Exmark's Ultra Vac

[Cutter1]

I got my Ultra Vac put on my Laser yesterday and tried it out today. WOW!!! Its nice and bags great. I was running over huge piles of leaves and it was grinding them into nothing. Bags get packed with just shreaded leaves and grass. The double Blades help too!! Front end is a lot lighter now, makes hills a little interesting. Takes up some trailer space too, other than that, I highly recommend it. Easy to take on and off the laser. I think its worth the money and it beats raking!!! Price is $1200.

[RYAN]

I am looking to get a Lazer with the Ultra Vac for next year and am in the process of getting prices from dealers. Has anyone else out there used this? If so how was it?

[John DiMartino]

my trac-vac makes my Dc do nice weelies on hills too especially when full of wet grass,get the weight kit for the front end-it helps you get on the trailer easier too.

[Runner]

Cutter, Is that the full size one, or the one for the 52" deck?

[65hoss]

I have the ultra vac and love it. Emptying the bags is a breeze, even wet grass.

I must correct you, the ultra vac does not shred. The impellers are for suction only. The grass and leaves get cut only by the mower blades, and since you have the double blades that would explain the shredded grass.

[Premo Services]

Cutter 1, and 65hoss- I am seriously considering a ultra vac for my lazer hp, I have a question for you, does the design make for less dust around you and the engine?

[Mr.Ziffel]

Does anyone know if this unit will fit the Toro decks? Is the 6" tube from the deck to the bags large enough to handle wet heavy stuff? The depth of dealer's lack of product knowledge is astonishing - standard answer "I don't know I just work here".

[Cutter1]

I must correct you, the vac does shred the leaves. I have the small one, for the 52 deck. THey haven't came out with the one for the bigger units yet. Packs the bags to the top and I also recomend a front weight.

[Cutter1]

The dusr isn't too bad, unless you are going over a dirt spot, but other than that it isn't bad. Leaves are a dirty job, so no matter what you do, you are going to get dirty and dusty.

[accuratelawn]

The Ultra Vac will not work on Toro deck.

[morturf]

I spoke with a toro distributor last week and he said that a bagger will be out for next spring...good timing...after the fall. I will be going to indy in nov and will check out the new stuff then. let you know what i see.

[northeast]

I have been running the ultra vac since April,It gets used
every day.I havent had a single problem with it,still has origanal belt on it.It is the best for cleaning up leaves.
I would use hearing protection with it,it is loud.
Nick

[jrblawncare]

Nice to hear all these good things about the Ultra Vac...Mine is being Installed as we speak..can't wait to try it!

[Edited by jrblawncare on 10-15-2000 at 12:20 AM]

[Dean Williams]

I just got a pamphlet on scag turf tiger,they have a vac for it now , the good thing is it is only 6in added to the deck width,where lazer is 14" or close to that i like to keep it compact.I'm still deciding what to buy,exmark,scag,dixie and put and after market bagger on it.....any comments r appreciated.

[Mr.Ziffel]

I saw the Scag pamphlet too and the first thing I noticed is that it looks like a single garbage can sitting on the back of the machine for collection. How long to fill that up? Can someone give me a reference or comparison for bushels, so I have some understanding of the marketing stuff? My garbage cans are anywhere from 30 to 55 gallons--how many bushels is that? How about in cubic feet? Just something I can relate to would help me understand that. Sign me, Feeling somewhat ignorant [oh wait, I should probably ask my kindergartener first, he seems to have all the answers lately--and I'm only partially joking, he knows stuff I forgot that day after I learned it]

[tomcamps]

Mr. Ziffel,
I just got done taking a look at the Scag Turf Tiger and the bagging system. It has a seperate 6.5hp B & S vac mounted on it and gets discharged to a 44 gl (sorry don't know the cu.ft amount, ask your kindergartener)grey waste bin. It has a wheel that the weight sits on in the rear of the Tiger to help with flip overs. I myself am looking for either a Lazer Z 60"deck or a Scag Turf Tiger 60"deck. I've been told to stay away from all Kholer motors no matter the cost. Any one have suggestions.

[HOMER]

I have a TRAC-VAC unit mounted on my Scag Super Z and love it. It has the 6 hp Kohler and to date not even a hiccup. I average filling the bucket 1 1/2 times per yard and its real quick to dump. It has the big 44 gallon garbage can on it. I have mowed wet grass with it and picked up every bit, didn't have it last fall but have used it some already this year to get leaves up, does great. Does a great wheelie, even with the added front counterweights, needs more than I got. Best thing is it comes off in about 15 minutes so it really isn't a dedicated bagger..

Satisfied so far,

Homer

[lawnboy]

I can't stand my ultra vac, we have had nothing but problems with it. I don't know how much you guy use it but the one I have has constent repairs. The plastic pieces fall off it all the time. We went through at least 10 belts this year. And as with everything Exmark sells they rip you off on the parts. I ordered a the piece of plastic on the back of the mower that latches the top to the bags and it was $50. Also hear is a word of advise "remind your help that there is a fan in the blower system, one of mine cut his finger off"

spence

[Cutter1]

Ouch!!! THats just plain stupidity. So far no problems with my vac, but we will see.

[65hoss]

I have no problems with mine. A guy around here has one since the spring and he is still using the original belt.

Cutter: I admit I was incorrect about the fan on the vac. It does cut leaves, it just doesn't do much on grass. Not really designed to do that.

Ok, so someone took the shoot off while the blades were engaged and stuck their hand in there? hummm. Sounds like he was lucky that was all he lost. How stupid!

[RYAN]

I will be buying an exmark lazer with the Ultra Vac System this spring. I got a quote from my dealer today. $271 a month for 36 months for the 52" deck and the 23 HP Kawa engine and that includes the vac. I cant wait till spring already

[Mr.Ziffel]

Alamia.com has that machine for $6295. Others on this board have said the vac is about $1500 so the total cost without tax is $7795. Your 36 payments of $271 total $9756 for a difference of $1961 or $653 a year or $54 a month in interest for three years. Now I don't know if that's a good deal or not but I can tell you that a total of $1961 in interest is 25% of a $7795 purchase.
I believe you are making the classic mistake of "purchasing the payment" and not the actual cost of the equipment just like all new and used car dealers want all purchasers to do. I suggest that you have your dealer give you an 'out the door' price for the package you want and that you then shop around for financing--try your bank, credit union, thrift, or some of the leasing companies I've seen mentioned on this board.
You're not going to purchase until spring so you've got the time and you may save yourself some bucks.

[Vibe Ray]

Hey, I didn't know Alamia sells Exmarks!!! Where do u find them on their webpage???

[RYAN]

The address is http://www.alamia.com

I just looked on alamia.com and did not see exmark products anywhere. Please give more info mr. Ziffel

[Mr.Ziffel]

I've been doing so much reading of older posts about how now Exmark is just Toro with a different deck, I just substituted the two. I was looking right at the Toro price when I posted that info, but was thinking Exmark. Oh well, according to what most of the posts I've read say, the two are interchangeable although the Exmark has the heavier fabricated deck. The dollar figures stand though looking back I see that Cutter1 paid 1200 not 1500 for his deck.

I found my financial calculator and it looks like based on the figures you provided of $271 a month for 36 months that your dealer is charging you a purchase price of $8776.73 with an interest rate of 7%. The total amount you will have spent at the end of three years for that mower is $9756. I actually don't think that 7% is a bad rate to pay, but you may as well shop around to see what someone else would lend you the money for.

[jrblawncare]

Update..I used my ultra Vac for the fist time yesterday..It worked GREAT..3 to 4 inches of leaves gone in no time without a trace..the bags fill fast but easy and fast to dump.The impeller does shred the leaves,remember it is not a grinder.Also I did not notice that much added dust around the engine.Ear plugs are a must!!{I waer them anyway}sounds like plane taking off when you engage the blades.LAWBOY-sorry to hear about your problems & your man that got hurt all I can say is READ THE OPERATORS & PARTS MANUAL...If you are going though that many belts something is wrong.Please be carefull there are Safety alert and Danger signs all over this unit!! GOOD LUCK..JOHN Want to try it in the spring to pick up thatch after De-thatching should work fine on that too.

[Edited by jrblawncare on 10-23-2000 at 09:36 AM]