I need some Lawn Sweeper Advice

[jeff lary 173]

  Hi all if this has been asked to death please forgive me but you guys are the ones to ask. I want a lawn sweeper rugged low maintenance large capacity 18 cu or more.

   I have a Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply and many Hardware stores to look at and even Amazon if need be. My lawn is hard for me to rake I have had extensive shoulder surgery on one and the other one can be quite weak at times. I have used my sisters before and I know I want one of my own. I hate to borrow I want one that is mine.

 Price between $200 and $350. I have looked up Agri Fab and Brinley as well as Cub Cadet and John Deer. I am not all hung up on name brand I want rugged quality. If you have one of these or something different and It works great with no hassles let me in on it ! Thanks and happy Easter. Jeff

[varosd 1,185]

Look for a used Parker sweeper.

others will chime in on how well the new ones are made but I seem to remember some brands using plastic bearings?

this was a $25 flea market snag that my brother got for me.

 

[jeff lary 173]

Ok I will keep my eye open but this is Maine after all and if they are good,... they are still being used by some thrifty Mainer.

[oldredrider 2,553]

I use a Brinly sweeper that has worked really well for over 10 years. Wouldn't hesitate to get another if this one ever wears out.

[sorekiwi 761]

I have the Sears High Speed Sweeper and have been very happy with it.  http://www.sears.com/craftsman-42-in-high-speed-sweeper/p-07124222000P

 

Does a great job on leaves, grass and pine needles.

 

[squonk 42,522]

I've got an old worn out Brinly that's still chugging along

 

 

[jeff lary 173]

I am glad I asked both Brinly and Craftsman were ones I did not expect to hear much about. Where do you find Brinly? I can Google it I guess. I will be in the big city this week I can go to the Sears there and look at theirs.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,243]

The 44" Agri-fab unit is an interesting design. The height control raises and lowers the brush instead of the chassis. I plan on adding a remote control so it can be raised and lowered from the operator's position. I do have a problem with it. Empty it looks like it is overloaded and is bending the axles. On turns it drags one wheel instead of the over-running clutch releasing the slow wheel. Have only had 1/2 a load of dry leaves in it once so know it has not been overloaded. I think the plastic bushings in the wheels are too soft allowing the wheels to tip and contact the end of the brush shaft.

 

Garry

[jeff lary 173]

I had an old Blue one don't remember the name. I was a pos from the start but it was $5.00 too sooo. I had the wheel drag issue as well mine would drag going straight as well. I took everything apart that would come apart and cleaned lubed an painted the whole shebang. It was still no good now it sits in the brush I think or maybe I put it on the lawn last summer free for the taking either way I gave up on it. Hearing that your Agri fab has wheel drag as well does not hearten me much on that model ha ha.

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

I got a new brinly just last year for a pretty good deal ($120 i think, bought it from CL, still in box). Its not built like the wheel horse (tractor... ive never owned a wheel horse sweeper to compare) but it seems like it will last a while.

 

What I HAVE to recommend is that Brinly's customer service is spectacular. I was missing a few pieces (apparently there was a hole in the box I didn't see) and I wanted to upgrade it to the next years model collapsible bag so I called them expecting I could order some replacement parts and they sent me all the parts I was missing AND the upgrade at no charge and it was here in under three days.

 

So yes, its not built like it used to be, but I know I can count on their customer service to take care of me when the time comes for repairs.

 

Here's the link to my original story:

Edited April 6, 2015 by bmsgaffer

[953 nut 57,899]

I have an Agri Fab and a Sears, both are 42" and look identical. Like them both very well, I have two so I can keep one on each side of the creek since my bridge isn't wide enough for a sweeper. Bought both used for about $25 on ebay and CL. Keep looking and put the word out to friends, bound to turn one up before long

[jeff lary 173]

ok I will keep an eye out.

[mey030 9]

My dad had a wh sweeper and it was made by parker. That was back when Moby was still a guppy. Lol parker still builds some commercial grade stuff at least they did up to 2009. We sold there product lime in Bloomington il

[ericj 1,578]

i have found that if the wheels don't want to roll a lot of times it's that the brushes are to close to the grass raise the brushes or mow the grass. i have an old parker that i bought years ago and had been trying to sell, but not having much luck getting a bite on it. so i decided to be lazy last night and didn't feel like raking so i got the sweeper out and ran it around and was surprised at how good of job it did, might have to rethink selling it

 

 

 

 

 

 

eric j

[jeff lary 173]

That wasn't the issue with mine I think the bearings were gone and the splined wheel gear was 80% worn out. But glad you discovered your issue was an easy fix.

[PaulC 342]

I was lucky enough to acquire this Wikco lawn sweeper. it was bought new by my grandpa along with a 1985 312-8. I saved it after 5 years or so of living in the weeds.

 

its out of yours and almost anyones price range for a lawn sweeper but it most likely would be the last one you would ever buy, I sure got lucky getting it for free Thanks Gramp!!!! They still sell them new and all the parts are still available and from the looks of it it hasn't changed much at all but the price tag is about $1200 bucks!!!

 

the pneumatic tires are one of the best features imo and as you can tell its built tough like our wheel horses. I have had it loaded up so much with wet leaves, grass, rocks, and sticks to the point I broke the old rope when I tried to dump it and it holds up to it all.

 

heres the link just for reference.

 

http://www.wikco.biz/GroomerSweeper.htm

[jeff lary 173]

^{Nice one you are lucky indeed,}

  ^{I stopped at Sears today they have a 42" fast sweep on clearance right now for $239.00 but it is already together. The problem is I only have a car and that ole girl aint gonna fit !! I went to a Cub Cadet dealer he had one for $ 400.00 . I left there and went to a Husqvarna dealer his was a 44" HD Agri - Fab $ 450.00. Next stop was Lowes small Agri Fab $? larger " John Deer / Brinly can't remember the price . It was 20' off the floor so no way to even look at it. Next stop will be Home Depot and Tractor Supply most likely I will get something at Tractor supply ?? Maybe even on line.}

[305 380]

i have a Brinly i bought slightly  used  from a friend ,  works great

[jeff lary 173]

I was just on tsc web site probably going to be an Agri Fab unless something different comes along.

[jeff lary 173]

So I just wanted to let you know that I did buy an Argi -Fab 42" I think sweeper. It works pretty good I did most of my lawn yesterday. Course I had to go around snow drifts but I got about 80 % of it done. Today I rolled the lawn where I could get with my homemade lawn roller that works pretty well also. In another thread concerning Replacement seats I put the new seat on as well that sits pretty comfy too. I will post a photo later if I can remember how. Thanks for all the advice and guidance, Jeff

[jeff lary 173]

The sweeper

[rexman72 210]

looks like its ready to go

[jeff lary 173]

Yes it worked pretty good too. Now i am going to attempt to hang it on the wall of my pole barn to save space. I wonder how that will work out? I think if i remove the" bow " bars in the bag part it will fold flat. As far as the 17 ton sweeper assembly i will garb me an "angry young white man" ( my son) to help me lift it into position.

[rexman72 210]

good find on the sweeper

[jeff lary 173]

well i think i will be ok at least i hope so it cost enough