who runs rear-mounted Z baggers

[highlander316]

ok, this thought has been going through my head for the past 2 years or so. Been thinking of the idea of getting one of the 3-bag systems for one of my Yazoo/Kees Z's, but at the cost of $2200 installed, I'm like eeeehhhhhh still. I could use it for the last 3-4 weeks in the season for picking up leaves and tack a few extra dollars per cut to each customer (I know most would take it) instead of making a mess of the leaves (and for final fall clean-ups). I'm also debating on having it for this spring growth. This year has been insane for growth. It would be faster on quite a few lawns to bag then double/triple cut and blow the mess of clumps (mostly mornings). Now, I have a bagger, but it's an Accelerator, and while it's ok for my 36", my 61" z's pack it to fast, and when it's wet, just clog up.

So my real question is, will it help me out? Will I experience clogging even with the wet grass, or will the impeller on the bagger help suck the grass out from the deck and put it into the bags?

[Georges Lawn & Mulch]

I just bought a Scag Turf Tiger with a 61" deck and had the hard side clam shell collector installed. It works with the blower impeller arrangement that is driven off one of the deck spindles. I bought it mainly for leaves on my property. It seems to work well except when things are really wet and heavy, then it clogs and I need to detach the tube and clear it. For normal dry grass and leaves it works great. I doubt it would work very well for the growth and wetness we like we have been getting here lately.

[highlander316]

yea that's what I figured, would clog the tube up. But even when somewhat dry here, this double/triple cutting followed by blowing the clumps up on these steroid lawns is starting to get old fast.

[spotremix]

i personally use a trac vac once the leaves start falling. i come a weekly or bi weekly basis and just mow the leaves up with my mower. i charge extra for this as well.

for me it beats coming 2 or 3 times in the fall season messing with blowers, rakes, tarps, whatever, moving the leaves into a trailer.