Rake Gauge Wheels for Rake

[FishAlaska]

Can anyone explain the purpose of the wheels. From what I gather they keep the implement from digging deeper than needed. What I do not understand is that a 3 PT implement is rigid. If the front tractor wheels go into a low spot the rake will lift and vise versa. But if the front tractor wheels go over a high spot the wheels on the implement will keep it at the same hieght but the stress would lift the rear wheels of the tractor I would assume or break something because the weight would be all on those implement wheels. Help me understand this please?

 

[greg_g]

What I do not understand is that a 3 PT implement is rigid. If the front tractor wheels go into a low spot the rake will lift and vise versa.

The implement itself may be a rigid device. But when using a landscape rake with gauge wheels, the TPH must be configured to float. That is; no lift on the position control lever, slack in the lower lift arms, toplink at the desired angle of attack, and gauge wheels at the desired operating height. The rake lift pins will pivot in the lift arm ball sockets and position control slack will permit the lift arms to ride up and down in sync with the tractor front wheels. The toplink just plays follow the leader. When the lower lift arms are permitted to float, the rake will ride on the gauage wheels regardless of what the tractor wheels are doing; just like towing a wagon.

Your profile contains no usable information, so I don't know what kind of tractor you have. But just in case, I find draft control handy too -when TPH setting are tightened up to use the rake in ground engagement mode.

//greg//
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[FishAlaska]

I have a BX24. The control for my TPH is a self centering control lever, not the slider type. I do not understand how to get slack and make the TPH float.

 

[greg_g]

I do not understand how to get slack and make the TPH float.

No BX24 hands-on experience, so forgive me if I speak in generalities. Hydraulic force exerts lift on the upper lift arms, gravity pulls them back down. Each upper lift arm is connected to a lower lift arm by a vertical component, usually adjustable. When the upper lift arms reach a mechanical stop, the lower lift arms halt as well. You can however, extend the distance that the lower lift arms drop - by increasing the length of the vertical connecting devices. When you adjust the lower lift arms to the point where they're well below the implement pin level, that's slack. You can actually lift up the lower lift arm by hand, and slip it over the implement pin by hand to fasten. It's going to be the same height as the implement pin now, but it's an artificial height. As soon as the tractor front tires hit a dip, the lower lift arms will fall - up to the amount of slack you put in the adjustable vertical devices. You already know front wheel rise is not a problem. Tractor fronts go up, lower lift arms have no hydraulic pressure forcing them down - so they go up too, then fall back due to gravity when the tractor levels out again. In the mean time, the rake goes merrily along at the height you preset with the gauge wheels.

//greg//

 

[FishAlaska]

One of my vertical lift arms is not adjustable...the one on the right is the only adjustable part and it screws down or up. So I assume this method does not work.

 

[greg_g]

I guess - in the case of a BX-series - you're stuck within the limitations of the tractor design. And draft control is conspicuously absent from the BX24 spec sheet as well. Now I better understand the use of "rigid " in your opening post.

That lift arm you say is not adjustable - are there additional holes in the lift arm itself? If so, you can gain a little "slack" by moving the vertical component to the hole closest to the tractor.

//greg//

 

[FishAlaska]

No there is just one hole. I can look into buying another adjustable vertical arm I guess.

 

[rickmacheske]

Well, if the BX is anything like my L3400 then you can let it float but it's not totally simple. Basically, there is slack in the lower arms and it's just a matter of allowing slack in the top arm. The rake needs to be hooked up like a finish mower. Notice how there is a joint in the top link attachement to a finish mower that keeps it from putting pressure on the implement? You can probably even not hook up the top link if you want to let it float.

 

[RonMar]

No 3PH Float? That is unfortunate, and takes a lot of usefullness out of it. Ideally, with gauge wheels, and the 3PH ability to freely ride up and down vertically with the terrain(float), the rake will work like a road grader does and dig more agressively on the high spot and deposit material in the low spots as the 3PH geometry between lift arms and toplink hold the impliment parallel to the frame as it raises and lowers. I drew up this diagram to explain it a bit with a box scraper, but the same principal applies to a rake with wheels.

 

[Justaplain]

Use a piece of chain for a top link or make up one like is on a RFM. bcs