FORM NO. 3317–272 Wheel Horse 44” Vac–Bagger for Lawn Tractor Model No. 79102 – 5900001 & Up Operator’s Manual IMPORTANT: Read this manual carefully. It contains information about your safety and the safety of others. Also become familiar with the controls and their proper use before you operate the product.
Introduction We want you to be completely satisfied with your new product, so feel free to contact your local Authorized Service Dealer for help with service, genuine replacement parts, or other information you may require. Whenever you contact your Authorized Service Dealer or the factory, always know the model and serial numbers of your product. These numbers will help the Service Dealer or Service Representative provide exact information about your specific product.
Contents Safety and Instruction Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loose Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assembly of the Vac-Bagger . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Vac-Bagger onto the Tractor . . . Removing the Bagger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Full Bag Tester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emptying the Grass Bags . . . . . . . .
Safety Safety and Instruction Decals Safety decals and instructions are easily visible to the operator and are located near any area of potential danger. Replace any decal that is damaged or lost. INSIDE BAGGER HINGE FRAME (Part No.
Installation Loose Parts Note: Use the chart below to identify parts used for assembly. DESCRIPTION QTY.
Installation DESCRIPTION 4 QTY.
Installation Assembly of the Vac-Bagger Install the Blower Pulley onto Mower 1. Remove the mower belt cover from the right side pulley (Fig. 2). 2. Remove the spindle pulley nut. Block the blade with a piece of wood or some other device to stop it from turning while you remove the pulley nut. 3. Thread the new blower pulley onto the spindle shaft in place of the pulley nut (Fig. 2). Torque pulley to 70 ft-lbs (95 N.m). Assemble the Blower 1.
Installation Assemble the Bagger Tractor Bagger Mount 1. 1. 2. Install the “full-bag” indicator rod through the hole in the rubber seal and the slot in the bagger cover (Fig. 8). Mount the full-bag indicator rod against the bagger cover using two clips, 1⁄4 x 3⁄4” screws, and 1⁄4 lock nuts (Fig. 3). Install washers and spacers for bagger mount outside the tractor frame, using a 3/8 x 2” bolts and 3/8 lock nuts (Fig. 5). Screw the jam nut completely onto the indicator rod (Fig. 8).
Installation Installing Vac-Bagger onto the Tractor Install the Grass Baffles 1. Locate baffle inside front and slide to the left side of mower. Right end of baffle should be at or 1/4” inside discharge chute. Using baffle as a guide drill (4) 11/32” holes (Fig. 8). 2. Install the grass baffle inside front lip of mower, using 5/16 x 7/8” carriage bolts and 5/16 lock nuts along the front. At right side use the 1/2” carriage bolt and thin 5/16 lock nut (Fig. 8). Remove the Discharge Chute 1.
Installation 4. Rotate the blades to make sure they do not hit the baffles or grass ring. Adjust baffles as required so blades do not hit. Install the Blower Pivot Support 1. 2. Install the Blower Belt 1. Remove the mower belt cover from the right side pulley (Fig. 11). Save mounting hardware. 2. Remove the metal plate from the belt cover (Fig. 11). Save mounting hardware. Locate the pivot support on the mower over square holes near the discharge opening (Fig. 10).
Installation 5. Install the blower by lowering the pivot pin into of the pivot support (Fig. 13). 7. With the belt installed, swing the blower toward the mower until the blower latch locks over the pin at the back of the mower (Fig. 15). 1 1 2 2 2014 2006 Figure 13 1. Pivot pin Figure 15 2. Pivot support 1. Blower latch 6. Open latch and swing the blower out away from the mower, install the blower belt around idler and blower pulleys as shown (Fig. 14). 2.
Installation Install the Leveling Brackets Install the Bagger 1. Install mower onto tractor. Refer to Mower Operator’s Manual for instructions. 1. 2. Replace the two left side mower leveling brackets (slotted) with two new leveling brackets (holes) (Fig. 17). Secure with existing washers and hair pin cotters (Fig. 17). Slide the bottom of the quick-attach bracket down into the hole in the hitch and hook the notches onto the spacers located inside the tractor frame (Fig. 18). 2.
Installation 6. POTENTIAL HAZARD • The hinge frame on the bagger top is spring-loaded. Lower the bagger top onto the bags. Then push down on both bag retainer handles until they lock on the bag frame (Fig. 21). 1 WHAT CAN HAPPEN • If you remove the bagger top when it is closed (in the down position), the top may suddenly fly open and you or someone else may be bruised, pinched, or injured in another way.
Installation Removing the Bagger 3. Remove the hair pin cotter from the hole at the bottom of the quick-attach bracket (Fig. 26). Remove the Discharge Tube 4. Carefully lift the bagger top and slide off the quick-attach bracket (Fig. 25). The bagger top is easier to remove if two people work together. 1. Unhook the rubber latch onto the knob (Fig. 23). 2. Slide the lower end of the discharge tube off the blower discharge opening (Fig. 23).
Installation 5. Slide the bottom of the quick-attach bracket up out of the hole in the hitch and unhook from the spacers located inside the tractor frame (Fig. 26). Remove the Blower from the Mower 1. 3 Open latch and swing the blower out away from the mower, remove the blower belt from idler and blower pulleys (Fig. 28). 1 3 1 2 4 3 1371 1. Quick-attach bracket 2. Hole in hitch 6. Figure 28 3. Spacers 4. Hair pin cotter 1. Idler pulley bracket and pulley 2.
Installation Remove the Blower Belt Remove the Blower Pivot Support 1. Remove the mower belt cover from the right side pulley (Fig. 30). Save mounting hardware. 1. 2. Unhook blower belt from blower pulley and slide the belt out of opening in belt cover (Fig. 30). Remove the pivot support and pivot bracket from the mower (Fig. 32). Note: 4 Save all parts and hardware for use when installing blower. 6 5 2 1 1 6 1 2 4 2005 Figure 30 1. Belt cover 2. Blower belt 3.
Installation Remove the Grass Baffles Install the Grass Deflector 1. 1. Install mounting brackets onto the mower with 5/16 x 3/4” carriage bolts and 5/16 lock nuts (Fig. 35). 1. Place springs into brackets on mower with hooked ends over raised back (Fig. 35). 2. Align grass deflector with holes in brackets and spring straight ends in space under hinge and above deflector (Fig. 35). 3. Secure deflector to bracket with bolts through grass deflector, springs and brackets. Secure with lock nuts (Fig.
Installation Mount Mower onto Tractor POTENTIAL HAZARD • Without the grass deflector, mulch baffle, or complete grass catcher assembly mounted in place, you and others are exposed to blade contact and thrown debris. 1. Install mower onto tractor. Refer to Mower Operator’s Manual for instructions. 2. Replace the two left side mower leveling brackets (holes) with two slotted leveling brackets (Fig. 36). Secure with existing washers and hair pin cotters (Fig. 36).
Operation Emptying the Grass Bags To Avoid Personal Injury: • Become familiar with all operating and safety instructions in the operator’s manual for your tractor and mower before using this attachment. • Never remove the discharge tube, bags, bagger top, or the blower while the engine is running. • Always shut the engine off before clearing an obstruction from the vac bagging system. • Never do maintenance or repairs while the engine is running. Grass bags can weigh up to 90 lb (41kg) when full.
Operation Clearing Obstructions From Bagger 1. Stop the tractor, shift into neutral, set the parking brake, push the PTO control to OFF (this stops the mower blades), turn the ignition key to OFF to stop the engine, and remove the key from the switch. 2. Check the grass bags and empty them if they are full. 3. Remove and separate the discharge tube and blower from the bagger top and mower.
Operation POTENTIAL HAZARD • As the grass bags fill, extra weight is added to the back of the tractor. WHAT CAN HAPPEN • If you stop and start suddenly on hills, you may lose steering control or the tractor may tip. HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD • Do not start or stop suddenly when going uphill or downhill. Avoid uphill starts. • If you do stop the tractor when going uphill, disengage the PTO (stop the mower blades) by pushing the PTO control to OFF. Then back down the hill using slow reverse speed.
Maintenance Inspecting the Bagger Attachment Caring for the Grass Bags 1. Washing the grass bags is not recommended. Inspect the bagger attachment after the first ten hours of operation, and monthly thereafter. 2. To prevent rapid deterioration of bag material, store the bags so they dry completely after each use. 1. Check the blower, discharge tube and the bagger top. Replace these parts if they are cracked or broken. 2. Tighten all nuts bolts and screws. 3.
Maintenance Storing the Bagger Attachment 1. Clean the bagger attachment (refer to Cleaning the Bagger Attachment, page 20). 2. Inspect the bagger attachment for damage (refer to Inspecting the Bagger Attachment, page 20). 3. Make sure the grass bags are empty and thoroughly dry. 4. Store the bagger in a clean, dry place, out of direct sunlight. This protects the plastic parts and extends the life of the bagger. If you must store the bagger outside, cover it with a weatherproof cover.