ratchet rake

txdon · Mar 14, 2017

That looks good, just paint it yellow and you are good to go.

Bronco82 · Mar 16, 2017

If after vigorous testing it seems to hold up, you may have a market up here for them for those who can't swallow the exchange rate.

sdavies2000 · Mar 16, 2017

It will be put through the ringer as soon as the ground thaws, I've got lots of land to clear!

I decided to take it to the local machine shop and have them cut out the tooth pattern I stenciled onto it and the brackets. I couldn't justify the plasma cutter purchase yet and I'm not even sure what id need to cut through 1/2". Should have it back next week then ill weld the hooks on and slap some paint on it, pictures to follow

Can anyone recommend a good primer and paint for this application?

fried1765 · Mar 16, 2017

sdavies2000 said:
It will be put through the ringer as soon as the ground thaws, I've got lots of land to clear!

I decided to take it to the local machine shop and have them cut out the tooth pattern I stenciled onto it and the brackets. I couldn't justify the plasma cutter purchase yet and I'm not even sure what id need to cut through 1/2". Should have it back next week then ill weld the hooks on and slap some paint on it, pictures to follow

Can anyone recommend a good primer and paint for this application?

Use a TWO PART epoxy primer, and a TWO PART epoxy paint.
Any good marine store should have it in quarts.

sdavies2000 · Mar 17, 2017

Thanks, fried1765 I will pick some up at the local marina

DVMSteve · Mar 30, 2017

fried1765 said:
Any Tractor Supply store can order a Ratchet Rake for you.

WTF?? I checked Tractor Supply maybe three days ago, to see if my local store stocked Ratchet Rake, and what size they had. TODAY I went to check store availability, and they are not.... ANYWHERE?!? No longer available at Tractor Supply, apparantly?

TheMadOne · Mar 30, 2017

Just checked the TBN store. No 72" rake option to buy anymore. Wonder if they're going out of production? They couldn't have been making a huge margin on them.

PJSprog · Mar 30, 2017

The 72" RR is still listed on the RR website, as are a couple other newer pull behind versions.

It's definitely not on TSC's website anymore at all.

Also, the Rip & Dig is not listed on the RR site anymore either.

sdavies2000 · Apr 16, 2017

Well after getting the steel back from the shop, I finally had some time to put it all together.

As it turns out, I could have bought the actually ratchet rake for the money I've got into this now!

I'm not sure if I'm going to paint it or not, the epoxy paint and primer were over 100 bucks each, which would put me way over the purchase price! I don't think a little rust is going to hurt this thing anyway.

As soon as I got it welded up I tried to test it out but the ground was still far too wet so I'm chomping at the bit to get out there as soon as things dry up!

Xfaxman · Apr 16, 2017

It looks better than good :thumbsup:

It doesn't need paint to work, besides, rust is a color.

jaydee325 · Apr 16, 2017

DVMSteve said:
WTF?? I checked Tractor Supply maybe three days ago, to see if my local store stocked Ratchet Rake, and what size they had. TODAY I went to check store availability, and they are not.... ANYWHERE?!? No longer available at Tractor Supply, apparantly?

It comes and goes. I checked the TS website this morning and they listed the 68" as store only. Just checked this afternoon, nothing. A friend ordered one from the local store a month or so ago and had it within a week. I'd suggest checking the store.

txdon · Apr 16, 2017

sdavies2000 said:
Well after getting the steel back from the shop, I finally had some time to put it all together.

Good job! Thanks for the follow-up.

sdavies2000 · Apr 17, 2017

Thanks, can't wait to use it, I'll post more pictures of the results when things dry up

fried1765 · Apr 17, 2017

DVMSteve said:
WTF?? I checked Tractor Supply maybe three days ago, to see if my local store stocked Ratchet Rake, and what size they had. TODAY I went to check store availability, and they are not.... ANYWHERE?!? No longer available at Tractor Supply, apparantly?

I have one being held on a "rain check" for me.
Called my store, and confirmed that they are holding it for me. They have ordered another for their stock.
I don't know what is going on with the availability, but it cannot be accessed from their website.
Perhaps they are in the process of dropping the product.
If it is any help, the TSC SKU is: 112502399 (68" ratchet rake)

fried1765 · Apr 17, 2017

sdavies2000 said:
Well after getting the steel back from the shop, I finally had some time to put it all together.

As it turns out, I could have bought the actually ratchet rake for the money I've got into this now!

I'm not sure if I'm going to paint it or not, the epoxy paint and primer were over 100 bucks each, which would put me way over the purchase price! I don't think a little rust is going to hurt this thing anyway.

As soon as I got it welded up I tried to test it out but the ground was still far too wet so I'm chomping at the bit to get out there as soon as things dry up!

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They are currently going for $379 with shipping, here on TBN.
Shipping in your case would have also likely meant driving to the US to pick it up somewhere.
Probably well over $600 CDN by the time you got it home.

85 Sovereign · Apr 17, 2017

I bought my ratchet rake last week at a local TSC. The week prior, I had checked the website and found they were only in certain stores. When I was ready to make the purchase, I went back to double check the stock and found that I couldn't locate it on the site anywhere. I called the 3 stores closest to me and found one that had 2 in stock. I told them of the website dilemma and they had no explanation. They also had a hard time finding it in their system.

Fortunately, they had 2 of the 68" models in stock and I was able to snag one. I've only used it a little bit so far, but I'm very happy with it.

shaeff · Apr 18, 2017

I sure could have used a RR these past few days. Spent a few hours after work/before dinner on Friday and Monday trying to square off my field.

We bought the property a few years ago, before that it was vacant for 12+yrs at a minimum. Me and my father cleared most of it two years ago with his 34hp Kubota. Then life got busy, we had a home built on the land, and we let the field grow into tall grass, but one corner never got cleared.

Here are a few before and after shots, cleared with my '64 MF35 Utility.

buckeyefarmer · Apr 18, 2017

Looks good. I never got my clearing done that I started this winter.

shaeff · Apr 18, 2017

buckeyefarmer said:
Looks good. I never got my clearing done that I started this winter.

Thanks! I'm happy with the results. Field grass should take hold over the summer, then I'll maintain with my flail mower. Just a bit more to go on the other side but it's too wet for my 2wd machine.

fiddlerkelly · May 15, 2017

fried1765 said:
Don't know how deep in Ontario you might be, but if within a reasonable distance why not try to buy a Ratchet Rake over the border in the USA?
Any Tractor Supply store can order a Ratchet Rake for you.
I know the CAD is horrible for you right now, but buying a Ratchet Rake will probably not cost you much more than building one, and the factory one will be built out of hardened steel.
If you are near Buffalo, there is a TSC store in Hamburg,NY. Ph# 716-648-5140
There are 4 TSC stores in Northern Michigan, and even one in the Upper Peninsula.
If you are in Western Ontario, there is a TSC in Bemidji, Mn.

I have been in contact with the company and was told that the teeth are made from A36 steel which is a mild steel and that if harder steel was used they were afraid teeth would snap.