Peco vs. TracVac for Dixie Chopper

[GREENGUYNJ]

I have a 1901 series Dixie w/ 50" deck. Does anybody have any preference between Peco or TracVac for this mower. I am aware that the Peco is a few more bucks than the TracVac any info would be great:confused:

[beck]

PECO
1-800-438-5823

1)Nothing to pull behind you = Easier turning.
2)Only slightly longer in length. Leaving more trailer space. My friend has to leave a mower behind in the fall with his trac vac.
3)Can dump from your seat by moving a single lever and continue mowing with in seconds. You dont even have to shut the blades off.
Trac Vac: shut blades off, park machine, get off walk to the trac vac open lid lift and dump one/two trash cans of leaves.http://www.lawnvac.com

[John Gamba]

Hello greenguy
Go Into Trac-vac.com I think It's 462z They have Your mower with the unit on It. It look's Nice and low. You can Dump on Ground Or in The bed of the truck. With two people You can remove the unit in secound's. The peco Is Hard to remove And you Only dump on ground and is a Littel higher. There about the same In bushel's. Hope's this Help's you
Johnny G. :cool:

[LeoS818]

Dont know bout the trac vac, but the peco on our dixie was a mess. It was loud, the exhaust on the engine burnt out the fiberglass around the deflector. The rope starter on the engine got tore off several times because it sticks out so far at $40 a time. Far as not having to get off the machine to dump, I had to put bungie cords on the door to keep it closed. So I had to get off to undo the bungies. There is a kit to fix that problem, but it will cost you $125. The clippings that fell out the door lands on the cooling air intake of the pony engine. The engine has a low oil sensor in it that prevents you for mowing on much of a slope. It had only 4 blades on the fan, I belive most have 5. It done a piss pore job picking up clippings. I will never buy another. Took delivery on our new Lazers today. One with a ultra vac.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Leonard I fixed all that already but it was after I took a pic. Thanks for the mowers.
The back part that the door closed on had wore through the aluminum. Drilled new holes, and put that up grade kit on you had with it and runs perfect now.

Peco Vac!!!!

Here is a pic of that Dixie.

http://www.lawngodfather.com/Dixie%202%20side.JPG

Here is a pic of a Lazer also

http://www.lawngodfather.com/lazer%20w%20pico%20vac.jpg

[John Gamba]

The trac-vac wiyh the 6HP Kohlor Has a 16" Impeler That i Can Pick up Wet Grass at 3 To 4 MPH. That's 1800 CFM. I Have Them On Exmark"s Mower"s.
Johnny G. :cool: :cool: :

[HOMER]

I run the Trac-Vac on a Scag................I agree it may be a little slow having to get off and dump the bucket but what if there are no places to dump on the ground? On the Peco you would have to dump it on site wouldn't you? The Trac-Vac holds so much that most yards only need to be dumped once, twice at the most. It has the steel impellers and I've run this thing for 2 years and there is no wear on them at all. Picks up wet grass fine. Only thing that has clogged it at all is a thick layer of pine straw.........I ain't seen nothing yet that pine straw won't stop up.

So far I'm satisfied!:)

[beck]

In regards to leos818 comments about the door, that would not be a problem if buying new. They have changed the design and it has a latch at the back to hold things closed.
The upgrade kit can be installed in about 2 hrs or less and makes a huge difference. (I helped lawngodfather, when he changed his over. I could tell he was much happier now with the new latch system.)
Homer brings up a good point of where you have to drop the leaves. We have a leaf vac on our truck or the city offers curb-side pick-up as well, we always drop them at the curb. But if you have to put them in your truck or trailer maybe the trac-vac would be better for that application.

[mklawnman]

Do those Peco baggers all use a external engine?? Because i think i've seen a Peco bagger, which was a big silver box on a Turf Tiger without a bagger, and had a belt that ran from the blade spindle to this blower unit to throw the clippings up the tube and into the bagger without a external engine. I am looking at buying a Peco Bagger later this year, and would rather not have a external motor to worry about.
I am guessin there are differences with a external engine compared to one that the blower is run off of the deck.
Matt (Lawnman)

[mklawnman]

Oh messed up on my last post, i meant that i saw on the Turf Tiger that the Peco Bagger didnt have a external engine, the blower just ran off of the spindle.
Thats better
Matt (Lawnman)

[John Gamba]

With the engine Driven Blower You can Bag Or Not bag just by lifting up On The boot. The Belt driven blower You have to take The whole Blower off And now what Do You Do. Also The belt driven Have proublem's Whith clogging With wet grass. They also Pull on the engine Sometime's alot lower"s your blade speed. In Fall if You Have some leave's In A Pile On The other side of The property You just take the hose and suck Them up :D . Good luck On your bagger.
Johnny G.:cool: :cool:

[Turfdude]

My $.02 is this:

I have the PECO on my rider. It rarely gets clogged and does a great job (better now w/ new closing kit mentioned earlier). You can dump into the 60 gallon barrels if your unit is up on a curb - personally I recommend laying a 8X10 tarp under 2 60 gallon cans. You only have to leave your seat when hoisting cans into the truck - and if they're full of wet grass, you may need 2 guys/can or risk losing your nutz!

You should expect to replace the engine approximately every second-third year.

For those who prefer a belt driven unit - they are usually not as powerful, but you can increase the power some by increasing the size of the second pulley for the impellor.

Bob

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by mklawnman
Oh messed up on my last post, i meant that i saw on the Turf Tiger that the Peco Bagger didnt have a external engine, the blower just ran off of the spindle.
Thats better
Matt (Lawnman)


Quick vac not Peco

[LeoS818]

Several other problems was listed also. The boot doesnt fit the deck very well. Sorry youll never convince me to buy another peco

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Boot design does suck.

Tell us how the Ultra vac does, ok?

[John Gamba]

Trac-vac's boot is great fit I Lower it to bag and Raise It to Discharge. ItMeatal And easy to put A hook on it To Pull up. They also have a steel impeller Not alluminum. :mad:
I Hope all The info Help's :) Johnny G.:cool: :cool:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I don't think anyone puts an aluminum impeller in their vac.

It would weigh more than the steel one because the thickness of it to keep from getting bent and torn up fast.

You did not say for what type of mower John.

Don't worry I have yet to do any fabrication on it like I have on my Lazer.

As you can see I made my own bracket that mounts to the deck.

[John Gamba]

It's On A Lazer Ultracut. Let me check On the Impeller It Was Alluminum With asteel option. All I Hear about peco is all the stuff you have to fix Or Modify While we trac vac people Are mowing.
Jophnny G.:cool: :cool: Oh Lawngodfather i have 4 Trac-vac's All On Exmark's Mower's. :D

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by John Gamba
All I Hear about peco is all the stuff you have to fix Or Modify While we trac vac people Are mowing.


NO not on the new ones. I recomended to them some of the modifications they needed to do.

Fix no. My lazer one has gone for 3 years no prob, and added the upgrade kit last Fall.

The DC one I just got from LeoS818 about 2 weeks ago. That peco is from '97

I had one other I sold with a mower (problem mower) last Feb.

BTW not every peice of equipment you buy ever come perfect, some need tweeking to fit "YOUR" likings more.

And oh yes I looked at the trac vac's, there no way am I getting off the mower to dump the debris!!!!

Way to slow.

[John Gamba]

That's why I Like you . You Sound like My partner :)

[1grnlwn]

Sorry but size matters(the girls are lying to ya lgf). That little mower mount thing might work great for the urban bradford pear yards. But for the lake estates with 50 trees nothing beats a big trailer vac. Yea you have to get off to dump, dump about 3-5 times vs. 20-25. So where is the time savings? TV a little more trouble to trailer, but when you are not using it it's gone. You don't have to haul all that weight around all season. You could paint that thing and plaster it with advertisements. Like Ferris or Scag . :cool:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

No it come completely off when not in use. I will have big company signs on them this Fall.

I do have 2 real old trailer vac. Make good utility tralers now.

Yes I have many large lawns with lots of huge trees.

Some yards I guess we are dumping close to the 400 times mark.

Tine saver is it dumps from the seat never having to get off. You don't have to help the leave out like the trailer models.

Also you still have zero turing capabllities.

I will be buying a Giant vac 5.5 yard trailer on for the tractor I will be getting soon.