Spring leaf cleanup

[rfuerst911sc]

Hey guys hope all is well with you . So early last year I purchased a pull behind leaf vacuum . All metal with a basic B&S engine, I purchased the vac used from a local . I am under the theory leaving leaves on the lawn over winter is good for the soil .

The past week here has been perfect , no rain and temps in the 60-70 range . So yesterday I attached the vac to my diesel JD 332 and off I went . What an amazing invention ! This thing gobbles and mulches leaves like a beast . My wife and I are in our mid 60's so raking manually is not a joy .

Today I will do one final pass and we are good to go heading into spring . May be the best $300.00 I ever spent 😁

[stevej37]

Trac-Vac? Fun getting the chopped leaves out? Sometimes they pack in real tight.
Leaves are good for the soil...but they will smother any grass you want to grow.

[masraum]

Nice! In places with lots of leaves, that seems like the thing to have. Fortunately, we don't have that many leaves here.

Yes, leaving the leaves over winter is good for lots of things, various insects and critters, and probably the plants/grass as well.

[Por_sha911]

$300 sounds awesome but how much does it cost to get a JD 332?

[stevej37]

Mines going on 40 years old now. I paid $950 for it new.
I'll never sell it. It's a leaf sucking/eating machine.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

$300 sounds awesome but how much does it cost to get a JD 332?

I got the JD used for $900.00 . It was a steal at that price .

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Mines going on 40 years old now. I paid $950 for it new.
I'll never sell it. It's a leaf sucking/eating machine.

Mine looks exactly like that one except it is white . I agree it is a leaf eating monster, and surprisingly that B&S engine fires up on the first pull !

[stevej37]

You prob have the same 5hp briggs engine that I do. In the 40 years that I've had it..I've changed the spark plug once...and the oil every year...that's it.
I learned early on mine...doesn't need a quick pull to start. Just a slow steady pull to get the motor rolling. And then it starts every pull like yours.

I use an old 5-tine fork to get the chopped leaves out of the box. It's amazing how much comes out of the thing.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Trac-Vac? Fun getting the chopped leaves out? Sometimes they pack in real tight.
Leaves are good for the soil...but they will smother any grass you want to grow.

Mine is an EZ Vac brand . Yeah the mulched leaves pack pretty tight but between the vac tipping backwards to empty and a rake it quickly exits . Here's a pic of the dust covered rig 😁

[rfuerst911sc]

Pic file size was too large , sorry about that .

[stevej37]

Mine tips also...but for me, I found I couldn't spread the chopped leaves around well enough with it tipped. I just remove the back door and start with the pitch fork. ymmv

[greglepore]

Nice. I spend probs 10 hrs annually split between fall and spring with a blower-the darn oaks drop them slow. I need to get one of those things.

[KFC911]

Though I've always used a Stihl backpack to clear my lawn and parents', I purchased a Cyclone Rake a few years back for my "leaf farm" property...

Should have done it decades ago