Are Lawn Tractor Baggers Universal?
Buying a lawn bagger for your tractor can be a tricky affair, especially if doing so for the first time. Similarly, using it comes with its share of challenges, such as the bag failing to collect grass. Is your bag the right fit for the tractor or mower, or is it universal?
Lawn tractor baggers are universal. Although their decks come in different discharge cut sizes and depths, you can configure them to work on various types of tractors and lawnmowers. Baggers fail due to clogging, driving the mower too fast, using the wrong blades, or mowing wet grass.
This article will explain how baggers work, why they may not collect the expected amount of grass, and the critical factors to consider when buying them. Let’s cut to the chase and get started.
How a Lawn Tractor Bagger Works
A lawn tractor bagger, which is called a grass catcher, is part of a collection system used to collect grass clippings. It’s usually attached at the back and features fabric construction, meshes, plastic housings, and wireframes to hold it in place. As you drive your tractor across the lawn, the clippings pass through the mulching door at the back and into the bag.
Why Your Lawn Bagger Isn’t Collecting Grass
If you recently changed your lawn tractor bagger and discovered it doesn’t collect the grass as expected, you might be wondering if it’s a compatibility problem. However, that could arise from any of the following:
Mowing Through Wet Grass
One of the fascinating facts about humans is that we’re creatures of habit. You probably set a specific day or time aside for mowing, regardless of whether it’s rained or not.
If so, you may have a challenge collecting the cuttings, because wet grass is heavier, making it harder to push through the chute. Besides, it’s sticky, so it tends to stick, clogging the collection system, so it’s best to wait until the grass dries to mow and collect it.
Using the Wrong Mower Blades
The blade type you’re using could prevent your bagger system from collecting grass properly. Typically, bagger systems require high-lift blades that can cut grass and create enough lift for the clippings to be propelled into the collection chutes.
For example, if you’re using mulching blades, chances are you’re not creating the lift required to push the cuttings into the collection bag. Instead, the chute may become clogged, or the clippings may not be pushed into the bagger at all.
Clogs and Snags
While you’re mowing, debris may accumulate in the bagger system, blocking the clippings from getting into the collection bag. It could be that parts of the system are misaligned by snugs, such as burs or dents, which can cause the grass to clog the system, hurting its performance. To avoid this, inspect the system regularly.
Driving Your Tractor Too Fast
Driving too quickly is a sure-fire way to collect less grass, creating the impression that your lawn bagger isn’t effective. Most notably, the cutting speed increases when you’re cruising fast, so the bagger system may miss most of the clippings, which then shoot out at the rear. To ensure the chute collects as much grass as possible, drive at a steady, sustainable pace.
The Bagger Isn’t Secure
Improper fitting of parts and gaps in the collection system can create a mess as you cruise through the lawn, because the grass cuttings may get caught up or ejected from the system. To fix this, ensure there are no holes in the bagger system, and everything is snug.
The Bagger Belt Tension Is Faulty
Bagger systems come with belts that run from the mower to the blower system. These belts keep the cuttings flowing from the ground to the collection bag. If the belt is faulty, slips off, or is not adjusted correctly, the grass may not flow smoothly. Instead, you risk damaging the entire system. Therefore, ensure the belt is in place and neither too tight nor too loose.
How To Clean Your Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag
Proper maintenance can help solve some of the problems mentioned above. Notably, you can keep your bagger system free from debris and clogging by cleaning it regularly.
Here are the steps to follow when cleaning your lawn tractor bagger:
- With the lawnmower turned off, remove the bag and empty it.
- Check the bag’s interior carefully, ensuring all clippings have been emptied.
- Hose off the bag’s interior and exterior, then scrub it with a soft brush.
- Rinse the bag with clean water and rest it in the sun until it dries completely.
What To Look For in Bagger Systems
If you’re just starting out with lawn tractor baggers, you might be interested in knowing the criteria to use when choosing one, besides their universality.
Here are some of the worthwhile considerations to help you choose the best bagger:
- Material: The material determines the durability of your bagger. Without a doubt, a poor-quality fabric is costly, which means you may end up looking for another bag sooner than expected. To avoid that, it’s best to pick one made of tough polyester material.
- Capacity: Undoubtedly, you wouldn’t want to be removing your bag and emptying it every other minute while mowing. Therefore, you should pick a larger bag to save you time and energy.
- Price: Although this may depend on how deep your pockets are, it’s best to avoid cheap, low-quality bagger systems. Instead, check the specific options’ features to determine if they’re worth the price and pick the fairly-priced, high-quality ones.
The Best Universal Lawn Tractor Baggers
Knowing what to look for in a grass catcher is the first step towards choosing the best available option, but researching the available products could be time-consuming. To save you from that hassle, here is a list of the best three universal bags. They are:
Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag
This universal bagger system features a durable polyester construction, a dual hood system to prevent leaves from blowing out, and is compatible with leaf vacuum blowers. You can increase its capacity by attaching it to the clippers. It’s also easy to empty – you just detach and lift it.
The main con is that its fittings are not as sturdy as the competition. Therefore, you may need a strong set of clamps to tighten it. Despite that, it’s a worthwhile purchase.
A+ Lawn Tractor Leaf Bag
The A+ is a universal bag that works perfectly with your lawn mower and tractor. It comes with durable, tear-resistant polyester fabric, a generous capacity to hold more grass cuttings, and two drawstring clips for easy leaf collection. Since it disconnects easily, emptying the bag is a breeze.
The only con is that it doesn’t come with directions. However, using this leaf bag becomes a walk in the park once you’ve mastered how to attach and detach it.
MAYTHON Grass Catcher Bag
This bag is made of durable, quality polyester fabric that doesn’t wear or tear as it gets dragged on your lawn. It offers a generous capacity, holding up to 54 cubic feet (1.53 cubic meters) of leaves, and it has two drawstrings for secure mounting. Because of this bag’s enormous size, you may need a helping hand when emptying it.
Tip: If you’re stuck installing any of these baggers, watch the following video, which explains how to install a bagger to a riding lawn mower:
Final Thoughts
A grass catcher for your tractor is a must-have if you’re mowing a large lawn, as it offers convenience by allowing you to collect as many clippings as possible within a relatively short period.
Although you probably expected a negative answer, the reality is that, with the proper setup and a little creativity, you can mount any bag on any tractor or lawnmower. Grass bagger systems sometimes fail due to reasons apart from incompatibility with your mower or tractor, such as clogging, mowing wet grass, and using the wrong blade types.
