My third rake, still batting 1000!
This is my third cyclone rake over a 25+ year period. The first unit was still being used when I retired it last year. My Dad bought the first two which he passed along to me as he upgraded. The units are well engineered and well built and worry free. These units are a great value for the money. I maintain 10 acres and for years the Classic and Commander did a super job. I recently upgraded to an electric start XL unit as pulling the cord and making multiple loads was becoming a chore as I age. The tractor or mower that you use with these can greatly enhance their performance but work well even with standard lawn tractors. I use a Kubota with a 60 inch front deck that has it's own mulching blower on its deck which shoots it back to the cyclone rake for another mulching turning the leaves into tiny pieces allowing me to pack a lot of debris and less loads to dump. The Cyclone rake handled this well but the double wheels are a definite choice due to the added weight. The only problem I experienced with the new unit was a quality issue with the wing bolts that secure the rear spreader bar. The plastic leaked during molding covering three to five threads with hard plastic. You couldn't remove it without destroying the tee handles so I added three washers to each side which barely left enough room for tightening. Only other suggestion I would have is to include more detailed pictures of the finished product through the assembly steps. The instructions are written very good but tend to be second nature to someone experienced. A novice will need more help. Overall one of the best built pieces of work saver equipment on the market for many years. A remarkable history.