York Rake from pull with SS to push with tractor ..

[tmajor]

Driveway maintenance hasn't always gone as well, as I would like, without more work, than I thought it should be. I've got a 3PTH Gannon box blade, 3PTH back blade and a 3PTH York Rake. With a rear mounted implement, when the nose of the tractor goes into lower level, the implement raises ... unless you can anticipate it, just as you are getting to it! After several passes, the dip compounds itself

So, I was looking for a trailer York Rake (Landscape Rake with gauge wheels) or a front mount for my SS Quick Attach plate.

I found this on Craig's List and thought, it would be perfect, even though it was set up to be pulled backwards with a SS. I could just flip the frame 180 degrees and reverse the position of the gauge wheels.



As it turned out, after about 1/2 hour of making those changes, I found, that I didn't have enough clearance to swing the blade more than about 20 degrees before it hit the mounting plate. To the drawing board! Cut the frame in two and extend it.



Now, it works, as I intended. Even though my driveway was in good shape, I had to give it a try. There is still some "operator/implement co-ordination" needed, I think it will do the job, as I intended. The tractor will remain on leveled ground, while the rake will fill in the low areas, before the tractor gets to them.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Have you considered adding a third wheel under the frame, and running the loading in "float"? That should eliminate most of the operation input needed to follow the ground.

 

[tmajor]

No, I hadn't thought about the 3rd wheel option. I tried it for short while in "float", but that allowed it to follow the contour, of the dips, as well. What I liked best, was to set the height and then use the "dump" or "curl" functions to adjust the aggressiveness of the rake. .... I could adjust it, to stand on it's "toe or heel", due to the gauge wheels. At this point, I still get confused, as to whether to dump or curl. I believe, Dump is Deeper and Curl is C?? ... Cloud, maybe.

 

[GLyford]

Curl is clenched closed, like a fist?

 

[tmajor]

Curl is clenched closed, like a fist?

I know what "curl" is, I was just trying to get something in my head, so I could remember, which would do what to the rake .. dump=deeper, curl= less deep.

 

[GLyford]

Hmmm... in context then, curl=climb?

 

[tmajor]

Hmmm... in context then, curl=climb?

LOL That might work!

 

[sleepybozo]

Dump=deeper, C=contradeeper? D=deeper, C=the other way.

 

[tmajor]

Dump=deeper, C=contradeeper? D=deeper, C=the other way.

LOL, again. There is always, a 50/50 chance of right or wrong. If "I'd think about it", I'd probably get the loader controls wrong.

 

[Notforhire]

I used to use my York rake on a Bobcat skidsteer w/a three point converter. I found it worked best set up like yours, but with the gauge wheels to the rear of the rake. That way they run on the raked/smooth ground.
Normally if the rake was used on a three point hitch, the gauge wheels would be trailing the rake. Same effect.
You can still use the curl function to control depth of cut.

I no longer have a skid steer and use the rake on the 3PH with a hydraulic top link. The toplink is used much like you use your curl, and allows adjustments on the go.
I don't think it would be difficult to convert your SSQA to a TPH. I have acquired TPH setups from wrecked bush hogs for scrap value.