HydroHarold
09-28-2005, 12:55 AM
I finally got tired of getting covered with dust and small clippings when bagging. What I made was a flexible fabric dust guard that goes around the front of the plastic hinged top covering the bags. It hangs down as far as the bottom of the bagger frame between tractor and bags.
Materials: One heavy duty tarp (Lowe's calls them Contractor Grade, mine's silver/brown plastic but I bet a cloth one would work better), One roll high quality duct tape (I used silver you may want to be more "brand specific).
Tools: Scissors, Sharpie marker, tape measure, damp rag to clean dust off surfaces to be taped.
1. Measure from bottom of bagger frame by hitch hole to a point about 3" above the edge of the hinged bag cover.
Measure from the back of the curve at the Right Hand front corner of cover to equivilant point on Left Hand side of cover. This is the size piece you will cut for the kilt. I cut the tarp so that the grommeted hem is on the bottom for weight.
2. Locate the center of the piece of tarp and the center of the front of bagger cover (hinged side toward seat). With a small piece of tape tack the tarp to the cover with the top edge of tarp about 2" above bottom edge of cover. Tarp hangs between seat and rear of tractor and the open mesh of the bags.
Remove accordian chute entry panel from front of bagger (4 #@*&*! Metric bolts). Bring tarp evenly across top edge of cover and tack with tape. Hold tarp up against hole for chute leaving 1/2" slack above opening to allow plate reattachment, cut out tarp INSIDE hole.
3. Reposition chute through hole in tarp and punch out bolt holes. Bolt chute back into position trapping tarp evenly between chute and bagger. OPEN COVER and tape remaining top edge of tarp evenly along top of cover to the back end of both front corners. When installed correctly tarp will hang straight down from chute entry and across entire tractor side of bagger cover. If needed relief slits could be cut to allow more drop past hitch.
Making tarp extend further to rear of corner impedes opening of the cover. Tarp will flare out when top is closed creating "side skirts" which provide better dust protection and deflection. Round bottom corners of tarp for "neatness".
My bagger is for a 48C deck with two bags, adjust your measurements/attaching accordingly. Some adjustment/retaping may be needed at corners depending how tight tarp is when cover is open. There is no reduction in airflow only air direction - down and to rear.
I made a quickie one of these last year out of 6mil. vinyl vapor barrier and it worked so well I wanted to try it with more HD materials. Works great especially if your top rubber gasket leaks and the dust blows down your neck (like mine did from day one!). Keeps tranny way cleaner!!! Since I had made one already it only took me about an hour from start to finish, some other models of bagger might present other clearance problems but anyone that can operate a mechanical device like a tractor should be able to.......:D
:Tractor2:
Materials: One heavy duty tarp (Lowe's calls them Contractor Grade, mine's silver/brown plastic but I bet a cloth one would work better), One roll high quality duct tape (I used silver you may want to be more "brand specific).
Tools: Scissors, Sharpie marker, tape measure, damp rag to clean dust off surfaces to be taped.
1. Measure from bottom of bagger frame by hitch hole to a point about 3" above the edge of the hinged bag cover.
Measure from the back of the curve at the Right Hand front corner of cover to equivilant point on Left Hand side of cover. This is the size piece you will cut for the kilt. I cut the tarp so that the grommeted hem is on the bottom for weight.
2. Locate the center of the piece of tarp and the center of the front of bagger cover (hinged side toward seat). With a small piece of tape tack the tarp to the cover with the top edge of tarp about 2" above bottom edge of cover. Tarp hangs between seat and rear of tractor and the open mesh of the bags.
Remove accordian chute entry panel from front of bagger (4 #@*&*! Metric bolts). Bring tarp evenly across top edge of cover and tack with tape. Hold tarp up against hole for chute leaving 1/2" slack above opening to allow plate reattachment, cut out tarp INSIDE hole.
3. Reposition chute through hole in tarp and punch out bolt holes. Bolt chute back into position trapping tarp evenly between chute and bagger. OPEN COVER and tape remaining top edge of tarp evenly along top of cover to the back end of both front corners. When installed correctly tarp will hang straight down from chute entry and across entire tractor side of bagger cover. If needed relief slits could be cut to allow more drop past hitch.
Making tarp extend further to rear of corner impedes opening of the cover. Tarp will flare out when top is closed creating "side skirts" which provide better dust protection and deflection. Round bottom corners of tarp for "neatness".
My bagger is for a 48C deck with two bags, adjust your measurements/attaching accordingly. Some adjustment/retaping may be needed at corners depending how tight tarp is when cover is open. There is no reduction in airflow only air direction - down and to rear.
I made a quickie one of these last year out of 6mil. vinyl vapor barrier and it worked so well I wanted to try it with more HD materials. Works great especially if your top rubber gasket leaks and the dust blows down your neck (like mine did from day one!). Keeps tranny way cleaner!!! Since I had made one already it only took me about an hour from start to finish, some other models of bagger might present other clearance problems but anyone that can operate a mechanical device like a tractor should be able to.......:D
:Tractor2: