shredding leaves

[willshome]

So my leaf loader packs the leaves in good but if they could be shredded more, more would fit per load. I know a lot of people run them over with 21" mower again and again but I just put my line trimmer in the pile and stir for about a minute after about minute, Could have gone longer but wanted them fluffy still so they vac good Hope this helps someone Any one have other ways of doing it?

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Brockton Lawn Care
Easton Lawn Care
Fall Cleanup Brockton

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

make the leaf box out of metal and throw a match in. Then refill! The impeller should reduce them 5 to 1 or 10 to 1 depending on model. I would take a look at it maybe a chunk is missing.

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South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
52" Brutus/52" Super Surfer/44" Pro Line/60" ZMaster
EB630/EB802/EBZ7150/EBZ8000/BR400/Billy Goat 8Hp
FS55&90/FC95/km110/L322&326/TR2350S
HC150/HC155/CHTZ2460
CS440/MS290
Case 1816 Skid

[willshome]

the impeller looks good and so does the housing, I just don't like stopping to dump so if I can fit 20% more that would be great. I pay by the truck load and I'm cheap

[Steve]

That is a very good idea!

I have never seen this before but I think it would be fun to experiment with using some metal duct work tubing and use some kind of torch inside it that flash burns them as they flow through the tube and then are extinguished somehow before they are shot into the back of the truck.

I'd figure that would really make for less leaves.

[deschampsbrothers]

the trick is to leave the side chute unit on with the hose and everything, then just start running over the leaves and clog your hose by running over a big pile then just keep shredding and all the dust like clipping will chute out the sides. leave deck all the way up, listen to the engine as you are doing it of course and as it boggs down u back up and let it catch up then go back at it. i do it with a scag and i am telling you it works like a champ. i do leaf removal for customers who rake it them selves to the road then i charge them to take it all away, i show up give them a price when they see how much it is then 5 mins later i have it to dust with very little room taken up in my truck. Lesco 16 hp briggs with 10 inch hose is the way to go

[Martywdx]

I would love to blow leaves into a pile then suck them up in short order

[elbow300]

We also use a 16 hp loader with a 10" vac hose. I think that as the blades wear on the impeller, the reduction ratio goes down accordingly. I have a spare impeller for the Lesco unit we run, and when reduction ratio goes down, suction reduces as well. I have found that replacing the impeller when a reasonable amount of wear has been reached is the key. I ran the first one until it would not create vacuum, and I took a hard hit on productivity, both in suction, and reduction ratio. We have found that about 75 hours on an impeller is about the tear point, give or take. Once the extra impeller has been purchased and installed, it is just a matter of having new blades cut, grinding off the old blades, and welding in the new ones. Doing this yourself, or even having it done at the local fab shop should save you 75% over buying new impellers. I do not currently reduce leaves prior to running them through the loader. Unless we are operating in an area where we have a particularly long haul to the dump site, I just don't feel it is cost effective for us. Not to mention, it is really hard on the grinder mower, and it sends your neat pile in every direction.

[elbow300]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is a very good idea!

I have never seen this before but I think it would be fun to experiment with using some metal duct work tubing and use some kind of torch inside it that flash burns them as they flow through the tube and then are extinguished somehow before they are shot into the back of the truck.

I'd figure that would really make for less leaves.

I have thought about a system like this many times. I think you might be onto something! My only sticking point is the amount of water and propane the truck would have to carry to incinerate the leaves and then to extinguish the embers. I wonder too about the amount of smoke a system like this would generate. I wish I had time to experiment...but I guess busy is a great problem to have!