Rake Ground driven side delivery rake

[jdrotert]

I have 4 acres of lawn. We have a garden and many trees and shrubs to mulch around. My dad has always hand raked his 3 acres and used the grass for mulch. I'm think of doing it faster on my land (and maybe his since we are close). My question is: Will a ground driven side delivery rake be able to rake up grass clippings? I usually mow once a week, but sometimes I can't get to it until 2 weeks. This leaves rows of grass that do not compost quickly. I'd like to windrow them, scoop 'em up with my FEL (either with the toothbar or maybe a hay fork bar I could fab up) and load up trailer. We pile the grass up now, but hand raking is getting old! I've attached a pic of a ground driven side delivery rake.

BTW, I have a Kubota B2150DT (non-HST, 20PTO HP). My father uses a Farmall A with a belly mower, so I'd like to find a non-PTO powered solution we could both use.

 

[jdrotert]

I've also found these estate rakes. Northern sells these, but others have them too. I've heard from others here on TBN that estate rakes don't work too well unless they are weighted pretty good. Is anyone here using this?

 

[jdrotert]

Lastly, I've found these 3PH rakes. They can be gotten in 3 wheels and up. Do these rakes get lowered to the ground and the 3PH just floats, or are they held up a little?

I think I'll need a powered rake of some sort. I just don't see how these last two rakes will work.

 

[jdrotert]

One last comment- Since most farmers around here in the midwest use mower-conditioners, the side delivery rake has fallen to the way-side. I'm hoping to pay under $300 for one at an auction (or total with parts to recondition it).

 

[Anonymous Poster]

This type of rakes (in your first post), are useful just on flat terrain. We have it 30 years ago there, but they were never accepted. They were popular when horses were used for puling attachments (like "horse power"). Don't remember how clean do they work.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

We call this type "sun" rakes (your 3rd post). You can find two types: pull type, and 3ph type. Pull type have 3 supporting wheels (pneumatics), when 3 ph type don't need them. They can be lowered to the ground, but it is better if they are held (less dirt in hay). They do their job well and clean.
Only disadvantage: They make "rope" when hay or grass is long, because they rotate hay during raking.
Be careful this type of rakes usualy need high lifting height for transport (in vertical position). I don't know how high your tractor can lift ball-ends from the ground.
If you look at Befco, possible is that they were produced in my country. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have PTO powered belt rakes for over 10 years. It works good, if hay/grass is not too long.

 

[Bird]

I've sure raked a lot of hay with a rake like the attachment in your original post in this thread. Then I tried to use it once just to clean up under pecan trees and it didn't work worth a hoot for that. It might do what you want, but I sure have some doubts.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello-The second post is the only one of the 3 that you and your dad can both use--However--I am not sure about your specific application with these Northern Hydraulic units??--The NH #56 shown in the first post is too heavy for either of your tractors and the last post of a 3 point mount will not work on your dads A Farmall--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Since 1977*

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The NH #56 shown in the first post is too heavy for either of your tractors )</font>

Now you've got me wondering, Ken. The rake we used was an old New Holland, but I don't remember a model number, and I'm not sure of the width of either it or the one pictured. I know we used a 9' haybine, then used that rake to roll 3 rows into one. When I did the raking, I was driving a 50hp White tractor that my neighbor had borrowed from a friend, but then he returned the White to its owner, asked me to do the baling and let him do the raking with his Farmall H. And when the Farmall H broke down once, he pulled that rake all day one day with my Kubota B7100 with no problem at all. And the B7100 was what I used to try the rake out for cleaning under pecan trees; didn't do a very good job, but the little Kubota sure had no problem pulling it. Maybe that rake was smaller than the one pictured?