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Blower and vac system issue
#1
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Polaris192
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Polaris192
I have a woods 6250 with a 52" deck. I put a grasshopper power vac/bagging setup on it. I have a problem with the left side of the deck actually blowing grass and leaves out in front of the deck. It's bad enough that my legs get covered in debris and it fails to pickup all of the clippings. The deck still has a mulching kit on it. It does vac up grass and leaves but not like it should. I had a 64" deck setup that picked up much more and that also still had the multching kit on it. Any thoughts?
-Tim
-Tim
#2
T
tlm51
T
tlm51
I have a bagger unit on my 61" grasshopper deck (729 tractor) that does the same thing. There is so much negative air pressure blowing out the left side of the deck that leaves struggle to make it under the deck lip; and leaves bunch up on the right side in such volume that never make it inside the deck. This is the second season for using this bagger system. Any help from you seasoned veterans on this issue would be appreciated.
#3
BWH
BWH
Polaris192 I could be wrong but doesn't the mulching kit stop the grass from escaping out the right discharge chute? if so, the blower would be ineffective and you would still be in mulching mode. You should remove the mulching kit while bagging as well as be running mid-lift blades.
tim51 I have a 61 deck with bagger and the only time it blows out like you describe is when the blower or blow tube are plugged or the hopper is full and plug both of them. You may want to check that your blower belt is not broken. When you take the blow tube off the hopper and engage the mower deck there should be a lot of wind and loud howling.
tim51 I have a 61 deck with bagger and the only time it blows out like you describe is when the blower or blow tube are plugged or the hopper is full and plug both of them. You may want to check that your blower belt is not broken. When you take the blow tube off the hopper and engage the mower deck there should be a lot of wind and loud howling.
#4
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Polaris192
P
Polaris192
Polaris192 I could be wrong but doesn't the mulching kit stop the grass from escaping out the right discharge chute? if so, the blower would be ineffective and you would still be in mulching mode. You should remove the mulching kit while bagging as well as be running mid-lift blades.
tim51 I have a 61 deck with bagger and the only time it blows out like you describe is when the blower or blow tube are plugged or the hopper is full and plug both of them. You may want to check that your blower belt is not broken. When you take the blow tube off the hopper and engage the mower deck there should be a lot of wind and loud howling.
Yeah I was thinking about removing the mulching kit as well. I looked at the other deck I took off that I had no issues with and that one has a mulching kit on it as well so I don't think it is the mulching kit. Would the blade orientation maybe have something to do with it? I never looked it there was a "correct" way to attach them sequence wise.Polaris192 I could be wrong but doesn't the mulching kit stop the grass from escaping out the right discharge chute? if so, the blower would be ineffective and you would still be in mulching mode. You should remove the mulching kit while bagging as well as be running mid-lift blades.
tim51 I have a 61 deck with bagger and the only time it blows out like you describe is when the blower or blow tube are plugged or the hopper is full and plug both of them. You may want to check that your blower belt is not broken. When you take the blow tube off the hopper and engage the mower deck there should be a lot of wind and loud howling.
#5
BWH
BWH
The blade orientation would not matter due to the deck being belt driven the orientation changes because of slippage, only gear driven decks like a Walker maintain blade timing. What kind of air flow do you generate with the upper tube disconnected? It should be substantial with a loud howling sound if the blower is turning recommended rpm and unobstructed.Yeah I was thinking about removing the mulching kit as well. I looked at the other deck I took off that I had no issues with and that one has a mulching kit on it as well so I don't think it is the mulching kit. Would the blade orientation maybe have something to do with it? I never looked it there was a "correct" way to attach them sequence wise.
#6
B
bertsmobile1
But you just never know who is reading these posts in the future .
B
bertsmobile1
And not meaning to nit pick, decks with overlapping blades also need to be timed but they will use a toothed belt like a cam belt on a small car engine .The blade orientation would not matter due to the deck being belt driven the orientation changes because of slippage, only gear driven decks like a Walker maintain blade timing. What kind of air flow do you generate with the upper tube disconnected? It should be substantial with a loud howling sound if the blower is turning recommended rpm and unobstructed.
But you just never know who is reading these posts in the future .
#7
P
Polaris192
I'm going to try dropping the front of the deck so it's about 1/2" lower in the front then back.
It has Factory blades that I just changed. I thought that was the problem (blades) as they were previously after market but its the same. I think it is only about 1/4 difference right now front to back. I can't see the mulching kit making a difference either if I remove it.
P
Polaris192
It blows out alot an makes the howling sound. It seems the same as my other larger deck.The blade orientation would not matter due to the deck being belt driven the orientation changes because of slippage, only gear driven decks like a Walker maintain blade timing. What kind of air flow do you generate with the upper tube disconnected? It should be substantial with a loud howling sound if the blower is turning recommended rpm and unobstructed.
I'm going to try dropping the front of the deck so it's about 1/2" lower in the front then back.
It has Factory blades that I just changed. I thought that was the problem (blades) as they were previously after market but its the same. I think it is only about 1/4 difference right now front to back. I can't see the mulching kit making a difference either if I remove it.
#8
BWH
BWH
Well, were getting down to the only difference between our machines is the mulching kit, I guess I not real familiar with the Grasshopper mulching kit. Does it have the metal bands around the perimeter of the deck including the side discharge port? Again, I've never had a mulching kit but it would seem like closing off the side discharge would be necessary for mulching. Just thinking out loudIt blows out alot an makes the howling sound. It seems the same as my other larger deck.
I'm going to try dropping the front of the deck so it's about 1/2" lower in the front then back.
It has Factory blades that I just changed. I thought that was the problem (blades) as they were previously after market but its the same. I think it is only about 1/4 difference right now front to back. I can't see the mulching kit making a difference either if I remove it.
#9
BWH
BWH
Interesting Thanks for sharing, I've seen the gear timing units but not the cam belt style decks. This is why I enjoy this site there is a lot of knowledge out there, I benefit from it quite often.And not meaning to nit pick, decks with overlapping blades also need to be timed but they will use a toothed belt like a cam belt on a small car engine .
But you just never know who is reading these posts in the future .
#10
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Polaris192
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Polaris192
Not sure if it has the band by the discharge. I think I will remove the mulching kit like yours. To clarify my mower and deck are woods. The blower/vac is off a grasshopper. Thanks for the advice. I was getting annoyed yesterday vacuuming the leaves lol.Well, were getting down to the only difference between our machines is the mulching kit, I guess I not real familiar with the Grasshopper mulching kit. Does it have the metal bands around the perimeter of the deck including the side discharge port? Again, I've never had a mulching kit but it would seem like closing off the side discharge would be necessary for mulching. Just thinking out loud
#11
BWH
BWH
That sounds like a good move I just don't know what else to try, I was vacuuming leaves yesterday also in fact they were so deep at times they come up over the front of the deck but it was perfectly clear behind. The only place where it has a tendency to blow some debris around is on the driveway when I try to clean that up it picks up a lot of the leaves but there is some air that escapes the deck without being in the lawn.
I believe the Woods decks are basically the same as Grasshopper as I remember the early model decks were not as deep as my current 61" deck which is 5.5" deep, I believe my 1990's decks were 4" in depth Grasshopper says the deeper decks enhances air flow.
I believe the Woods decks are basically the same as Grasshopper as I remember the early model decks were not as deep as my current 61" deck which is 5.5" deep, I believe my 1990's decks were 4" in depth Grasshopper says the deeper decks enhances air flow.
#12
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Polaris192
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Polaris192
Turns out I was incorrect. The deck does not have a mulching kit, only the standard rear baffles. I am really lost now. I took the blower off to see if it made a difference, but it was the same blow out. Not sure what to do. I am not confident the dealer would know either.That sounds like a good move I just don't know what else to try, I was vacuuming leaves yesterday also in fact they were so deep at times they come up over the front of the deck but it was perfectly clear behind. The only place where it has a tendency to blow some debris around is on the driveway when I try to clean that up it picks up a lot of the leaves but there is some air that escapes the deck without being in the lawn.
I believe the Woods decks are basically the same as Grasshopper as I remember the early model decks were not as deep as my current 61" deck which is 5.5" deep, I believe my 1990's decks were 4" in depth Grasshopper says the deeper decks enhances air flow.
#13
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Polaris192
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Polaris192
Turns out I was incorrect. The deck does not have a mulching kit, only the standard rear baffles. I am really lost now. I took the blower off to see if it made a difference, but it was the same blow out. Not sure what to do. I am not confident the dealer would know either.
#14
BWH
BWH
I’m at a loss at this point but I have one more thought, is the blower speed correct? A few units ago I had a 1992 612 Grasshopper without a bagger, I needed a bagger and found a never used blower/hopper reasonable it took some modifications to get the power unit on blade #3 but got her going. It worked ok but I did have to watch for the tube plugging. The real problem was in the spring when the grass has the most moisture it would plug the tube very easily, later that spring I was changing the blower on my brothers 718 and noticed the power pulley on blade #3 was a larger diameter. Long story short I bought a larger pulley and installed it, that completely cured my grass plugging the tube problem. I seriously can’t remember how it acted on leaves but in 1992 my trees were 10’ tall without many leaves.
just thinking where you put the Grasshopper blower on the Woods mower possibly you have a pulley mismatch like I did. I thought mine had good air flow and howl but it was 100% different mower after.
just thinking where you put the Grasshopper blower on the Woods mower possibly you have a pulley mismatch like I did. I thought mine had good air flow and howl but it was 100% different mower after.
#15
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Polaris192
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Polaris192
Thanks I will definitely look up the correct pulley and check. You might be on to something. Thank you!