makes the yard look great. Thanks for watching.
Great video and awesome narration! I received a Cyclone Rake as a hand me down. I was told it was about 20 years old. It also had been sitting beside a barn for about 10-15 years! the collection bag, hoses and blower impeller were all rotted. I called Cyclone for parts...they warranted the collection bag (even though I wasn't the original owner) but I did have to pay for the other parts which was no problem. I also had to put a new carb and a fresh tune up and oil change on the Tecumseh. Made it fit my Cub Cadet and it works like a dream!
They are a great company that stands behind their product. That was nice of them to cover the bag. This one has been working great since going to the next size down hose. They sure make life easier. Thanks for watching.
I really enjoyed your video. Great job finding the baffle solution to stop the clumping. I hope Cyclone takes your engineering and adds it to their inlets.
I am not sure that it is required for all deck and mower adapters. My Kubota BX deck and blade tip speed may be the cause of some of my issues. It is easy to make and try from the cutout piece if anyone has issues like mine. Thanks for watching.
One of the best RU-vid videos I have seen in a while. Great job. I have had a Cyclone Rake for about 10 years. 8 hp motor, XL, Oregon "chopper blades" on a JD GT245 with a 54" deck. I have never had any plugging problems. The bag fills up real tight, sometime too tight. I raise the deck to about 3 1/2" and do not bag when the grass or leaves are wet. I put 4 large round tubs with rope handles in the empty bag. When the bag is full I open it up pull the back two tubs out by the rope handles and the rest of the leaves and grass comes out easily. The adapter that attaches to my deck appears to be more of a straight shot and doesn't have the bend where you were having the plugging problems.
This has worked great since downsizing to the 8 inch blower and hose. I have had the bag stuffed full like that with leaves and it can be tough to get it loosened up. It's a great machine that picks up about 50 cu yards of mulch for my garden each spring. Thanks for watching.
I can tell from my experiance that You have watch your speed and look at the amount of grass and leaves you are vacuuming up. these machines do have a limit.But none the less are in my opinion the best. Ive had mine 3 years now no problems except for the rubber gas priming bulb leaking. They sent me a new one immediately.
Great video. Just got some property where I’m getting a zero turn (all wheel drive) and because of your video I will get this cyclone. Fantastic job explaining everything. Well done sir.
I wouldn't use this behind a zero turn. Too much axle weight for most and the fixed hitch would be dangerous with casters on both ends. It whips my little bx around with steerable front axle. Check with the mower manufacturers and be sure it's rated to tow the weight. Thanks for watching.
I found this video extremely interesting, I've had my Cyclone Rake Commercial for about 10 years now and one thing I NEVER EVER do is cut the grass when its wet and especially not with the Cyclone rake. My rake has a 7hp BS Intek engine on it. It uses an 8" hose to the deck and I also have a 7" hose with the pick up nozzle. It's hooked up to a John Deere 425 all wheel steer tractor with only 2 wheel drive. I love the thing!! I just want to say that I never had a plugging issue unless a stick got jammed into the hose, but this only happened several times since I owned it. I also have quite a few hills that may be worse than yours. I never have a problem with sliding, but maybe that's because everything is dry when I use it and my tractor is pretty heavy and has a very wide track. Wet is dangerous and very hard on the equipment! Also I never make any sudden moves with it and make sure that I clear everything while turning because of the way it swings around back there. Well anyway I enjoyed your video. It was very well done and you spoke very clearly. I'm not trying to be mean, I just wanted to throw in my nickel.
Since they downsized me to the 8" hose and blower it has been fine with no plugging issues. I think it depends on the type of grass that you have and having enough velocity to keep it suspended in the hose. With the 10 inch hose it was a constant problem. Thanks for watching.
URHC - thanks for the videos... I find your videos are always edited and narrated very well (nice job!).. I actually purchased a DR lawn vacuum (PRO-XL LL2 16.96 FPT) and was not happy with the integration with my Kubota BX2230. The customer support from DR was not that great either. When I saw your video, I decided to try Cyclone Rake based on your experience with their customer support. I ended up purchasing a XL-20th Anniversary Edition and was very happy with the customer support. In my opinion, the design and functionality of the Cyclone Rake XL in general is superior to the DR. The only exception being the DR-XL has a nice clam-shell collector that makes it **easier** to dump the load. During my test run with the DR-XL, the clamp-shell did require elbow grease to unload (not as easy as they show on their videos, but definitely easier than the Cyclone Rake dumping procedure), so I would rate it as marginally better than the Cyclone Rake unloading feature. Integration of the Cyclone Rake XL with the BX2230 3-point hitch and deck adapter (DR did not have a deck adapter big enough for my Kubota MMM 60" deck) was flawless, and my leaf collecting has since been transformed from back-breaking to enjoyable. I would like to confirm that my dealings with customer support from Cyclone Rake were enjoyable and helpful.
They really stand behind what they sell. It has been a great machine with no plugging after it was downgraded to the 8 inch blower. You don't find many companies like them anymore. Thanks for watching.
For some reason the type of grass in my yard is extremely tough to collect and the kubota deck throws most of it out the front. Not one problem anymore.
I bought a Z10 Cyclone rake last January 2018. I Chose Cyclone after seeing your RU-vid video. I love it, works amazing. So many people think my yard is a golf course.
Mine uses Oregon 396-612. I get a whole season from them without sharpening and I get a much better cut then the Kubota blades. I think mine is a 2013.
Very impressed how the Customer Service worked with you as if you were the only customer! The plugging of the adapter, I would think that any adapter that was pulling moist media would tend to be clingy. Thank you for sharing! This video is enough to let me know that I'm in good hands with this purchase.
Yes every different type of grass and mower deck combination can have different problems. I think the bigger blower really needs more hp to keep the material moving and the smaller blower has worked great so far. Thanks for watching.
I've never had an issue with plugging up like you have had but I do have a 10hp system. The only negative problem is exactly what you ran into with the bag packing very tight. If I don't keep a close eye on the bag it makes it difficult to dump but that beats being plugged up. I have never had a problem with my rake other than wearing out my first bag after 12 years of use on 5 treed acres. No fault of the manufacturer. They build fine equipment in my opinion!
like they said everybody's type of grass is different. Mine is still working good with the 8 inch hose. Just wish it had an exhaust pipe out the back so I don’t stink like exhaust when I use it. Thanks for watching.
as have I with the 10H.P. and large hose, have never had it clog once in over 5 years. But that being said I never work with wet grass or leaves. Just my .02 worth LOL
Wow....You have a Gold mine of Compost! Couple of Mounds would probably be easy to sell. (after a year and bagged up, of course) Anyways....Great problem solving and really Glad to hear that Support was on the ball to help out. :)
The compost is what keeps my garden growing. Their support is second to none. Not 1 problem since they set me up with the 8 inch blower. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the video. I noticed that you are using mulching blades on your Mower deck. High lift blades will help to move the clippings and leaf debris up the cute to the blower.
The G6 Fusion blades are supposed to be one of the better discharge blades for bagging. They discharge close to 10 feet when used without the bagger and are the only blades I have found that give a decent cut on this deck. The problem was the 10 inch hose did not have enough velocity to keep the clippings moving up the hose. The 8 inch hose fixed it.
Thanks. It has gotten a good workout cleaning up all the fall leaves the last couple days. Works perfect now. They are a great company that stands behind their products. Thanks for watching.
late comment, but you have a beautiful property. And of course cyclone rake sound like a very supportive and progressive company. Great indepth and honest opinion. Is always very interesting to listen to your tips and tricks
Cyclone rake proved that their support is second to none to me. I have been mowing some wet thick grass this year due to record rainfall and not 1 problem with the Cyclone rake plugging anymore. Thanks for watching.
It was just a follow up to let everyone that Cyclone Rake is a great company that stands behind what they sell. It has been working great since the changeover.Thanks for watching.
I built my own and saved a TON of money. This unit connects to the frame of the tractor which will eventually crack/break the frame. I built one on my yard trailer that works GREAT. Actually holds a lot more than one also. I had a TON of leaves at the bottom of a Ski area. My total cost was about $200. Ran a pipe to my bagger connector on the tractor deck from the secured box on the dump trailer with a door on the back and just dumped them in the woods. Also, if you notice this guy don't take a full swath. I can and no extra motor ! I have a 22hp 48" tractor. Works like a champ. Makes leaf pick up FUN !!
Absolutely great video! Very helpful for all, but especially for those of us trying to decide on what level of the Cyclone to buy. I'm wondering if the Cyclone engineers ever commented on your baffle addition??? Many thanks!
Go with what they recommend and they will work with you if there is a problem. Each lawn type and mower deck combination presents different problems when collecting grass from what I understand. They have information on the baffle and probably tried testing with it. This has been a trouble free machine since the changes and I collect around 50 cubic yards if grass clippings to mulch the garden each year. Great company that stands behind their products.
I've had the Cyclone Rake XL for almost 20 years now. About half way through your video, you showed how the chute at the deck was partially clogged with leaves. When you opened the back at that time, you could see the bag was bulging. Have you tried emptying the bag sooner? I found that when you "overstuff" the bag, it backs-up into the feed hose and clogs. You have to take apart the chute on top of the motor and clean it out. Sometimes it backs-up into the feed hose before the impeller. Emptying the bag before it gets filled to the top pretty much eliminates any clogs in my experience. I wouldn't want to do without my Cyclone Rake. It's been a life saver for me every Fall for the past couple decades. Good luck with yours!
That didn't help even running it without the bag when the engineers had plugs with the 10 inch hose. No problems after switching to 8 inches. Thanks for watching.
Your willingness to work with them and solve some problems on your own plus having 40,000 views has probably sold several hundred of these vacuums. Cyclone should be sending you presents for Christmas.
They are a great company that stood behind the product they sold me. They gave me the choice to get a refund or try and solve my issues and l am very happy they were able to come up with a solution to the plugging of the hose because I really needed it. The unit has worked flawlessly since changing the hose size and is supplying plenty of mulch for my garden as it was originally purchased for. I think they make a great product and the customer support was fantastic so this is a product that I would reccomend even though it had a bumpy start. No presents, just a happy customer.
I'm thinking that grass is wet by nature so it would have greater sticking properties. Dry leaves on the other hand would have a greater pass through. It looks like it's doing a good job. The diverter you made did the trick. I was thinking along those lines.
We found out it keeping the grass suspended in the airflow kept it from sticking together and plugging the hose. The higher velocity in the smaller hose did the job. No issues since the changeover. I have tough grass to collect. Thanks for watching.
I got the Dr leaf vacuum and if I had to do it again I would got the cyclone rake. I like the way the cyclone turns when you turn the tractor. 10/16/2017
I have a DR also, and, the Cyclone connects to the tractor like a solid unit, maybe why they have dual wheels?, I also think that is pretty neat, but, I haven't had too much trouble backing up or turning, I suppose I'd have to get used to the length of the machine as a whole and being so long. but it is an interesting design. But, I'm very happy with my DR. It was a toss up between the two when I did buy one, it came down to availability and the one I got came fully assembled for same price.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 After all of the good things you've said in all of the comments and video, I'm curious why you would not buy one of their machines again? If not their machine, which machine would you buy?
@@hydrogenie147 Just a couple things. I don't like being covered in exhaust fumes with the engine packed in there with the exhaust on the front. Next is I had to build a lifter for the blower so I wouldn't hurt my back taking it apart to store. Also with the hinge in the back it is very heavy to dump and a pain to get it cleared out without eating a ton of dust. It does work good .
I've had my Cyclone since 99, Great machine its been for me. Living in the middle of all the trees. They do and will stand behind there product, My impeller broke after several years of use and They sent me new one , No questions asked and No charge at all! Looks like you may of hit on something there with the baffle, I'll look into that with mine here next season... Your yard looked really nice there in the end.... They will make a pretty yard mowing with them... You use mulching blades on your mower? I found that really will help in the amount You can pick up too....
It has been working great since switching to the 8 inch system. This summer was extremely wet and not one plug. I use the Fusion g6 mulcher blades and everything gets picked up. The mulch to keep my garden weed free is a bonus.
They have carbide fused on them, cut better then kubota blades and can go a whole season without sharpening. Kubota blades had to be sharpened every 3 weeks.
I've had mine since 1999 5 hp 6 inch hose, Think it is... No dough one of the best things I ever bought, They stand behind it , Pretty much No questions asked..... Use a good mulching blade on mower deck, I found that will help you get lot more in the bag..
The blowing of debris out the front (between the deck and adapter) has been is my only issue with it. I don't consider that a reason to complain. It is pretty minimal. As far as hill sides. I mow with an Exmark and mow/blow leaves down hill. Then vacuum on more level ground. Using an Exmark is a little tricky because of it's ability to turn on a dime. Ya gotta watch out for about 15 feet behind you. Bottom line it's took me some getting used to but I still believe it's the best thing out there. Especially considering what the factory mowing attachment cost, I believe this is better than OEM. I like the adapter idea. gonna have to pay attention to it and give it a try. Also, I experienced a problem with emptying it. I'd pull fwd, stop, pull fwd stop. Then I tried using my control sticks and jiggling it back and fourth. NOT A GOOD IDEA, The bag assy came loose from the mount where the "U" type hinge/swivels to the frame. One of them bent. I don't do that any more. ;-).
Absolutely, a fantastic video. Just a follow-up on the bag screen plugging. Is the issue too much air volume, or not pointed down into the bag directly away from screen port? You talked about grass and leaves in suspension, is that the reason for plugging? I am wondering if cyclone built their bag with the whole top screen wouldn't that relieve most of the high air pressure and let debris fall to the bottom of the bag? I've read hundreds of reviews of the cyclone rakes and would have to guess it would be 98% positive response from purchasers. I've wanted one for years, but we don't have any leaves on our property, still intrigued though. I would also like to compliment you on your demeanor putting together this unit and your workmanship fabricating metal parts fantastic job.
It depends on what you are collecting. Some lighter materials will stay airborne and stick to the screen but it is easy to clean. I use this mostly for collecting grass clippings to mulch my garden and it does a great job since they switched me over to the 8 inch hose. It just gets used once each fall for leaves and I spread then on the garden also. They are a great company to deal with and as you can see stand 100% behind what they sell. Thanks for watching.
My back yard is somewhat steeper, but flat on the bottom. It's only about 75' deep. Would you recommend I blow my leaves to the bottom and then collect them at the flat bottom part of the back yard? Your videos are great and you really are an engineer at heart.
From what I've heard these small engines with splash lube shouldn't be used on steep hills so that may be the safest way to do it. This cyclone rake can toss a tractor around on a side hill with over 1/2 a load. Once you get one it takes a while to figure out the best route for the yard. Thanks for watching.
I have commercial mowed for 20 years try taking your gator blades off and put high lifts back on you will get more air flow might stop the shoot build up
Just a follow up to MAK TOOLS comment, I noticed gator blades in one of your shots too. Gators are mulching blades and mulching blades cannot be high lift or they won't mulch. Mulching blades work by using low lift to keep the clippings under the deck longer so they can be chopped finer. High lift blades create more suction to eject the grass quickly so it doesn't get mulched. They can't be both. The only compromise is a 3 in 1 but it doesn't really do either very well. Congrats on getting your cyclone rake working the way you want it to!
I have a J Deere x590 24 hp Kawasaki engine mower 54” deck with power flow with dump from the seat grass catcher and after seeing this video I think my set up is just as good with a lot less complicated hookup with never having a plugged chute and when picked up leaves in the fall I take off the bins and use one of those inexpensive big bag you drag behind to increase my capacity. Your system has way to many more moving parts plus I don’t worry above cutting on my hillsides very stable. To each his own I guess.
I mow over 7 acres and collect at least 50 cu yards of clippings to mulch my garden with each year. Haven't had any problems since they fixed it and it just hangs on the wall when not needed. Mounts in less than 5 minutes. It has been the perfect solution for my needs. Thanks for watching.
I’m not knocking your setup and that is sure a lot of area to keep up I only do about a third of that area and I don’t have near the grass catching capacity but literally can dump from my seat in less than 60 seconds with never a plugging of my chute and hillsides are not a problem. I pull into my garage and I’m done till next time. From one old timer to another time is not on our side lol a less complicated system without giving up results is the way to go but I did enjoy your video and I was impressed with your fabrication skills👍
If it fits your needs that is all that counts. I looked at the Kubota setup first and it was very small and complex to remove. Plus all the fine dust came out right behind you which I didn't like with the engine pulling air from the back on my BX.
I never have problems on hills. My tractor is larger and only two wheel drive. Don't have any trouble plugging up. Different grass different tractor . I have a lot larger tires. Good luck. RS
If I try to turn going downhill with a 1/2 full bag my tractor swings around out of control. I found that out quick trying to mow around the trees on my hill. I think you hit it on the head with the different grass, different mower combination they have to deal with. Thanks for watching.
Hey I have the exact CR that you have however I converted mine to pivot like a regular trailer I didn't like the solid mount hitch at all as you mentioned in you video I is very hard to turn with alot of weight in the bag especially on hill...the way I made mine to pivot I just welded up some brackets bought a longer hose and a hitch made some brackets so the hose don't drag the ground and welded the caster straight and my CR works perfectly
This is great information and Im very happy I watched both of them... Im looking into getting one and possibly making it "3 point compatable" for my Yanmar TLB. I believe and found the 10 hp and smaller hoae combo to be a great idea! Are they willing to sell them like this do you know?
Wondering about spending the money for the Z10 now and if the 8" system would be a better thing to get. Not sure if this is still an issue or if they have solved the velocity issue. I'm in the process of ordering the Z10 so maybe I better reconsider or at least ask them about this issue. Cleaning up dry leaves vs wet grass is a whole different deal but I want to be able to use this when mowing and not just annual leaf collection. Great and informative videos. Thanks! I need to look up you engine lift as well and work on getting the CNC table thing going.
I think it depends on your grass type and mower deck. Go with what they recommend and if there are any problems call them. This has worked great for me since the change over. I collect about 50 bags full of clippings for the garden each spring so it does get a good workout. They have awesome support. Thanks for watching.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 thank you sir. I was looking for your CNC plasma table build videos and think I read where the hard drive crashed. I had already subscribed to your channel for other builds but found you again on the Z10. I’d like to build one table big enough to do plasma and then wood projects with a spindle router. Saving space is my idea since my 32’x48’ shop is pretty well packed. Need to get them 4 post car lifts installed after I get power to handle the load. Money or time, never shall they meet at the same time. Laid off due to COVID concerns in overseas countries.
Goats, I have nothing on you, we built a 36' x 50' x 11' eves and I also have filled to the brim with equipment and projects, more electrical wiring to do cars, omgosh, not enough room or maybe I could take a lesson on closet organizing.
I know it’s two years later, but I’d try high lift blades and forget the gator blades for this application. More airflow through the adapter from high lift blades might have helped.
Those gator g6 blades do have lift and give the best cut of any blades I have tried. Since downsizing the blower it hasn't had a problem. Thanks for watching.
I've owned a cyclone for about 6 years and never had a problem with plugging up when I do leaves I raise my mower to 3 - 4 in. and slow my ground speed in heavy leaves . as far as when you cut the opening in the mower adapter, you should trace your cut lines from the inside of the mower then you will end up with a smaller opening
I think it all depends on the type of grass and mower deck design you have. Mine works great at any speed now and the adapter is cut to be a perfect fit to the inside of the deck.
Great video! I just ordered the z10. May I ask where you got the engine lift from? This would be great to move the engine around as you do with ease. Would appreciate any info. Thank you
They're a great company that stands behind what they sell. I had to design and build it. There's a video about making it. The blower is to heavy and bulky for one person to lift easily on the big machines so it is a good idea to get help or build something. It's a great time saving machine. Thanks for watching.
They have a tough job making a machine that is affordable, will work with all types of mower decks, and must work with different types of grasses and leaves. They have a great group of engineers that solved my issues. Thanks for watching.
My wife started calling things I made that name after I was laid off from my last job 13 years ago. So I decided to use it as a channel name when I started on RU-vid a couple years ago. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for a GREAT video - plus the other GREAT video you did when your unit first arrived, putting it together and installation. I am interested in ordering a Cyclone Rake, and was torn between the 10 HP (with 10 inch hose) and the 8 HP (with 8 inch hose) because I definitely wanted the "extra" power! However, I do not have the tools (or ability) to make adaptors and weld things. Did you say in you your video that after you switched over to the 10 HP motor with the 8 inch hose that it solved all your problems and you did not have to use the adaptor you made when using the 8 HP motor with 8" hose? I am planning to call the company and see if I can order a unit with the 10 HP motor and an 8" hose! Thanks again!
I have had no problem with the 8 inch 10 hp combo but they don't sell it. Would be nice if you could get 12 hp on the 10 like dr offers. Go with what they recommend for your deck and they have great support. Thanks for watching.
you should try hooking the 10 inch hose back on and make the diverter for the 10 inch. I wonder if your whole problem was fixed because of the air baffling, but you are creating more suction by using the 8 inch line in, just interesting. thanks for the info.
That wouldn't work. The whole blower asm and hose would plug on the 10 inch. It had less velocity, more volume and if you blocked off the opening the grass would fall out of the air stream even quicker to plug things up. If the hose on the 10 inch didn't plug solid. it may have helped. Thanks for watching
URHC, it seems like the root cause of your initial Z10 was an engine governor issue. If the engine was not revving to full speed, that would cause debris to fall out and plug up your hose and mower deck adapter. Did you ever try the good 10 horsepower motor with the 10in Z10 unit?
It looks like you have mulching blades on your mower you should try the hi-lift blades they pick up more an make more circulation to throw the grass farther
I am thinking about switching to a DR now. This is too heavy for me to dump anymore and the engine to close to me leaving me smelling like gas fumes when using. Plus the casters are drooping and scraping while turning. A couple things that are changing my mind. Thanks for watching.
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 Interesting.....Looks like the PRO MAX450 has a lift that can lift it and a bigger motor, 11HP. But looks like you have to buy a separate deck adapter. They only have an 8-inch hose, whereas Cyclone offers 10 Inches. The DR one is a bit more money as well. 500$ difference for the big boy.
With the 60 inch deck 8 inch is what worked best for the 10 hp blower on my machine. This hitch setup also causes my little BX to loose traction on turns and go out of control trying to turn on my hills. Both do the same thing so either may work for you. I think Cyclone Rake has better support if there is a problem.
HI You let the bag get too full. When you notice the front wheels of the bx begin to slip on turns you are full enough to dump. I never had a slipping problem or traction problem when stopping at about 3/4 full. Don't have a problem with mower deck closing. Works good on slopes if you don't let it get to full. Bob
This is definitely dangerous on side gills. Even with a 1/4 bag it will spin the Kubota right around. That straight hitch and centrifugal force are a bad combination on hillsides. Thanks for watching.
98% of owners don't. It's a combination of grass type and deck flow that only affects some. Works great since switching to the 8 inch blower. Thanks for watching.
You mentioned on one of these videos about the location of exhaust. I didn't see any modifications on it or hear you talk about it again. Did you make any changes to the the exhaust on the Cyclone Rake? Great video, wonderful property.
No I did not yet. The kubota BX has the motor mounted backwards with the cooling fan right behind the steering wheel that pulls air in from the back of the tractor including the exhaust fumes from the cyclone rake. On a still day it is annoying but on windy days it is barely noticeable. I have thought about extending the exhaust out a little, but it would have to be something that is removable for storage and I have not figured out a good solution yet. Thanks for watching.
My grass was a problem for the 10 inch hose, but now with the 8" hose it seems like it would be impossible to plug with my 60" deck. Their support is amazing. Thanks for watching.
Hello, UNRHC I'm thinking about down grading from 10" to 8" hose system. I think I need to change out the MDA to fit the 8" hose. What adapter did you get to go from the 10 Hp blower motor to the 8" hose on the Z10? Love all your videos!!
You need the whole blower assembly and new mda. Contact Cyclone Rake. The 8 inch blower will accommodate 8 or 10 hp motors. I don’t think reducing the hose size on a 10 inch blower will work because of the lower static pressure. It has worked good with the smaller hose since. Thanks for watching.
i have a question. The bracket at 3:03 minutes. Did you make that? I have a Kubota BX2350 with a 60" deck and mine is just a square piece of steel 4"x4" with a thin 1.25" piece of steel.
Thanks for your fine video. I am seriously thinking of being the XL, My grass is long and wet.in the spring. Do you have any problems with the exhaust screen on top of collector getting plugged ? I have had that problem with other catchers and it was more trouble than it was worth.
I had problems when it was new and the exhaust screen was much smaller. They redesigned the bag with a much larger screen and replaced mine so it is fine now. All newer machines now use the larger opening. Any problems contact them for support. Thanks for watching.
I see that you made an addition to your original square looking bracket. It appears you added steel that went across the whole top and back side. I did also notice that mine, when the hose was attached to the mda that the entire mda 'twisted', just as your first video showed. Was this a bracket the CR provided or did you make yourself? I would be interested in some quick plans on how you made it if you did?.? It certainly wouldn't be wise to run the unit with that much 'twisting' stresses being applied to the mda. Thanks for any help you can offer.
I made a whole new bracket that uses the deck discharge chute pivot so it can float on uneven ground and stay in perfect alignment like the chute deflector did. You have to wrap around the backside to keep the hose tension from twisting the mda. I just made some cardboard templates and worked it out before cutting steel. Just set the mda in place on blocks next to the deck and it is easy to work out. You can also use the provided hardware and instructions for a fixed screw mount and screw the hose in or out a little to relieve tension on the mda.
Did you make that mounting bracket? I love my cyclone rake but it is a huge pain removing the deflector each time I use it. I have been trying to come up with a better solution. I also really like that mounting/storage stand for the engine. Did you build it?
Yes, I built the bracket and blower lift. The bracket is easy to mount and flips up some so the deck adapter does not get stressed on terrain changes. I understand that cyclone rake is now working on a lift mechanism for the blower. You may want to give them a call. I made a video about building the lift if you look back about a year on my channel. Thanks for watching.
Interesting, that is what I was thinking while watching this video. I saw how hard it was to lift that motor onto the platform. But truly that adaptor that connects to the mower chute seem to be the culprit. You almost need 2 blow motors because your grass and leaves get very wet.
In one of the frames I noticed you're running the aggressive mulching blades, commonly branded The Predator. May I suggest switching to high lift blades? For two reasons. Better lift/air flow off the deck. And 2 they will not refine the material being picked up so small. Larger material is handled better than finely ground/mulched materials, especially grass. I think that would have solved your front chute build up.
I run the G6 Fusion blades. They are the only blade that I have found that cut good with the deck. The deck is not really deep enough for good airflow.
I too suggest high lift blades I use gator blades on my bx2370. but if i use the Kubota bagger i switch back to the high lift blades otherwise it clogs up my bagger boot in a matter of 100 feet
Try using high lift blades. Gator blades do not have the needed lift and air flow. Going back to high lift blades made my yard have a smoother cut and look much better. Vacuum is much better.
Can't get a good cut with them on my deck. The only blades that give me a decent cut are the g6 fusions. It has been working great since switching to the 8 inch blower. Thanks for watching.
Greetings Sir, thanks for the video. I have BX25D. I have two questions for you. my yard is very windy. There are literally no leaves in the main area of my yard. they all blow to coves and pile pile pile up. if I miss the window to get them up due to work... they will mat down and become a nightmare. do you think the cyclone rake would pick up matted wet leaves a couple of inches thick? Next is an idea I have. I have a FEL on the tractor. my idea is to reverse the discharge from the midmower and blow debris forward and have the cyclone rake on the front of the tractor attached to flex hose. when it comes time to dump, just use FEL. Think this will work? thanks!
They make a vacuum attachment for it that may work. I think the Cyclone rake is to heavy for a bx loader when it starts filling up plus it would block all vision. Give them a call and see what they recommend.
If you have a thick layer of wet leaves, it may help to use a leaf blower to spread them around some so they can dry out for a day or two, then they will be easier to collect. My cyclone rake works great on grass and leaves about 90 percent of the time, but I do run into some clogging if I try to pick up wet material. In my case, waiting a day or two for drier conditions always cures the clogging issue. The silicone spray sounds like it may also help some, but I will need to thoroughly clean all the dried clippings from the boot before I give it a try.
I had to build it. There is a video about making it. These larger blower assemblies are to heavy and a hazard for one person to lift so I came up with this so I wouldn't hurt my back or crush my fingers. It is a bad design that they just carried over from the original blowers that were 1/2 the weight and within the lifting capability of one person. Thanks for watching.
So, I also have a section of property with very often damp grass. Would you therefore recommend an 8" over the 10"? It sounds like your answer will be "Yes".
In my case the 8 inch with the 10 hp wound up being the best combination with my mower deck, deck size, and sticky grass. I have used it all summer with tall damp grass from all the rain and not one plug or problem since switching over. Talk to them and see what they recommend as each mower deck is different. They are a great company to deal with.
I can't figure how a 10" would work better than an 8" with the lower velocity. You can only vacuum as fast as your machine can move. Your vacuum path is only as wide as your mower deck. A 10" hose wouldn't really offer any advantage over the 8".
Sara Llewellyn Thanks Sara! I figured with a wider deck, more volume if leaves, it couldn’t hurt to have greater flow area. However, if this translates into lower velocity, that might be wrong. We’ll see!
My deck is a 60"cut with a 21" wide discharge opening . Cylone sent a boot that is 19" ,called them and they tell me that for my deck thats all they offer .I note that the mda on your mower dosen't have a gap on the back of the mower boot . What are the measurment of your mda adapter they sent you for yours kubota? Thanks in advance .Like your channel.
I think I saw some gator mulching blades on your mower deck...if that's the blades you're running,then that may be your problem.You should be running high lift blades instead.They will work better with the bagger.
The g6 fusion blades are the only blades that give a good cut with this deck. I tried the kubota blades with it also and same thing. Haven't had a problem since they switched to the 8 inch blower so it wasn't the blades. I pick up almost 50 bags full every spring to mulch my garden and it is really working good now. Thanks for watching.
I'm not a landscaping or lawn mowing expert, but, one thing i'm proud of is my common sense, and my common sense would tell me, not to mow my lawn after five or six inches of rain, let alone try to bag it up with a bunch of wet leaves. but, whatever dude
@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023 I appreciate your "worst case scenario" experience; it may offend others, but I doubt very many, and you provide more good information than that provided by Woodland, as good as theirs is. I'm still on the fence, trying to decide between the Classic and Commander; the longer and wider footprint of the Commercial Pro and higher is something of a concern for me.
hi, nice machine but what's the problem in a slope that can happen and how much does this machine cost and do you have the internet address where I can buy it, thank you.
Basic physics when you attach a 500 pound pendulum to the back of a small tractor plus the engines are splash lube and not recommend for using on angles. Thanks for watching.
Best to buy what they tell you to buy and then if there is trouble later let them be responsible for it. They really need a 12 or 14 hp on the 10 inch blower. Thanks for watching.
i need another motor they said i could save a little money by getting XR 950 and it will work.I looke the motor up before ordering one it has a 3quarter diameter shaft,mine is 1inch this shaft is 2.5 inches long mine is 3inches so it wont work
The stock motors are not that great but I thought they have a better thrust bearing then off the shelf motors for the extra thrust load from the impeller. Call them back with what you found. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for your comment.I called technical department at cyclone rake and they told me XR 950 wold be a little cheaper.and it would work on my cyclone rake .I saw a picture of the motor and found the shaft was 3 quarter mine is 1 inch .I called technical department again and he said the key in the slot would make up the difference ,But common sense tells you that the impellerwould be stripped out in no time.Its sad that all the sales people said it would work when it wont.Most motors are 3 quarter inch in diameter .I think they made it 1 inch where you would have to buy their motors at $681.00 + tax =$749.00@@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023
I think they need the bigger shaft and bearing for the thrust force from the impeller. Sears did the same thing with their mower engines. They would make the shaft stepped so you had to pay ridiculous prices from them. Good luck.
Seems the way most US companies are headed since the pandemic. They used to be very good at customer service. That is a proprietary part so try sending an email a d let them know your feelings. Thanks for watching.
Sounds like a great company to buy from. Do they know you do these You Tube videos?? Seems like they went really overboard to make you happy. All I know I won’t ever buy another Toro product from having to deal with them on customer service issue.
I made a RU-vid video to show them the original problem and they couldn't figure it out so they sent 2 of their top engineers to see it work in my actual conditions. It was decided that the smaller hose would work better with my mower and type of grass and sent out the parts. Not one plug since then, the unit works great now. A company that stands behind their product and is anxious to find out what is going on if there is a problem and make improvements. They stand behind what they sell to everyone.
This deck doesn't cut good with the standard high lift blades. The g6 fusion blades give the best cut so that's all I buy anymore. Thanks for watching.
