Cyclone Rake

[CSXengr]

Looking at hooking up a cyclone rake to my 1450 50" deck. My brother has the rake hooked to a JD. He wants to let me use it cleaning up my mom's yard this fall. He tried to explain to me how they attach to a tractor but pictures would help. I understand how the rake attaches to a tow bar but how would it attach to my tractor? Thanks for the help.

[olds45512]

You will most likely need to buy or build a boot that attaches to the end of your deck that the hose can hook to, I've seen boots for the peco Trac vac on eBay so you may be able to buy one of those.

[Mike McKown]

If you have to buy a new boot and/or new hose to connect to your tractor, you'd be ahead of the game to talk your brother into letting you use his tractor that's already set up for it.

Not that big a deal but that's a lot of money to put out for a one time clean up job.

[CSXengr]

Sorry, I did not make myself very clear. My brother has all the hose and boot for the Cyclone Rake but what I need is how does it attach to the tractor? I have been thinking of having a bar made that would allow me to hook it up to the sleeve hitch on this tractor. Any thoughts on that?

[Mike McKown]

Your brother may have a boot. That doesn't mean it will work on your deck. Some decks are very sensitive to the boot you use. If it's not compatible, it will clog. Use this link for a reference:

https://www.google.com/search?q=leaf...mVBiEQ_AUIBygC

You don't say which Trac Vac model your brother has. Use this link for a reference:

https://www.google.com/search?q=leaf...ch&q=trac+vac+

I have an EZ VAc and it hitches to the tractor like this.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/attach...1&d=1383430812

[Mike McKown]

I also have an EZ Vac similar to this one. It doesn't use a drawbar hitch. It uses a hitch unique to the tractor model. It swings around on the caster wheels behind the tractor instead of just trailing behind like a two wheel cart.

http://www.muttonpower.com/images/Pr...arge/10336.jpg

[twoton]

Cyclone Rake on a 1450 with a 50" deck;

[twoton]

Hope these help, attaches just like a hitch plate. I think it would be better with the ears like on the Xtreem hitches.

[CSXengr]

Yes this helps. I understand now how it hooks to the tractor, not the deck.

[twoton]

Originally Posted by CSXengr

Yes this helps. I understand now how it hooks to the tractor, not the deck.

Maybe this will help...

So the yellow plastic boot comes from the manufacturer without a hole for the deck discharge. You have to cut the hole (as seen here as a rectangle) to fit the discharge on the deck. Cut it as close as possible for a snug fit. The z section piece of steel on top of the boot will actually rest just inboard of the raised portion of the deck shell that you can see in the second picture. You can fasten the z section to the deck if you like, this one just stays on due to its weight and the bottom of the boot glides along on the grass.

Hope this helps.