Go big or go home. The main reason i want the larger style is for fall clean ups

 

I have the 7 bu. and I don't have trees so no leaves in the fall but I can tell you cutting 1 acre at the 3.5" mark in spring I have to empty it a minimum of 4-5 times. Summer when the grass is thinner I still empty 2 times with a little left in the bottom in each bag to drop off before blow down. I went the smaller for ease of storing if I had to do it again I would be on the fence but if you're mowing more and have leaf clean up I would go the bigger or bump up to the MC519 that way you have a trailer as well.

 

You might need front weights if you opt for the larger.
When the bin is full, especially if the grass is wet, the front end might start getting a tad light.

 

I would go with the 7. The savings will essentially pay for the powerflow. Who really cares if you can pick up double the capacity since it's so easy to go to your dump spot and drop what you have. I built a collection system that is 3/4 filled after doing my entire property. Am going to scale it down for next fall. The large collection system is nice and all but I wouldnt mind the trips on my 2 acre property. The smaller collection system would make it much easier to maneuver around my property and decrease the space it takes to store it. Wouldn't the smaller bagger also increase suction?

Hope I helped.

 

That was my thinking. Sure, the 8 bushel will fill up quick, but does that really matter when I can empty it from the seat? At that point it almost doesn't matter as long as I don't fill it up so fast that I need to empty it every 5 or 10 minutes, then it simply wouldn't be efficient.

The big system looks pretty big. I worry about the sheer size of it. Installation and removal might be frequent for me, so the small one might be a lot easier to wrestle with. Also, the ground clearance underneath the hopper is probably quite a bit better than the 14 bushel. I have several dips in my property where the big one may hit the ground as I exit the dip. That would not be good!

 

It is hard to judge the size since they are shown on different series machines. The x7 is a good bit larger than the x5. I would lean towards the smaller one for the same reasons you are thinking.

 

If I had a dedicated mower I think the bigger one would be a great thing, but right now, my X740 pulls a lot of different shifts. I move the wifes horse trailer with it, cut grass, push manure and dirt with the 54'' blade, I pull out trees and shrubs, I tow my cart behind it. All of those things require the tractor to be setup a different way, which means a lot of adding and removing things. I am going to go to my local dealer and try to look at one in person, but that 14 bushel looks big and heavy, especially for someone who will need to install/remove it on a weekly basis.

 

I would get the 3-bag unit.

 

:ditto: I'm with Mach-1, get the bigger unit. If you get the smaller unit (2 bagger) you will soon wish that you bought the bigger unit after dumping a few times during each grass cutting session.

If you have ANY leaves to pick up in the fall then definitely get the bigger one. The smaller one will fill up real fast.

Secondly, installing and removing the units would basically be the same process. Nothing is really gained there by getting the smaller unit over the bigger one. I don't know the weight difference between the two units but it can't be night and day difference. Can't say for sure.

My two cents worth.

Roger

Roger

 

I didn't even know these were sold in North America... I haven't seen a single picture of one or one in person.
Well when you get it, :wwp:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

In my situation I would want a big one only because I mow close to 3.5 acres. When I'm as far away from my dump spot it would fill up and that is a ways away.... If I only had an acre, I'd get the small one. To me it depends on the size of the property you are mowing, if install and removal are the same.

 

I suggest for You 04zrx get a MCS 519 Cart. My 519 will Have Hydraulic lift On it for this coming spring Just haven't Mounted the Kit I Bought for it Yet:thThumbsU

 

Is a cyclone rake an option? I would image buying the bagger and the quick dump might come close to the cost.

 

And you can try (use) it for one year and if it is not adequate return it at no cost to you. If I needed one I might be tempted.
Yes, I know, it is NOT greene. :sidelaugh:hide:

http://www.cyclonerake.com/warranty.htm

 

I don't want anything tow behind for my machine so a cyclone rake or the MC519 is out too. My property is very uneven, so my machine is constantly twisting, going through and out of low spots or over some pretty rough bumps. I don't think a tow behind unit would last very long in those conditions.

Also, if I use my drawbar extension I made, I can pull my #18 cart while still leaving the MCS on the tractor if I need to. This could end up saving me a lot of time. With a tow behind system I can't do that.

I am still really torn. I found one review last night from a guy whos dad owns one of these systems and he said he hated it. Since the hopper is metal, there is nowhere for the air to escape except for a small plastic grate over an opening. Trouble is, this opening becomes plugged all the time, if air cannot escape the hopper, it won't push grass in either. I hate to spend big dollars on a MCS only to find out it does not work!

 

I am still really torn. I found one review last night from a guy whos dad owns one of these systems and he said he hated it. Since the hopper is metal, there is nowhere for the air to escape except for a small plastic grate over an opening. Trouble is, this opening becomes plugged all the time, if air cannot escape the hopper, it won't push grass in either. I hate to spend big dollars on a MCS only to find out it does not work!

Wow! Sounds like there is some more development left to do on these units. :dunno:
Good thing you found that review.:thThumbsU

 

I have considered a collection system but I feel the (-) out weigh the (+) in my case. you will have a sweet set up

 

The metal bins sound good to me right now...assuming they work as advertized. Earlier today I went out to my shed and saw that that squirrels got in and made bedding out of my collection bags. Literally tore them to shreds. Little Bas#!$s.

 

I know your pain.

See my thread on the squirrel damage I just found. Just after Christmas I went out to the shed to find a squirrel had literally started eating my X740.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=727682&highlight=

 

After zooming in on the picture I can see there are a series of vent holes just under the hopper top,plus the screen vent in the hopper top should be enough air flow.I'm sure everyone keeps their bags clean to get max air flow....

 

Not sure if this is too late, but last year I traded in my 425 AWS w/mc519, which I used to dump my grass/leaves into a pile or out in a farm field if their were no crops in the field. Last year I got an X734 with the 3 bag collection system, and I love it....here's the pluses for me....less stress on the transmission....not pulling all that extra wt. when heavy, and in reverse on hills, more clearance in the back on turns near a building, less chance of getting stuck if muddy in the field, not pulling a cart, but the biggy I found was I have plenty of areas, when I have a nice mix of grass/leaves in the fall where I can use the mix as a mulch/weed preventer (under a long row of arbor vitae). perennial flower beds under pine trees, beds around my deck.....couldn't do that with the cart or dump system, but with the bags, I only dumped in the field once or twice.....all the rest went under bushes, and in flower beds....by Spring, I'm guessing I'll be able to mulch right over the top of the clippings.

 

Get the bagger and it and run it with bags and see what you think then. You can always get the dumper upgrade later. Another thing to think about is that dumper attachment is going to be heavy and cumbersome to remove and store if you have to take it off and on a lot.

 

I don't want to mess with bags, I have always hated bagging grass.

The only reason I am even getting a MCS is because of my in-laws. We live on their property, and they really want the grass bagged. I maintain this property with my machines in exchange for cheaper rent for me and the wife. So I am between a rock and a hard place, you know how it is, keep the family happy, avoid problems.

I figured if I can get this hopper setup going, it won't require much extra effort on my part to bag the clippings, and keep everybody happy.

 

I would recommend them this device....

 

Would be nice, but that's not available in North America.

We never get the fun toys!

 

yes I know this is a European stuff. for that they have in US Firearms, this we miss here very ...:sterb003:

 

I did not like the bag setup and I had a friend that purchased the stainless dump but found it to be a bit flimsy. After a month of use the unit started to buckle a bit. I decided to build my own unit. A few sheets of plywood, some hardware and paint and and a bit of welding I have a good solid easy to dump unit. I would agree with the comments about airflow, I started with one vent and ended up adding two more to keep the powerflow from plugging up.

 

I did not like the bag setup and I had a friend that purchased the stainless dump but found it to be a bit flimsy. After a month of use the unit started to buckle a bit. I decided to build my own unit. A few sheets of plywood, some hardware and paint and and a bit of welding I have a good solid easy to dump unit. I would agree with the comments about airflow, I started with one vent and ended up adding two more to keep the powerflow from plugging up.
View attachment 1126737 View attachment 1126745

Flimsy, really? I would think metal would hold up pretty good considering this is a product geared towards commercial guys who mow 10 hours a day.

It seems there is no good solution for collecting clippings where I do not need to mess with bags. In light of all this, I am strongly considering scrapping this entire idea. If my in-laws want the grass bagged that bad, then they can buy the bagger for my machine. I am not going to spend $2,000 only to find out all the solutions out there are no good!

 

I use a cyclone XL for clean up on 12 acres,pulled by an x540! very powerful vacuum, yes the exhaust grate gets plugged a little when doing wet material,but only takes 30 secs. to clean off with a stiff brush!the entire unit can be removed in 5 minutes[taking the deck adapter off is the longest part of this remove 4 bolts and replace the guard]. Pulling the rigid mount cart takes some getting use to, but works good for those that don't have good reverse skills. it will power-unload to a bush area if you have such and folds up to a flat unit for storage! I like it and would purchase again if the situation arose! you need to plan out your route so your doing ruff and hilly areas before the machine is getting full. the material is very heavy when wet!

 

I do wonder if some of the people who love it have only used it on grass.

It sounds like it is a good unit. The venting should not be a show stopper for a mechanic.

 

No matter what you get bags or box your going to have to install it,empty it,clean it,remove it, store it, and maintain it.I would always welcome a way or attachment that would make my life easier,but if dumping bags of grass is inconvenient, then putting the attachment on and taking it off might be inconvenient.

 

I wonder, the 3 bag system, using the bags and not the hopper, does it suffer from the same problem as most multi bag systems? The problem I am referring to is the farthest bins fill up, but the one underneath the chute hardly collects anything at all.

Can anyone verify this?

 

I have the 2 bag system on my 345 and the farthest one fills first,but they both fill.It fills over the top of the bag and then grass fills the other bag.