21" Snapper "thatcherizer" compatibility?

[tommyboy]

Hey guys,

Just found this great forum, first post. Snapper owner since 1992. Just replaced my 1992 21" B&S self propelled Snapper with a 2013 21" B&S Snapper self propelled. The 92 never required anything but oil, spark plugs and air filters until this year, so I call that pretty reliable in my book and stuck with the Snapper brand.

I have a "thatcherizer" attachment that I have used for years that mounted on the front of my old Snapper. I use it once in the spring to remove excess thatch and help regenerate the lawn after our long Minnesota winters. It doesn't fit well though on my new mower. After emailing Snapper Technical Service, they replied that my thatcherizer isn't compatible with the newer models, which is a real disappointment as it is such a great tool!

But I think there may be hope. I can get the thatcherizer to mount onto the front axle, but there is interference between the frame of the thatcherizer and one of the wheels. I haven't figured out exactly how to eliminate this interference yet, but it looks like that black plastic piece on the front of the mower might be involved (I think that piece might be able to be removed temporarily?) or I may have to do some grinding on the frame of the thatcherizer.

Just wondering if anybody has run into this issue before and how you made the thatcherizer work with new models.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tommyboy]

Dug in a bit today and I'm cautiously optimistic I can make this thatcherizer work on this new Snapper with two simple mods.

1. When I want to use the thatcherizer, I'll need to remove the black plastic Snapper Hi Vac piece from the front of the mower. 2 fasteners and it's off and it's mostly a cosmetic piece and to keep debris from coming out the front of the mower. This piece is a bit in the way of the thatcherizer.

2. With that plastic piece removed, I still have the tiniest bit of interference with the frame of the thatcherizer on the left mower wheel (odd that it is only one wheel!) Had plenty of room on the old mower between thatcherizer and wheels, but this mower is built to different specifications, with the front axle slightly closer to the wheels than the older models.

So, the frame of the thatcherizer is steel that is 1/4" thick. I plan on removing 1/16" in the interference area on both sides just to be sure, and remount the thatcherizer and see if that takes care of it. I don't need to take much off; it is that close right now.

I only use the thatcherizer attachment once a year for about two hours to revive my lawn after the winter, but really want to be able to keep using this attachment as it works so well; that is my motivation here!

I'll keep you updated but pretty sure this will work.:banana:

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Let us know if you can get it to work....with some pictures!

 

[tommyboy]

Finished the modification to the thatcherizer today and took it for a test run. Works great!

Sorry, no pics.....I was in a push to get this done today as the first serious cold wave (yikes!) is about to set into Minnesota. But this is a very easy intuitive modification that anybody can do in a couple of hours max.

As described in my earlier post, simply grind the metal frame of the thatcherizer where it is close to or interfering with the mower wheels from 1/4" down to 1/8", remove the black plastic shroud on the front of the mower and you'll be good to go! I also primed and painted the area of the thatcherizer that was on the grinding wheel so as to prevent rust.

Remember that your thatcherizer will not mount with that plastic shroud on the mower; two star fasteners and it's off.

Hope this helps somebody else that has a 21" thatcherizer laying around that won't fit their new mower!