Rake power rake question

[leveller]

I have recently started a landscaping business and have quickly realized that I need a way to break up hard soil. I have been using a 3 PT. hitch tiller and box scraper, but I am not happy with the results. My searches have me wanting a power rake. I have used the search function and found a lot of useful info, but I have not been able to find out a few specs. If one of you has a power rake, maybe you could help me out. First, at what rpm does the drum turn? I am guessing about 200 give or take? Secondly, what diameter is the drum on most of these machines? Third, how many teeth on a 6 foot rake and how close together are they. I have tried to find a local dealer or rental place to test one but have had no luck. I am looking for a 3 pt. hitch model. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks

 

[amigauser]

Probably easiest to just email or call the vendor. Harley is the biggest one out there.

Sweepers - Skid Steer Attachments - Paladin Light Construction

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Where are you located? I tried to find a place to rent one forever with no luck. So I ended up buying one. Harley makes alot of rakes for other companies (like Woods) so give them a call. I believe the woods website has specs. The drums on these units are all about the same size. Actully here's the specs:Woods Equipment Company - Tractor-Mounted Power Rakes

My rake has 114 carbide teeth. I've also rented mine in the past so if you close that's an option for you.

Matt

 

[jenkinsph]

leveler, what size tractor are you using and what tiller?

I have considered the attributes of a good rock collector but man these are expensive for a complete setup.


Steve

 

[jenkinsph]

Where are you located? I tried to find a place to rent one forever with no luck. So I ended up buying one. Harley makes alot of rakes for other companies (like Woods) so give them a call. I believe the woods website has specs. The drums on these units are all about the same size. Actully here's the specs:Woods Equipment Company - Tractor-Mounted Power Rakes

My rake has 114 carbide teeth. I've also rented mine in the past so if you close that's an option for you.

Matt

Is this rake more or less milling the surface smooth or collecting the rocks in the top layer? If milling the surface I can see where you could cover alot of area much faster than tilling.

Steve

 

[leveller]

Thanks for the replies. I will be using the rake on a Bobcat CT235 (34 hp) and want a 6 ft. wide one. I am located near Winnipeg, Manitoba and only one rental company had a rake, for a skid steer, the others seemed to have never heard of one. I do not own a skidsteer, want to try a 3 pth. model. I have built a lot of my own equipment and am considering building my own. I have seen some disscusion on here about home built rakes, are there any pics of finished home made power rakes? Still have not found out at what rpm the drums turn, but studying the specs of gearboxes and chain drive set ups, I am guessing about half of pto speed, so about 270. Is this about right?

 

[Builder]

I have recently started a landscaping business and have quickly realized that I need a way to break up hard soil. I have been using a 3 PT. hitch tiller and box scraper, but I am not happy with the results. My searches have me wanting a power rake. I have used the search function and found a lot of useful info, but I have not been able to find out a few specs. If one of you has a power rake, maybe you could help me out. First, at what rpm does the drum turn? I am guessing about 200 give or take?

I have a Landpride 90" Power rake. It turns 180-260 RPM.

Secondly, what diameter is the drum on most of these machines?

Drum is 9&3/8" on mine.

Third, how many teeth on a 6 foot rake and how close together are they. I have tried to find a local dealer or rental place to test one but have had no luck. I am looking for a 3 pt. hitch model. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks

I'd guess 100-125 studs on my 7'-6" rake. Less on the 6' model.

 

[Builder]

Thanks for the replies. I will be using the rake on a Bobcat CT235 (34 hp) and want a 6 ft. wide one. I am located near Winnipeg, Manitoba and only one rental company had a rake, for a skid steer, the others seemed to have never heard of one. I do not own a skidsteer, want to try a 3 pth. model. I have built a lot of my own equipment and am considering building my own. I have seen some disscusion on here about home built rakes, are there any pics of finished home made power rakes? Still have not found out at what rpm the drums turn, but studying the specs of gearboxes and chain drive set ups, I am guessing about half of pto speed, so about 270. Is this about right?

I'd say less than 540 PTO speed, probably more like 200 on the drum.

beware of required PTO HP. The landpride 6' model requires 25. I think you have ~26. Should be OK.

 

[Builder]

Is this rake more or less milling the surface smooth or collecting the rocks in the top layer? If milling the surface I can see where you could cover alot of area much faster than tilling.

Steve

It's not like a tiller. It doesn't dig as deep, but it's about 10X faster. If the soil is soft-medium density, you can bury the roller 8" deep and do about the same as a tiller. If it's really hard, it'll struggle with the drum at 6" deep, but you can always make a second pass.

It mills the surface and rakes the rocks at an angle to one side or another depending on your angling choice.

 

[leveller]

Thank you very much, Builder. That is exactly the info I was looking for. If I build my own rake, I will make the drum about 5 1/2 feet wide. That way the overall width will be 6 feet, and will still fir into my dump trailer which is 6 1/2 ft. wide

 

[jenkinsph]

Builder, thanks for the reply



Steve

 

[Builder]

No problem guys. Happy to help out!

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Ati corporation makes a 3ph model, go to ATI Corporation - Home

I have the 84" Erskine model for skidsteers and am vary happy with how it works. As has been mentioned it is more of a surface treatment then a tiller. It grinds the humps into fines where as a tiller cut out chunks.
I still tend to till first if the soil is real tough like virgin clay or stony. If the stones are real bad I will rake it with the teeth on a bucket to loosen it up first and save the rake pounding on the stones. Once the stones are loose they won't hurt the carbide teeth and it windrow the nicely. But a 12" plus rock stuck tight in the ground can break the carbide tips off.

If your site is real uneven you may want to work it close to grade with a land plane or bucket. Power raking is more for taking the last few inches of humps off and dropping the fines in the holes, gathering debris and finishing the surface.
Drum diameter is 10" and it have 4 spiral wrapped rows of teeth. This reduces the torque to turn the drum and aids in wind rowing compared to a straight line of teeth.
Rpm is aprox 250 depending on hydraulic flow and I don't find running it at max rpm helps any.
These rakes also do a excellent job of shake soil out of sod clumps and breaking up balls or hard soil. The yard or driveway will look like you put it all though a screener.
Ken

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I've found here in rocky New England that I almost always need to first run my box blade with the scarifiers down to bust up the hard pack and displace the rocks. Then the harley rake easily windrows the rocks and grinds up the soil. A local hydro seeder I do site pre for actually likes to add in any soil ammendments (like lime etc.) while I'm raking the soil. He claims that soil test conducted at Umass show how effective this method is? It makes sense after seeing the end results of the established lawns. There is one area that I've found the rake to be lacking. It is supposed to be able to be run on exsisting lawns and reduce the thatch and grass back to dirt and compost. I've found it takes way too much time with the rake to get the results I'm after. I'd much rather run a tiller over the area then run the rake. The tiller does a better job of breaking the soil clots down.

Matt

 

[Builder]

I've found here in rocky New England that I almost always need to first run my box blade with the scarifiers down to bust up the hard pack and displace the rocks. Then the harley rake easily windrows the rocks and grinds up the soil. A local hydro seeder I do site pre for actually likes to add in any soil ammendments (like lime etc.) while I'm raking the soil. He claims that soil test conducted at Umass show how effective this method is? It makes sense after seeing the end results of the established lawns. There is one area that I've found the rake to be lacking. It is supposed to be able to be run on exsisting lawns and reduce the thatch and grass back to dirt and compost. I've found it takes way too much time with the rake to get the results I'm after. I'd much rather run a tiller over the area then run the rake. The tiller does a better job of breaking the soil clots down.

Matt

Why don't you just buy the optional scarifier that mounts in front of the power rake?

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

What optional scarifier? I've got the Woods unit(made by harley).

Matt

 

[tractorski]

I have a 6 foot Harley Rake and wouldn't trade it for anything. It has 114 "spikes" (2 per row, 57 rows) and each row is about 1 3/8 inches center to center. I used it alot for gravel driveway and parking lot resurfacing. The drum is approx. 7 inches in diameter. I too would like to know about the scarifier.

 

[Builder]

Harley rakes have an optional scarifier tooth bar that goes in front of the rotating drum. They are used to till the ground up & bust up the crust so the rake can dig down further.

I have also seen them with a leveling screed that drags behind the drum, too.

I don't think my 7'-6" Landpride Power rake has that option, but I hope it does because I need it for a big upcoming job-lots of clay & hard soil.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Harley rakes have an optional scarifier tooth bar that goes in front of the rotating drum. They are used to till the ground up & bust up the crust so the rake can dig down further.

I have also seen them with a leveling screed that drags behind the drum, too.

I don't think my 7'-6" Landpride Power rake has that option, but I hope it does because I need it for a big upcoming job-lots of clay & hard soil.

I search today and can't find any rake with the options you listed. Are you confusing the rake with a pulverizer? I've seen older rakes with different drums and a spring tooth harrow type thing on the front. But there's not site that has a setup like your talking about.

Matt

 

[Builder]

I search today and can't find any rake with the options you listed. Are you confusing the rake with a pulverizer? I've seen older rakes with different drums and a spring tooth harrow type thing on the front. But there's not site that has a setup like your talking about.

Matt

Nope, no pulverizer, that's what I'm talking about. I guess they stopped offering it. Harley used to offer it with a hyraulic lift so you could raise/lower it with a remote.

Wonder why they dumped such a useful, thoughtful option

I'd love to have that!