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I ran the Tiger Cat with collection system yesterday for the first time for my fall cleanup. Sweet machine.

I used a large leaf blower (with a 8 HP Honda engine) to get the leafs off the tree line and fence and blow it more into the center of the yard, then I pick them up with the ZTR.

It's amazing I do leafs every year here for 35 years here, but this combination is by far the easiest method for my chores. I don't like to run the machine if the grass is wet, so I started late yesterday after work, as I wanted to wash my truck before I worked in the yard.
So I picked up 9 buckets so far, just the beginning.......I started late and finished into the dark, but the lights added on the machine works well. They are a pair of Scag flood lights not sealed beams.

Next weekend or the week after I'll repeat the process for the next 10-12 weeks, then I remove the unit and store it for next time. :thumbsup:

just mounted my rear bagger to start fall clean ups here in mid Michigan.

Here is the machine and one view of the tree line. The trees and fence circles the yard on 3 sides. :licking:

No doubt that a Scag ZTR with a collection system is very effective. Yesterday between two places I dumped the bags 9 times, that is about 120 bushels of mostly chopped up leaves and the season has just started. Usually I get close to 2,000 bushels before the season end and I only have a few customers. I'm going to put my mulching blades back on to see if they chop the leaves into smaller pieces, which I think will increase the time between unloadings.
Those of you with collection systems, make sure that you lube the blower bearings periodically and with the correct grease, manual says 8 hours.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Hi tigercat,
Does the suspension seat make a difference in ride comfort?

Beautiful mahcine! I have a thing for Scag.

I bet it does a great job collecting leaves.

I do the same with my 21" mower. I blow all leaves onto the grass and bag them all. Does a great job leaving the yard clean.

Mad Mackie said:

Hi tigercat,
Does the suspension seat make a difference in ride comfort?

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Hi Mad Mackie, It's the only seat I know of on the Scag machines, but it's nice. I weigh 207 now (doctor yelled at me again to drop some more ) and I did jack the spring weight on the seat and can't tell if it made a difference or not. I like the arm rests and on this seat you can fold the back rest some so if you don't like the super upright position, you can change the angle to what suits your mood.
If I remember correctly, this seat is 500 bucks or something. Expensive seat. Don't damage it!

Lawnboy18 said:

Beautiful mahcine! I have a thing for Scag.

I bet it does a great job collecting leaves.

I do the same with my 21" mower. I blow all leaves onto the grass and bag them all. Does a great job leaving the yard clean.

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It's raining today, that's why I cleaned up the yard yesterday after work. I just looked outside, it seems the new leaves have over taken the yard again. It's like I never picked them up yesterday.....

It's OK, I got a good rake in the shed, but I prefer the "ZTR rake". :laughing:

Mad Mackie, I have the Suspension seat on my Tiger Cat and it makes a big differance. Used my friends Freedom Z without the seat and my back hurt after mowing for two hours. Not with the suspension seat.

MontecarloSS said:

Mad Mackie, I have the Suspension seat on my Tiger Cat and it makes a big differance. Used my friends Freedom Z without the seat and my back hurt after mowing for two hours. Not with the suspension seat.

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I would like to get one of those seats, I have a herniated disc, three bulging discs and I hurt after mowing for any length of time. My seat is very much like the ones on Freedom Zs. I have checked into the add on suspension thingy that mounts under a seat, not sure if they work and they raise up the seat height too much, I think.
I've been trying to convince my financial "manager" to let me buy a new Tiger Cat, but anything over 5 dollars is not authorized!!! I would like to have two zero turn machines, but!!!! She has asked me several time how the thought of turning 75 before a new machine is paid off, she knows that this thought doesn't set well with me!!! I ain't dead yet, and I bought a new chain saw and when the CC bill arrives, which is soon, I'll get hollered at plenty about it. Should have bought a new seat instead, the saw was $650!!!
Meanwhile, I still hurt, so I gotta do something about it. One seat I was looking at retailed for $1,200 and a dealer was selling them for $800 plus shipping, Ouch!!!
Oh well, life goes on!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

tigercat said:

It's raining today, that's why I cleaned up the yard yesterday after work. I just looked outside, it seems the new leaves have over taken the yard again. It's like I never picked them up yesterday.....

It's OK, I got a good rake in the shed, but I prefer the "ZTR rake". :laughing:

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I cleaned up two customers places yesterday and in the rain today they look worse than the did yesterday before I started!!! But more leaves means more mowing with collection which means more $$$$$$$, well, most of the time, but not at my own place and of course, more back pain!!! Evidently I must enjoy the pain!!:mur:Maybe it is time to pass out smiley face stickers at Walmart!!! YUUUck!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Today I did my "pine tree" customer, 135 bushels of mostly pine needles. By the time the leaves are all down, I will do 300-400 bushels from this customer, possibly more. I may need to put my de-thatcher on to get this place totally cleaned up. Fortunately I can dispose of the collection stuff directly across the street from this customer.:thumbsup:
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Mad Mackie said:

Today I did my "pine tree" customer, 135 bushels of mostly pine needles. By the time the leaves are all down, I will do 300-400 bushels from this customer, possibly more.

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Holy smokes. I thought my yard was bad....:laughing:

That is a lot pine needles!

I did a pine needle and leaf job this morning. It went better than I expected with my blower. All tho, it seems that there will always be some left on the lawn.

Pine needles don't decompose very quickly. A few years ago I tried mulching them, but this didn't work out very well, I had to put regular blades and the collection system back on and go back over the mulched area. These are long needle pines and I bring a ladder with me so I can blow off parts of the house and the garage roof. This customer has 10 very tall long needle pines trees, she had one cut down along with a diseased short needle pine tree. The tree guys had to use a 75' bucket truck as both of these trees were close to her house, the bill was big $$$$$$.

That is bad!!!
My client only has one, but it is very good at making a mess of the road, yard and sidewalk.