Need an honest opinion from a cyclone leaf rake owner

[CITY PARK CUTTER MAN]

I have seen this contraptions around and am curious about their quality. Give me the "4-1-1" on the much advertised on tv "Cyclone Leaf Rake" leaf collector.

[Jimslawncareservice]

Hate it. Most of us around here either made our own playwood boxes or took them to a metal fab place. Screens don't stay velcroed, tubing for the bag breaks, can't get the crap out, bags are hard to open when full, long clumbsy pile. If had to so it over I would get pro tero or similar with a pony engine instead.
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[QualityLawnCare4u]

I had one and also hated it, even though a lot of folks on here like them. If you are mowing large wide open areas with no low hanging limbs or any obstacles in the yard it might suffice. The length of this thing hooked to your mower is like drivng a 15 passenger van around the yard. I will say they took mine back with no problem and a full refund.

[cgaengineer]

Originally Posted by QualityLawnCare4u

I had one and also hated it, even though a lot of folks on here like them. If you are mowing large wide open areas with no low hanging limbs or any obstacles in the yard it might suffice. The length of this thing hooked to your mower is like drivng a 15 passenger van around the yard. I will say they took mine back with no problem and a full refund.

We have one and that sucker is long...
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[Richard Martin]

I have the Brinley equivalent. It does work great. The huge capacity is a definite plus. But they do take up a lot of space and consideration must be given to that. I'm converting mine to a Trac Vac style.



I have all of the parts except for the leaf can. I need to get one mounting bracket cut and rewelded so it fits my Dixie. I'm using the 8 HP B&S Intek engine and impeller housing from my Brinley. Fortunately, Trac Vac is easy to get along with and doesn't mind selling parts to people that don't actually own a Trac Vac. The Cyclone people require a serial number from one of their machines before they'll sell you any parts.

[watatrp]

Richard-I had one of those Trac Vac units on one of my Scags a while back. I liked it a lot. It was a bear to mount as it was real heavy with the engine on and the connection points had to be right on to get the bolts in. Another tip, don't let it get too full. It's easier to empty it partially full than spend the time to disconnect the hoses to clear them if they get packed because the barrel is full.

[vaacutabove]

I had one with the loader hose it works good but not ment to be moved around takes for ever to set up and take down. I was within my year and they took it back no problems. As far as im concerned they are a stand up company just not for my operation and i do half acre and bigger lawns. Im using tarp blower and my v ride to push leaves.
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[Smallaxe]

The idea of a portable unit that chews up leaves and twigs, then spits them out into the back of a truck is exactly what is needed... bags of any kind are a waste of time and motion... I can't think of a single scenario in my business where bagging is better than tarping,,, and I hate tarping!!!
I'd like to blow the leaves to an area near the roadway, wheel a leaf-loader near the pile and start raking them in to a heavy duty flywheel that mulches them into bits and shoots them into the back of a truck... That is the ONLY solution I see to speed things up...

[Richard Martin]

Here's mine.

[cgaengineer]

Originally Posted by Richard Martin

Here's mine.

Is that a JD 10P? If so I have one full of water in my backyard!