DIY Ratchet Rake

[JohnDeere4300]

Here are the requested pix of the finished product and trial. It only took me 20 min to clean up about 250 ft of fence line. The side grabbers worked really well for getting up close to the fence.

That looks nice!!!... Great lookin' job!!!:thumbsup:

Nice pictures too!!!... I like the ''side grabbers''!!

I've never used a ''Ratchet Rake'', and none of the TSC stores in my area stocks them!... So if I want one, I'll have to build my own!

Thanks Andy for posting the pictures!!

Bill

 

[High Compression]

That looks nice!!!... Great lookin' job!!!:thumbsup:

Nice pictures too!!!... I like the ''side grabbers''!!

I've never used a ''Ratchet Rake'', and none of the TSC stores in my area stocks them!... So if I want one, I'll have to build my own!

Thanks Andy for posting the pictures!!

Bill

Your very welcome. If you decide to build one let me know and I will try to save you from any mistakes that I made and or improvements that I would suggest after using mine. :cool2:

 

[High Compression]

Just an update. I've put Bravo through the ringer and no worse for wear. I pulled out 250 ft of bushes in 20 min. Then prepped the 250' x 6' area for sod in an hour and a half, by myself. All thanks to the RR. Oh, tried to get a 6" tree stump out. No luck, but no damage either. I know the stump was too aggressive, but I wanted to see if I would bend or break anything.

 

[Artisan]

Don't forget guys, the Ratchet Rake is patented. My guess is you can build one for yourself, but not for profit.

Patent Schmatent....

Alls it takes is a lil chep steel and 11 dozen factory workers in China to
produce 11 thousand of them , they saturate the marketplace w/ them for
pennies on the dollar, and when you get wind of it you now hire an
international attorney FIRM and pray you filed for international patents from
jump street. After 70-90 THOUSAND dollars in attorneys fees your sucessful
in shutting them down. They close there doors and sell the tooling and plans
and take all employees to there brothers place around the block, who just
started his 13th company and they do it all over again...


LotsAluck w/ that patent thing... It's wrong, it blows but it happens all the time.

 

[Artisan]

Just an update. I've put Bravo through the ringer and no worse for wear. I pulled out 250 ft of bushes in 20 min. Then prepped the 250' x 6' area for sod in an hour and a half, by myself. All thanks to the RR. Oh, tried to get a 6" tree stump out. No luck, but no damage either. I know the stump was too aggressive, but I wanted to see if I would bend or break anything.

Sure would like to see a You-Yube of it w/ someone walking in front as you drive...great job...

 

[Ken45101]

Wonderful project

I'm just starting to learn welding. I guess this gives me a good reason to buy a plasma cutter so that I can save money :laughing:

Did you start out with 5/8" angle iron, or was that fabbed out of flat stock?

Ken

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Your very welcome. If you decide to build one let me know and I will try to save you from any mistakes that I made and or improvements that I would suggest after using mine. :cool2:

Thanks!!!, Andy.

I'll do that if I have any problems!!!

Bill

 

[Ken45101]

I know the RR is very versatile. But as a home project, I am starting to think about a bolt on v-toothed cutting edge that would use the exiting bolt holes in the bucket. It wouldn't be as quick as a strap on but, depending on the tooth design might be very good for grubbing out brush and then a smooth backdrag. At least initially I wouldn't have the lower vee tooth blade underneath but that could be added later.

There is a commercial outfit that sells a blade like that although the RR is a fraction of the cost.

Of course, buying a heavy piece of steel to make something like this would probably be more expensive than buying the RR, especially on the clearance sale prices. But still, it would be a nice project.

Ken

 

[High Compression]

Sure would like to see a You-Yube of it w/ someone walking in front as you drive...great job...

I'll work on that. :thumbsup:

 

[High Compression]

Wonderful project

I'm just starting to learn welding. I guess this gives me a good reason to buy a plasma cutter so that I can save money :laughing:

Did you start out with 5/8" angle iron, or was that fabbed out of flat stock?

Ken

I started with 5/8" 4" x 6" x 80" angle. Look back on page two of this thread for pix. Apparently it would take over a 400 Ton press and the right dies to bend 80" of 5/8" at a 90 deg right angle. My buddy has a 200 Ton and he wouldn't even try it. So... Angle it was. :laughing: