Rake Found these used rakes on Craigslist - whacha think?

[aczlan]

I have the twin to the rake in the picture in the 7' size except that someone welded a 6" piece of 3/8 round stock to the adjustment bolts. Makes it easy to change the height that way. IIRC, we paid $400 for it a couple of years back.
Wheels make it easier to keep the teeth at a consistent depth with the tractor is bouncing up and down.

Aaron Z

 

[/pine]

Don't profess to being an expert. The wheels have to be raised if you want the rake to dig. And they set the digging depth. The advantage of the wheels over using just the lift is that the wheels will keep the rake teeth at a set level even if the tractor is at a different angle on varying terrain. The wheels let you level a soft/loose surface without concern for terrain. I think the wheels are a must in order to get maximum utility out of the rake.

What I want to know is "how much better can it get"...with wheels...?

Right now I have no wheels and using the T&T I can pretty much make a gravel lane (pitched, crowned etc.) look like I went over it with a fine toothed comb...(exaggeration...but not a huge one)...looking at the results there is no way it could get any better...seriously...!

Now I do see where wheels would be handy in flattening out windrows of gravel that spill out the ends of the rake without disturbing anything...but I modified my rake by boxing the ends...so I no longer lose escaping gravel over the edge or into a ditch when raking...

I guess I have really answered my own question or I would already have tried using wheels...When I got the rake I accumulated all the parts...I have about $100 in 3rd party yokes and wheels... I did by the (bolt right on) OEM brackets ($25 ea.) the shafts on the yokes are compatible with the OEM brackets...

Maybe some day I'll get a wild hair...and set up a hydraulic lift (3rd function) to raise/lower the wheels...heck...why not just add another spool and put a cylinder on each yoke rod...I think I'd need a joystick...!!

 

[TomSeller]

Now I do see where wheels would be handy in flattening out windrows of gravel that spill out the ends of the rake !!

I don't have a landscape rake but that is basically what I thought the gauge wheels were for, leveling out unleveled ground, like a drag. I have read in threads that some people are able to do the same using the rake and draft control without wheels. I agree with you on a driveway, you would do better without wheels. Yours sounds more like a box blade, maybe better. The wheels would get in the way when raking branches, mostly when spinning the rake around and back pushing.

 

[aczlan]

I don't have a landscape rake but that is basically what I thought the gauge wheels were for, leveling out unleveled ground, like a drag. I have read in threads that some people are able to do the same using the rake and draft control without wheels. I agree with you on a driveway, you would do better without wheels. Yours sounds more like a box blade, maybe better. The wheels would get in the way when raking branches, mostly when spinning the rake around and back pushing.

That is what I have round. On level ground, they make little to no difference. On bumpy ground, they make it easy to keep the blade or rake even and smooth out the surface vs making it rougher.

Aaron Z

 

[davrow]

It does say "some with wheels" and "starting at $400". What is their asking price for the 6' with wheels?

It doesn't look like it's going to be $400!

 

[/pine]

Don't profess to being an expert. The wheels have to be raised if you want the rake to dig. And they set the digging depth. The advantage of the wheels over using just the lift is that the wheels will keep the rake teeth at a set level even if the tractor is at a different angle on varying terrain. The wheels let you level a soft/loose surface without concern for terrain. I think the wheels are a must in order to get maximum utility out of the rake.

Just curious...exactly where did I profess to being an expert on landscape gauge wheels?...maybe you are so far above being an expert you can judge...?
Perhaps the fact that I mentioned not being able to see how my results could get any better set you off...maybe you should re-read what I said...I am not relying on the "lift" I use both the top and tilt cylinders///the latter to do exactly what you describe the wheels doing...

IMO, if the terrain etc. change that much between the wheels of the tractor and the gauge wheels of the rake differ that drastically a rake is not the right implement to be using...!

 

[Gittyup]

Wow! If I offended you that was not my intent. I was being earnest about my knowledge (I confess to being a novice with my rake, mostly), and in no way was it meant to be a slight to your views, methods, or expertise. Hey, if they work for you that's fine, and your methods may work for others too. I wasn't contesting them at all. I was just trying to explain how I've used gauge wheels and how they have performed under different settings for me - why they are there, how they work, at least as I understand them. I was trying to answer some of your questions. I won't make that mistake again. Wow, man! Chill out. Or just add me to your ignore list.

Just curious...exactly where did I profess to being an expert on landscape gauge wheels?...maybe you are so far above being an expert you can judge...?
Perhaps the fact that I mentioned not being able to see how my results could get any better set you off...maybe you should re-read what I said...I am not relying on the "lift" I use both the top and tilt cylinders///the latter to do exactly what you describe the wheels doing...

IMO, if the terrain etc. change that much between the wheels of the tractor and the gauge wheels of the rake differ that drastically a rake is not the right implement to be using...!

 

[WaterDawg]

well those rakes were not used
Guess they were just "weathered"
I was looking at $850 for a 6' rake with wheels.

I skipped it and found another.

This one is a 6' Woods Rake with part of a wheel kit. It's missing wheels.

He's asking $400.

Whacha think?

I can get a 6' rake new for $400, but not sure how much value to add to a partial wheel kit.

 

[Gary Fowler]

well those rakes were not used
Guess they were just "weathered"
I was looking at $850 for a 6' rake with wheels.

I skipped it and found another.

This one is a 6' Woods Rake with part of a wheel kit. It's missing wheels.

He's asking $400.

Whacha think?

I can get a 6' rake new for $400, but not sure how much value to add to a partial wheel kit.

For what he has included, I wouldn't add any value to the rake as that bracket without the wheels is pretty useless. I think the wheels will be the big expense. I basically think he is asking new price for it. KEEP LOOKING

 

[WaterDawg]

For what he has included, I wouldn't add any value to the rake as that bracket without the wheels is pretty useless. I think the wheels will be the big expense. I basically think he is asking new price for it. KEEP LOOKING

I agree Gary.

I just prices out a wheel kit and found that it would cost me $200 to replace the missing parts.
The brackets that are there...total $67 so I'm really paying $400 for a used rake :thumbdown: He's asking $500 in the ad.

I know the rakes new at my local tractor supply are $500 for a Countyline rake and it looks to be well made.
CountyLine® Landscape Rake, 6 ft. W - Tractor Supply Co.