Yard Sweeper
 

So I will be the first to admit that this is my first season with a yard tractor (107). I grew up in the suburbs on less then 1/4 acre lots. Mowing was done with a self propelled walk behind with bag, and raking was only done at the end of the season when all the leafs fell off and was too much for the mower.

So anyways I have 3/4 acre now and last year sucked raking. I was thinking of getting a yard sweeper to tow behind the 107.

questions

Do they even work? I have read online that you need to get one with at least 5 to 1 gearing to get the brush head spinning fast enough. I mainly would want to pick up leaves, but if it could pick up walnuts too that would be a big bonus

Do they tow directly behind? this would not make sense to me because then it would not pick up anything if you tried to use it while mowing, because everything shoots out to the right.

whats a thatcher

Last question, were the older ones any better or worse then the newer ones. I would rather hold out for an older one on CL but before the fall I would like to have one.



Thanks

Hi Punkid
Yes the yard sweepers do work. And they tow directly behind the tractor they are really only meant for after you mow, or for leaves and anything else that you would want to rake up.

punkid,

Yes, the lawn sweepers really work. I use mine all the time. I've used mine, before we mow and it still does a great job. Here's some pics, so you can see how they work. By the way, mine is a Craftsman 42 inch hi speed model. :beerchug:

http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/r..._0494Small.jpg
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/r..._0481Small.jpg

Thanks for the pics ACecil. I have been debating about one of those for a loooong time wondering if they worked or not. Now I can clearly see that they work!:beerchug:

Glad I could help, papaglide! You'll really enjoy having one. :beerchug:

i have a 42 inch agra-fab i got out of the thrifty nickel for 50 buck and i wouldnt take double for that, it picks up walnuts and those little spikey things that fall from gum trees and even a good size stick or two. you just have to watch it around briers and any sort of vine, they love to chew those up and not spit them out. but all in all they are well worth the money.

I should also add, that I've picked up pine straw with my sweeper.

WALNUTS TOO!!!! Now I must get one!

Punkid,

I also have an agri-fab 42" that works great and I use it after I mow. I have picked up about 24" sticks IF I can catch it parallel to the brush.

A thatcher is a device that looks like a bunch of springs pointed down into the ground. They can be tractor mounted or towed behind a tractor. I use mine in the spring to pull up the dead grass that has been matted down all winter. A couple of passes with the thatcher and then out comes the sweeper to pick up the mess! All in all it's GREAT seat time on the ole' tractor!!

If i remember correctly agrafab and some of the others make a sweeper with a thatcher mounted infront of the brushes so you can get 2 birds with one stone. it also detaches so you can use it with out as well

sweeper
 

What do they run in price for a new sweeper?:bigthink:
ole 147

ole 147,

I think, that I paid $269 for my sweeper four years ago. I never regret the purchase either. :biggrin2.gif:

One of the big box stores (if your a Jimmy Johnson fan you'll know which one) lists an Agri-fab 42" lawn sweeper for $269. How about that...not much markup in 4 years, huh?:bigthink:

Roblynn,

I got mine, while Sears was having a sale. :beerchug:

Yep they work great. I have used mine, a Sears unit to bick up twigs, pine needles, cones and dead grass. I can't wait to pick up leaves in the fall.

I guess I will be the odd one...
 

Sweepers...they are great! BUT..... here in Canada, I guess we get the shaft on the quality stuff? I bought my old man a White name brand a couple years ago for fathers day (White is made by MTD, they also have a lawn tractor line too). Spent almost $450.00 Canadian on it, 38" model. Its great except for one design flaw in the gears on it. The main gear in the collection of 3 is plastic, and you know what happens to plastic over the years through wear and tear, not even the abuse it takes because the lawn is rough. Anyway, to replace the plastic gear, $98.00 plust tax! You have to replace the entire wheel assembly - DUH! Who the hell invents something like this unless they just want to sell parts afterwards to make money off of too? He priced it out the other day, he then asked what a new sweeper was worth....$350.00.....Hmmmmmm..lets do the math together! So needless to say, he said thank you very much and went on his merry way. He went down the road to John Deere, checked out their design, it was better, replacement gear was WAY cheaper if it needed replacing and it wasn't attached to the drive wheel either. So needless to say he now has a Kubota running around the yard now with the competition chasing him....the ol' John Deere green!
The plan is now, since the White ended up in my back shed....I want to modify it to have a direct drive off the ground. Thought I would remove the wheels, put a 5 or 6 tooth sprocket on both ends of the shaft with the brushes on it. Then install a new shaft in front with a new set drive wheels and a pair of 16 tooth sprockets with #40 chain running back to drive the brushes. I still need to figure out if the number of teeth on the sprockets will work out right, want to keep the brushes spinning fast as I can. Figured this way I will have the brushed constantly turning even in uneven ground and there is very little chance of stripping the sprocket teeth off if its all steel. I think the biggest challenge will be to get the new brackets slotted so I can still raise and lower the brushes, the old bracket has a slight arc to it for raising and lowering brushes....Oh well looks like a winter project now. The bagger on the tractor will have to do for now.

Mountain Heritage,
Spent almost $450.00 Canadian on it

Gee today that must be about $900.00 USD:biggrin2.gif:

You should have made a trip south to get a better price.

I purchased one at TSC they were the only ones that had any in stock.
They only had 2 -42" sweepers and they were Ohio Steel cost $249.00.
I spent 2 hrs. putting it together.
It did a good job so far.:ThumbsUp:

ole 147

Yes, I know....since I bought it.....I have seen MANY examples that I got screwed! Ahhhh...isn't it nice! Nothing like taking in the back side over a stupid peice of yard equipment....just another reason for the wife to complain! Well, I'm not done yet, I plan on lick'n this sucker yet....will let you know how I make out with the new wheels and drive idea when I get to it.

Ok, I made my Purchase. It is as old or maybe older then the Cub WOOOT!!!

Its a Parker, and in my reseach i found out that these guys patented the Sweeper hahaha.

And beleive it or not It matches the Cub. WOW!

Sorry for the dark photo.

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/r...t/IM001825.jpg

Some interesting points. Cast Iron Hubs, Bronze gears (what I have read anyways). 36" sweep, Fully adjustable height, Dump from tractor with rope, And something in the gears allows it to backup without spinning the sweeper. Seriously all this from something probably well over 30 years old.

I used it today a little. It actually worked very well for having rained the last day and half, and the grass was a little long. I plan on mowing tuesday and then running the sweeper around afterwards. So far the only thing it struggles with is my hickory (I think) nuts. I can see it tossing them in front of the sweeper but it rarely gets them in the bin.

punkid,

Congrats, on your new to you sweeper! Please get us some action pics. :ThumbsUp:

punkid,
Very cool! And it's a color match. Ya got to love it.

I use mine for leaves and if I adjust it just right it will pick up about 70 percent of the fallen apples, beats bending over andwhat I miss the dear can eat. I live in teh country so I dont care of my lawn smells like apple cider or vinegar after awhile LOL

Well I used it after a mow, and it worked very well for picking up the fresh leaves and clippings. it was not getting to the old leaves that are kinda stuck to the soil (my back yard has lots of bare spots). It was trying to pick up the hickory nuts but it just kept sending them forward. I think if I adjust it some more It might be able to pick them up. I am just happy it picks up leaves. I can't wait till fall now, I never thought I would be excited to sweep up leaves. I will try and get a good action pick this fall.

I knew you would enjoy it, punkid. I've been using mine for almost five years now and I enjoy it, as much now, as I did then. Can't wait to see the Fall action pic! :ThumbsUp:

Well I wanted to bring this topic back up.

Now that Fall has been in full swing. the sweeper has been used allot, I'm still learning the best technique. Up until this weekend I've been running two to threes laps with the mower and the chute pointed in. Then the forth lap I shut the blades off and run the sweeper to pick up everything, then rinse and repeat.

Well now after a couple cold spells and some big wind last night I need a new technique. the blades just can't push all the leaves out and it gets clogged, then when I run the sweeper over it, I am full halfway through the lap.

So the new idea is to just sweep first then follow with a mow/sweep.

I will say it sure beats raking any-day. hahaha.

I say mow the lawn like you normally would - blow the first round or two in and then blow it all out from there. When your done, hook up your sweeper and cut your yard into "lands" section it off and run up and down, once you have done a couple rips, you go dump it then go back for more. The beauty of this...if your grass is healthy, you can run up one way and then right back down beside it - will give you the look of a striped lawn. It will look like a ball fields when your done. Trust me, with some work (and now that you have the tools) your neighbours will be oogling your lawn. It has taken me almost 5 years, but half of my lawn is like shag carpet....you can walk in it and your foot prints are left there perfectly. The outlaws make fun of my front lawn looking like a carpet. I say they are just wishing they had their own carpeted front lawn.

yard sweeper
 

Hello fellow members, I am a little late for the discussions about yard sweepers, all seem to be from a year or so ago. I came on them tonight because I was looking for information. I just picked up an IH International sweeper! I haven't really done any research on them yet. I know they were offered and I think I have a piece of IH literature showing them. I suspect they MAY have even been made by Parker but it is tagged and decaled IH. Now when I say I picked it up, I mean I literally picked it up. Out for a Sunday drive with a friend in a Classic, 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible and we drive by this sitting by the road. I almost break my neck and he asks do I want him to turn around? Please! Check it over and go to the door and ask the nice lady if she is selling it or?? She says no it is there for the junk man to pick up. Would she mind if I took it except I would have to come back for it- won't fit well in the trunk of the Lincoln. No, she says that is no problem just set it in the driveway turn-around. Can you believe this?! I went back today, about 60 miles one way, and I picked it up. I wanted to thank the woman and chat, she told me last night her husband had worked 30-some years for IH! She was not home so I left her a note to thank her. We tinkered with it a little while unloading it and I think it will not take too much to get it back into working condition. That is exciting isn't it.

lawn sweepers are great. i personally have a Agrifab 30" sweeper. its a little guy takes a good chunk outta debris on the ground. i tow it with my speedex since i can adjust the height using the sleeve hitch. i pull it going pretty fast so the brushes inside throw the grass and other debris into the back of the hopper. also if your gonna use the sweeper in wet grass you gotta get off every now and then and push the grass from the front of the basket to the back otherwise it will clog up in the brushes. mine works great when the grass is really dry and fluffy. kinda gotta do it like your making hay. haha

Got a cub cadet 42 inch sweeper...love it! Picks up grass, leaves and any trash my dogs may have left in the yard.:biggrin2.gif:

I enjoy using my lawn sweeper, as well. In fact, I use it year round. :beerchug:

two years ago my sister needed a lawnmower so i told her to hold on and not buy a piece of crap i would find her a winner and with in a month i find one from the burgh area. not a total steal but a OK deal from eBay i get a 129 wide frame with a 48 inch deck, and with a blade for the front, a cart for the back, a broadcast spreader, and a lawn sweeper all for 800

long storey short last week i go out to her house to borrow the sweeper and it is setting outside and the bag part of the back is gone and rotted off from setting outside and if she cleared out some of the junk from the 2 garages it could have been stored inside :bash2:

next what i see just makes me want to load up every thing and rescue it, she has i small hole cleared out in the garage and she has a wheel horse inside and the 129 outside with a cover half off on it half off it :angry:

after seeing the sweeper and needing to borrow it i decided to go buy my own so i did my research and agri fab seems to make most of them. sears had the best deal at the time, i got there crapsman pro brand 44 inch sweeper which is the agrifab equal to there new model "smart sweeper" one thing i liked about it is it fold up for storage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KiPojYKJiQ

I'll definitely have to get one of those, if my Craftsman hi speed one ever wears out. :beerchug: