[m7boondocker]

Anyone here own or use a bagger for the 2500 series Cub Cadets? I am pondering using one for my 2544 and just wondering how well they work in the real world? Right now I have to cut my grass every 3-4 days and if I wait too long I end up with windrows. I thought if I bagged it I could then use it as mulch in my garden too as well as stopping the windrows..

Also, any idea on cost for one?

 

[JMoe]

Info is scarce on bagging with the 44". The only potenial issue I could see is the discharge opening is fairly small on the 44". Could be a clogger.

 

[TJJarc]

I own a bagger and use it primarily for leaves in the fall and it clogs quite a bit - both at the discharge and also through the chute. I have never used it solely for grass, but think that if you took it slow (and the grass was dry), it would do a pretty good job. I bought the tractor, bagger, and a cart as part of a package so I don't have a good feel for cost. I think the list price was around $400, if memory serves me. On another note - just the size of it makes it a pain to store.

 

[pfreiburger]

I have a GT2550 and I like the Cub bagger system. Unfortunately I do not know how different it is from the GT2544, so I am not sure how much of this applies.

I did a deep de-thatch & mowing (the lawn looked like a farm field) and the Cub just sucked it all up without leaving anything on the lawn. It plugs fairly easily on high moisture grass, but no worse that my other baggers did in the past. The soft bags are easy to use and do not get hung up like the hard catchers do. The catcher top can be raised without tilting the seat and the chute hold downs are easy to use – the swing out lower chute is much easier to use than the Craftsman system. The bag support structure is heavy, but it slides into the frame channels pretty easily.

Not so good is the thinness of the lower chute – very minor contact pushes it in and you have to stamp it back to original shape. Also, it is hard to believe that no handle is installed on the upper chute – it was almost impossible to R&R before I put a handle on it. Lastly, I have swapped the regular and high lift blades and there does not seem to be much more lift with the latter – I need to play around with this some more.

They are expensive. List last fall was about $480, and I paid $375 because I found a dealer that had one out of the box (I only added a couple of bolts to complete it). I believe that the GT2544 bagger is a triple also, so it probably will not go for much less. EBay maybe?

Good luck with your search!

 

[diesel_nut]

What are "windows"?

 

[m7boondocker]

What are "windows"?

"Windrows", not "windows". Windrows are the rows of cut up grass (or hay) that left in a row after mowing (or cutting hay).

 

[diesel_nut]

"Windrows", not "windows". Windrows are the rows of cut up grass (or hay) that left in a row after mowing (or cutting hay).

Duh. Read right past the "r". Thanks. Didn't know what a windRow was either. Never heard that term used. I always just referred to it as 'clumping' but I can see where there is a difference.

Maybe your'e trying to cut too low? Cutting too much for the deck to clear? I see my neighbors do this all the time and we all have bermuda grass. I rarely have 'windrows' and they have them all the time. They don't cut as often and try to cut lower that I do when they cut.
Maybe set the deck a little higher and very gradually lower it over a few weeks and maybe cut more often.
Also I cut with the chute open. It throws the grass and doesn't 'windrow' it as much. Hey, I used the word in a sentence
Another item. Do you cut where the deck chute is pointed toward cut or uncut grass?

 

[m7boondocker]

Duh. Read right past the "r". Thanks. Didn't know what a windRow was either. Never heard that term used. I always just referred to it as 'clumping' but I can see where there is a difference.

Maybe your'e trying to cut too low? Cutting too much for the deck to clear? I see my neighbors do this all the time and we all have bermuda grass. I rarely have 'windrows' and they have them all the time. They don't cut as often and try to cut lower that I do when they cut.
Maybe set the deck a little higher and very gradually lower it over a few weeks and maybe cut more often.
Also I cut with the chute open. It throws the grass and doesn't 'windrow' it as much. Hey, I used the word in a sentence
Another item. Do you cut where the deck chute is pointed toward cut or uncut grass?

I have the deck raised all the way up. The issue is the grass will grow and inch or so a day, so if I don't get to it within 3 -4 days I make hay. I made a device that allows me to change if the deck mulches or side chutes on the fly. I cut in an alternating pattern (to get the stripes) so when I cut towards uncut grass I side shoot, and then when I cut towards the just cut part, I mulch. In doing this I don't leave the clumps of grass left over from mulching, and also don't get windrows, so this generally works. However, I was thinking a bagger would be nice so I could put the grass in the garden. But, I think it is more trouble then it's worth given the $, storage, and clogging issues.

 

[diesel_nut]

I've read on here that with mulching you need to go real slow. I don't mulch, I throw the grass as far as it will throw it.
My deck cuts great BTW
I'll try to post a pic that show my lawn and my neighbor's. They run right into each other and the difference is amazing. They have a small JD, well and so does the other neighbor and the other one across the way tries to cut 2 acres with a small Toro rider(their lawn is a MESS!!). I want so badly to go over there and "catch up" for them

 

[Tuckerdog]

I do have to agree, my GT2554 cuts great. I had all my neighbors tell me how my grass looks great after I cut and they have probems leaving clumps. No matter how high it might get, the GT cuts it. I cut at least 2 times a week right now.

 

[m7boondocker]

I do have to agree, my GT2554 cuts great. I had all my neighbors tell me how my grass looks great after I cut and they have probems leaving clumps. No matter how high it might get, the GT cuts it. I cut at least 2 times a week right now.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, my Cub cuts like a champ too. I just cut my grass from 8" to 4", which I know isn't ideal; but that is only 3 days of growth, and it looks great now. I just have to get creative with my patterns.

 

[Bugle]

2544 with dry grass works great. Wet grass & you will be forever unclogging the tubes. Remember to have the high lift blade installed on the discharge side. When mine was delivered they "forgot" to include the high lift bland & it constantly plugged up. Leaves in the fall clean up great, remember dry = no problems....