Trac-Vac problem...

[stevej37]

^^^ Remembering when stopping for gas with my father and the attendant would check the oil.
If it was low, he would add whatever brand and weight he had....no worries.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I had to look it up also....What do you do with them after you rake them up?.......

Drag them into the woods behind the house.

[stevej37]

^^^ Good place for them.

[cabmandone]

Do you ever stand in the yard next to the vac yelling "this thing sucks" after you're done using it?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Drag them into the woods behind the house.

We're still talking about leaves right?

[stevej37]

I need to watch the movie 'Fargo' again.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yeah, bought a used one a couple years back for $300, needed a carb. The 5.5 runs well but if it dies I think I'll go up a couple hp.
I'd leave the leaves but we live in a clearing in the woods and if I didn't clear them they'd mat down with rain and choke out the grass. Its possible that my mulching blade would cut them fine enough, but whatever. I do compost the leaves-usually about 15-20 loads, so there's that.

$300 is a deal for one that works!

I bought a POS Agri-Fab from Tractor Supply 10 years ago. I lived in a clearing in the woods at that time. If I didn't get rid of the leaves I wouldn't have a lawn the next spring. In fact, the year before I bought the Agri-Fab I didn't get the leaves up and some kind of white mold grew under the leaves and killed the grass.

Now I harvest the grass clippings and the autumn leaves for my compost pile. I get a pile about the length of a pickup truck, 6 feet wide and four feet high. I put the compost back on the lawn around the house where I want the grass to be healthy and the rest goes on my vegetable garden.

The second year I had it, one of the vanes came loose on the impeller. It was never welded properly. The vanes are welded to a steel disk, and in places the weld bead was 1/4" away from where the vane meets the disk. REALLY bad construction and nonexistent quality control.

[stevej37]

^^^ I've looked at those at TSC....you are right, they are built cheap.
The price is cheap also. When I looked at them, the cart top was canvas...they might have changed since then.

[KFC911]

My Cyclone Rake is canvas, but it's well built, designed, and heavy duty tubing, etc. It does suck bigly with the Vanguard (made by Briggs), but I wouldn't want a new small B&S on anything ... they wouldn't suck as long as they used too

[stevej37]

^^^ I remember looking at those a few years back...maybe you mentioned it then.
They look like good outfits with a large line of products. What do they mean by 'Dual or Single Pin' models? Are they meaning the hitch?

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by dad911

Drag them into the woods behind the house.

[stevej37]

Engine and blower finally done...took only a few minutes to hook it all up again.
The JD GX335 might be pulling it this afternoon.



Stripped and waiting....




New engine and old blower bolted on...




Hoses all hooked up and ready to go...

[cabmandone]

The Honda finally made it??

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

The Honda finally made it??

Yep...he called just before noon and I stopped there to pick it up. He was gone, but his wife let me take it. He had the whole thing stuffed in the box that the engine came in and it was very awkward carrying it by myself....would have been easier out of the box.

I haven't started it yet...I might this afternoon..

[stevej37]

Filled the gas tank, set the choke and the gas.....gave it a dozen pulls....no start.

Looked closer at the side of the engine close to the cart and discovered an engine on/off switch.
The old B&S didn't have that.
First pull....started right up. It sure is a quiet running engine...even at full throttle.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Filled the gas tank, set the choke and the gas.....gave it a dozen pulls....no start.

Looked closer at the side of the engine close to the cart and discovered an engine on/off switch.
The old B&S didn't have that.
First pull....started right up. It sure is a quiet running engine...even at full throttle.

Puts the picture of Steve pulling his heart out and yelling "why won't this #$%*ing thing Start?" in my head... and then a lightbulb moment.

[stevej37]

I never heard of an on/off switch on a small engine. If it's not running, is there a battery somewhere that will die if I don't switch it off?
The slide throttle kills it if pushed to the stop.

Oh and also...the thing turns over a lot easier than the B&S with the recoil.