Taking an in-depth look at the Kubota grass catcher from an owner. How it mounts, what you need. Look inside the blower unit, etc. Built tough. Works great.
nice review! that vac is a must have for leaves and heavy grass. glad I got notified of your comment and was able to find your channel you tube has been messing up lately and I don't see a lot of comments or when someone subscribes to my channel. not sure what is going on with that. enjoyed the video keep them coming!
I have used the Kubota grass catcher on my BX for 4 years now, and I must say I find it less than ideal. Every year is seems to get more and more diffiicult to attach the unit. I spent a whole day yesterday trying to get it on- and still didn't get it attached- I do this every year, and it seems to get more and more difficult. PTO attachment can be tough. Once attached I find issues with the front pin mounting unit banging into stuff and bending into a pretzel ( needing replacement) and the unit in my hands does clog up more than I'd like. This requires me to stop and detach the discharge boot and pull out all the clogged grass clippings. Other times it will clog in the discharge chute going into the bags in back. I also have had one of the legs break off--- the ones that are needed to store the unit in the correct position for mounting/dismounting. Frankly , if I had this to do over again, I'd put the $2,000 towards a trailer-stle grass catcher , or maybe ditch the grass catcher all together an leave the clippings. The grass catcher does come in handly in the fall for picking up leaves, again, as long as it doesn't clog up, which it does a lot. Your mileage may vary. --Peter
WOW! You seem to have had a lot of problems. I understand that it is difficult to attach the bagging unit to the tractor. But all those other problems you've had? I've had my BX with the grass catcher for 20 years and never had those problems. I do not really detach the grass catcher from my BX. I use my BX to cut grass, pick up leaves, and plow snow. I do have other rear attachments but very rarely use them. I leave the grass catcher on the back of my BX when I plow snow. I just remove the bags. I don't see a reason to take off the grass catcher while plowing snow. I do wish that the grass catcher was compatible with the quick hitch somehow, and I will be looking to fabricate something in the future to be able to do that.
Great video, thank you! I am looking to purchase a new BX1870 with the grass catcher, but cannot find anything with the dimensions what is the total length of your machine from the grill guard to the back of the bagger? Thanks again!
+Robert T Just measured it for You. BX is 98" Grill Guard to the 3 pt hitch pins and Grass Catcher is 46".Total together is 144", give or take 1-2" So 12 Feet from the Grill Guard to the back of the Catcher. Hope it's helpful
+Frederick Vazquez My parts list doesn't show a shear pin for the grass catcher. Usually You can knock out a shear pin with a narrow punch or sometimes a long nail will also work. Sometimes the hole for the shear pin is tapered and You may need to punch it out from the opposite direction. Hope it helps.
I like older style all gear drive unit better,...no belts or pulley's,...would have been perfect if engineers would have made it a hydraulic dump,...the protero unit w/ hydro dump would be nice or just do away with the bag part and fit a protero Polly dump
Paul, I was wrong as to the location of the "Shear bolt." It's on the gearbox end of the PTO driveline. It's a hex-head bolt, Item #13, Part #700-50, 04158, 1/4-20X1-1/2 . Wish I could send you the JPG he forwarded to me, but I don't know how.
+Frederick Vazquez saw the exploded diagram. Give it some penetrating oil, WD-40 and let it soak. If the bolt head is OK you could also try heating the yolk of the universal then trying to loosen the bolt. If the bolt head is not OK, you could try welding another bolt or nut to the damaged one. Then use the penetrating oil and heat to remove it. You may have to drill it out. There are many videos on youtube showing ways to remove bolts. Since I am not a mechanic, they would be better qualified. You could also try tractor forums for more help. Good luck with the bolt and thanks for commenting.
Thanks for the video, I want to purchase one of these for my Kubota and I think this will really work nice for me..
nice review! that vac is a must have for leaves and heavy grass. glad I got notified of your comment and was able to find your channel you tube has been messing up lately and I don't see a lot of comments or when someone subscribes to my channel. not sure what is going on with that. enjoyed the video keep them coming!
Thanks, Paul. BTW, nice camerawork, audio, too.
Nice video Paul!
I have used the Kubota grass catcher on my BX for 4 years now, and I must say I find it less than ideal.
Every year is seems to get more and more diffiicult to attach the unit. I spent a whole day yesterday trying to get it on- and still didn't get it attached- I do this every year, and it seems to get more and more difficult. PTO attachment can be tough.
Once attached I find issues with the front pin mounting unit banging into stuff and bending into a pretzel ( needing replacement) and the unit in my hands does clog up more than I'd like. This requires me to stop and detach the discharge boot and pull out all the clogged grass clippings. Other times it will clog in the discharge chute going into the bags in back.
I also have had one of the legs break off--- the ones that are needed to store the unit in the correct position for mounting/dismounting.
Frankly , if I had this to do over again, I'd put the $2,000 towards a trailer-stle grass catcher , or maybe ditch the grass catcher all together an leave the clippings.
The grass catcher does come in handly in the fall for picking up leaves, again, as long as it doesn't clog up, which it does a lot.
Your mileage may vary.
--Peter
WOW! You seem to have had a lot of problems. I understand that it is difficult to attach the bagging unit to the tractor. But all those other problems you've had? I've had my BX with the grass catcher for 20 years and never had those problems. I do not really detach the grass catcher from my BX. I use my BX to cut grass, pick up leaves, and plow snow. I do have other rear attachments but very rarely use them. I leave the grass catcher on the back of my BX when I plow snow. I just remove the bags. I don't see a reason to take off the grass catcher while plowing snow. I do wish that the grass catcher was compatible with the quick hitch somehow, and I will be looking to fabricate something in the future to be able to do that.
Like the video on the grass catcher. Would you consider doing one showing removing and installing the unit?
Thanks for the post.
Measurements I gave in the video are with a 54" mowing deck
Great video, thank you! I am looking to purchase a new BX1870 with the grass catcher, but cannot find anything with the dimensions what is the total length of your machine from the grill guard to the back of the bagger? Thanks again!
+Robert T Just measured it for You. BX is 98" Grill Guard to the 3 pt hitch pins and Grass Catcher is 46".Total together is 144", give or take 1-2" So 12 Feet from the Grill Guard to the back of the Catcher. Hope it's helpful
Thank you very much! Your help is greatly appreciated!
+Robert T If You purchase the Kubota, post some video once Your comfortable with it. Good Luck.
Any tips to repairing shear pin on impeller drive?
+Frederick Vazquez My parts list doesn't show a shear pin for the grass catcher. Usually You can knock out a shear pin with a narrow punch or sometimes a long nail will also work. Sometimes the hole for the shear pin is tapered and You may need to punch it out from the opposite direction. Hope it helps.
Do you have the 54" or 60" Mower deck?
How much is this
I like older style all gear drive unit better,...no belts or pulley's,...would have been perfect if engineers would have made it a hydraulic dump,...the protero unit w/ hydro dump would be nice or just do away with the bag part and fit a protero Polly dump
The Protero is much more expensive I believe
Paul, I was wrong as to the location of the "Shear bolt." It's on the gearbox end of the PTO driveline. It's a hex-head bolt, Item #13, Part #700-50, 04158, 1/4-20X1-1/2 . Wish I could send you the JPG he forwarded to me, but I don't know how.
+Frederick Vazquez saw the exploded diagram. Give it some penetrating oil, WD-40 and let it soak. If the bolt head is OK you could also try heating the yolk of the universal then trying to loosen the bolt. If the bolt head is not OK, you could try welding another bolt or nut to the damaged one. Then use the penetrating oil and heat to remove it. You may have to drill it out. There are many videos on youtube showing ways to remove bolts. Since I am not a mechanic, they would be better qualified. You could also try tractor forums for more help. Good luck with the bolt and thanks for commenting.