Frontier gauge wheels arrived -- no instructions!

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Today I picked up a gauge wheel kit from my JD dealer. (Ordered it a week ago -- $370!) Got the box home, opened it up, no instructions or manual or diagram or nuthin. Called the dealer, they're closed for the day. And I doubt they have any manuals or diagrams around, anyway.

Well, I thought, how hard can it be to figure this out? It obviously just bolts on. I looked it over for a bit and I think I've got it pretty well figured out, but there's one thing I'm not sure about:

Where, exactly, do the eight big 2" diameter washers go?

An hour of Googling turned up not a single picture of this wheel kit attached to the rake I have, even though lots of people seem to own the same combination -- the Frontier LR2060L rake and the 5ws343465 wheel kit that is supposed to go with it.

Anyone got a picture of a wheel kit attached to this rake? Or know where I can find some assembly instructions online?

(Nice forum here, btw. Been reading it since I got my JD 2305 a year ago and it's been very helpful -- and entertaining, too.)

 

[Willl]

Where, exactly, do the eight big 2" diameter washers go?

Spacers to adjust the height ? (#5 in pic)

 

[mjncad]

Welcome OGP. If you think Deere/Frontier/Woods are proud of their gauge wheels; check out what York wants for theirs.

Optional Attachments : York Modern

 

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Spacers to adjust the height ? (#5 in pic)

Yes. Thanks for that.

Still not sure about the washers, though. There's enough room to put three washers on each post, in addition to the spacers, which leaves just enough room to put the pin in, but that still leaves two washers left over, one for each post.

I think maybe one of the washers should go under the pin, and then another washer under the spacers? But then there are two washers remaining for each post, and only room for one more on each post... so I'm stumped.

Or maybe a washer between the spacers and the arm? I dunno. These are big hefty washers, looks like they have a serious purpose. Not something I want to get wrong, I think.

I think I'm going to try one under the pin and one above and below the arm, between the spacers and the arm. That leaves one washer unused, but that's all that will fit.

 

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Well, I got it all working. However, I'm not very happy with the setup. Even at the shallowest setting (with the wheels extended down as far as they will go), the rake digs in more than I want. Lengthening the center link to the max almost gets the rake off the ground, but the angle of attack is sharpened quite a bit, so the rake really digs in when it catches the ground. There's no such thing as lightly skimming over the surface for quick cleanup. The rake digs in and tears things up pretty good, except on absolutely flat stretches of land.

 

[jenkinsph]

I hate to tell you this but if you wanted something to lightly rake the surface your money might have been spent better on a Pine Needle rake from Everything Attachments these are about $300 bucks. These are great for finish work and are light enough to preserve the lawn.

Tractor 3 Point Hitch Pine Straw Rakes

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Hi,

If your JD rake is like mine the 4 large diameter washers go on the verticle spindle of each gauge wheel along with the thicker plastic spacers. The washers are the fine height adjustment & if kept between the plastic spacers & metal parts will keep the plastic from abrading.

With the gauge wheels extended all the way down I am able to adjust the 3pt with I-match to keep the rake tines off of level ground & then lower the 3pt till they just kiss the surface. This is good for sweeping surface rocks & debris to the side.

Yes, tractor impliment instructions today only seem to include what not to do and not much on what the impliment can do or how to do it. (can you imagine if manufaturers could only advertise what not to do with their products ;-)

By trial & lots of error I find it better (for me) to make multiple light passes instead of digging deep.

Although the gauge wheels help, the tracor & rake will still follow the undulating land contour so it will not automatically level the surface, slow manually adjusting the 3pt to pull the high spots into the low spots works just as well as it did when horsepower meant a horse.

By trial & error you can adjust each wheel height and the 3pt side tilt to crown driveways or move material to one side.

I gave up and asked my JD dealer if they could install a tube in my flat gauge wheel, they just smiled at this city slicker but later appologized for the labor charge when I picked it up. Putting a tube in these small wheels is a bear of a job.

Good luck