Landscape Rake, should I get Gauge Wheels?

[Danner]

OP here...

I ordered the LP0560 and the gauge wheel kit from Zimmerer Kubota here in Fort Worth. To save a bit, he's going to deliver it to me unassembled. Shouldn't be too much work to bolt it together.

I expect it to arrive the middle of next week.

Thanks for all the good comments.

 

[djradz]

I like my rake with the wheels. Maybe I'll someday come accross an instance where it is better without, but for seedbed preparation, picking up debris and road grading, I've found it is the best way to go for me.

 

[WM75Guy]

OP here...

I ordered the LP0560 and the gauge wheel kit from Zimmerer Kubota here in Fort Worth. To save a bit, he's going to deliver it to me unassembled. Shouldn't be too much work to bolt it together.

I expect it to arrive the middle of next week.

Thanks for all the good comments.

I have dealt with Zimmerer when I lived in Keller and they are fine folks. However, I let the dealer put everything together. If it isn't right, they fix it right then before I pick it up. Don't have to have the conversation about it was the assembler who caused the problem. It is also fairly heavy so watch your back, toes and fingers.

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't have guage wheels on my landscape rakes but can readily see where I would benefit from them at times.

Something to consider is a light weight pine straw rake when performing clean up duties on finished lawns. I have found this to be a very handy tool and use it for lots of jobs.


Tractor 3 Point Hitch Pine Straw Rakes

 

[sixdogs]

I don't have guage wheels on my landscape rakes but can readily see where I would benefit from them at times.

Something to consider is a light weight pine straw rake when performing clean up duties on finished lawns. I have found this to be a very handy tool and use it for lots of jobs.


Tractor 3 Point Hitch Pine Straw Rakes

How tough is that rake? The description says de-thatch lawns but it looks too fragile.
Do you use yours for lawns?

 

[jenkinsph]

How tough is that rake? The description says de-thatch lawns but it looks too fragile.
Do you use yours for lawns?

Yes, rakes up small sticks and debris on finished lawns without damage to the lawn.

 

[IslandTractor]

Forget the 1/4". Use either 3/8" or better yet 1/2". End result, no more problems. :thumbsup:

I was wrong. The LR72 is 3/8 inch 4x4 already. I'll have to think about 1/2 inch or fixing and strengthening the existing angle iron. I'll start another thread ratherbthan hijacking this any further.

 

[2manyrocks]

Some of the guys here build one set of wheels for their rake and also use them with their grader blade.

I built a set for my grader blade, but never bothered with putting them on the rake.

 

[RoadHogg]

The rake runs on the wheels, which run on the raked ground, so the depth of the rake is controlled by the area that has already been flattened. Any other set-up, including the long wheels and no top link, forces the rake depth to be controlled by the tractor movement, which is transmitting position of unworked ground. If you are putting a finish polish on a completed job, a fixed-position rake might be good, but if you are trying to smooth rough or uneven terrain, gauge wheels are an absolute must.

JayC

Been wanting wheels for my Land Pride 70" rake. It is my hope that they will operate in exactly this fashion. I just don't like the price.

 

[AGTtactical]

Is THAT what the problem is? Well, in that case, a rake without wheels stinks.

The rake runs on the wheels, which run on the raked ground, so the depth of the rake is controlled by the area that has already been flattened. Any other set-up, including the long wheels and no top link, forces the rake depth to be controlled by the tractor movement, which is transmitting position of unworked ground. If you are putting a finish polish on a completed job, a fixed-position rake might be good, but if you are trying to smooth rough or uneven terrain, gauge wheels are an absolute must.

JayC

This makes total sense to me. What do you do with your top link? Let one end hang and use a chain. I can get gauge wheels for $400 for an EA rake...this is the one i'm getting Land Shark Hydraulic Landscape Rake Demo - YouTube

I just wonder if I'd be better off putting that $400 for gauge wheels towards a land plane (grading scraper). ON the other hand, I may not need a land plane if I get the gauge wheels for the rake.