aLL I KNOW IS I JUST RETURNED THE COMMANDER MODEL. (sorry for the caps) It was over 12 feet long and was a dust factory. I had to shut it down twice because the dust cloud was so thick. Give it a shot you have 6 months risk free. May be it will work better for you.

 

Thanks Matt

I take it your total length was 12 foot mower included. Did you have it mounted on your Toro? Did it perform well other then the length? I can imagine that thing whips around with some serious velocity on your turns.

I understand it will be long, but I imaine you can not fully understand how long and cumbersome it is until you use one.

Did it tear up turf on turns? I have a fear that when loaded it might really tear up tender grass.

Any other input would be great.

 

I ordered the commander and got the classic. I had it mounted to my cub at the time. I smacked a few or a lot of things. Lets just say it takes some getting used to . Turf tearing was not bad at all. One thing I noticed is when it is empty with the pro wheels they flop back and fourth. The vacuum was good but I did still experience some blowout. It was extremely loud but they have new engines now. with the 6.5HP engine i used the power vac pickup was so so I clogged it twice. Just ask me and I will tell more. I was going to try it with my toro but the hose from the engine to the mower was 1ft short.(not their fault) If you have 1+ acre propertys I would say give it a try. One thing I wish they would compare there models side by side in there video. One thing I liked was the ability to suck up the leaves and not just blow them around. If you have a small setup you could use the XL for a truck loader.

Instead of the cyclone rake im getting a 10hp walk behind blower, leaf plow and another back pack blower.

 

bought one and so far have not been able to finish a yard due to the 7.0 Briggs motor has a hot no start problem been to shop twice so far 2 coils do not know what is still going on with engine works great when it works only thing is you really need mirrors on your zero turn when hooked up to the cylcone rake .twj

 

Hey Shadybrook,

I am not saying this to give you a hard time but do a search on cyclone rake. I have written quite a bit on it (as well as many others) and don't want to rewrite what I already wrote. To summarize it I would not want to do leafing without one ever again.

Take care, Ed

 

aLL I KNOW IS I JUST RETURNED THE COMMANDER MODEL. (sorry for the caps) It was over 12 feet long and was a dust factory. I had to shut it down twice because the dust cloud was so thick. Give it a shot you have 6 months risk free. May be it will work better for you.

I am glad to know that I was not the only one who sent one back, I despised that thing with a passion!

 

I am glad to know that I was not the only one who sent one back, I despised that thing with a passion!

I had to rethink my strategy. Just look at any fairly large lawn care crew. They use backpack and walk behind blowers. Then they tarp into a trailer. You just need at least 2 people to be efficient. If you are going to get a Cyclone rake don't waist your money for the power vac pickup. Just blow out the beds its much quicker.

 

ealbertson

No offense taken. I have read every post where "cyclone rake" was mentioned. I have a pretty good feel for the basics of the machine. My initial post was asking specifically about the "XL model" with the 9hp motor. It has 70 percent more suction according to the companies literature. I wanted to know if anyone could give input on that unit. Of course I am happy to read any other comments about the rakes performance even if it is not the XL model.

Matt

I have read before where people did not use the power pickup much after having bought it. I take it is because it does not have enough suction. I would think it would be great for widow wells, landscape beds, and around obsticals. I wonder if the bigger unit would be better. My fear is dragging around that 32 foot hose, and transporting the whole shabang on the trailer without having the tubes fly off into traffic.

 

I didn't have much luck with the power pickup hose either. You may be right though with the bigger motor it may do better. I would get it and try it. What do you have to lose with their return policy anyway.
Take care and good luck,
Ed

 

Ed

Yeah, the return policy is very enticing. I would be more gung ho if I was going to be using it, or at least supervising it. It looks like if it is taken care of, it will last a long while, but I am a bit afraid that my mowing crew may not take care of it as well as I would like.

Did you find the pickup tube to stay with the unit securely when transporting it on a trailer?

Thanks

 

I have the classic. Have had it for 8 years on the XL model it has a 9hp motor
if you tear down the unit everyday like I do that 9hp motor will get heavy
I know the 5hp on the classic is heavy. As for the pickup hose I think the one I have almost has to much pickup power but thats ok with me.

 

Shady Brook,

I meant to say this earlier, all you have to do is put the hoses in the leaf compartment to haul it. I put all the hoses in there and it works good. It is a little crowded with the mulch bed and deck hose but they do fit.

Ed

 

I am a non commercial user, I mow 2 1/2 acres by my home which is in the Upper penninsula of Michigan's. I also have a recreational property ( 200 acre farm) and I mow about 5 acres there. I use a 72 inch toro z master 255. Because of the size of the deck I ordered and installed the new xl. My thoughts:
1 was easy to install best instructions I have ever seen
2 picks up a lot of dry leaves fast but does leave residue of fine chopped leaves behind. I am trying to figure out is the problem is due to deck height I run at 3 in or 3 1/2 to avoid scalping with the 72 in deck; also it might be the blade configuration. I am seeing if there is a high lift blade thru Toro or an after market blade I can install. the residue does pick up if you run in reverse or go the opposite direction of initial cut.
3 now the problems:
a: the top of the collection bin has an air filter / vent this plugs up; the CR people are aware of this they send you a brush to clean it but its a bugger to do its hard to reach and time consuming.
b: as the filter plugs up the air( there is alot the 9hp really generates a hurricane with the 8 in hose) has to go somewhere and what happens is the air vent which is really a flap held down by velcro just pops open and debris goes flying everywhere( 20 to 30 feet in the air and it one heck of a mess) I have tried to add weight I am up to using 4 paver blocks at 2 # a piece and it still blows open.
c: obviously the problem gets worse as the bin fills less remaining volume but the same vol of air means a dramatic increase in air pressure so the problem gets worse
d; and when the vent filter is clean fine debris is emitted if you are close to a house the windows end up with a lot of dust and debris on them.
I will be eager to see what other feedback you get.

 

I have the commander Pro with a 6hp B&S.......It has cut my leaf clean-up time by half. I was also using it as a loader for my dump trailer, It worked OK for that but it was slow. I just ordered a Billy Goat Debris Loader. I am pulling it with a 52" Wright stander......that is also working well........

 

I own two and at this time of year, each time gets one on their trailer hooked up to a Dixie Chopper, and they each get a Ferris IS2000z with a 3 bag system too. They are lights out!

 

I called to order one of their accessory mower deck adapters today and they refused to sell me one because I did not own a cyclone rake. I just wanted to use it to build my own vac system for my Tiger Cub. I searched the net for several hours and their adapter looked to be just what I needed. I call and get a bunch of BS about liability. Well if they don't have any confidence in their junk or me ###### KEEP IT!!!!!

 

I called to order one of their accessory mower deck adapters today and they refused to sell me one because I did not own a cyclone rake. I just wanted to use it to build my own vac system for my Tiger Cub. I searched the net for several hours and their adapter looked to be just what I needed. I call and get a bunch of BS about liability.

I tried to get one also for my Brinly yard vac. Cyclone said "No Way". If it makes you feel any better Brinly won't sell you one either unless you have a Brinly.

 

Wall and Richard

I bet Trac-vac would. I have heard that some cyclone rake owners purchase the Trac-vac's adaptors because they like them better.

 

While I understand the frustration, I also understand them wanting to protect their product.....

I want to upgrade the engine/blower to the larger one with the 285gal bag and they would not do that......

 

Ordered XL 9hp monday should arrive friday. JD MCS blew out 1 impeller a year for 3 years" JUST HOME USE!" Unless you buy a 1/2 million $$$$ grain harvester from JD ,you might as well talk to a wall on a pi$# poor design. Well anyway plan to fire this thing up saturday suck up some chipmunks and make loud noise..LOL No more impellers @ $300.00 bucks a shot. The whole system resides in the Auburn Hills,Michigan LAND FILL!!!!!!1

 

Wall and Richard

I bet Trac-vac would. I have heard that some cyclone rake owners purchase the Trac-vac's adaptors because they like them better.

absolutely. that is exactly what i did. I have an agri fab mow'n vac and the little plastic piece of crap was no where NEAR the right size for my Everride. Called my trac vac dealer and they had me one in about a week!.

 

I like them so much that we bought a 2nd CR this year! The first one is the "Commercial Pro" model. I think it has 7hp. This year bought the smallest one. It has a 6hp. Bought it for getting into gated back yards easier. Pull the small one with a 44" Toro ztr & the big one with a 60" Exmark ztr. When they are full with leaves, they will both "wag" the mowers around.

You can pack a BUNCH of leaves in these units. They grind up dry leaves almost to dust.

When attached to the mowers, they are almost 14' long. We then dump the full CR's out at the dump trailer which has a 18hp Billy Goat loader.

Don't bother buying the attachments, hoses for cleaning out beds, etc. It is still much quiker to blow beds out with backpacks & then pick it up w/ CR.

CR beats the heck out of any other way we've done leaves.

Never had any problems with motors on either. Start very easy, usually on 1st or 2nd pull.

They can be dusty if leaves are bone dry & turf is dry. BUt the production is worth it IMHO.

They take some getting used to driving. Need to give alot of room for tail swing. Wheels wobble & shimmy alot when it is empty, but quiet down once you get a load.

Mike

 

I know this thread is a lil old now but I wanted to add that after 2 years with my CR Im still ery pleased with it. I see some new terms or models Im not familiar with, I have the Pro which wa the largest at the time. I still say the medium size is the best, I was given that advice by other owners but didnt take it and bought the largest model. Its just harder to get around with.
Far as the extra suction hoses......they are best suited for window wells, A backpack and rake are the best thing for flower beds.

Shady Brook...I think I saw you mention letting your crew use this.....that is the major thing I see wrong with the unit...its good but its not that heavy duty....I quess the best way to say it is....unless the operator is careful he can mess it up bad with a lil practice....the frame is just hollow alum tubing so.... A good operator that cares about the equipment is a must.

wayne

 

sounds like a disaster...that's why I love this site. Thanks for the reviews!

 

Old thread, and I think folks who have had CR's a long time are good to hear from as well as those who hate them. Like one of the previous posters, I don't use mine around the house...way too much dust. I use a dustmask when using the CR. I use it when mowing high grass, leaves, and pine needles. I purchased the CR Commercial with the 6 HP tecumseh engine in 2003. I've used it on two mowers, including my current 60 inch ZTR. It does great for what I use it for (high grass, leaves, and pine needles). I have a heavily wooded yard (4+ acres) and I can keep the whole place looking clean bagging once a month and mowing weekly in the spring and fall. I used the vacuum and power unloader as I have a low spot where I just blow the bag empty when it contains leaves and pine needles. Cut grass does not work well with the power unloader/vacuum and I use a pitch fork to unload.
For me, this is better than the OEM bagging system that either mower offered. I hate when the plastic screen on the top clogs. I have two brushes, a stiff bristle brush and a metal brush. High grass is the most labor intensive, as it clogs the top screen in about 5 mins of cutting. Btw, high grass for me is 12 inches or taller. Once I get done with the job, it looks clean. I had buyers remorse for 2 years after I bought it, but once I put it with my ztr, I was able to appreciate a bagger that could suck down the discharge of a 60 inch deck.
It's not for everyone, and I am now happy with how it works for me. I will probably upgrade to the 415 gallon bag next, as I can fill it up in about 20 minutes during spring and fall mowing days.
I will say this about the impeller, considering all the things I have sucked up (rocks, sticks, glass, sand), the CR's impeller is high quality in my opinion. If mine goes out, I will buy another CR.