Thread: A STOVE UP OLE MAN'S ANSWER TO A LEAF RAKING PROBLEM! !

A STOVE UP OLE MAN'S ANSWER TO A LEAF RAKING PROBLEM!!

As I'm sure you all have seen where you are from... the leaves are starting to fall pretty good here in Central North Carolina and I have been trying to be as proactive as I know how to be, as an aging and somewhat disabled 63 year old lazy man. In the years gone by, my wife Karen and I, have struggled with almost two acres of yard to get the leaves up as they fall... and I can tell you... it has gotten to be more than we can deal with.



Don't get me wrong. Historically, I always loved raking and burning leaves in the fall and early winter months, and usually always went at it (and all other outdoor work) at a slow yet deliberate pace until any such projects (no matter how big or challenging) were done. This always worked quite well for me... that is... until a couple of years ago.



Last year and the year before, (however), I was rather suddenly and unexpectedly stricken with all sorts of medical problems, including back problems, shoulder problems, hip problems, among others, which caused the fallen leaves to lay un-raked until all of them had fallen and were wind blown into deep, wet piles that were almost impossible for us to deal with. It was then that I made a resolution to myself that I would be doing things a whole lot differently in the next years than I have in the past. I'm sure you've heard the ole' saying, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention. " I am here to tell you it is true.



So, I began pondering the design of a lawn tractor conversion to a leaf vacuum since the grueling last couple of years; that I might somehow outfit to my old Craftsman rider to take the majority of the work and a whole lot of the pain and suffering out of this rather daunting time of year. I began looking at any related ideas on the internet and I read all I could that was produced in printed articles before I began the action phases of this project. Fortunately, I have a pretty formidable workshop with most of the tools and materials I would need for taking this design from "head engineering" through the "fabrication" and installation phases.

THE BIRTH OF THE RIDING MOWER VACUUM SYSTEM

The design that I came up with required the fabrication of a table top that would mount on my right arm rest area, a deck boot adapter to convert the deck discharge, a duct work system to pipe the discharged grass and leaves and a rear boom that would attach to a homemade bag that I constructed from two tarps, wire ties and some duct tape.



I of course had to buy the deck discharge adapter from Sears Parts Online. I was able to utilize mostly scrap wood in the building of this entire project. I used some old galvanized duct that I had laying around. I finished the building of all the components last week and completed the installation of all of the component parts on Wednesday of this week. I would guess that I have about $125.00 in this Lawn Tractor Vac Conversion Project.



Lastly, I took my newly outfitted old lawn tractor on a pretty lengthy quality control test run to see how she would perform the function for which she was designed. I am happy to report that (after about an hour) of running it without a bag attached -- it worked like an absolute charm with zero problems or clogging.



Now, this stove up old man can cut grass and/or vacuum leaves year around while collecting both grass clippings and/or leaves -- converting both to mulch, which I plan to put in a compost bin and convert by way of natural decomposition process to nutritious soil amendments that I plan to use in the spring for as long as the Good Lord allows me to remain on His Awesome Creation.



Still, I am somewhat happy to say that I still have enough raking and blowing of leaves left to do around the building edges, fences, landscaping and such, where this thing cannot reach, to satisfy any lingering desire I may have to rake leaves in the fall. BRING 'EM ON!!! LET 'EM FALL!!!

LOTS MORE TIME FOR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE FALL... LIKE CRAPPIE FISHING!!!

Please take a moment to let me know what you think of my Redneck Lawn Vac Conversion System.

May God Bless You & Yours,
Wayne aka Special K

Your "

Redneck Lawn Vac Conversion System" is awesome and so are you! May God improve your health. Thanks for sharing.