Billy Goat or Similar?

[YellowHammer]

I bought a Billie Goat trash vacuum, chip mulcher and tin can shredder and it lasted about 5 minutes before it had a belt failure that required removing the engine, impeller and drive system to replace.  The Billy Goat is on wheels and is self propelled.  So I took it back.

Does anybody have any experience with these things or a similar contraption?  Did I just get a lemon or are they generally a longer and more reliable machine?  Or is there a better alternative?  I want to mulch hundreds of pounds of leaves, twigs, debris under the sawmill, edger output and whatever else it would suck up.  Basically a self propelled mulcher vacuum.      

[sawguy21]

Was it new? Used? A demo? I sold Billy Goat in a previous life, found customers were very satisfied with them as long as they were properly set up and used with reasonable care.

[YellowHammer]

Nice.  It was brand new with self propel option.  I pulled it from the box, and ran it for maybe 5 minutes and the drive belt from the motor shaft to the self propel gearbox shredded.  I can only assume it was factory installed wrong, not sure how or why, so I figured I'd get another belt and put it on.  How hard could that be?  I pulled out the manual and it said in broad statements, "Remove gearbox and transmission.  Remove engine.  Remove impeller and shroud.  Replace belt.  Reassemble."  Sure...or just put it in the truck and take it back, which is what I did.  

So I started thinking even if the belt died three years from now, it would be a nightmare to replace. I mean who designs things like this? I wasn't sure if I even wanted to exchange with a new one. I have no experience with them so wasn't sure if they are el cheapo or good stuff.

How long do drive belts normally last?  Is there an easier way to change them?  Was this a fluke, or is a common issue?

It seemed like a good machine, but that sure wasn't a good start.  

Is there one model that seems to be the best or most reliable in their line up? 

[Walnut Beast]

! Sounds crazy! But have you tried your excavator mulcher

[Bruno of NH]

The truck mount units are great lots of guys use them around the area for spring and fall clean up.
The only issue I hear about are the impeller wearing out from picking up driveway gravel when cleaning up .
I don't know much about the self-propelled units.

[Peter Drouin]

I would think it would last a season or 2. I don't know about it.
Return it, get your $$ back, and find one that's easier to work on.
Good luck.

[Stephen1]

I looked at something similar, a bearcat, a couple of years ago, I didn't like the price. The same week a small 5horse Yard Machine vacuum chipper came up for sale $400, it was brand new only about 10 years old. It started it on the second pull, so I brought it home and been running it ever since cleaning my parking lot and shop. It says it will chip 3", not sure about that, as it doesn't like broken dry pine stickers, but the vacuum works great, sucks up bark and small sticks and all the sawdust, after shovelling up the piles from the mill. It does a great job on cleaning the parking lot , versus using the blower. 
Now I am trying to figure out to rig a portable blower to the mill to send the sawdust to the big 4x4x4 ULINE bags. right now we shovel the sawdust in and haul it away to my property to build a noise berm against the noisy motor cycles that go by my place all summer. 

[Tom King]

I have a Billygoat 13hp blower, and the blower has been flawless.  I did wear out the motor that came on it after about 15 years, and replaced it with a Honda.

I used to let the guys that worked for me take it to town and make what money they could with it on weekends for themselves.

I used it last week.

[YellowHammer]

I hadn't heard of Bearcat, I'll look at theirs.  Looking at their it website it looks like a competitor to Billy Goat and I'll look at the Yard Machine as well.

I'll look at the blowers too, but I'm looking for some "Suck" as well, for cleaning up the inside of our work buildings like a large rolling vacuum or small Zamboni as well as with a hose kit so I can suck up the big debris under the mill and the edger that the dust collectors don't get.

Of course I'm also looking for it to mulch up lots of hardwood leaves and general lawn maintenance.  Now I blow them off the driveways and parking areas and they just blow back on again.  Or I mow them and make an even bigger mess.

I got my money back and have about $2K or maybe $4K if I can find something that's good and will last a long time.    

[Tom King]

Using these blades on my mower, I end up having very few leaves to blow.  It shreds them down to 1/4" pieces and throws them out to the side.  To completely clear an area down to bare ground, I just go over them several times continuing to throw the pieces to the side.  It ends up being a lot less work sitting in the seat than using even the walk behind blower to deal with them, and the pile gets smaller rather than continuing to build up, and a 6' swath at the time is not bad.

I couldn't find exactly the blade I use on this 72" deck, but they're similar to these.  They have one mulching tooth, and a good sized high lift wing on the end, so it's really a combination blade.

Around the house, the only blowing I do now, since buying this mower, is to get them out of the flower beds and away from the house enough so I can get to them with the mower.

We have several acres that need to be cleared of leaves from very large Oak trees, so this is not the typical half acre lot to deal with leaves on.

Xtreme® Blade for 42-inch Cutting Decks - 742P05177A-X | Cub Cadet US

Prior to getting this mower, I was looking for an excuse to get one of these, but have no need for it now.
https://www.scag.com/product/stand-on-blowers/windstorm/

[Old Greenhorn]

Robert, Robert, Robert! Bearcat is a forum Sponsor. smiley_devilish Link to the left. That link bring one to their YT page, which I found not helpful. THIS LINK should be more helpful ;D.

 I had an old unit like these (1970's vintage, different mfg, made for hard surfaces) and I found an important consideration, for me, was better tires on the front to keep it from sucking right down to the ground, and some adjustment on the front height to allow for rougher terrain. I note some of the bearcat units have a hose connection right on the front chute, which I would have found very handy, but it looks like only 4" hose.

[Tom King]

Will those Bearcat vacuums get up Acorns?  My biggest "yardwork" issue right now is getting up about an acre and a half of acorns.  My Snapper Hi-Vac will get them up, but the area is too large for that to be the easiest solution, and I'm afraid it's too much wear and tear on a lawnmower for that.

[Tom King]

Here's a couple of pictures of what those mower blades do to leaves.  Of course, you can't let them get too thick before going over them with the mower at 1-1/2", but this was after three passes this Fall with what is left of all the leaves from a couple of large Pin Oaks, and two fairly large White Oaks.

I'm trying to get Bermuda grass to grow over part of our crusher run driveway that doesn't get used much.  By this Spring, this will be a thin layer of rich dirt.



 

 

[sawguy21]

We had trained mechanics set up our equipment before delivery, most needed some adjustment before being test run to avoid these kinds of problems. The mass retailers and online sellers are not equipped to do that. Next time have the dealer do that and save yourself some grief.

[YellowHammer]

I actually, I really didn't know what Bearcat did...even though they were a sponsor.  If it had been a snake it would have bit me. : :  I will look at them.  I like that they have 3 speeds and are used commercially. 

Tom, the mulching looks good with those blades.



  

[Machinebuilder]

For leaves I have a set of Gator blades on my Scag.
they are a high lift blade (mulching), I Leave the deck at my normal 3.5" height and as long as the leaves aren't too wet there is nothing left to see after 2 passes.
If they are really dry the dust is pretty bad.

I usually finish leaves just before Christmas, some of the oaks hang on till then.

[Tom King]

Do the Gator blades throw it all out the chute?  In that picture with the Farm Use car, it was over around where that car is parked that I threw that leaf litter from.  You can see how clean it left the ground on the driveway and under the trees.  I do it when it's dry, but wait for a strong wind to be blowing in the right direction.  No close neighbors, and we're on top of a hill surrounded by a fairly good sized body of water, so when we get wind we really get it.

I've only had this mower for one season now, and only been through two pairs of blades.  It came with high lift blades, and the extra set I ordered with the mower just happened to be those combination blades.

The combination blades leave bare ground.  I only need one set of blades per season.  Those combo blades from the dealer are a little over $100 a set, and the Gators are $87 online.  Not a lot of difference, but I'm satisfied with keeping those combo blades on there all the time.  

All our grass here is warm weather grass, so I never cut any of it over 2" high.  I didn't even try the leaves at a higher setting, since what it was already set at was doing such a good job when I first tried it.

Just need something to get all the acorns up.

[Machinebuilder]

Yes the gator blades throw it all out the chute, If its dry enough to lift them.

They have a hardened edge so the last a long time and don't seem to get as dented when I hit rocks etc.
I have a 72" deck with 3 blades, I forgot what the cost was. I'll sharpen them once or twice per year and they last several years.

They squirrels take care of most of the acorns.

[gspren]

All of this is interesting, especially the Gator Blades for leaf mulching. Do you use the same blades all year mulching and mowing grass? When I had the farms I had 30 acres of woods but it didn't border the yard so the few yard trees I could just wait till the fields were picked and blow it out of the yard. Now I only have a half acre or less of woods but it's part of a large woodlot and borders my yard on the long side and the woods is on the uphill side, I get a LOT of leaves. I have a Ferris Z-turn with 52" deck, would the Gator Blades be a good all season blade?

[YellowHammer]

I'm wondering if they would fit a Kubota Zero Turn.  

There is a Bearcat dealer not too far away from me, I may go visit.  

[btulloh]

Gator blades are available for just about everything.  Several other choice for mulching blades also.  You may want to add the kubota mulching rings under the deck, or maybe not. I kinda split the difference and installed a gate on the discharge from Qwik Chute. Works well. Closed for better mulching, open full for blowing, half open for normal mowing. Mulching most of the leaves and pruning debris saves me a ton of time. And labor!

I have to report though - the lawn service that does some my neighbors uses Scag ztrs and those mowers rock when it comes to mulching. And they are using standard blades. 

[btulloh]

Although I just use my ztr for blowing leaves and then do the corners with a regular leaf blower, I want to get a big blower like a bearcat or billygoat. Something in the 15ih HP range. Would help with the larger open areas. Wouldn't mind having a PTO driven blower like they use on the fairways, but that's way too much money for me. 

The sales guy at my Kubota dealer came up with a neat trick. He uses his zero turn to push the wheeled blower in front of the mower. He just fabbed up some kind of rack or something to fasten the blower up front. Makes it very convenient and agile. 

The vacuum type that YH started this thread off with sounds pretty interesting.  I'm curious to see where that leads. I didn't know the vacuum units could mulch up sticks and debris, so that could be a big timesaver. 

[Southside]

Clearly I am the resident redneck.  I just turn some cows loose on the lawn for an hour of so whenever it needs it, take 5 minutes with a manure fork after and I am done.  Have not started the mower for over two years.  ;D

[Bruno of NH]

Let not forget YH is looking or a vac system to clean under the mill and use as a push pick-up vac to clean his shop and retail barn.
I imagine something quick and simple so after he stocks his retail barn he can buzz around and clean up before he opens.

[Tom King]

I think they make Gator blades to fit about any mower.  They aren't always listed for specific mowers though.  I found them by length, thickness, and bolt hole size.

My Wife bought a handheld Eco blower, and that thing surprised me.  It's not even the strongest one, and has a low amp hour battery which doesn't last that long.  I intend to get the strongest model with the largest battery next Fall.  Leaves are done this year, and they may have a newer model by then.

The Billygoat 13hp on wheels is a Strong tool.  I bought it used from a rental place in the mid '90's.  They had rented it twice.  One lady couldn't start it, and the other lady blew some Boxwoods out of the ground that she had just planted.  

They also make a self-propelled one.   Self-propelled with larger wheels would be good.

There are no belts to worry about on the wheeled blower.  The impeller just bolts onto the motor shaft.  We wore out the first motor, and it was a simple swap to another motor.

[YellowHammer]

Correct.  I'm looking for a man portable machine to bag the debris in the building and other places that has accumulated during the week, basically use the machine like a souped up vacuum cleaner.  I have to blow the buildings out every week before customers show up, and it's a total, nasty, dusty mess, total pain and ends up blowing debris and leaves under the pallets and racks which is a fire hazard, as much as I try not to.  Also all over the computer, the printer, and the office counter, so then I have to go back and clean all that up.  Last week the wind was blowing and as soon as I blew the leaves and sawdust out of the building, it all blew back in.  I'm using the baddest backpack blower Stihl makes, and it's more of a blow the mess over there, but I want way to capture and remove it.  So I was using the Billie Goat cleaning the shop floor, on concrete, when it died. The machine was a fail, but sucking the debris up real easy was a success.  However, then I smelled rubber burning and the self propel belt shredded and came out in pieces. 

I'm looking for a cross between a Kirby vacuum cleaner and a debris collector, except self propelled and more the size of a old school push mower.  Most likely not a Bille Goat brand unless they make a machine that doesn't require total disassembly to replace a $5 belt.  

Also, there is always stuff under the sawmill and edger that the dust collector won't pick up and I have to reach under there with a broom or rake, pull it out, and shovel it.  I'd like to just stick a big vacuum hose under there and it all goes into a bag, so I can dump into the burn pit.  

As a secondary issue, in general, our Kubota zero turn mower blades don't do a real good job of chopping the acres of leaves we have in the yard, they just spit them back out.  

[Hilltop366]

For the lawn I use a tow behind grass sweeper, I use it mostly for grass clippings but it does seem to pick up leaves.

[JD Guy]

For the lawn I use a tow behind grass sweeper, I use it mostly for grass clippings but it does seem to pick up leaves.

This is the route that I went for large yard area, originally was mostly for picking up those d***** sweet gum balls :(. Took the sweet gum down this spring, YEAH! so now just for leaves. That doesn't help with OP needs though.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I have not tried it but understand many of the leaf blowers can be reversed to create a vacuum. Have any of you tried it? Would this work for the indoor work you are discussing, Robert?

[Tom King]

How close is your Dust Collection ductwork?  Hose on a blastgate??

[Tom King]

I watched several videos on such yard vacuums, and I just can't be that impressed with them.  My Snapper Hi-Vac self propelled electric start push mower does a better job faster than this shows.  We use it for our dog yards, and not only does it cut grass, but it cleans the ground like a vacuum cleaner would.  It does have a belt that overdrives the blade speed, but I haven't had to change it since we bought the mower.  The dog yards aren't that big though-maybe 2500 sq. ft. each.

Here is a video of what didn't impress me.

Crary Bear Cat® WV160 Wheeled Vacuum Family in Action - YouTube

Once we get the wedding rental point going, first plan is to buy a Walker mower.  A neighbor here has one and it's a ride on version of something that does the same job our Hi-Vac does.

Leaf Cleanup With The Walker Mower - YouTube

[gspren]

  I have not tried it but understand many of the leaf blowers can be reversed to create a vacuum. Have any of you tried it? Would this work for the indoor work you are discussing, Robert?

I have a Stihl BG86 hand held blower with a vacuum attachment, I like it for small jobs not for cleaning the yard. Sometimes when it's windy and I have leaves in my pole building I'll vac them up rather than blow them out and watch them blow back in, similarly I sometimes get a pile of leaves in front of the garage door and it's better to vac them up, I wouldn't try sticks, acorns etc as the fan doesn't look like it would handle that stuff.

[Stephen1]

  I have not tried it but understand many of the leaf blowers can be reversed to create a vacuum. Have any of you tried it? Would this work for the indoor work you are discussing, Robert?

I have a Stihl BG86 hand held blower with a vacuum attachment, I like it for small jobs not for cleaning the yard. Sometimes when it's windy and I have leaves in my pole building I'll vac them up rather than blow them out and watch them blow back in, similarly I sometimes get a pile of leaves in front of the garage door and it's better to vac them up, I wouldn't try sticks, acorns etc as the fan doesn't look like it would handle that stuff.

I have the same unit but find it a pain to put on and take off and carry the bag around. 

[gspren]

  I have not tried it but understand many of the leaf blowers can be reversed to create a vacuum. Have any of you tried it? Would this work for the indoor work you are discussing, Robert?

I have a Stihl BG86 hand held blower with a vacuum attachment, I like it for small jobs not for cleaning the yard. Sometimes when it's windy and I have leaves in my pole building I'll vac them up rather than blow them out and watch them blow back in, similarly I sometimes get a pile of leaves in front of the garage door and it's better to vac them up, I wouldn't try sticks, acorns etc as the fan doesn't look like it would handle that stuff.

I have the same unit but find it a pain to put on and take off and carry the bag around.

Since I have a blower attachment for my Stihl Combi, and a Milwaukee M18 blower I seldom if ever take the vac attachment off the BG86

[YellowHammer]

I saw that video or the Bear Cat also, and was equally not impressed.  I looked at the snapper high vac, but it's not rated for debris or wood chips.    

Still looking.  

[Tom King]

Yes, I wouldn't use that Snapper mower for anything other than grass and a few leaves.  I did use it as a test for picking up acorns, and it did get most of them, but don't intend to keep using it for that.  Even picking up leaves, the bag fills up so fast it's not worth the trouble other than in the fairly small dog yards.

We have been through several bagging mowers for the dog yards.  We need to keep those yards clean to keep the long haired dogs clean and keep them from dragging stuff in the house.  I used to blow the yards out after cutting with other bagging mowers, but the Hi-Vac cleans them cleaner than the blower and lesser bagging mowers did.

It's not built heavy enough to expect it to last doing harder work than that though.

[YellowHammer]

I'm actually surprised there isn't an easy option.  I'm web surfing every day looking for an alternative, it's starting to become a thorn in my side kind of thing.

I keep coming back to Bile Goat, so I guess I'm going to contact them and see if they have a self propelled option that when the belt breaks doesn't involve removing the engine and impeller to change it.  I noticed some of their "pro" models have a smooth floor attachment, but those didn't come with a self propelled or electric start option.  Jeeez...

I sent an email through the Bearcat website a few days ago, and have not heard back from them at all.  Not the kind of support I want.  Silence.  

I've looked Troy Built, and they look fairly light weight.

It wouldn't bother me to get a lawn mower style if it could take bigger debris.  I don't want a "pull behind" version, although maybe a stand on version would be OK.  I don't want just a blower, because that just moves the mess over "there" and I want to remove the mess with a bag or hopper.  I want a suction hose option for getting under the mill and edger, as well as behind the lumber racks.

Not as easy as I'd thought.

[Bruno of NH]

Could you get the pull behind Billy goat with long 6" hose and make a floor type roller attachment to clean up the hard areas ?

[Bruno of NH]

Did you check Mighty Mac or Little Wonder for what they offer?

[YellowHammer]

Nice - I had not seen Mighty Mac, I will check them out, thanks! I see they have a self propelled and electric start version.  I don't know about their reputation or construction.  Does anyone have any experience with them? I had looked at the Little Wonder.  They had more blowers than Vacs.

[Bruno of NH]

I had a friend that owned a rental yard and he rented them out .
They make other stuff like rototillers 

[YellowHammer]

So they were at least "Rental Tough"?  That's a good sign.  I was reading a review on them and one guy said he had owned both, Goat and Mighty Mac and said he much preferred the Mighty.