I don't know if it's factory or not however I have a trac vac three point mount at home, I could post a picture if you would like to see it.
TracVac mods
In the spring, I picked up a leaf vac trailer that is a bit of a mess. The system was originally a Trac-Vac system that was a fixed mount setup on the hitch plate. I have the original mounting frame and the collection bin, which was pretty small. Somewhere along the way a trailer was added to the system, the bin was removed, but the blower and motor were left on the hitch plate mounting frame, which made it somewhat lopsided.
The leaves are falling, so I figured it was about (past) time I started working on this thing. The first thing I did was decide to change the blower motor to a 3ph mount. I cut off the plate from the original mount and welded on some rod and flat stock to convert it.
Here's the original framework. The stub on the bottom is where I cut off the engine mounting plate:
![Wood Plywood]()
I got the 3ph part hooked up, but ran into problems attaching the blower housing. The system was repowered with a Predator engine, and the muffler interferes with the housing. Here was my first (admittedly poor) attempt at fixing that:
![Machine tool Machine]()
I figured if I raised the muffler up a bit it would clear the blower housing. Well, it clears the housing but now interferes with the outlet hose that runs to the trailer. It also points right at the back of the tractor seat, so that's not going to work. I need to pick up some iron pipe and work something else out.
Here are the rest of the blower parts:
![Machine Metal]()
This thing was held together with quite the random assortment of nuts, bolts, screws, metric and SAE, nylok nuts, lockwashers, who knows. I'm going to pick up some new hardware to standardize everything. Attempt two tonight after some more welding. I did get it mounted on the back of the tractor last night but didn't get a pic, I'll grab one tonight. More to come.
The leaves are falling, so I figured it was about (past) time I started working on this thing. The first thing I did was decide to change the blower motor to a 3ph mount. I cut off the plate from the original mount and welded on some rod and flat stock to convert it.
Here's the original framework. The stub on the bottom is where I cut off the engine mounting plate:
I got the 3ph part hooked up, but ran into problems attaching the blower housing. The system was repowered with a Predator engine, and the muffler interferes with the housing. Here was my first (admittedly poor) attempt at fixing that:
I figured if I raised the muffler up a bit it would clear the blower housing. Well, it clears the housing but now interferes with the outlet hose that runs to the trailer. It also points right at the back of the tractor seat, so that's not going to work. I need to pick up some iron pipe and work something else out.
Here are the rest of the blower parts:
This thing was held together with quite the random assortment of nuts, bolts, screws, metric and SAE, nylok nuts, lockwashers, who knows. I'm going to pick up some new hardware to standardize everything. Attempt two tonight after some more welding. I did get it mounted on the back of the tractor last night but didn't get a pic, I'll grab one tonight. More to come.
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here they are
Attachments
Got a little more work done last night. I bought some iron pipe and redid the exhaust pipe for the muffler. It looks pretty goofy, but it keeps the muffler away from the exhaust hose from the blower, the gas tank and the tractor. My concerns were a) not melting the vacuum hose, b) not impeding access to the air cleaner, and c) not blowing myself up if I need to fill up the gas tank after the engine's been running. I need to add a support strut on the opposite side of the engine since the long pipe and muffler act like such a lever on the exhaust flange. I know it's crooked, but it was on purpose to provide as much clearance as possible from the blower.
![Vehicle Automotive tire Car Tire Automotive wheel system]()
Here it is from a better angle to see the orientation to the mower deck
![Motor vehicle Vehicle Auto part Machine Car]()
How it hangs on the 3ph
![Vehicle Motor vehicle Automotive tire Mode of transport Tire]()
I need to get a longer hose to go from the deck to the blower:
![Machine Bumper Metal]()
In any case, I got it all running last night. Man that thing moves some air! The only problem is that predator engine has a really back knocking going on with it. I checked the valve clearance and its good, cylinder face looks good, and the motor runs strong. I'm wondering if something in the recoil starter is catching and making noise. It's a loud knock or tap once every revolution, at idle all the way up through WOT and doesn't seem to change whether the engine is warm or cold. It happened with and without the blower mounted to the engine PTO shaft.
Here it is from a better angle to see the orientation to the mower deck
How it hangs on the 3ph
I need to get a longer hose to go from the deck to the blower:
In any case, I got it all running last night. Man that thing moves some air! The only problem is that predator engine has a really back knocking going on with it. I checked the valve clearance and its good, cylinder face looks good, and the motor runs strong. I'm wondering if something in the recoil starter is catching and making noise. It's a loud knock or tap once every revolution, at idle all the way up through WOT and doesn't seem to change whether the engine is warm or cold. It happened with and without the blower mounted to the engine PTO shaft.
Hey come on its at least 25. 
The biggest problem last winter was the snowbanks got too high and my little blower couldn't throw the wet stuff high enough to get it out of the driveway. At least now I'll be able to clear them.
The biggest problem last winter was the snowbanks got too high and my little blower couldn't throw the wet stuff high enough to get it out of the driveway. At least now I'll be able to clear them.
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