Exmark users with Ultra Vac and Mulching Kits

[johnnyjay]

This message is for Exmark users. I have just bought the Ultra Vac System for my 52" Exmark Lazer Z HP.

Can you advise me on which blades or double blades have worked for you with success and which to avoid. Thanks.

1. Ultra Vac System
2. Side discharge
3. Mulching Kit installed.

[Kent Lawns]

Ultra Vac = Low lift blades
Side Discharge = High lift blades
Mulch Kit = Gator Blades

[REO]

I have 2 eXmarks ( 60" LC & 72" LC ) and I put a Director on both of them and I haven't picked up a leaf in 4 yrs. and I will compare any of my lawns with someone who picks up the leaves. I just close the side shute and back over them and those puppies are gone.

[a1 lawncare]

the same combo is working super for me, the 52hp and the ultra vac are both new to me and i love em more everytime i use them,


best of luck, keith

[TLS]

I'm with REO. Director and Gator Magnums on bottom and "regular" Gators on top. Back over them and ........BUG DUST!!!!

I have the Ultra-Vac, but to be honest, I dont really like it as much as I thought.

1) Too wide at the deck.
2) Too wide at the rear (bag area swings into things)
3) REALLY taps the power. 3700 RPM's normally with just blades engaged, 3500-3550 RPM's with Ultra-Vac engaged! (ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THIS??)
4) Offers hardly any "suction" to pick up the leaves. Has the same "suction" as it does when just mowing. Isn't the impeller offering ANY suction?
5) Heavy as all Hell. The bag support cover must weigh 100lbs and is all but a 2 man job to just hang it on the back!
6) Requires removal (2 wrenches for my application) of "THE DIRECTOR" to install.
7) Fills up WAY too fast with big chunks of leaves. This was with regular OEM high lifts, havent tried it with the double Gators yet.(If I have the power???)
8) I don't need the front caster weights. I actually liked the rear heavy situation. When you start to plow a large pile, just slow down a bit and then accelerate and do a small "gentle" wheelie over the pile and swallow it! Works great!

Overall, the Ultra-Vac is nice, but I have better luck just mulching them with the Director and double Gators (they sound like a jet engine!). Plus I dont have to go dump them somewhere!

[a1 lawncare]

tlsthis is not meant to be a shot but,what else have you used that you like better, not trying to be a smartbutt, but i'm new to the leaf biz and so far i am happy with my set-up but theres always room for improvement. on your points


1 it is wide
2 the bags are back there
3 like you i really cringe when i engage the blades, but the low lift blades seem to help, sorry i don't have a tach
4 i think the pump (thats what i call it) moves alot of air
7 fills up to fast, every bagger i've ever used has this inherant problem

the other items you listed have not really been to big a deal for me, the pump is a little heavy, but i think this is a good thing(well built)

have a great turkey day, keith

[TLS]

I had a JD 318 Tractor with a 50" deck and their "version" of the Ultra-Vac. It cut like crap as it had very little suction/lift, but when you had the Vac on it it was like a giant parking lot sucker. Sucked up everyting. That inpeller was on a horizontal axis and only stuck out about 10" or so. It also suffered quick fill problems. But with only 2 bags, wasn't nearly as wide as the 3 bagger Exmark. This unit is still used by my Father and has over 2800hrs on it and is still functioning perfect. It is very light, but still VERY durable. Easy on and off.

I have also used a buddies Lazer a few years ago with a Trac Vac with a 6hp engine driven inpeller. You could idle down the deck and rev up the impeller and wallah! No blow out and Great suction!

I would think the low lifts would decrease the overall suction? I have a cheapie set of low lifts, will have to try them.

What else do I like better....Mulching them with the DIRECTOR!!! But I have a few properties that this just isn't possible. Thats why I bought it. I agree with you that it is built well, almost TOO well (weight) but I guess I expected better suction from all the horsepower it draws. Maybe I'll have to look into it, but maybe a bearing is bad or something? If it spun up a little higher RPM's, I think that would help suction wise.

Oh well, just have to deal with it and take it for what it can do.

[a1 lawncare]

tls,thanks for the info, like i said i'm new to the leaf biz and i considered the trac vac and i heard good things about it, but i didn't want to ad the tag along behind me if you know what i mean, plus i purchased the ultra vac for 1100$ and from what i'd seen this sounded like a super deal, i guess in my case ignorance is bliss, because i know my old method of gettin up leaves was a lot of physical work, now other than emptying bags, which is something else i wish i coud do without getting off the machine, it is a lot less work and time, but like i also said i'm always looking for a better way...

thanks for the info and have a good one, keith

[REO]

I can see myself down through the years with some of the comments posted on this site. I started 18 yrs. ago with a trac-vac, then went to Deere's with 3 bagger sys. and then to eXmark's. I used to HATE! to do leaves in the fall, but now it's gravy. I find that my 27 LC 72 is the best. I really am amazed how the leaves disappear. Personally I like not having to get off and get on the unit all the time to empty bags.

[Premo Services]

TLS
I have a 52 lazer hp with ultra vac.
I was using the high lift blades, and when engaging the blades the rpms went low, and had a lot of blow out. Now, I have switched to the low lift blades, and what a difference. the rpms seem to be up, really sucks the leaves, and doesn`t leave any leaves like it used to do. The main problem is that the 2 bags that come with the lazer hp vac setup fill rather quickly, but it is much easier to dump them as to use the old way I did cleanups. A tarp for dragging them, and a wb with a bagger, what a job that was.:cry:
I also do the lawns weekly, and in a lot less time than before.
I like that, more money in less time with hardly any work. All the previous years, leaf cleanups used to tear me up, and wear me out, but this year, I am not as worn out and the lawns look super nice when bagged with the ultra vac.

[REO]

When I used to pickup leaves I used to block the shute and run over them and grind, then I would hookup the vac and I could fit ton's of leaves in the bags. I don't miss those days.

[a1 lawncare]

i'm running over the lawn at a pretty good clip, chute open and just chop everthing up first, this has cut down alot on how quick my bags fill, (still faster than i want them to) i grind em to dust, then bag, yesterday did 3 properties ranging from 18.5 to 34k each job took less than 1.5 hrs. 2 of the props only took 3 39gallon trash bags, 1 took four bags, and these yards were covered with leaves, i know i'm going over it 2 to 3 times but i'm pricing it accordingly, and it looks great when done. still a heck of a lot better than a tarp

[Runner]

I've really been contemplating getting an UltraVac for next season, as I have a few jobs that would be suitable for it. I usually just mulch them up myself, but have came across a few jobs that are so heavy of a confined area. Many times, the people wish to have their places real clean. Also, there are applications that there is just a little bit if stuff, and rather than mow it, chop it, and chase it back and forth, it would be more feasible to just pick it up and be done with it. I have no problem hauling material, so this would work for me. I almost purchased one this year, but someone (a good source) told me they have another UltraVac in the works for next year, that can be dumped right from the drivers station. Much like the Peco. Is this good or bad? I don't know. This in itself raises some questions. Will the unit come off and on instantly? Would we be better off to just use the bags as the weight of lifting would already be divided by three? (As opposed to a whole tarpfull that was dumped on the tarp.) These are contributing factors to consider in this purchase. I'll wait and see what it brings.

[Premo Services]

[a1 lawncare] i know i'm going over it 2 to 3 times but i'm pricing it accordingly, and it looks great when done. still a heck of a lot better than a tarp

I have cut a couple passes without vac on and mulched them up to get less fillup of bags, but, as I said on my post, I do the lawns weekly. I put the leaves in the wooded areas of property, or on curb for pickup. I don`t haul em away. I have done this both ways and it takes as much time to go over it 2-3 times to get the leaves mulched or to just bag once and be done, when they are done on a weekly basis. All of my customers get it weekly, but if a neighbor or someone wants to wait until they all fall, and the leaves are real thick, I will go over it a couple times to chop em up, and charge accordingly. I don`t use a tarp anymore, I blow the leaves to where the lazer can get to and do it the easy way.

[65hoss]

I like the ultra vac. I run the gators on it when I vac.
Gators only work with the mulch kit when cutting leaves. Don't work when cutting grass. Leaves a trail of grass down the right side. Not the correct airflow for the mulch kit.