Ratchet Rake - ever seen/used one?

[Ken45101]

Darn it guys, you get me interested in a toy and then when I check the vendor's website, I find out that they don't make them big enough for my skid steer

Ken

 

[J_J]

Dose it matter how how big it is? Since the rake is the only part touching the ground, bucket width should not matter much.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Darn it guys, you get me interested in a toy and then when I check the vendor's website, I find out that they don't make them big enough for my skid steer

Ken

How big of a skid steer is it? I mean all the vids on their site are done w/ a skid steer.

 

[Ken45101]

How big of a skid steer is it? I mean all the vids on their site are done w/ a skid steer.

It's a JD325 with a 78" bucket, 8000+# and 80 HP. All three stats exceed what they say on their website.

Ken

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

It's a JD325 with a 78" bucket, 8000+# and 80 HP. All three stats exceed what they say on their website.

Ken

In my opinion, if you really want one you will need to be aware that it won't be as wide as your bucket and that the strength of you SS may be enough to bend it if you use it to the maximum ability of your SS or tear it off of your SS if you run your SS to it's mamimum ability. Now for real world consideration. What do you plan doing with the RR? The thickness of the steel on the wide one appears to me to be thick enogh to bend the bucket before it will bend. I don't know but I'm sure there are specs to bending strength of steel by thickness and maybe RR posted that info but again what will you be doing with it to put that amount of strain on it? It's my #1 implement now, not counting fel, because of ease of install/remove and what it will do and what can still be done with the tractor without removing it. I can install or remove it in 2 minutes and with help one minute, if the helper isn't totally uncoordinated. Not selling mine or for company but I'm sold on it for my use.
Couple of days ago I had dumped some dirt around a septic tank in a yard, had dug a ditch for drainage and had dug a septic system line and had built a structure with a footer with dirt piled at end of structure. In less than 30 minutes I back drug to level the yard dumped dirt, the piled dirt around drainage ditch, knocked down and leveled footer dirt at the end of the structure and leveled out all the dirt around the septic system line. All of it was finished enough to seed. It took more time driving the tractor between locations than it did to do the jobs on the same property. I'll take some pictures later and show the results.

 

[J_J]

I don't think 5 in short or either side will make little difference on what the rake is dedigned for. The 68 in model is 1/2 steel and should hold up to the majority of the work. Most people would not use the full potential on their skidsteer anyway, I don't think you should push large boulders out of the way, etc.

 

[thavil]

For anyone interested in the ratchet rake, here are a few pictures I took today using their new steel cables to mount the rake. Nice improvement over the straps touching the ground (if you back drag with the heal of the bucket with the rake attached).

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks. Had planned on ordering these but had read where I needed to measure bucket before ordering. Haven't gotten to measuring my 60" Kubota bucket on a BX2660 yet. Figured they would already know that since it's what they do is sell bucket attachments. Looks like you use your old strap so measurement of bucket doesn't look like it's needed/critical measurement. May call now and see if I have to go measure my bucket before ordering.

 

[brin]

I have just finished reading many of the posts about the Ratchet Rake...I have a lot of privet growing under many pecan trees on my farm and wonder if this Rake would work clearing out the growth under the trees. The problem I see is I will pretty much only be able to lower the bucket down against the base of the tree and pull back as opposed to clearing an open space where you have the ability to go forward over the brush and then pull back...I will only get the back pull...What do some of you who already own this rake think about this working in my case...Thanks

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have just finished reading many of the posts about the Ratchet Rake...I have a lot of privet growing under many pecan trees on my farm and wonder if this Rake would work clearing out the growth under the trees. The problem I see is I will pretty much only be able to lower the bucket down against the base of the tree and pull back as opposed to clearing an open space where you have the ability to go forward over the brush and then pull back...I will only get the back pull...What do some of you who already own this rake think about this working in my case...Thanks

The back pull is how I us it. Either tilted way down till big teeth engage or mostly 98% of the time with bucket flat with lower teeth engaging and back pulling.