Rake How can one person connect a landscape rake to a 3 point hitch ?

[pokerboy57]

Purchased a 5' York Landscape rake. Got it home, it's still on the pallet. How does one man hook up a 300 lb rake to a 3 point hitch without help? I have no experiece with this implement it sure doesn't look like it will stand on it's own.

 

[Soundguy]

lean it back and prop it up on a jackstand, stump or concrete block or similar.. then back up to it and connect fixed lower link, then the adjustable one, if your 3pt is setup that way. ( doing adjustable last lets you play a lil ).. then adjust and hookup toplink..

soundguy

 

[kebo]

Also, a long pry bar or a piece of steel pipe can be your best friend when your best friend is not handy.

 

[beenthere]

Without a quick hitch, take the two good suggestions above and go slow and steady.

It will come to you in a short time, if not sooner.

 

[JohninCT]

Bolt on a cheap folding trailer tongue jack to hold the front of it up. Quick attach really helps

 

[2458n]

I do mine like the sound guy suggests. With the rake adjusted "square" to the tractor just tip the three point hitch up rocking it backwards sitting on the rake. I back the tractor up leaving the lower arms hanging. If you 've done it right you just get off the tractor and pick the lower arm up by hand. Both arms will come up together so some spreading usually helps to get over the pins. There is little if any weight because everything is still setting on the ground, Pull the tractor forwards and the rake will follow gently tipping. Raise the lower lift arms until you have the right angle of attack and install the top link. You should not be wrestling more then 20 lbs.

 

[techwrtr2]

I keep an old jack stand around as a parking support for my grader blade. The same would work for a rake.

 

[Redneck in training]

My rake has a stand built in but it is too short. I have to extend it about 6". For now I just put a small boulder under the stand to level it. I also had to move the top link pin several inches forward because I was not able to use quick hitch. There was a reinfocement just under the pin preventing the quick hitch top hook to slide over the top pin. Now I just reverse to the tractor so the quick hitch engages the draw and top pins and lift the hitch. Don't even have to get of the tractor.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Prop it up with a stick of firewood or anything that you've got.

You should be able to "man-up" and lift the hitch end while at the same time hook up your lower arms. This way you are only handling the "tongue weight" of the attachment.

Be sure to have loosened your turnbuckles so to have some play in the 3pt hitch.

Safety.....don't ever have your toes under the attachment at any time.!! Pay attention.!!

Practice makes perfect.

Good luck. You can do it....I know you can.:thumbsup:

 

[ElDorado]

A 5 gallon bucket and a scrap 4x4 works as a stand for me. I think you'll be surprised how easy it is to move even at 300 pounds. All you really need is a smidgeon of movement to get it all aligned. Have fun.